Is Stevie still our most important player?

[AFII]

Can we replace Gerrard with a player that fits our system better?

I think that is a better question. We can do that IMO if you look at the position he plays in.

How much would we get if we sold him? Probably around £40m. Players like Diego, Nasri, Deco, Van der Vaart, Iniesta are better in the position Stevie plays in if they would play in our system.

They are not better players but they would fit our system better. They would not give the team the same energy that Stevie do but they would speed up our game and add more creativity than Stevie.

That is my opinion anyway.

[Parm]

Can we replace Gerrard with a player that fits our system better?

I think that is a better question. We can do that IMO if you look at the position he plays in.

How much would we get if we sold him? Probably around £40m. Players like Diego, Nasri, Deco, Van der Vaart, Iniesta are better in the position Stevie plays in if they would play in our system.

They are not better players but they would fit our system better. They would not give the team the same energy that Stevie do but they would speed up our game and add more creativity than Stevie.

That is my opinion anyway.

hmm, you seem to have asked the question which I was going to put in (ie should we sell and who should replace him)
I dont know if we should sell, but certainly the players you have mentioned are more of the playmaking variety rather than an all action style that Stevie is of. Ideally I'd like to see Rafa play with a cm pairing of Mascher and Xabi with Stevie maybe just ahead of them or maybe even part of a forward 3?

[AFII]

hmm, you seem to have asked the question which I was going to put in (ie should we sell and who should replace him)
I dont know if we should sell, but certainly the players you have mentioned are more of the playmaking variety rather than an all action style that Stevie is of. Ideally I'd like to see Rafa play with a cm pairing of Mascher and Xabi with Stevie maybe just ahead of them or maybe even part of a forward 3?

Stevie would be better in a five man midfield than the players I mentioned but not in a four man midfield. Mascherano/Alonso can take care of the defensive bit and the other central midfielder need to be very attacking.

There isn't more or less any place for Stevie's biggest strength in Rafa's new system, his powerful runs. Our second midfielder now acts more like a playmaker.

[carheex]

Can we replace Gerrard with a player that fits our system better?

I think that is a better question. We can do that IMO if you look at the position he plays in.

How much would we get if we sold him? Probably around £40m. Players like Diego, Nasri, Deco, Van der Vaart, Iniesta are better in the position Stevie plays in if they would play in our system.

They are not better players but they would fit our system better. They would not give the team the same energy that Stevie do but they would speed up our game and add more creativity than Stevie.

That is my opinion anyway.

Not sure I agree with that. Some of your choices may be more skillful and more creative but Gerrard actually plays several roles at a time. Apart from a recent dip in form, he is quite often our best attacking AND defensive player - you'd struggle to find another player in the world that fits that description. I appreciate what you say about the system though - in a purely attacking role, there are possibly better players and in a purely defensive role there are better players. But having Gerrard is sometime like playing with an extra man - without a doubt our best/most important, most valuable player.

[kewellnthegang]

Not sure I agree with that. Some of your choices may be more skillful and more creative but Gerrard actually plays several roles at a time. Apart from a recent dip in form, he is quite often our best attacking AND defensive player - you'd struggle to find another player in the world that fits that description. I appreciate what you say about the system though - in a purely attacking role, there are possibly better players and in a purely defensive role there are better players. But having Gerrard is sometime like playing with an extra man - without a doubt our best/most important, most valuable player.

good post fella

[Pacman]

Not sure I agree with that. Some of your choices may be more skillful and more creative but Gerrard actually plays several roles at a time. Apart from a recent dip in form, he is quite often our best attacking AND defensive player - you'd struggle to find another player in the world that fits that description. I appreciate what you say about the system though - in a purely attacking role, there are possibly better players and in a purely defensive role there are better players. But having Gerrard is sometime like playing with an extra man - without a doubt our best/most important, most valuable player.

[Parm]

Stevie would be better in a five man midfield than the players I mentioned but not in a four man midfield. Mascherano/Alonso can take care of the defensive bit and the other central midfielder need to be very attacking.

There isn't more or less any place for Stevie's biggest strength in Rafa's new system, his powerful runs. Our second midfielder now acts more like a playmaker.

unless he goes wide right, but despite him being the best wr at the club he wont play that role with any conviction.

[dww]

Can we replace Gerrard with a player that fits our system better?

I think that is a better question. We can do that IMO if you look at the position he plays in.

How much would we get if we sold him? Probably around £40m. Players like Diego, Nasri, Deco, Van der Vaart, Iniesta are better in the position Stevie plays in if they would play in our system.

They are not better players but they would fit our system better. They would not give the team the same energy that Stevie do but they would speed up our game and add more creativity than Stevie.

That is my opinion anyway.

I'm not sure you are swapping like for like with players like Deco, VdV or Diego at all. If we are to sell Gerrard we need someone who offers more natural control from central areas while also offering a threat on goal. Those players are all purely creative/attacking players and if anything would be worse in the deep lying CM pairing Rafa prefers.

All of them could to some degree or another take the behind the main striker role away from Kuyt. However this season Gerrard has barely played that role or indeed any more attacking midfield position (although along with Parm I think it might be a good idea).

I guess it is fair to say though that if we got the money you state for Gerrard we could reasonable look to get two in to replace him.

[Parm]

if we freed Stevie from the shackles of defensive duties and let him concentrate on attacking we'd see a more dynamic player, but I cant see Rafa letting any player not contribute his fair share defensivly

[CAD]

With the current squad we need Gerrard to perform. The only player who could possibly take over at advanced CM is Lucas and he's not ready.

Gerrard is key given the current personal.

[KopSecret]

Nah, I haven't thought he was our most important player for a while now - mostly because he sulks too much and is too inconsistent.

True when he is on form - he is amazing - but i prefer players with far more consistency such as Carragher & Finnan.

[tomasjj]

Nah, I haven't thought he was our most important player for a while now - mostly because he sulks too much and is too inconsistent.

True when he is on form - he is amazing - but i prefer players with far more consistency such as Carragher & Finnan.

Consistency is sadly often an overlooked quality, but I guess not from managers.
Instead many sprout out cliches like "form is temporary, class is......"

[dww]

Consistency is sadly often an overlooked quality, but I guess not from managers.
Instead many sprout out cliches like "form is temporary, class is......"

I think the implication that Gerrard has been inconsistent is unfair. He has been consistently decent all season - the problem is we demand more from him and as a team need a number of our attacking players to find good form.

I really think a lot of the problem comes from the fact Gerrard is yet to get the sort of telepathic relationship with Torres where he knows if in doubt he can play a certain ball and be sure Fernando will make the run. As such we need to give him options and movement up front as he is not naturally a short passing, possession holding player. At present there is not enough good work being done by Kuyt or anyone who plays wide IMO. The way we play badly needs the front four to work as a unit to create space in the opponents defense.

[Parm]

Consistency is sadly often an overlooked quality, but I guess not from managers.
Instead many sprout out cliches like "form is temporary, class is......"

I remember a time long ago when Carra wasnt that highly thought of...

[tomasjj]

I think the implication that Gerrard has been inconsistent is unfair. He has been consistently decent all season - the problem is we demand more from him and as a team need a number of our attacking players to find good form.

I disagree with your assesment of Gerrards form.

But we are still on speaking terms.