Gerrard on the right

[Sir Bob]

He's had one good game this season in the middle. Of course he's a key player but he's badly off form at the moment, the midfield isn't working.

The midfield has done well defensively but as an attacking threat its underperformed but thats down to Rafa's obsession with rotation. How are players supposed to play their best when he changes the team so radically each game. Of course players can't play every game but Rafa makes 4 or 5 changes every game, the majority of which are in midfield and upfront.

Why is the defence hardly ever rotated? Because the players need to play together to form parnerships and understandings on the pitch. But its the same in midfield and upfront. Its no wonder we struglle upfront, its a different partnership every game. How are players supposed to build up an understanding when they only play with each oter every 3 or 4 games at best.

We rotate more than any other club and i'm afraid it will cost us our chnace of the title this year.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

Personally I hate the debate about Gerrard's position. At the moment it's basically an excuse for our poor form overall.

And do we know Rafa's actually re-evaluating Gerrard's role/position in the team. As far as I can see he's played every game centrally this season, and yesterday played in a free role, not on the right.

"Put Gerrard on the right and things will improve". But will it? I didn't hear people complaining after our performances against Villa and Chelsea to start the season, with Stevie playing centre mid, but again let’s not make it all about him. Bottom line, at the start of the year we had more players playing well - including Gerrard, and fewer injury problems.

Surely the best way to get back on track is to play our best players in their best positions, as we were at the start of the season. IMO our form started to dip when we got a few injuries and Rafa had to fiddle with the team, and in the end rotated too much.

Just reanalyzing the first post: "The 4 games that he (Gerrard) was out injured we played our best football of the season.

Gerrard only missed 3 games, against Derby, Toulouse and Sunderland. This is fair comment we won those games by a combined score of 12-0. After which Gerrard returned and we failed to win any of our next 3, coincidence or just poor performances by the whole team?

So again is it an excuse or is it because Rafa's rotated to team to **** and we've got too many players out of touch, and perhaps, dare I say it, our so called great squad really isn't that great?

[Guest]

The midfield has done well defensively but as an attacking threat its underperformed but thats down to Rafa's obsession with rotation. How are players supposed to play their best when he changes the team so radically each game. Of course players can't play every game but Rafa makes 4 or 5 changes every game, the majority of which are in midfield and upfront.

Why is the defence hardly ever rotated? Because the players need to play together to form parnerships and understandings on the pitch. But its the same in midfield and upfront. Its no wonder we struglle upfront, its a different partnership every game. How are players supposed to build up an understanding when they only play with each oter every 3 or 4 games at best.

We rotate more than any other club and i'm afraid it will cost us our chnace of the title this year.

Every top team, bar probably Arsenal, rotate heavily. The stats show that Fergie do as much rotation than Rafa, so that's not an issue. Ronaldo was rotated yesterday and they played Anderson in central midfield but they still ebbed and flowed and won 4-1.

Why must we bring back this issue each time ? If our squad is good enough, we'll continue to pick up points whatever team is put out.

The old days of management have gone and doesn't apply today anymore. People should realize that it's managing 25 superstar players now, not 12.

[Tom]

Gerrard has to play behind the same strikers and Mascher behind him for more than 2 games in a row. He will have the freedom many are asking for and will find a better understanding with the strikers. The midfield will work and we'll see the best of our captain. He showed yesterday that he was back on form.
I know Rafa will never do that though.

I don't think so. The run that go the penalty aside, he didn't look particularily effective to me.

And as far as I can tell, gerrard has been exclusively played as the forward moving midfielder this season. And it hasn't worked.

[Morph]

things will change as soon as Alonso is back, if you think about it Rafa's comments about gerrard yesterday seemed to hint he would have liked Alonso playing, Stevie is the heart, but Alonso is most definitley the brains

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

And as far as I can tell, gerrard has been exclusively played as the forward moving midfielder this season. And it hasn't worked.

Strange one that. Because to me he's been quite disciplined, he's reigned himself in a bit - wish he wouldn't to be honest.

[Sir Bob]

Every top team, bar probably Arsenal, rotate heavily. The stats show that Fergie do as much rotation than Rafa, so that's not an issue. Ronaldo was rotated yesterday and they played Anderson in central midfield but they still ebbed and flowed and won 4-1.

Why must we bring back this issue each time ? If our squad is good enough, we'll continue to pick up points whatever team is put out.

The old days of management have gone and doesn't apply today anymore. People should realize that it's managing 25 superstar players now, not 12.

Utd and Chelsea do not rotate as much as Rafa, no team does. Ronaldo was rested yesterday but by and large he plays. I've no problem with players being rested when they need a break but making 5 & 6 changes every game is too many. We play like we are a bunch of strangers at times which isn't surprising as often we are. I fell sorry for the new players trying to settle in but playing with different players every week.

I don't think we will ever win the league whilst Rafa continues with this policy

[Tom]

Personally I hate the debate about Gerrard's position. At the moment it's basically an excuse for our poor form overall.

And do we know Rafa's actually re-evaluating Gerrard's role/position in the team. As far as I can see he's played every game centrally this season, and yesterday played in a free role, not on the right.

"Put Gerrard on the right and things will improve". But will it? I didn't hear people complaining after our performances against Villa and Chelsea to start the season, with Stevie playing centre mid, but again let’s not make it all about him. Bottom line, at the start of the year we had more players playing well - including Gerrard, and fewer injury problems.

Surely the best way to get back on track is to play our best players in their best positions, as we were at the start of the season. IMO our form started to dip when we got a few injuries and Rafa had to fiddle with the team, and in the end rotated too much.

Just reanalyzing the first post: "The 4 games that he (Gerrard) was out injured we played our best football of the season.

Gerrard only missed 3 games, against Derby, Toulouse and Sunderland. This is fair comment we won those games by a combined score of 12-0. After which Gerrard returned and we failed to win any of our next 3, coincidence or just poor performances by the whole team?

So again is it an excuse or is it because Rafa's rotated to team to **** and we've got too many players out of touch, and perhaps, dare I say it, our so called great squad really isn't that great?

Gerrard didn't play against reading did he? We're not playing great football (apart from those games ) but we've made our best start to the season for years. We get stronger, the team will settle and I believe rafa will play gerrard on the right. We'll see wont we.

[AFII]

Gerrard is best in a free position but that position don't exist the way we play this season.

He isn't good enough to play as the defensive midfielder and that leaves the right or central midfield position open for him to play in.

We have other central midfielders that need to play and Gerrard is our best option on the right.

Gerrard should play on the right as long as we don't play with a five man midfield.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

Gerrard didn't play against reading did he? We're not playing great football (apart from those games ) but we've made our best start to the season for years. We get stronger, the team will settle and I believe rafa will play gerrard on the right. We'll see wont we.

He came off the bench and created Torres's hatrick goal I seem to remember.

Yes we have, but if we were in better form it would've been better.

We will see won't we? But Rafa has had plenty of chances to use Gerrard in a wide right position and has so far refused to do so. I think this is because none of our other midfielders carry an attacking threat from the middle which he can, when on form, which he hasn't been.

[JPK]

I don't think so. The run that go the penalty aside, he didn't look particularily effective to me.
And as far as I can tell, gerrard has been exclusively played as the forward moving midfielder this season. And it hasn't worked.

That run changed the game though.He is a match winner and if he was'nt taken off he would have won it for us.Rafa had it in his head to take him off no matter what I think.

Taking Gerrard off and leaving Momo on until the 87th minute was crazy especially against ten men.Rafa was poxed yesterday.

[marcus50bucks]

Gerrard didn't play against reading did he? We're not playing great football (apart from those games ) but we've made our best start to the season for years. We get stronger, the team will settle and I believe rafa will play gerrard on the right. We'll see wont we.

Gerrard came on late in the game against Reading and set-up Torres for his hatrick.

[AFII]

It's very strange that Rafa has changed from a five man midfield to a four one if you look at that we now have the players to play with five but not really with four.

We can afford to let Stevie play in his best position but we don't do that.

We also only have one good enough striker, so why play with the second one as a hard working attacking midfielder?

When we play with four in midfield then the more attacking one need to play more defensive and that don't suit Stevie. Play with five and he can have his freedom and cause trouble all over the attacking half.

I would change it back to 4-1-4-1 and play Stevie in his best position.

[Tom]

That run changed the game though.He is a match winner and if he was'nt taken off he would have won it for us.Rafa had it in his head to take him off no matter what I think.

Taking Gerrard off and leaving Momo on until the 87th minute was crazy especially against ten men.Rafa was poxed yesterday.

nonsense. we won because of "poxy" rafa, what a load of old tosh.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

if he was'nt taken off he would have won it for us.

You can't say that with any certainty. He might have he might not have.

Where I will agree is that he was a billion times more likely to score or create a goal for us than Sissoko.

So in that sense it was a bizarre substitution, especially so playing against 10 men.