Gerrard on the right

[Morph]

one thing i don't really understand tho, it was plain to see that Momo was diabolical yesterday, yet he played right till the very end. Now i'm trying to understand Rafa's logic here and surely he must have seen us giving possesion away time and time again, what happens in his head exactly -

"momo's having **** game #53 for us (an estimation) it's causing us problems, i know I'll take Gerrard off because he's not playing with his brain (disregarding the fact that Momo wasn't playing with his brain or his legs), i'll bring Leiva on in his place because he has brains and push momo further up the pitch (where Gerrard would have been more usefull) where he'll contribute **** all except missplacing a few more passes, except this time around the oppo's box which will frustrate the fans even more."

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

one thing i don't really understand tho, it was plain to see that Momo was diabolical yesterday, yet he played right till the very end. Now i'm trying to understand Rafa's logic here and surely he must have seen us giving possesion away time and time again, what happens in his head exactly -

"momo's having **** game #53 for us (an estimation) it's causing us problems, i know I'll take Gerrard off because he's not playing with his brain (disregarding the fact that Momo wasn't playing with his brain or his legs), i'll bring Leiva on in his place because he has brains and push momo further up the pitch (where Gerrard would have been more usefull) where he'll contribute **** all except missplacing a few more passes, except this time around the oppo's box which will frustrate the fans even more."

TRCDNW brigade will have you for using such logic.

[JPK]

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.

Ok he was likely to so.Having faith and putting his arm around Momo and slating your captain who got us back in the game is odd though.

[JPK]

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

He was lucky.We would have been even better with Lucas and Gerrard on and especially against ten men.

He has balls though and it worked so he obviously knows his ****.

[Red_Al_77]

What was the point of getting Pennant then if we are going to play SG on the right? Perhaps Rafa should have gone out and bought a world class RW and then this issue wouldn't be raising it's ugly head again. SG through the middle every time for me. Also Rafa needs to get his transfer policy right in the next 12 months. CH, Striker and RW/LW of the highest quality please. Enough of these nearly players.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

Also Rafa needs to get his transfer policy right in the next 12 months. CH, Striker and RW/LW of the highest quality please. Enough of these nearly players.

Need reinforcements in January if possible.

[kopdan]

Simao?

[Frank Leroux]

Gerard on the right, seems to me, is Benitez placating the player and the fans.

I presume the discussion surrounding Gerrard and, specifically, the right is because he is right footed? From which I would further presume that proposers of this are expecting him to bomb down the wing, hit the goal line and swing balls into the box for our renowned headers of the ball to run on to....?

Play him on the left - if he plays at all - and let him come inside (as he will do anyway) onto his strongest foot.

There is no concensus at all as to what Gerrard's 'best position' is. There is a broad and growing belief that he is not disiplined enough for the middle. Benitez may actually think that out on the flank he can do 'less harm' than down the centre.

Frank.

[Frank Leroux]

Need reinforcements in January if possible.

Under Benitez.....

...if Gerrard can become more disiplined in his play (poisitionally, I guess) I would play him on the left with Babel on the right. The money would then need to be spent on an over-lapping full back as Finnan won't/can't do that.

I think Benitez rates his 'wingers' as much as he rates his 'forwards' (Torres apart) - they need to be multi-functional. If he wants his wide players to remain compact and posession-orientated I feel we already have the players. If he wants Stanley Mathews he'll have to change his whole philosophy...

Frank.

[AFII]

What was the point of getting Pennant then if we are going to play SG on the right? Perhaps Rafa should have gone out and bought a world class RW and then this issue wouldn't be raising it's ugly head again. SG through the middle every time for me. Also Rafa needs to get his transfer policy right in the next 12 months. CH, Striker and RW/LW of the highest quality please. Enough of these nearly players.

Rafa has tried to sign a few right wingers the last year.

Daniel Alves, Simao, Quaresma, Mancini and Cicinho but they have turned us down. Alves and Cicinho can play as a right midfielder without any problem.

Pennant will probably be off as soon as Rafa has a replacement lined up. The same can probably be said about Sissoko, Riise and Crouch.

[bigfooty]

...if Gerrard can become more disiplined in his play (poisitionally, I guess) I would play him on the left with Babel on the right. The money would then need to be spent on an over-lapping full back as Finnan won't/can't do that.

Finnan is capable of over-lapping but the problem is that, since the start of last season, frequently he's had Pennant ahead of him. Pennant lacks the defensive discipline to cover Finnan and often drifts infield which means someone like Finnan, who has awareness of his job on the pitch, doesn't over-commit at the risk of leaving us exposed to a counter-attack.

Yesterday was a prime example, with Gerrard apparently told to play infield Finnan was frequently isolated because nobody was stopping Lescott bombing forward to make it effectively 2 on 1 against Finnan.

[Frank Leroux]

Finnan is capable of over-lapping but the problem is that, since the start of last season, frequently he's had Pennant ahead of him. Pennant lacks the defensive discipline to cover Finnan and often drifts infield which means someone like Finnan, who has awareness of his job on the pitch, doesn't over-commit at the risk of leaving us exposed to a counter-attack.

Yesterday was a prime example, with Gerrard apparently told to play infield Finnan was frequently isolated because nobody was stopping Lescott bombing forward to make it effectively 2 on 1 against Finnan.

Didn't see (all) the game yesterday so I can't really comment on what went on yesterday...But if a player like Lescott is causing difficulties down a flank questions do need to be asked .

I'm not convinced Finnan is a 'naturallly' over-lapping full back. I don't think his close control is good enough and I don't think he has the inherent confidence in himself to carry out that role (unlike say A Cole, Lahm, Evra, Arbeloa, etc.)

Frank

[kopdan]

Finnan is more than capable of overlapping. A two footed full back, one of the first names on the team sheet. Shame we havent got a left sided version of him

[Guest]

Finnan is more than capable of overlapping. A two footed full back, one of the first names on the team sheet. Shame we havent got a left sided version of him

Superb player and one of the very best right backs in the league. He's been left exposed by Gerrard yesterday.

[Morph]

Rafa has tried to sign a few right wingers the last year.

Daniel Alves, Simao, Quaresma, Mancini and Cicinho but they have turned us down. Alves and Cicinho can play as a right midfielder without any problem.

Pennant will probably be off as soon as Rafa has a replacement lined up. The same can probably be said about Sissoko, Riise and Crouch.

Don't know about you, but I get the impression Rafa doesn't seem to keen to play with out and out wingers, the only reason i can think behind it is because it they are attacking up the pitch then they won't be further back defending. And for this reason he likes to us players like benayoun who'll never really take the ball to the by line but will work around the middle and contribute to the game more through the middle, same with Aurelio. With Pennant I feel he takes an edge off his game by asking him to track back a lot, and this is probably why he wanted to sign a player like Alves who is adept defensively also, and maybe why we don't see babel starting a lot of games.