The obligatory Stevie G thread

[Kopite_Colin]

I just don't get it. He hasn't scored since the first day of the season. "Once again"?

He's been in the middle for weeks and weeks, and has been ****e and not scored any goals. I don't see the point you're making.

The biggest factor in the goal was Crouch's introduction about 10 seconds earlier.

The point is...despite an other inept performace from him and the team..he still manages to change the course of the game. It isn't just about this season..his greatest impact comes throught he middle. Yes - you'ree right it WAS from a Crouch knockdown. But SG's shot just wide earlier and other breaks into the box shoow th impact he has there. He was the only one who looked likely again. And he delivered where it matters again, despite a poor performance. Yet people still want him out of the middle. It's laughable and shows just what short memories some people have.

[El Jefecito]

Good news: Torres is top class.

Bad news: the rest of our strikers and wingers are alehouse.

And anyway I don't agree with your analysis. Fact is Benitez is a negative manager, and we play dull lifeless football.

Wait till Xabi and Agger are back. Pop a couple of Prozac and you will be fine

[kurtangle01]

we've got 1 ****ing point, and we didn't even deserve it, we're an absolute ****ing disgrace

Yep. We talk a good game and give it the big un all the time. Just a shame that the majority of our lads forget all their big words and bottle it out on the pitch.

[naitizeh]

Good news: Torres is top class.

Bad news: the rest of our strikers and wingers are alehouse.

And anyway I don't agree with your analysis. Fact is Benitez is a negative manager, and we play dull lifeless football.

Aw come on! The team can play good attacking football and his buys this season have shown that. While he can be held accountable for not making changes when obviously needed, he can't be blamed for what his players do or don't do on the pitch.

[El Jefecito]

Agree mostly. But am also thinking that 442 ain't so bad if the CMs step up. Or it could be just me not wanting to pander to a single player.

If we play 442 though then there are two issues, either

1/ We drop SG and play 2 Rafa type CMs (which SG is not), or,
2/ We play SG in the hole, with his back to goals, which he is not good at.

4231 all the way for me!

[Kopite_Colin]

He can be held accountable for the 2nd rate players he's bought. Especially 2nd rate attacking players (Torres excepted)

[redblood]

stevie took his goal well- a brilliant header

the rest of the game he played like absolute **** to be quite honest.

he wasn't the only one, but lets not pretend he's anywhere near top form.

he is starting to show glimpses of it, but still nowhere close

yossi must play more for me.

Well said mate agree completely with all those points.

[naitizeh]

The point is...despite an other inept performace from him and the team..he still manages to change the course of the game. It isn't just about this season..his greatest impact comes throught he middle. Yes - you'ree right it WAS from a Crouch knockdown. But SG's shot just wide earlier and other breaks into the box shoow th impact he has there. He was the only one who looked likely again. And he delivered where it matters again, despite a poor performance. Yet people still want him out of the middle. It's laughable and shows just what short memories some people have.

I don't want him out of the middle. I just want him to play football, which is differently from just making an impact. Sustained impact is perhaps the phrase I'd prefer, preferably over 90 mins.

[naitizeh]

If we play 442 though then there are two issues, either

1/ We drop SG and play 2 Rafa type CMs (which SG is not), or,
2/ We play SG in the hole, with his back to goals, which he is not good at.

4231 all the way for me!

Option (1) for me then. I prefer games where we have a higher chance of sustained control without relying on one player.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

he can't be blamed for what his players do or don't do on the pitch.

Doesn't the manager sign and pick the team?

So that would be a yes then. He is responsible.

[marcus50bucks]

That total bollox mate.
He was far & away our best player. He hardly gave the ball away all night but as the game progressed he had to try more ambitious balls to unlock their defence. I can't believe any fan could criticise SG tonight. He's in a differernt class to any other player we have

What game were you watching fella. I think Sir bob, it was about time you took off your blinkers when watching Gerrard because I have noticed a pattern evolving when discussing his performances. You tend to see things that other people don't see in relation to Gerrard performances. To say he was by far the best player and that he hardly gave the ball away is ****ing laughable. ffs the number of times he hurrid his passes and tried the spectacular kill pass instead of being patiend and keeping it simple, was the most annoying thing for me in the game. He gave the ball away far to often

[naitizeh]

He can be held accountable for the 2nd rate players he's bought. Especially 2nd rate attacking players (Torres excepted)

Point. But I'm willing to cut Pennant and Babel some slack. But yeah, Kuyt and Voronin just weren't on today.

[naitizeh]

Doesn't the manager sign and pick the team?

So that would be a yes then. He is responsible.

Yes. But what if the players panicked and forget instructions, or even basics - for instance, like how to be more patient and wear down a 10-man team? Unless Rafa gets on to the pitch and give one-on-one tuition, then he's not responsible.... fine. not fully responsible.

[El Jefecito]

Option (1) for me then. I prefer games where we have a higher chance of sustained control without relying on one player.

But to me, SG is too good to marginalize. Admittedly, he is **** in a Rafa CM role, but in the right role he IS world class. Rafa needs to find a way to incorporate him without compromising the control from CM, which is the hallmark of how his teams have succeeded.

Again, I'd sacrafice a striker and go with 4231.

[marcus50bucks]

If we played him as an attacking player instead of a playmaker, we would be playing to his strengths.

Interesting points in some of your posts. What formation would benefit Gerrard? Please don't tell me behind the main striker because we've tried him there a number of times, particularly in the cl final and he was ****e.