SG. Too big for his boots?

[thesilverfoxlfc]

Puh-lease

The others I shall give

[Guest]

I've been saying that for weeks.

[Guest]

This is a quote I picked up in an article in The Telegraph this morning.

One area in which he is right, though, is his view that Steven Gerrard is not disciplined in his positional play. Despite some poor performances recently, the Liverpool captain is an outstanding player who can greatly influence games as an individual, but is he the great team player and leader that he is supposed to be? Does he put the success of his club before his own aspirations and reputation?

Too many times I have seen him lose his positional discipline or fail to make recovery runs when the opposition counter-attack and, because of this, Benitez has continually played him in wide areas to render the team less vulnerable. As good as Gerrard is, he must play within the team structure every week. Sometimes a player can have too much influence at a football club, which unless handled carefully can undermine the coach and have a negative effect on subsequent success.

His substitution against Everton last week may have had the desired effect because his performance and discipline was vastly improved on Wednesday against Besiktas. If Liverpool fans disagree with that view, they should look at today's opponents and analyse why their spirit, league position and style have improved this season. The departure of Thierry Henry has certainly enabled a better team spirit and work ethic to develop. It seemed unthinkable to many that Arsenal would be better off without Henry, but they were held back over the last couple of years by his poor form and egotistical behaviour.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/10/28/sfntac128.xml

[AFII]

Xabi is the player Rafa usually gives his orders to.

Alonso understand Rafa very well and he also speaks Spanish for some reason just like Rafa so he will more easily understand what Rafa want to be done on the pitch. Xabi is the brain on the pitch.

That is the main reasons to why Xabi will more or less always be the player Rafa turns to.

[friedk]

Rafa was brave in taking Gerrard off at Everton because he would have been severely criticised had Liverpool not won.

But they did win, and I am not sure why Gerrard had to go and see his manager to ask why he had been subbed. Would Dirk Kuyt, Javier Mascherano or any other player do that?

I agree with that statement, it's really the height of arrogance.

[badpiggy]

...he is very much key to our success and was one of rafa's first buy so he must of been looking at him for awhile even at valencia.

what has happen to xabi though we no longer see the 40 yeard pin point passing that he done so many times in his first 2 seasons. when he plays with stevie he seems restricted and just lets stevie off to do his thing. i must say he doesnt play well with stevie lately

...the game rafa has him playing has restricted him i think he stay's too deep and just does some short passing now, nothing adventures anymore.

and something i have noticed is momo getting higher up the pitch and been in postions that really he should be nor has the skill to be. momo should start in front of the back 4 when he plays and xabi get more forward and influence the game better like he done the last couple of seasons.

i think you've hit a number of nails on the head there brother. but there's a lot of inherent criticism of rafa in there - is that intentional?

[Guest]

Steven Gerrard should play in a withdrawn striker's role behind Torres. It's a mystery why Rafa hasn't persisted with him there, as he played there in the CL final. Is it because Stevie didn't see him playing there in the long term ?

[AFII]

If Gerrard continue to moan then he will be sold even if he is the Captain. Rafa won't tolerate any **** from any player whatever his name is.

It's up to Stevie to accept the situation as it's or feck off.

[El Jefecito]

This is a quote I picked up in an article in The Telegraph this morning.



http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/mai.../sfntac128.xml

Post that in the SG too big for his boots thread. It is in a very similair vein to the piece by Bobby Robson.

[redlancer]

When Alonso plays he's the one constantly going to Rafa for instructions.

He is Rafa's player link to the game.

Stevie is captain only in name.

Everyone harps on about Stevie turning around games i.e. the Fa cup, CL etc.
Maybe he's only up for a fight once the chips are down - we shouldn't be getting in them positions in the 1st place.

When Alonso plays in CM with Masher he's more involved in the attack.

I'm like most i'd like to see Stevie playing behind Torres and along side Yossi and Babel.

Stevie can be our new Kenny, he'll never be Souness or even Mcmahon IMO.

[The Glove]

Robson for manager.

[AFII]

Robson for manager.

Newcastles problems started when they sacked him or rather Shearer sacked him.

Just shows what can happen when a player gets bigger than the club. Raul is another example.

[pezzzer]

the only reason gerra is captain is to keep him at the club

carra all the way for me baby!

[Icon]

Because Rafa has NEVER made any questionable decisions....

This is all bollocks - outside DK's pens SG was the only one to come close against the dark side, and he and Carra were the only bite in the team (until Yossi).

And we all remember how much Bobby Robson was admired for the first few years of his England career.

[dom9]

Spot on article.

I also agree with AFII's comments about Alonso.

I really don't think Gerrard is helped by the media though - Andy Gray in particular. I think he believe's his own hype, and that is sad.