Gerrard on the right???

[Subby]

Torres - Crouch
Babbel - Mach - Alonso - Gerrard


I know it's not Gerrard's fav position but we got no one on the right that's anyway decent...Pennant's so so just now but what about trying Gerrard on the right again?

we can't do any worse than we're doing just now with him in the middle

comments???

[dww]

I think it is his best position in a Rafa formation to be honest and have said so many times. It relies on the other winger or one of the forwards intelligently moving over to his wing though. For that reason I'd play Benayoun rather than Babel in your formation.

Gerrard however seems to actively dislike playing there now and when asked to camps himself too centrally which ****s up the balance of the team. So ultimately the decision has to be made in consultation with him and he has to be convinced (again) to do the best for the team not himself.

[Shaggy]

I think it is his best position in a Rafa formation to be honest and have said so many times. I relies on the other winger or one ofthe forwards intelligently moving over to his wing though. For that reason I'd play Benayoun rather than Babel in your formation.

Gerrard however seems to actively dislike playing there now and when asked to camps himself too centrally which ****s up the balance of the team. So ultimately the decision has to be made in consultation with him and he has to be convinced (again) to do the best for the team not himself.

[Barnyard]

Torres - Crouch
Babbel - Mach - Alonso - Gerrard


I know it's not Gerrard's fav position but we got no one on the right that's anyway decent...Pennant's so so just now but what about trying Gerrard on the right again?

we can't do any worse than we're doing just now with him in the middle

comments???

Definately, definately, definately, definately.

[andyinswinton]

I agree but would even settle for just starting Crouch up front with Torres.

[the rev leeroy brown]

gerard on the right? NO!!!

when will this debate ever end? his best position is in the middle of the pitch. he is needed in the middle of the pitch. put him on the right and we then have no-one to attack from the centre and go back to the masher-alonso partnership which would get any goals. lucas isnt ready for a sustained run in that position so for me gerard has to stay central.

[-V-]

Only against crap teams. It mixes things up in midfield and we can do good against poorer opposition. But in the big games he must be in the middle

[paulcooper4]

If Rafa thinks his best position is on the right (which he does, and I agree with him) then just tell the sulking **** to play there, and stay out there.

If he doesnt like it, or gets his mates to go whingeing to the papers again, then he knows where the door is.

Im the man, my arse.

[Maxiedge]

Torres - Crouch
Babbel - Mach - Alonso - Gerrard


I know it's not Gerrard's fav position but we got no one on the right that's anyway decent...Pennant's so so just now but what about trying Gerrard on the right again?

we can't do any worse than we're doing just now with him in the middle

comments???

That's a pretty darn good sextet of talent there. They just need to relax a bit, relieve the tension and play their game.

[Joe King]

If Rafa is to play a 4-2-3-1 system, then playing Gerrard on the right of the 3 wouldn't be bad. It would be difficult for him to be picked up by a marker and can have the freedom to cut in and cause damage.

It is essential when playing the 3, that they can all roam and interchange with each other and Gerrard has the ability to do that. If Rafa is to stick with a 4-4-2, then Gerrard will sulk if he is to be playing on the right.

[Maxiedge]

You also have the option of tactically mixing it up with a few wingers on the bench.

[CAD]

Gerrard on the right destroy the balance completely. It will never take us where we wanna go. We might beat Sunderland with this twisted formation but the big teams will shut us down like a jewish bazaar in old Hitler Germany.

Regards Tomasij and CAD

[Joe King]

Gerrard on the right destroy the balance completely. It will never take us where we wanna go. We might beat Sunderland with this twisted formation but the big teams will shut us down like a jewish bazaar in old Hitler Germany.

Regards Tomasij and CAD

4-2-3-1 is probably the most successful system Rafa has ever employed. He knows this system in and out and Gerrard playing the middle is IMO destroying the balance. He dozes off at times and leaves gaps for other teams to expose.

Gerrard on the right of the 3 or in the middle of the 3 might the successful way to go.

[dww]

gerard on the right? NO!!!

when will this debate ever end? his best position is in the middle of the pitch. he is needed in the middle of the pitch. put him on the right and we then have no-one to attack from the centre and go back to the masher-alonso partnership which would get any goals. lucas isnt ready for a sustained run in that position so for me gerard has to stay central.

The debate won't end because the answer isn't clear. If he has a free role based on the right he can still attack from the centre and he has less defensive duties to do. For me the wide positions suit his longer balls more as the angle makes them more likely to be dangerous and less likely to give the ball to the opposition in key areas when misjudged. He may give extra drive in central midfield but he is also more wasteful of possession that area than our alternatives.

The answer is only partly about what gets the best out of Gerrard and is mostly about what gets the most out of a team that contains Gerrard.

By having a threat on one of the wings we open up the play more and this will allow other players to be a threat. I also think that people over estimate the importance of having central midfielders contribute goals and assists - last time I checked all of Uniteds CM options had a total of 1 goal and 3 assists in the league. We obviously don't have their potency in the wings but with Gerrard there we would have more than we do now and we sacrifice little goal threat in doing so.

In reference to the argument of balance I think that comes down to other players moving intelligently to fill gaps. If Kuyt does one thing well it is to fill gaps left by others. Alternatively it would suit the instincts of Babel or Benayoun to start centrally and move wide right at times.

Mascher and Alonso is also the natural partnership in the middle to control the game and keep possession which is the pattern of play which has seen us be most successful under Rafa.

[Jazzmaster]

The debate won't end because the answer isn't clear. If he has a free role based on the right he can still attack from the centre and he has less defensive duties to do. For me the wide positions suit his longer balls more as the angle makes them more likely to be dangerous and less likely to give the ball to the opposition in key areas when misjudged. He may give extra drive in central midfield but he is also more wasteful of possession that area than our alternatives.

The answer is only partly about what gets the best out of Gerrard and is mostly about what gets the most out of a team that contains Gerrard.

By having a threat on one of the wings we open up the play more and this will allow other players to be a threat. I also think that people over estimate the importance of having central midfielders contribute goals and assists - last time I checked all of Uniteds CM options had a total of 1 goal and 3 assists in the league. We obviously don't have their potency in the wings but with Gerrard there we would have more than we do now and we sacrifice little goal threat in doing so.

In reference to the argument of balance I think that comes down to other players moving intelligently to fill gaps. If Kuyt does one thing well it is to fill gaps left by others. Alternatively it would suit the instincts of Babel or Benayoun to start centrally and move wide right at times.

Mascher and Alonso is also the natural partnership in the middle to control the game and keep possession which is the pattern of play which has seen us be most successful under Rafa.

Absolutely. Id like to see the option at least explored once in a while by rafa.