Gerrard on the right???

[paulcooper4]

Gerrard can start playing where hes ****in told, and with a big ****in cheezy grin on his face cos hes so happy to play, otherwise he can **** off

[Alpha]

The only reason I would choose to play Gerrard on the right is if Lucas develops to be a more effective option in Stevie's preferred central position.

We've been down this road so many times before and for me is clear that playing Gerrard from the right is no more than a compromise.

[paulcooper4]

The only reason I would choose to play Gerrard on the right is if Lucas develops to be a more effective option in Stevie's preferred central position.

We've been down this road so many times before and for me is clear that playing Gerrard from the right is no more than a compromise.

its only a compromise when hes allowed to get away with ****ing the right side off and still come into the middle all the time. If he does as hes told and stays out there he is the best right sided midfielder on the planet.

All his attributes are geared towards playing there.

when he plays in the middle he doesnt have the tools to boss a game. Yes he goes on spectacular surging runs now and again and scores big ****-off boss goals but most of the time he goes missing. He NEVER dictates the centre of midfield and bosses it. Not a criticism, just a fact that the qualities he has arent suited to him doing this. Also, because of this he stifles whoever is partnering him there because whoever it is has to literally just sit in front of the back four to plug the multitude of leaks coming from where stevie should be dominating things.

When he`s on the right it doesnt matter if he goes awol, in fact its a good thing, because the full backs take there eyes off him for a minute and he destroys them.

The goals he scores from centre mid, he will score from right mid, probably more in fact, but it wont be at the expense of losing so much ground in the centre.

[darkstar]

its only a compromise when hes allowed to get away with ****ing the right side off and still come into the middle all the time. If he does as hes told and stays out there he is the best right sided midfielder on the planet.

All his attributes are geared towards playing there.

when he plays in the middle he doesnt have the tools to boss a game. Yes he goes on spectacular surging runs now and again and scores big ****-off boss goals but most of the time he goes missing. He NEVER dictates the centre of midfield and bosses it. Not a criticism, just a fact that the qualities he has arent suited to him doing this. Also, because of this he stifles whoever is partnering him there because whoever it is has to literally just sit in front of the back four to plug the multitude of leaks coming from where stevie should be dominating things.

When he`s on the right it doesnt matter if he goes awol, in fact its a good thing, because the full backs take there eyes off him for a minute and he destroys them.

The goals he scores from centre mid, he will score from right mid, probably more in fact, but it wont be at the expense of losing so much ground in the centre.

I agree totally. I can count more matches with him getting totally lost and running around the pitch like a chicken with his head cut off, then matches where he has been focused on doing his set duties. The only way Gerrard could play center is if he had two supporting central midfielders behind him, which destroys any wide play. I think the biggest problem with Gerrard is he tries to do too much, and does not stay focused on the tasks assigned to him.

[badpiggy]

its only a compromise when hes allowed to get away with ****ing the right side off and still come into the middle all the time. If he does as hes told and stays out there he is the best right sided midfielder on the planet.

All his attributes are geared towards playing there.

when he plays in the middle he doesnt have the tools to boss a game. Yes he goes on spectacular surging runs now and again and scores big ****-off boss goals but most of the time he goes missing. He NEVER dictates the centre of midfield and bosses it. Not a criticism, just a fact that the qualities he has arent suited to him doing this. Also, because of this he stifles whoever is partnering him there because whoever it is has to literally just sit in front of the back four to plug the multitude of leaks coming from where stevie should be dominating things.

When he`s on the right it doesnt matter if he goes awol, in fact its a good thing, because the full backs take there eyes off him for a minute and he destroys them.

The goals he scores from centre mid, he will score from right mid, probably more in fact, but it wont be at the expense of losing so much ground in the centre.

you should talk sense more often. definitive post on SG as far as i'm concerned.

is there any possibility that rafa saw SG and dani alves at right back as the most potentially devastating right side in football?

[paulcooper4]

you should talk sense more often. definitive post on SG as far as i'm concerned.

is there any possibility that rafa saw SG and dani alves at right back as the most potentially devastating right side in football?

If I ignore the patronising first line and just go to the second, then yes, I think he did see that as his right hand side. What a ****in right hand side that would have been

[JPK]

Gerrard should be our Ronaldo.Play or the right but drift in and go at fullbacks with pace.
He would easily get 20 goals again

[Red_Polo]

Noooooooooooo!

When you're playing **** it's time to get back to basics. Put your best players in their best positions, nay ROLES, and tell them to go out and play more or less on instinct, show a bit of tenacity. When they start playing well we can talk about tinkering and deciding whether putting one of the finest CM players in the world out wide is best for the team. Especially considering Yossi's been doing fairly nicely out there anyway.

[paulcooper4]

Noooooooooooo!

When you're playing **** it's time to get back to basics. Put your best players in their best positions, nay ROLES, and tell them to go out and play more or less on instinct, show a bit of tenacity. When they start playing well we can talk about tinkering and deciding whether putting one of the finest CM players in the world out wide is best for the team. Especially considering Yossi's been doing fairly nicely out there anyway.

I agree with you mate on the best position bit, were not as far off as it seems, we only differ in what we think is his best position. As for yossi, he would be on the left for me, he likes to come infield anyway so at least then he would be shooting with his favoured foot

[dww]

I'm with Coops on this one. Although I would say that it is to some degree formation dependent what Gerrards best position is. It is clearly not in the role Rafa plays his two central midfielders (i.e. deep and asked to control possession).

[Red_Polo]

I agree with you mate on the best position bit, were not as far off as it seems, we only differ in what we think is his best position. As for yossi, he would be on the left for me, he likes to come infield anyway so at least then he would be shooting with his favoured foot

Yossi does come inside a hell of a lot, thing is at least on the right the fullback's got to worry about him going outside too, on the left it's obvious where he's going.

As for Ste, no way is his best position RM, nooooo way. He's best in a flat CM but being the one with licence to go forward at will. Most of his matchwinning performances have come from that role. It kills me to see him playing some bizarre role where the other CM moves ahead of him a fair bit. He only seems to be given a role that gets the best out of him in the final 20 mins of each game.

There's definitely an argument that he's not the kind of CM Rafa ideally wants, but I think it's down to Rafa to be less rigid in his philosophy and get the most out of a great player, as a great manager should. Not for Gerrard, for the team.

[Red_Polo]

I'm with Coops on this one. Although I would say that it is to some degree formation dependent what Gerrards best position is. It is clearly not in the role Rafa plays his two central midfielders (i.e. deep and asked to control possession).

If that's the case though, Rafa's putting primacy on his ideas unnecessarily. Kuyt is not Aimar and Gerrard is not Baraja, I think Rafa needs to spend less time trying to make them those type of players and more time building a successful framework which embraces the players we do have.

[Skillz]

Although I like SG on the right I think we should give Pennant more time on the right. He was good early this season and has shown some good signs. A lot seem to have already decided he can't do the job there for us but I am still undecided. He has shown enough potential IMO. Needs to improve in certain areas without doubt but he does cause problems.

[dww]

If that's the case though, Rafa's putting primacy on his ideas unnecessarily. Kuyt is not Aimar and Gerrard is not Baraja, I think Rafa needs to spend less time trying to make them those type of players and more time building a successful framework which embraces the players we do have.

I think the framework in which he works best in a Rafa team is as one of a fluid three behind the main striker. The problem is the best choices for the other two slots offer little in terms of hold up play or goal threat - although maybe Yossi and Babel could develop both.

Therefore I think the best compromise is to have Gerrard starting right side.

I think the only way Gerrard could be played centrally in a flat 4-4-2 for a top team is to have strong wide players for him to hit with his passes. We can't offer that so we have to look for another option.

[CAD]

Gerrard - doesn't stay wide. No balance.
Alonso - has zero drive as a creative midfield.
Pennant has more pace and better crosses than Gerrard.
Gerrard has the force and drive we need at the center of the park.
I could see Gerrard on the right but then Lucas would have to develop A LOT first.

Alonso is not the answer. Way too little drive and ambition to play advanced CM. Forget it!