Stevie G

[Morph]

Okay so he's stated in interviews that he doesn't mind where he plays as long as the team is winning, only problem is we aren't winning (consistently). So say for arguments sake this current form continues and we finish 4th with Gerrard switching between the left and right flank throughout the season, does anyone else think he's going to be looking to leave?

Not trying to stir things up, but from his POV he must look back at the match today and wonder what he was doing on the left for large portions of the game, and it's going to really start winding him up sooner or later. Does everyone see a future for LFC with Gerrard in it or out of it.

Also does Benitez really want him? It seems he's shifting him all round the pitch to try and accomodate him in the side, doesn't exactly suggest to me that he commands a place in the team any more. On the flip side he is the only outfield player in the team to have played in all our prem games, so maybe it's just idle speculation.

Either way, I think the papers might start picking up onthis if we continue a poor run of form.

Oppinions?

[Shaggy]

No idea if it has anything to do with him playing in three different positions, but his form so far this season has been worryingly poor by his high standards. He looks a shadow of his usual mighty self.

And is it just me, or does Gerrard tackle and do 'the dirty work' a lot less than he used to?

[Bob]

My opinion is i'm all for being professional, but sadly if it was me in his boots i'd have lost it by now.

He's undoubtedly our best player and Rafa is taking the piss out of him. He's one of the best central midfielders in the world and Rafa has him on the left and drawing parallels with Ronaldinho's situation is pathetic.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

My opinion is i'm all for being professional, but sadly if it was me in his boots i'd have lost it by now.

He's undoubtedly our best player and Rafa is taking the piss out of him. He's one of the best central midfielders in the world and Rafa has him on the left and drawing parallels with Ronaldinho's situation is pathetic.

Completely right. I have every sympathy with him.

[Neza]

Agree 100%!!! He must really be frustrated and every right!

[Howard_lfc]

He's one of the best central midfielders in the world and Rafa has him on the left and drawing parallels with Ronaldinho's situation is pathetic.

I never watched the after show on sky after the Gala game the other night but I heard Souness slated SG's performance in CM.
Anybody see it?

[Morph]

So does anyone think Rafa is doing it on purpose to force him out of the side, to cash in on him?

Or does he simply not want to break up the midifeld pairing of Sissoko and Alonso?

[Bob]

I never watched the after show on sky after the Gala game the other night but I heard Souness slated SG's performance in CM.
Anybody see it?

Yes, seen both. He had a point. However what Souness failed to mention is Gerrard had been played all over the place in the previous games and can't get any consistency in his game.

I actually thought Gerrard did ok in the position, in the first half anyway.

[Morph]

I never watched the after show on sky after the Gala game the other night but I heard Souness slated SG's performance in CM.
Anybody see it?

I saw it, he didn't exactly slate him, but he just that the game was a perfect example of why he shouldn't play there, and if he did go up to Rafa to ask him why he wasn't playing CM, then all Rafa had to do was show him a video of this game.

[Bob]

So does anyone think Rafa is doing it on purpose to force him out of the side, to cash in on him?

Or does he simply not want to break up the midifeld pairing of Sissoko and Alonso?

Definitely the later. However, can someone take me through the rationale of having him on the left to accommodate Pennant - cause i'm at a loss. Xabi and Momo yes - Pennant, certainly ****ing not.

Right or center, i can not have it any other way.

[Morph]

Yes, seen both. He had a point. However what Souness failed to mention is Gerrard had been played all over the place in the previous games and can't get any consistency in his game. I actually thought Gerrard did ok in the position, in the first half anyway.

Agreed, but that was becasue we wer consistently attacking and everthing was going our way. After they made a few changes, we couldn't hold the game together in defense, because Stevie was backtracking enough, and doing the dirty work. Not saying he can't, but maybe he just forgot about these duties not having played there for a while.

[joyno]

I never watched the after show on sky after the Gala game the other night but I heard Souness slated SG's performance in CM.
Anybody see it?

yes i saw it,he said that Rafa should keep a video of the match and show it to Stevie as ammunition against him playing in the center,he also said Liverpool were much more vulnerable when Stevie played center and and a lot less when xabi and momo played there.i think that was it.

[Bob]

Agreed, but that was becasue we wer consistently attacking and everthing was going our way. After they made a few changes, we couldn't hold the game together in defense, because Stevie was backtracking enough, and doing the dirty work. Not saying he can't, but maybe he just forgot about these duties not having played there for a while.

Ach, i failed to also mention he was playing with Xabi, which was certainly a factor (defensively) - i'm aware of the opta stats that says Xabi's tackling is up there with the best of them. However i watch the games and i just don't see anywhere like amount of pressing and tackling Momo puts in during a shift.

Having Gerrard playing with Momo in the center would have been entirely different (against Galatasaray - they were good when we were on top, but struggled when Galatasaray got into the game). Xabi and Gerrard has been a partnership i've never seen click, or look like it has potential, unfortunately!

[REDSCOUSER]

yes i saw it,he said that Rafa should keep a video of the match and show it to Stevie as ammunition against him playing in the center,he also said Liverpool were much more vulnerable when Stevie played center and and a lot less when xabi and momo played there.i think that was it.

that is exactly what he said, he also said that for the benefit of the team Gerrard should stay on the right and keep xa & ms in the middle..the team is more balanced that way

[Neza]

So there is no actual place for Gerrard if you look like that. Only right midfield, absolutely not on left! So why doesnt Rafa just leave him on right as obviously Pennant cant do the job.