Stevie G

[Morph]

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.

Is there a deeper problem here tho, is it that Rafa can't use a 4 man midfield properly?

When he was at Valencia he played 4-5-1, and in this system Gerrard can play in the Aimar role, but because 4-5-1 doesn't seem to suit our team, we play 4-4-2, thus Rafa has had to learn new tactics for playing in a system with only 4 midfielders.

Thoughts?

[Shaggy]

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.

Some players are born to play for a massive club like us, some simply cannot cope with the expectation and the pressure. Unfortunately Pennant appears to fall in the 2nd category.

I hope to **** he suddenly turns it on and that by Christmas we're all delighted with it, but I don't hold out much hope at the moment.

[Bob]

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.

While i have no problem with that. That's not what i said - I do also think he one of the best CMs in the world, but i prefer to see him alongside Momo. Its not so easy as all that, it depends on other circumstances like players condition etc.

On no circumstances however should Gerrard be placed on the left to accommodate Pennant IMHO.

Gerrard will always give you something, and if we were hit by a spate of injuries and we needed Gerrard to do a job on the left then fair enough. I'm just not a fan of square pegs round holes for the sake of it. When there are clearly better options.

[red g]

on form and at the moment the only midfield to try is

Garcia Gerrard Sissoko Gonzalez

But that looks awfully lightweight on the wings

[Shaggy]

If we had a game tomorrow my midfield would be:

Gerrard Alonso Sissoko Gonzalez

And stick with it for a few games at least. Give Kuyt/Crouch a run together in tandem with this midfield.

[Bob]

Is there a deeper problem here tho, is it that Rafa can't use a 4 man midfield properly?

When he was at Valencia he played 4-5-1, and in this system Gerrard can play in the Aimar role, but because 4-5-1 doesn't seem to suit our team, we play 4-4-2, thus Rafa has had to learn new tactics for playing in a system with only 4 midfielders.

Thoughts?

I know your keen to impress upon me your fandabbydosey formations and maybe you actually have a point i.e. the four-man midfield is causing us problems. That said the players are more effective in that set up. Players were specifically brought in over the summer to provide us more width.

I feel Speedy has more potential for him that Pennant, and i'd like to see Rafa unleash him - first season or not. That allows Gerrard to perform on the right and hopefully he can capture last season's form again.

I'm a big fan of two up front. I'd hate us to go to one up.

Personally i fear Rafa still hasn't worked out an effective strategy for breaking down physical teams - that's worrying above all else, this afternoon. If i'm thinking this you can be sure Slur Alex has noted this as well and the likes of Reading etc will have a similar set up against us later in the season.

[Bob]

If we had a game tomorrow my midfield would be:

Gerrard Alonso Sissoko Gonzalez

And stick with it for a few games at least. Give Kuyt/Crouch a run together in tandem with this midfield.

Great minds - 100% agree!!!

[Shaggy]

Back on the subject of Gerrard...

Will someone, for the love of God, tell him to stop taking ****ing corners. He's a big strong six footer and should be in the box for a start, but if he hits the first man with another corner I think I'll spontaneously combust.

[Morph]

Don't know how many times I said that today, he really needs to stop taking corners. For starters he's ****e at taking direct ones, and can barely clear the first defender. Secondly as you say, he should be in there attacking the ball.

Gonzalez superb at taking them from the left, and can do the outswinging from the right. For inswinging i'd say it'd have to be Alonso, the benefit of both of these is that they aren't players you would expect to see attacking a corner.

Also have we dramatically changed something, because I recall Sami used to get a few from corners, but I can't recall the last time he scored with his head now. we must be doing something different.

[Farside]

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?

I think that is very true.

Gerrard is not a left sided midfielder. Pennant does not look like he is up to the right side so why not play Gerrard there. Play Garcia or Gonzalez on the left were they are more naturally suited to play.

Gerrard does not look like he his enjoying his football at the moment and I'm sure being forced to play out of position is a factor in this. It is just a matter of time before the papers start suggesting that Gerrard is unhappy. Then we will have the fans on his back demanding that he gives a statement saying that he is happy. This time I think he will not stay and Raffa will be glad to cash in on him.

[alunevans]

if the lads replacing him are playing well then its not really a problem for him to be out wide (tho on the right not the left which is bonkers in my view). but i think xabi has had only one or two decent games. he's really off the pace. quality player but not doing it at the mo.

while he's not, our central midfield is lacking gerrard's input.

i still can't help thinking that our summer buys didn't plug some of the gaps they needed to (for whatever reason) and thats why steven is being played on the flanks even tho he's not particularly good there.

[alunevans]

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

I put this to a friend of mine a couple of weeks ago. His response was why sell Gerrard it'd be self defeating.

But if he's already playing a centre midfield partnership that doesn't include Gerrard, then its a small step to asking "is he a 30 million quid left midfielder" and he obviously isn't.

Centre midfielder yes, but he's not worth close to that value when out on the flanks, especially the left one.

I don't see how we can replace Gerrard with anyone in the world at centre mid. But it'd be easy as pie to find wide players who are better than him in that position.

Given that investment never seems to happen from those rumoured to be investing in the club, its a valid point to raise.

If I genuinely saw Gerrard as my 3rd choice centre midfielder and so saw his role in the side as a right or even left midfielder then I think it'd be pretty easy to take the 30 million.

Bonkers though in my view. Like I've said before, its like persuading Jimi Hendrix to be in your band then putting him on tambourine.

[alunevans]

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

i don't mean to be overly disrespectful to the man, but am i the only one who, when Graeme Souness is asked "so what would you do if you were Liverpool manager?", not treat the answer with too much authority.

[paulcooper4]

i don't mean to be overly disrespectful to the man, but am i the only one who, when Graeme Souness is asked "so what would you do if you were Liverpool manager?", not treat the answer with too much authority.

the answer is, set rid of mcmahon and replace him with paul stewart

[alunevans]

the answer is, set rid of mcmahon and replace him with paul stewart

perfectly summed up