Garcia v Pennant v Gerrard

[Rich]

We were incredibly close to winning the title last season, we didn't through some things of our own doing, others that we had no control over, mainly:

* Chelsea were excellent again
* Man U scored for fun
* We didn't get enough goals from our strikers.

Fast forward to this season, it's looking like neither Man U or Chelsea are quite at the same level as last year - so instead of wholesale changes, we should be looking to get more out of our strikers. Therefore I'd keep the midfield nucleus that performed so well last year - Momo/Alonso with Gerrard roaming.

[CAD]

2/3 of Gerrards goals last season came while playing in the CM position.

[Morph]

where most of them in a 4-5-1 formation?

[DeeGame]

Garcia at RM. The notion that Gerrard isn't "tactical aware" or can't handle a CM position is kneejerk of the highest order. (I love kneejerk so it's all good)

Didn't Gerrard play CM with Hamann for two or three years? I want Gerrard in the middle where he belongs. To watch us play with, what is effectively, two defensive midfielders is just too painful. Momo/Alonso has four (4!) goals between them in 46 EPL matches. That's the CM that you guys push as the answer for this season? 8 points short of the big3?

I love it.

It not that he is not "tactical aware".

It is the fact that playing Gerrard in CM without 2 defensive midfielders mean he cannot be as creative as he would like to be, because he always has to remember his defensive responsibilities.

I prefer to see Gerrard given a free role to roam around the pitch and influence the game as much as possible. I would rather see Gerrard going forward than see him defending (and no i am not saying he cant defend).

We all know Rafa likes to have 2 defensive midfielders. Unless he changes to a 4-2-3-1 formation like below i cant see gerrard playing in CM.

------------reina-----------
--Finnan--Carra-Sami-Riise--
----------Momo-Xabi-------
----Garcia-Stevie-Kewell----
-------------Kuyt----------

[CAD]

where most of them in a 4-5-1 formation?

I'm not sure; I was trying to provoke you

[Morph]

good job

[CAD]

It not that he is not "tactical aware".

It is the fact that playing Gerrard in CM without 2 defensive midfielders mean he cannot be as creative as he would like to be, because he always has to remember his defensive responsibilities.

I prefer to see Gerrard given a free role to roam around the pitch and influence the game as much as possible. I would rather see Gerrard going forward than see him defending (and no i am not saying he cant defend).

We all know Rafa likes to have 2 defensive midfielders. Unless he changes to a 4-2-3-1 formation like below i cant see gerrard playing in CM.

------------reina-----------
--Finnan--Carra-Sami-Riise--
----------Momo-Xabi-------
----Garcia-Stevie-Kewell----
-------------Kuyt----------

Good shout Dee! Throw in Agger and you 'had me at hello'.

4-4-2 at Anfield with Alonso/Gerrard for me.

I think we should leave Momo out at Anfield against the 'easy' teams and bring him on at the appropriate time. After the first goal or 60 mins in or if the game turns out to be dense in Midfield and we need more power. Overall we have a lot of possession at Anfield and two DM seems like overkill.

[CAD]

good job

No, seriously. I'm not sure how many came in a 4-5-1 formation.

[Morph]

I figured, i'm willing to bet most of his central goals came from a 5 man midfield tho.

[DeeGame]

Good shout Dee! Throw in Agger and you 'had me at hello'.

4-4-2 at Anfield with Alonso/Gerrard for me.

I think we should leave Momo out at Anfield against the 'easy' teams and bring him on at the appropriate time. After the first goal or 60 mins in or if the game turns out to be dense in Midfield and we need more power. Overall we have a lot of possession at Anfield and two DM seems like overkill.

No i think we need two DM at Anfield even against the 'easy' teams.

Saturday versus blackburn highlighted why.

[fowlen]

Gerrard....no question about it.

I think Garcia is best playing in the whole where he needs less discipline and can try his flicks and fancy footwork all day.
Give Garcia any type of space around the box and he'll score, as he has shown time and time again.

Of the three options, I'd only play pennant down the right if there were no other options!

[Diego]

I do not think Garcia should be used on the left, certainly on the basis of Liverpool v West Ham this year. To my mind Gonzales, Kewell, Riise and Aurellio are all better wide left players.


Garcia is good behind a main striker or as a right midfielder.

my point was to use him as a left sided forward, in a 433 system, i think it could work...

[Charlie_B]

I'm curious as to what would happen if Pennant starts producing out there and makes a name for himself, where does Gerrard fit in?

He'll have to improve a lot to get to the point where he deserves to play; let alone deserves to play ahead f Gerrard.

I won't be holding my breath.

[Morph]

the joys of the word 'if'

[CAD]

No i think we need two DM at Anfield even against the 'easy' teams.

Saturday versus blackburn highlighted why.

It did? Please explain...