Enough ?

[SRR]

Because the team were utterly ****!

OK, can't disagree with that

[Rich]

That means he was only mostly ****...

We were ****e but Lucas wasn't the reason behind it - he performed his job very well. Broke up play, passed well and simply, covered a huge amount of ground and generally played the DM position very well - it was going forward and in defence were the problems lie.

I don't think Mascherano/Lucas axis works but Lucas is on his way to becoming as effective as Mascher in the DM role. NB. I said "on his way".

[BillobShaisley]

Yeah but if you had a choice between Gerrard and Lucas even on current form who would you choose? And don't say Lucas.

If you've watched the last few games it would be lucas every time.

There's something that needs fixing with Gerrard, I don't know what it is but it needs doing fast.

[Craig_H]

If you've watched the last few games it would be lucas every time.

There's something that needs fixing with Gerrard, I don't know what it is but it needs doing fast.

IMO Gerrard's either not fit, or he's lost faith in the management and the lack of motivation has left him just going through the motions. Or both.

IMO of course.

[BillobShaisley]

He hasn't. He gets chances but he doesn't threaten the goal. True story.

Neither does Reina, but then he's not playing 2nd striker. Our problems are moving the ball around midfield and Lucas is doing that better than Stevie at the moment.

[BillobShaisley]

IMO Gerrard's either not fit, or he's lost faith in the management and the lack of motivation has left him just going through the motions. Or both.

IMO of course.

I can forgive him being injured, I wont forgive him if he's sulking or playing power games as that's essentially sabotaging our challenge, and because he been like that all season. It's his job to lead by example, support the manager and drive the team on, not mope about whatever he thinks privately.

[Craig_H]

I can forgive him being injured, I wont forgive him if he's sulking or playing power games.

I dont think it's necessarily deliberate but in an ideal world, it obviously shouldnt be happening. Human nature though.

I'd liken it to one of us being in a job we're no longer enjoying or achieving much success at, and we dont believe in the direction our bosses are taking us in, so we lack motivation, dont want to be there and just go through the motions, with an obvious major downturn in performance levels.

[Guest]

IMO Gerrard's either not fit, or he's lost faith in the management and the lack of motivation has left him just going through the motions. Or both.

IMO of course.

He's got a problem, it's been recurrent this season (the injury), that is obvious. He still pulls us out of a quagmire from time to time though, with his ability, but that doesn't excuse him of sulking if indeed he is also doing it, even through lack of motivation. As a captain, he should be the one leading every other ****er out there, not the one sulking.

[Craig_H]

In that respect, i've sometimes felt he's not the best choice for skipper. I think he can be a bit too emotional as a player and this impacts on his performances at times.

[BillobShaisley]

I dont think it's necessarily deliberate but in an ideal world, it obviously shouldnt be happening. Human nature though.

I'd liken it to one of us being in a job we're no longer enjoying or achieving much success at, and we dont believe in the direction our bosses are taking us in, so we lack motivation, dont want to be there and just go through the motions, with an obvious major downturn in performance levels.

He's captain and earning £120k a week, plus he's been doing it all season, i.e since we were going to win the league. I dont give a **** how he feels, man the **** up and lead or stop being such a billy big bollocks and hand Carra the armband fulltime!

[Craig_H]

He's captain and earning £120k a week, plus he's been doing it all season, i.e since we were going to win the league. I dont give a **** how he feels, man the **** up and lead or stop being such a billy big bollocks and hand Carra the armband fulltime!

I agree with all that in principle.

But in reality, no amount of money negates the human characteristics and whilst Gerrard is generally a strong character, he'd be a robot to completely not be affected by our plight at the moment. That doesnt make it right, dont get me wrong. But it's not something that i can say i'd personally be immune to, if i was in his shoes. So bearing that in mind, along with what a legend he's been for us, i'm inclined to try not to come down too hard on him over it.

[BillobShaisley]

If it was a recent thing I might agree, but as I say he's been like this since the start of the season. I think he's pissed that Xabi left (or possibly that he's not been allowed to have an operation and is thinking about the world cup) and has been sulking which has dragged down morale and confidence in the whole squad, that's not good enough from a Captain.

[Fan65]

Maybe it has something to do with Rafa's stand offish stance he has with his players.

He apparently expects them all to be ultra professional and not be in need of man management. Maybe Rafa cannot do that bit of the managers job, to put an arm around a player when he needs it, to chastise another because he knows that will inspire him. Read the stories about Shanks and Paisley, Rushie being told he doesn't deserve a wage rise only inspired him to prove Bob wrong (in his mind Bob knew what he was doing)

Gerrard doesn't come across as the sharpest so maybe in adversity i.e. nagging injury and loss of form he needs some cajoling and maybe he's not getting it therefore he sulks.

Or maybe that's all bollocks and I'm just clutching at straws and the rot really has set in between Rafa and the team.

I hope not.

Still, as fans all we can do is hope tomorrow is the day it starts to turn around.

[Maxiedge]

Neither does Reina, but then he's not playing 2nd striker. Our problems are moving the ball around midfield and Lucas is doing that better than Stevie at the moment.

No actually we can pass the ball around in midfield all day, mostly sideways. Our problem is a lack of goal threat and Lucas poses none.

[Guest]

No actually we can pass the ball around in midfield all day, mostly sideways. Our problem is a lack of goal threat and Lucas poses none.

Alonso didn't pose much of a threat either, that's why Rafa opted for a more attacking midfielder in Aquilani.