Gerrard - his time has come as a CM...?

[Shaggy]

If Meireles is as good as we hope then I've no qualms playing him alongside Lucas (or even Poulsen). Gerrard is at his best and easily his most effective when he's closer to the opposition box/goal, not marooned in CM trying (and usually failing) to do everything.

When the Gerrard/Torres axis gets going they can destroy teams on their own. Lucas and Poulsen aren't really a problem individually, but they're a huge problem together. Get Meireles in next to either of them (preferably Lucas) and we can move Gerrard back to where he's most effective.

[DannyMan2006]

If Meireles is as good as we hope then I've no qualms playing him alongside Lucas (or even Poulsen). Gerrard is at his best and easily his most effective when he's closer to the opposition box/goal, not marooned in CM trying (and usually failing) to do everything.

When the Gerrard/Torres axis gets going they can destroy teams on their own. Lucas and Poulsen aren't really a problem individually, but they're a huge problem together. Get Meireles in next to either of them (preferably Lucas) and we can move Gerrard back to where he's most effective.

I've said plenty of times I'd be happy enough to play one of Lucas or poulsen in midfield. I also hope Meireles can play there as otherwise when Gerrard can't play we're screwed.

Players normally take time to adapt to the premier league though and we can't afford to wait for raul to adapt. Hence I'd likely give him a couple of games further forward to give him time to adapt and let gerrard look after the engine room.

I know Meireles can play the position, he hjust has to get a hang of the pace of the game.

[badpiggy]

All this is pointing to a huge amount of expectation being put on Mereiles. If he's as good as we hope then we might start to look like a totally different team. If he's ****e - and although I'm against this in principle - we'll have no option but to move Gerrard back into CM cos even though it's early days for Roy yet, I think it's safe to say there's a good chance we wouldn't even qualify for the Europa next year with a CM pairing of Poulsen and Lucas.

[badpiggy]

I'm also really surprised at the poll results. 43% think CM is SG's best position???!!! I'm no football expert but I think that's crazy. And totally wrong.

[Fredo]

Ludicrous isn't it? It's also testament to how bad our midfield is, that he's the one more apt to play there and dictate our game at the moment.

[Shaggy]

I'm also really surprised at the poll results. 43% think CM is SG's best position???!!! I'm no football expert but I think that's crazy. And totally wrong.

[dww]

If Meireles is as good as we hope then I've no qualms playing him alongside Lucas (or even Poulsen). Gerrard is at his best and easily his most effective when he's closer to the opposition box/goal, not marooned in CM trying (and usually failing) to do everything.

When the Gerrard/Torres axis gets going they can destroy teams on their own. Lucas and Poulsen aren't really a problem individually, but they're a huge problem together. Get Meireles in next to either of them (preferably Lucas) and we can move Gerrard back to where he's most effective.

I think you have to widen this out actually. A massive problem both this season and last has been that the wide players in midfield have none of the qualities needed to play out from deep - not the pace, dribbling nor the long passing. Added to that they all tend to come narrow making it harder for the central pairing.

I'd consider Cole and possible even Gerrard (in the way he was used at times early on by Rafa) for the wide positions at time.

I really don't like Gerrard in any role where he is asked to dictate the pace and areas of the game. He isn't good enough at it and his instinct is always for longer more penetrating balls or runs and more often there is a need for a little patience. He also seems to have favourites to whom he will distribute the ball and those he is notably less confident of which I think limits the options of a team.

[cream]

There is also the option of playing 4-3-3

--------------Torres-------------

---Cole-------------------Kuyt--

------Meireles----Gerrard--------

------------Poulsen--------------

Konc----Agger----Carra----Johnson

--------------Pepe----------------

[RichC]

There is also the option of playing 4-3-3

--------------Torres-------------

---Cole-------------------Kuyt--

------Meireles----Gerrard--------

------------Poulsen--------------

Konc----Agger----Carra----Johnson

--------------Pepe----------------

I like the look of this - it's quite a natural fit for the players we have at our disposal

[Rudo]

If Meireles is as good as we hope then I've no qualms playing him alongside Lucas (or even Poulsen). Gerrard is at his best and easily his most effective when he's closer to the opposition box/goal, not marooned in CM trying (and usually failing) to do everything.

When the Gerrard/Torres axis gets going they can destroy teams on their own. Lucas and Poulsen aren't really a problem individually, but they're a huge problem together. Get Meireles in next to either of them (preferably Lucas) and we can move Gerrard back to where he's most effective.

Couldn't have put it any better myself

In an ideal world Meireles will be able to hold his own along with Poulsen/Lucas h: and Gerrard will play ahead of them two, supporting Torres.

I'm sure in some games Gerrard can be used in Centre Mid as well.

[Rudo]

There is also the option of playing 4-3-3

--------------Torres-------------

---Cole-------------------Kuyt--

------Meireles----Gerrard--------

------------Poulsen--------------

Konc----Agger----Carra----Johnson

--------------Pepe----------------

Without doubt our strongest team on paper.

[Vermilion]

Torres has already said to his Spanish team mates that Gerrard is the best strike partner he's ever played with....get back to that... Torres will be smiling again.

[elrichio86]

There is also the option of playing 4-3-3

--------------Torres-------------

---Cole-------------------Kuyt--

------Meireles----Gerrard--------

------------Poulsen--------------

Konc----Agger----Carra----Johnson

--------------Pepe----------------

I said this yesterday, and got shot down because we lack width. To me, that worrying too much about what the other team are doing. These are our best players so we should find a system thats suitable for them. Plus you've got cover - Babel, Jova, Maxi and Pacheco for the Cole / Kuyt positions, and Lucas can cover any of the three CM positions (how well is an entirely different debate...).

[Fierce]

There is also the option of playing 4-3-3

--------------Torres-------------

---Cole-------------------Kuyt--

------Meireles----Gerrard--------

------------Poulsen--------------

Konc----Agger----Carra----Johnson

--------------Pepe----------------

I agree

It's basically the 4-5-1 that we've seen anyway, just with a more attacking mindset going forward. Think Gerrard would be the more advanced of the 3 midfielders which would place him behind Torres anyway, so not much difference. I do think that that side though means Cole has to play there, as there is, on paper anyway, no 'second/support striker' or whatever they're called these days

And of course we haven't been able to play that team together as yet.

Question marks for me would be whether Konchesky should be 1st choice above Aurelio, if fit anyway (answered my own question) and I haven't seen yet that Poulsen should displace Lucas

I said this yesterday, and got shot down because we lack width. To me, that worrying too much about what the other team are doing. These are our best players so we should find a system thats suitable for them. Plus you've got cover - Babel, Jova, Maxi and Pacheco for the Cole / Kuyt positions, and Lucas can cover any of the three CM positions (how well is an entirely different debate...).

[Reece]

I'm not sure how much of an issue a lack of width is, when you haven't really got any natural wide players. I can therefore see the 4-3-3 proposed above making sense.