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

[Nick77]

He is the only footballer in the world who can play any position on the park & excel...

[the rev leeroy brown]

ste simply must play centre mid for now. lucas / poulsen is as bad as lucas / mash from last year. poulsen / meirles is an option but i'd prefer to see ste playing there cause we all know how good he is at centre mid and with joe cole we have a player who i reckon once he gets some game time with torres will have just as good a partnership as when ste plays with torres.

[Fierce]

ste simply must play centre mid for now. lucas / poulsen is as bad as lucas / mash from last year. poulsen / meirles is an option but i'd prefer to see ste playing there cause we all know how good he is at centre mid and with joe cole we have a player who i reckon once he gets some game time with torres will have just as good a partnership as when ste plays with torres.

It's like you've just totally ignored what 90% of the people in this thread have said

[the rev leeroy brown]

It's like you've just totally ignored what 90% of the people in this thread have said

yeh, couldnt be arsed reading what was posted already.

[Dessy]

It's like you've just totally ignored what 90% of the people in this thread have said

yeh, couldnt be arsed reading what was posted already.

The polls don't lie

[DannyMan2006]

Those who say Stevie can't play CM should remember that he used to be our best player week in, week out when playing there under Houllier. And that was as an inexperienced kid.

He just needs a top player to play in tandem with. Back then he had Hamann, had Masch stayed he'd have been ideal. But I think Poulsen can do the job next to Stevie, especially if we also had Meireles in front of them both. Midfield would look a bit more solid then, as well as having players in there who can pass the ball quickly.

As a poster has already said, Stevie could play anywhere on the pitch and he'd excel.

[Fredo]

Those who say Stevie can't play CM should remember that he used to be our best player week in, week out when playing there under Houllier. And that was as an inexperienced kid.

He just needs a top player to play in tandem with. Back then he had Hamann, had Masch stayed he'd have been ideal. But I think Poulsen can do the job next to Stevie, especially if we also had Meireles in front of them both. Midfield would look a bit more solid then, as well as having players in there who can pass the ball quickly.

As a poster has already said, Stevie could play anywhere on the pitch and he'd excel.

Gerrard is an attack minded player and we're better off having him further up the pitch, where he can cause most damage. He can play central midfield, there's no doubt about that, but his main qualities points to him being more effective in the position he has made his own under Benitez's tutelage.

[Shaggy]

Those who say Stevie can't play CM should remember that he used to be our best player week in, week out when playing there under Houllier. And that was as an inexperienced kid.

But it suited the system and the plan. Which, of course, was "counter attack, get the ball to Gerrard, through ball to Owen, hope he scores".

In a more tactically sophisticated set-up he's going to struggle in CM, hence Benitez, Capello and other far better managers than Houllier not playing him there. As you say he also had the expert insurance of Hamann.

[Fredo]

And Gerrard can't control a game, he's very good at 'shaking it' because of the explosive nature of his game and his goalscoring ability, but we need better than that. Aquilani was bought with that purpose in mind. I've seen him, even if it was on fleeting occasions, play exactly the way a modern central midfielder/playmaker should, thing that Gerrard wouldn't be able to sustain. Based on the descriptions that I've read of him (and the few times I've seen him), I'm not sure Meireles can either.

[Kenneth]

And Gerrard can't control a game, he's very good at 'shaking it' because of the explosive nature of his game and his goalscoring ability, but we need better than that. Aquilani was bought with that purpose in mind. I've seen him, even if it was on fleeting occasions, play exactly the way a modern central midfielder/playmaker should, thing that Gerrard wouldn't be able to sustain. Based on the descriptions that I've read of him (and the few times I've seen him), I'm not sure Meireles can either.

Aquilani couldn't control both eyes, nevermind a game.

[Dessy]

And Gerrard can't control a game, he's very good at 'shaking it' because of the explosive nature of his game and his goalscoring ability, but we need better than that. Aquilani was bought with that purpose in mind. I've seen him, even if it was on fleeting occasions, play exactly the way a modern central midfielder/playmaker should, thing that Gerrard wouldn't be able to sustain. Based on the descriptions that I've read of him (and the few times I've seen him), I'm not sure Meireles can either.

I'd have too disagree with the premise that SG can't control a game. He was a very effective CM in his earlier days, ok a little headstrong and go get em at times but nonetheless he set the mood and the tempo of many an LFC performance.

As attributes go he has them all and his experience and maturing years IMO would see him well equipped to be a great midfield general.

It would be far easier at present, given our squad, to find another player to play alongside or in behind Torres than it would to find a stand out CM to influence and drive our game.

For me a Poulsen/Gerrard CM pairing would be the way to go with Meireles/Cole in behind FT.

[badpiggy]

Why are people suggesting swapping Mereiles and SG into each others best position ffs ?

[badpiggy]

Up to 45% now believe his best position is CM? No wonder Lucas was voted MOM so often last season on here.

[Fierce]

Why are people suggesting swapping Mereiles and SG into each others best position ffs ?

I cant understand it either. I've never once read anything that suggested Meireles' best position is behind a striker?

[Shaggy]

Both Roy and Raul himself have said he can play "any of the three CM roles", which would suggest holding, box-to-box/orthodox CM, and attacking mid. Although I think you can be an attacking midfielder without necessarily playing tucked in behind a striker - a position which I don't expect to see Meireles in at all.