What to do with a problem like Gerrard?

[kubrickscube]

Stevie G. Mr Liverpool, our most talented all round footballer for years..
is he holding us back?

Where is his best role?

Roving behind the front man like Rafa had him?
Wide on the right with licence to attack- and score a ton of goals?
Or in the centre?

It seems only Rafa knew what to do with him, and looking at how he's struggled in a number of positions in the England side and under Bodge- what can a new manager do to get the best out of our talismanic skipper? Will he have to shift back to Rafa's methods, or will gerrard adapt?

Do we still have to build a team around him and alter tactics to accomodate him?

[Pablo]

Play him behind Torres.


Close thread.

[Fosterbloke]

Sell him.

[Mattshark]

Play him behind Torres.


Close thread.

He lacks the discipline to play cm.

[Shaggy]

Play him behind Torres.


Close thread.

Simple as that. Forget CM. Lucas and Raul are fine there. If he doesn't like that then he knows where the door is.

[Drago]

Play him behind Torres.


Close thread.

This or on the right if we sign a better forward.

[ronanm]

4-1-3-1-1 would be my preferred formation, with SG off Torres by choice

[Cormack74]

Stevie G. Mr Liverpool, our most talented all round footballer for years..
is he holding us back?

Where is his best role?

Roving behind the front man like Rafa had him?
Wide on the right with licence to attack- and score a ton of goals?
Or in the centre?

It seems only Rafa knew what to do with him, and looking at how he's struggled in a number of positions in the England side and under Bodge- what can a new manager do to get the best out of our talismanic skipper? Will he have to shift back to Rafa's methods, or will gerrard adapt?

Do we still have to build a team around him and alter tactics to accomodate him?

Had his best goal scoring season from there plus we'd have pace out wide and decent crosses for FT.

[el matador]

this debate should be over by now.

he should be played behind torres. from that position he guarantees 20 goals and 20 assists (of which probably 19 for torres).

but for that to work, you have to have someone in midfield who can deliver the right pass into his feet. alonso was the master and sorry to say this but i dont think meireles' passing is that precise.

if gerrard moves up behind torres theyre going to have to find someone else to supply him the ammunition. maybe aquilani with another dog of war who's able to handle the midfield defensive work by himself.

[Drago]

I can't think of anyone that would be a great replacement for Alonso. A problem I'm sure Rafa had especially when he didn't have much cash.

[Exiled_red]

Return to 4-2-3-1 with Gerrard behind Torres. This formation will get the best out of all our best players not just Gerrard.

Reina
Johnson Agger Skrtel Aurelio
Lucas Meireles
Kuyt Gerrard Cole
Torres

[Red_Polo]

Play him behind Torres.


Close thread.

Had his best goal scoring season from there plus we'd have pace out wide and decent crosses for FT.

Scored most goals in a season when he played out side often, yes, but not necessarily because of it. I remember around that time someone did a breakdown of the goals he scored that season, and sure enough the overwhelming majority of his open play goals came from when he was played in a central role.

[Rich]

It ain't rocket science. He and Andy Gray might think he's a central midfield general but Gray also thinks Zonal Marking is ****.

Gerrard will not/cannot play a central role in a two - he isn't disiplined enough. Luckily it looks like Meireles and Lucas could become very useful as a two which means that Gerrard either plays on the right or further up the field and closer to Torres.

However, I'm pretty sure Gerrard wants to play CM and only CM so whoever replaces Roy has a VERY big (and potentially explosive) decision to make about our "captain fantastic".

[kubrickscube]

Return to 4-2-3-1 with Gerrard behind Torres. This formation will get the best out of all our best players not just Gerrard.

Reina
Johnson Agger Skrtel Aurelio
Lucas Meireles
Kuyt Gerrard Cole
Torres

I'd have to agree and say that with the players we currently have, that is our best lineup (although I'd swap Carra for Skrtel).

Problem is that when the midfield struggles, Gerrard goes back to help out and Nando is isolated all on his own.

This lineup also contradicts many people's call for pacey wingers though. Kuyt and Cole are always going to come in and get involved in the middle.
It's a headwrecker.

[saj]

Scored most goals in a season when he played out side often, yes, but not necessarily because of it. I remember around that time someone did a breakdown of the goals he scored that season, and sure enough the overwhelming majority of his open play goals came from when he was played in a central role.