What to do with a problem like Gerrard?

[cream]

The Gerrard problem was solved by Benitez. We all know what the answer is.

[souliv]

There is no way Hodgson is going to change from 442 I reckon it will be the same team as Wednesday with maybe Agger and Aurelio in but still Meireles on the right, would be shocked if we lined up with Gerrard behind Torres and lucas and Meireles in the middle.

[Exiled_red]

There is no way Hodgson is going to change from 442 I reckon it will be the same team as Wednesday with maybe Agger and Aurelio in but still Meireles on the right, would be shocked if we lined up with Gerrard behind Torres and lucas and Meireles in the middle.

I agree, unfortunately

[saj]

Whilst you fella's are checking the stats how many assists did he provide when playing out wide, because so long as someone's scoring goals it doesn't much matter whether that someone is SG or AN other.

Either would be welcome right now.

You've just pwned again . In the season where he played a number of games on the right (2005/06), he got 6 assists in the premier league.

In the 2008/09 season where he played in the hole behind Torres, he got 10 assists. Incredibly, Dirk Kuyt got 9 assists that season too.

Assists by Gerrard in the premier league per season:

2005/06 = 6
2006/07 = 7
2007/08 = 11
2008/09 = 10
2009/10 = 7

The stats indicate he provides more assist when playing through the middle and especially in the hole, a position which he has played since 2006.

You can check all stats here:

http://www.premierleague.com/page/St...,12306,00.html

[Craig_H]

Play him behind Torres.


Close thread.

[Craig_H]

If we play 4-4-2 then he really doesn't get into the starting XI in central midfield. Then you can discuss who is the best option on the right or left. If we signed up better wide players then he would simply not be good enough to start the games.

It's only when we play with attacking midfielders or second strikers that he get into the starting XI.

Lucas and Meireles first choice central midfield.

As I said so many times before. Gerrard isn't a must. We often play better without him. He is a very good player but he is on the way down.

The problem is that he can't do what many other players do when they get older and change position in the starting XI. He isn't good enough to do that.

When we sign up better wide players then his time is up.

You can take Scholes as an example. He played attacking midfield and now play in central midfield. That is a step Gerrard isn't good enough to do.

It's second striker or attacking midfield that counts for the rest of his career.

Yeah, cos Lucas is better than him, isnt he?

Dont get me wrong arn, i like you, but you're a master of revisionism.

[dww]

Yeah, cos Lucas is better than him, isnt he?

Dont get me wrong arn, i like you, but you're a master of revisionism.

I actually think he has a valid point here. Perhaps when he was younger his energy could compensate for his lack of discipline but nowadays more often than not Gerrard is a liability, or at least presents problems that others have to cover for in CM.

Perhaps it is a case that we don't have a partner of the quality and with the qualities to partner Gerrard but as it stands playing Gerrard in CM weakens the team in my view.

No one is claiming this makes Lucas a better player that Gerrard.

[Craig_H]

You must've done superbly at your exams mate.

[Rich]

Agree with Dave and Arn. Gerrard is obviously a better footballer than Lucas but any positional sense Stevie might have had in the past seems to have totally disappeared from his play.

IF we had a Hamann clone then perhaps this wouldn't be an issue but seeing as we can pick from Lucas, Meireles, and Poulsen then we're in trouble as only Poulsen remotely plays the same role as Hamann (just a lot, lot worse). Therefore, the Lucas/Meireles partnership IMO is our strongest central two at the current time.

[Cormack74]

You've just pwned again

In the season where he played a number of games on the right (2005/06), he got 6 assists in the premier league.

In the 2008/09 season where he played in the hole behind Torres, he got 10 assists. Incredibly, Dirk Kuyt got 9 assists that season too.

Assists by Gerrard in the premier league per season:

2005/06 = 6
2006/07 = 7
2007/08 = 11
2008/09 = 10
2009/10 = 7

The stats indicate he provides more assist when playing through the middle and especially in the hole, a position which he has played since 2006.

I assume a good number of those were assists for FT to score. I think that says as much about Torres as it does Gerrard TBH.

How many assists would SG have had if he'd been firing the ball in to Torres from the right wing instead of through the middle?

I doubt it would be any less.

[Paul12]

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

Agreed. People seem to forget that Rafa knew what he was doing!

[Redspin]

I assume a good number of those were assists for FT to score. I think that says as much about Torres as it does Gerrard TBH.

How many assists would SG have had if he'd been firing the ball in to Torres from the right wing instead of through the middle?

I doubt it would be any less.

The records I use show that Gerrard got 9, not 10, assists that the previous poster mentioned for that season. Kuyt also got 9.

In fact your assumption is incorrect. Gerrard provided just 1 assist to Torres that season when playing in the hole. Kuyt, playing mostly on the right, provided two assists for Torres, while also scoring 12 league goals himself.

Ten players in all provided assists to Torres, which says a lot for his movement, positioning and reading of situations to make himself available

[lucas]

Play him behind Torres.


Close thread.

Couldn't agree more!

[Drago]

The records I use show that Gerrard got 9, not 10, assists that the previous poster mentioned for that season. Kuyt also got 9.

In fact your assumption is incorrect. Gerrard provided just 1 assist to Torres that season when playing in the hole. Kuyt, playing mostly on the right, provided two assists for Torres, while also scoring 12 league goals himself.

Ten players in all provided assists to Torres, which says a lot for his movement, positioning and reading of situations to make himself available

This isnt true. off the top of my head without looking at stats i remember a great through ball against newcastle and a corner taking against man city. both assists from gerrard to nando when playing in the hole. There is probably more

[Armchairkopite]

Quite simply we need a manager with balls that can control Gerald and Carragher, both have far too much power for my liking.

Players Play.