Jay Spearing

[ronanm]

I frankly dont think Gerrard can do it eitherThere was a good reason why Rafa moved Gerrard forward and gave him less defensive responsibilities

I worry about the centre of our defence no of the current lot can do that holding role to even 50% of the level we would require

I wonder about going to 5 at the back short term as this would then place a little less emphasis on the need for protection from a holding player

Other than that I'm bereft of ideas I dont think Henderson or Shelvey in there will do anything either

I agree. He seems to have resorted to solely playing Holywood balls, which became Bollywood balls and are now simply balls.

[Fernandinho]

I actually think Gerrard was pretty **** too anyway...

[Imy]

Souness has always said that Gerrard shouldn't play central midfield (this was especially true when the media had a bee in it's bonnet that Rafa wasn't playing him there). Souness always says that Gerrard emptied the central midfield to quickly, got to say i agree, i don't think he has the discipline to play there. Gerrard's best position was where Rafa played him, behind a central striker or to the right.

[Rich]

Souness has always said that Gerrard shouldn't play central midfield (this was especially true when the media had a bee in it's bonnet that Rafa wasn't playing him there). Souness always says that Gerrard emptied the central midfield to quickly, got to say i agree, i don't think he has the discipline to play there. Gerrard's best position was where Rafa played him, behind a central striker or to the right.

A huge problem which needs addressing.

There is no surprise that both Kenny and Hodgson immediately moved Stevie back into the 'hub' of things.

Gerrard craves playing there - God only knows why, by far his best period was when Rafa played him further forward.

[Lecter]

Souness has always said that Gerrard shouldn't play central midfield (this was especially true when the media had a bee in it's bonnet that Rafa wasn't playing him there). Souness always says that Gerrard emptied the central midfield to quickly, got to say i agree, i don't think he has the discipline to play there. Gerrard's best position was where Rafa played him, behind a central striker or to the right.

Souness was a superb central midfielder he knew when to hold, when to push on

He dominated opposition midfields on his own and had the ability and presence to dictate the game and the tempo

He had it all the positional sense and also the physique and skill

Gerrard to me is the better player but not the better central midfield player

[Shaggy]

**** me

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdCSCD0wiPU"]The Lucas Leiva Show - YouTube[/ame]

[Lecter]

The very interesting thing about that footage for me is that he is really good as a holding player but look how high he is pressing the ball at times

He goes in makes a tackle and immediately sprints back into position and when teams counter he always seems to be in that pocket just in front of the back four

I know its very simplistic but boy have we missed him and sometimes it takes a player being out for you to realise how integral he is to teams ability to function as any kind of defensive unit

The loss of him compounded by the recent loss of Agger has hurt us badly imo

[Reece]

The very interesting thing about that footage for me is that he is really good as a holding player but look how high he is pressing the ball at times

He goes in makes a tackle and immediately sprints back into position and when teams counter he always seems to be in that pocket just in front of the back four

I know its very simplistic but boy have we missed him and sometimes it takes a player being out for you to realise how integral he is to teams ability to function as any kind of defensive unit

The loss of him compounded by the recent loss of Agger has hurt us badly imo

[Shaggy]

The very interesting thing about that footage for me is that he is really good as a holding player but look how high he is pressing the ball at times

He goes in makes a tackle and immediately sprints back into position and when teams counter he always seems to be in that pocket just in front of the back four

I know its very simplistic but boy have we missed him and sometimes it takes a player being out for you to realise how integral he is to teams ability to function as any kind of defensive unit

The loss of him compounded by the recent loss of Agger has hurt us badly imo

Massively, two of our very best players, and in the spine of the side.

Lucas is a world class central/holding midfielder and his cover is Championship standard. In arguably the most important position on the park, that is some drop in class.

And Agger's absence is being covered by Carra. Enough said.

[Pablo]

We miss him so much, yet your average "neutral" still thinks he's absolute ****e. A criminally underated footballer.

[JohnDoe]

What's happened to Lucas this season is so frustrating.

There he is starting to absolutely dominate games against City and Chelsea, makes me totally reconsider my stance on him due to his growth as a player. I remember myself thinking "If he plays like this every game, I will never ever criticize him again".

And the BAM! out for the season and in comes Spearing

[Lecter]

Massively, two of our very best players, and in the spine of the side.

Lucas is a world class central/holding midfielder and his cover is Championship standard. In arguably the most important position on the park, that is some drop in class.

And Agger's absence is being covered by Carra. Enough said.

I dont think you can under-estimate this personally

Lucas and Agger are integral parts to our team. We defend a higher line with Agger and Lucas provides so much cover and gives players like Gerrard and even lesser players like Adam (maybe not a good example) freedom

The loss of them both has compounded our problems

That said Kenny ****ed up by not getting in cover in January and not playing Coates over Carragher which would at least be damage limitation to a certain extent

[Lecter]

We miss him so much, yet your average "neutral" still thinks he's absolute ****e. A criminally underated footballer.

People use to think the same about Ronnie Whelan in the 80's

Hell even some Liverpool fans thought it

[Imy]

I dont think you can under-estimate this personally

Lucas and Agger are integral parts to our team. We defend a higher line with Agger and Lucas provides so much cover and gives players like Gerrard and even lesser players like Adam (maybe not a good example) freedom

The loss of them both has compounded our problems

That said Kenny ****ed up by not getting in cover in January and not playing Coates over Carragher which would at least be damage limitation to a certain extent

He also ****ed up in the summer buying two central midfielders, neither of which were defensive, neither of which were better or of equal quality to what we already had.

The mix in central midfield was always asking for trouble.

[Lecter]

He also ****ed up in the summer buying two central midfielders, neither of which were defensive, neither of which were better or of equal quality to what we already had.

The mix in central midfield was always asking for trouble.

Agree with the mix not being right