Play SG in the middle or sell him

[Shaggy]

For what it's worth I think Gerrard will play the vast majority of games while Momo is out in the middle. Today was different, and I would have had him starting on the right today too.

In this run of supposedly 'easier' games, we should see him in the middle with Xabi...with the likes of Garcia and Pennant playing on the right.

[Diego]

For what it's worth I think Gerrard will play the vast majority of games while Momo is out in the middle. Today was different, and I would have had him starting on the right today too.

In this run of supposedly 'easier' games, we should see him in the middle with Xabi...with the likes of Garcia and Pennant playing on the right.

exactly, but with better team who have better midfield player, we can all see why he's putting him on the right, it's not cause he's the best rm, it's to give him some extra space and give him some time to attack instead of being tackling and strugling with gaining possessions...

[Red Chilli]

Shaggy, can you explain to me why you would have put Gerrard on the right today please.

[Shaggy]

Shaggy, can you explain to me why you would have put Gerrard on the right today please.

Because of a complete lack of options on the right side of midfield. NO WAY would I have started with an out of his depth Pennant, and Garcia is usually a liability in away games - especially on the right, which isn't his position either.

Zenden in the middle, coming off the back of an improved performance against Brum, was a marginally preferable option (to me) than either Pennant or Garcia on the right.

[Sir Bob]

Whats up with using Pennant on the right or Garcia. pennant did very well when he came on today. Surely he deserves a run in the side. Its not surprising he's struggling to show his best form, he only plays every other game at most.

As for Garcia, he's a European player only now. Rafa's obviously doesn't fancy him in the league as he's hardly played. I love Garcia but Rafa seems to have lost faith in him domestically. If thats the case, sell him to a spanish club. You can't have a player who the manager is so obviously reluctant to play in the bread & butter of league games.

[dww]

So what did people see when Gerrard played in the middle today that I missed. He looked every bit as poor there as he did on the right. If we play him in the middle then we have to either a/loose defensive cover in the middle or b/ accept that Gerrad will be more disciplined and add less to the attack. Rafa will not allow him a free role in the centre and unbalance the side.

If another player seemed as demotivated as Stevie when played in a position which although not their favourite allowed them to play to their strengths we would slate them, why is Gerrard immune from this criticism?

[Craig_H]

I'd give serious thought to a three man midfield of Sissoko Gerrard and Alonso.

I'm adamant that this is what Rafa wants to play ala Valencia but he hasn't the players for it.


------Reina
---Carra--Agger
-???---------Risse
--Sissoko-Alonso
-----Gerrard

-------Kuyt

The ???? could be filled by Alves and to me that side has the makings of a title challenger to me.

But will we ever see it?

If that's the system he wants, why buy Gonzalez and Pennant?

[Shaggy]

Whats up with using Pennant on the right or Garcia. pennant did very well when he came on today. .

You reckon? That one cross as soon as he came on aside, I thought his contribution was negligible.

Pennant had an absolute shocker in midweek, in circumstances when he really should have performed. That's why I'd have gone with Gerrard on the right, what with Zenden doing well in the same game.

[Red Chilli]

So what did people see when Gerrard played in the middle today that I missed. He looked every bit as poor there as he did on the right. If we play him in the middle then we have to either a/loose defensive cover in the middle or b/ accept that Gerrad will be more disciplined and add less to the attack. Rafa will not allow him a free role in the centre and unbalance the side.

If another player seemed as demotivated as Stevie when played in a position which although not their favourite allowed them to play to their strengths we would slate them, why is Gerrard immune from this criticism?

Because like it or not, Gerrard is the only world class player we have.

[Diego]

Whats up with using Pennant on the right or Garcia. pennant did very well when he came on today. Surely he deserves a run in the side. Its not surprising he's struggling to show his best form, he only plays every other game at most.

As for Garcia, he's a European player only now. Rafa's obviously doesn't fancy him in the league as he's hardly played. I love Garcia but Rafa seems to have lost faith in him domestically. If thats the case, sell him to a spanish club. You can't have a player who the manager is so obviously reluctant to play in the bread & butter of league games.

though pennant was piss today, had one or two moments were he showed something, but i agree with you he needs to play regurally to gain confidence, and i belive it will happen now with momo out and gerrard playing most of the games next few months in the middle...

as for garcia, i think it's ok to keep him, let him play home and european games, and as a sub at away games, we could have used him today...

[Shaggy]

So what did people see when Gerrard played in the middle today that I missed. He looked every bit as poor there as he did on the right. If we play him in the middle then we have to either a/loose defensive cover in the middle or b/ accept that Gerrad will be more disciplined and add less to the attack. Rafa will not allow him a free role in the centre and unbalance the side.

If another player seemed as demotivated as Stevie when played in a position which although not their favourite allowed them to play to their strengths we would slate them, why is Gerrard immune from this criticism?

Couldn't agree more. For me where Gerrard plays isn't the problem. He's been just as bad on the few occasions he's played in the middle as he has on the right - namely today for most of the 2nd half and Blackburn at home.

[Diego]

Because like it or not, Gerrard is the only world class player we have.

but if gerrard is best at midfield why did rafa buy momo, why didn't the gerrard alonso partnership work when they played together?

[Red Chilli]

Because of a complete lack of options on the right side of midfield. NO WAY would I have started with an out of his depth Pennant, and Garcia is usually a liability in away games - especially on the right, which isn't his position either.

Zenden in the middle, coming off the back of an improved performance against Brum, was a marginally preferable option (to me) than either Pennant or Garcia on the right.

But is it important to have a demotivated player giving options playing on the right at the expense of having a decent central midfield pairing?

[carheex]

So what did people see when Gerrard played in the middle today that I missed. He looked every bit as poor there as he did on the right.

but gerrard is usually awesome in the centre. maybe you think he should be sold?

[Red Chilli]

but if gerrard is best at midfield why did rafa buy momo, why didn't the gerrard alonso partnership work when they played together?

Hey, i'm not Rafa, he chooses the tactics. But Gerrard is the only world class player we have, and you know it.