The "Momo is nearly fit again/Gerrard at CM" thread!

[CAD]

Well, Momo is almost fit again and the big question is whether Rafa will keep Gerrard at CM or move him out wide again. For most people there might be pro's and con's. Not for me though.

Momo has managed two shots on goal and zero assists/goals so far this season. When we consider that he actually plays further upfield than Alonso when they partner up, I think that's beyond hilarious. Look at what Gerrard gives us from the CM position. How can anybody suggest that Momo/Alonso would be better?! 6 games and 4 goals since he reclaimed what should never have been taken from him.

In my view I think Rafa's decision will define the season. I see Liverpool as a static defensive side with Momo and Alonso at CM. Furthermore the ramifications of Gerrard being moved to to RM on a psychological level is unmapped territory.

I sincerely hope that Rafa will keep Gerrard at CM and together with Alonso and use Momo as a sub. It's how it should be. He's 21 and can become an asset over time. He is not Viera. He is not a great footballer. He doesn't compliment Alonso. He is too wasteful. He makes too many brainless runs. He doesn't get in the box enough. He doesn't have great vision at CM. He's even instrumental in Alonso dropping so deep that he completely disappears on the final 1/3.

I see Momo as the most overrated player in the entire squad, considering that he plays in such a vital position and what he has actually accomplished there. 56 games. Zero goals. One assist.

If Rafa opts to move Gerrard out wide again, I think that Momo is the biggest mistake so far during Rafa's tenure.

The defense rests!

[El Jefecito]

You feel really passionate about this don't you

[dom9]

He may not attack in the usual sense of the word, but he is an almighty pain in the arse to play against. He disrupts the opposition no end, never letting them settle.

To say he is the most overated player in the squad is plain bonkers. He is rated for exactly the job he is supposed to do - one which he does brilliantly.

The question is (one which has debated many times before, and which will continue to be debated ad nausium) is whether the team is better with Gerrard, in form (he wasn't in the first couple of months of the season), playing on the right with Momo in the middle, or whether the team is better with Gerrard in the middle with Momo or Alonso.

The question is not, whether Momo is a good player. He has proved beyond doubt that he is.

[Red Chilli]

I'm sure Rafa will move him out on the right again but I don't agree that this is the best option for the team. I haven't got 2 La Liga titles and a European Cup though

[Fierce]

I think your question is a valid one, but your criticism of Momo is unnecessary

He isn't a goal scoring midfielder, he is there to break up play, to marshall the centre of the park and to allow A.N Other central midfielder more freedom

The problem we have, is how to accomadate 3 central midfielders in a team that only has space for 2. Gerrard is undroppable, especially given his current form.

I'm not sure what the answer is, but for me Gerrard HAS to play centrally with either Momo or Alonso, depending on the opposition

Barcelona / Arsenal / skillful fluid teams = Alonso
Bolton / Blackburn slogger teams = Momo

[puredale]

Excellent post and it's very difficult to make a cogent case for the 'prosecution'. To keep the analogy going I'm going to offer a 'not proven' option.

We may see more combinations of 'three at the back' being used by Rafa. This would allow attacking 352 (Momo, Xabi & Gerrard + two wingers) or defensive 532 (Momo, Xabi & Gerrard + two wingbacks).

[Maestro]

He may not attack in the usual sense of the word, but he is an almighty pain in the arse to play against. He disrupts the opposition no end, never letting them settle.

To say he is the most overated player in the squad is plain bonkers. He is rated for exactly the job he is supposed to do - one which he does brilliantly.

The question is (one which has debated many times before, and which will continue to be debated ad nausium) is whether the team is better with Gerrard, in form (he wasn't in the first couple of months of the season), playing on the right with Momo in the middle, or whether the team is better with Gerrard in the middle with Momo or Alonso.

The question is not, whether Momo is a good player. He has proved beyond doubt that he is.

Good post, and a good thread.

What people seem to forget is that the TEAM is always the most important thing. People were giving Rafa stick when Momo got injured for playing Stevie on the right and Bolo in the centre,but seemed to forget the fact that playing Stevie in the centre meant playing Pennant (who at the time was playing awfully) on the right.It was a straight Pennant v Bolo debate, IMO.

It's a very tough decision, but I would stick Momo straight in, and have Stevie play on the right. SG is in form now, and I feel he is the best player for the right midfield position. I think the plusses of having SG in right midfield (over any other player) outweigh the minuses of losing him from the centre (and having Momo replace him). I think the original poster is very wrong about Momo being overrated. We all realise he's not the finished article, but he has been an immense player for us and has displayed his importance to the team on several occasions.

I wouldn't want to be Rafa, when it comes to this decision.

[Guest]

When is his come back due ?

[CAD]

Momo isn't even a goal threat. He makes Alonso look like a Gerd Müller.

I think that the most important arguments are:

Gerrard actually makes Alonso a better player and "pulls" him forward. The impact of Alonso on the final 1/3 is far greater when he teams up with Gerrard, compared to Momo.

Momo and Alonso together is simply too stale. Yes it's a solid defense but going forward it's stillborn. It demands too much of Gerrard and the LM. It also makes us predictable and the better teams shuts the 'two man attacking' midfield down much too easy.

The balance of the team is much better with Gerrard staying at CM. Pennant might not be a would beater but he stays out wide and gives us width. He really does. SG moved into the middle and allowed another attacking option to slot into the midfield.

Gerrard scores goals from the CM position. Momo doesn't.

Momo's impact on the final third is simply not big enough. Why Rafa even thinks it's that Alonso/Momo is an option is beyond me. Two zero goalthreats at CM?

If he opts to break up Gerrard/Alonso, I think it will define the season in a very negative way.

[Gaz]

I think Momo should be a certain starter at CM in the big away games, i think he stifles other team's attacking options. Some people seem to forget that's where he played for most of last season and was IMO one of our best players. So he doesn't contribute goals or assists to the team but there's more to his game than that. I can't think of one player that covers more ground in a game than Momo.

I think in the CL away game against Barca he'll be one of our most important players

[OldManRed]

I'm not sure what the answer is, but for me Gerrard HAS to play centrally with either Momo or Alonso, depending on the opposition

Barcelona / Arsenal / skillful fluid teams = Alonso
Bolton / Blackburn slogger teams = Momo

If it were that simple then surely:-

Barcelona / Arsenal / skillful fluid teams = Momo/Alonso (destroy them) with SG out wide
Bolton / Blackburn slogger teams = SG/Alonso (play all around them)

BTW - I don't think it's that simple either

[Guest]

When / If we get a world class right winger such as Alves, i bet Rafa would have a midfield conundrum on his hands.

[El Diego]

Well, Momo is almost fit again and the big question is whether Rafa will keep Gerrard at CM or move him out wide again. For most people there might be pro's and con's. Not for me though.

Momo has managed two shots on goal and zero assists/goals so far this season. When we consider that he actually plays further upfield than Alonso when they partner up, I think that's beyond hilarious. Look at what Gerrard gives us from the CM position. How can anybody suggest that Momo/Alonso would be better?! 6 games and 4 goals since he reclaimed what should never have been taken from him.

In my view I think Rafa's decision will define the season. I see Liverpool as a static defensive side with Momo and Alonso at CM. Furthermore the ramifications of Gerrard being moved to to RM on a psychological level is unmapped territory.

I sincerely hope that Rafa will keep Gerrard at CM and together with Alonso and use Momo as a sub. It's how it should be. He's 21 and can become an asset over time. He is not Viera. He is not a great footballer. He doesn't compliment Alonso. He is too wasteful. He makes too many brainless runs. He doesn't get in the box enough. He doesn't have great vision at CM. He's even instrumental in Alonso dropping so deep that he completely disappears on the final 1/3.

I see Momo as the most overrated player in the entire squad, considering that he plays in such a vital position and what he has actually accomplished there. 56 games. Zero goals. One assist.

If Rafa opts to move Gerrard out wide again, I think that Momo is the biggest mistake so far during Rafa's tenure.

The defense rests!

Agree with most of what you are saying, what your saying about Momo is a bit harsh but it is true as well. I would love this team.

-----------------------------Reina
----------------Agger-------Carragher-------Hyypia
--Finnan/Alves-----------------------------------------Riise
----------------------------Sissoko
---------------------Alonso-------Gerrard

---------------------Kuyt---------Bellamy

[CAD]

Excellent post and it's very difficult to make a cogent case for the 'prosecution'. To keep the analogy going I'm going to offer a 'not proven' option.

We may see more combinations of 'three at the back' being used by Rafa. This would allow attacking 352 (Momo, Xabi & Gerrard + two wingers) or defensive 532 (Momo, Xabi & Gerrard + two wingbacks).

Good point! The 5-3-2 is certainly and option. We saw that against Newcastle last season and we have seen it once(?) this season.

For me it's about the long haul and about consistency. How do we get this team to perform against the better teams? I think it's fair to say that the 3-5-2 is not something we will se against Arsenal, Chelsea or Scum. Therefor I do not see the change of format as a 'real' option. The 4-5-1 is another option. I keep coming back to the game a OT last season when we played Cissé and Crouch upfront in a 4-4-2. We really brought the game to them and we should have won it. It still haunts me and I think it showed us that it's possible for us to travel and bring our 'Anfield' game. I think that 1-0 defeat was the best match we played last season not considering the result.

We should stay true to the 4-4-2 formation and perfect it.

[Kloppster]

Agree with most of what you are saying, what your saying about Momo is a bit harsh but it is true as well. I would love this team.

-----------------------------Reina
----------------Agger-------Carragher-------Hyypia
--Finnan/Alves-----------------------------------------Riise
----------------------------Sissoko
---------------------Alonso-------Gerrard

---------------------Kuyt---------Bellamy

I would agree with the above formation normally, but I dont think Riise and Finnan give us true width, I think they run the line, overlap and cutin when they can, but they are not wingers, who can create true space and opportunities by creativity and speed.