Steven Gerrard

[dww]

Thought he was poor yesterday against Stoke. He was wasteful with his passing when we needed to keep hold of it, the penalty masked his performance, imo.

I read that he lost the ball 18 times yday, do you know any DM who loses the ball 18 times in a game?

As far as I'm concerned, Gerrard should not start our away games and have been saying that for some time. Allen, Henderson and Lucas should play the away games and use the high pressing that we saw at Spurs.

Depends a lot on what is counted in that statistic. Several times he took the ball out of danger and then made a long clearance/pass in a position you would normally find a centreback. To judge the decision in such circumstances you have to see the starting position of Gerrard and where the opposition got the ball (and whether it was a throw in).

[Lecter]

Thought he was poor yesterday against Stoke. He was wasteful with his passing when we needed to keep hold of it, the penalty masked his performance, imo.

I read that he lost the ball 18 times yday, do you know any DM who loses the ball 18 times in a game?

As far as I'm concerned, Gerrard should not start our away games and have been saying that for some time. Allen, Henderson and Lucas should play the away games and use the high pressing that we saw at Spurs.

I thought he was poor as well

The problem for me is he vacates the space in front of the back four far too often to be an effective holding player, that coupled with his propensity to give the ball away is a dangerous mix imo

I think Rafa had it spot on when he moved him forward because it negated his lack of positional discipline and also losing the ball higher up the pitch is less of a worry than losing it just in front of your back four

All that said I would still be playing Gerrard but I'd play him further forward and I'd continue with Lucas in the holding role

Thought it was really strange how Lucas was played higher up the pitch yesterday because thats not his game

[magicalbarnes]

I thought he was poor as well

The problem for me is he vacates the space in front of the back four far too often to be an effective holding player, that coupled with his propensity to give the ball away is a dangerous mix imo

I think Rafa had it spot on when he moved him forward because it negated his lack of positional discipline and also losing the ball higher up the pitch is less of a worry than losing it just in front of your back four

All that said I would still be playing Gerrard but I'd play him further forward and I'd continue with Lucas in the holding role

Thought it was really strange how Lucas was played higher up the pitch yesterday because thats not his game

He's not played there for us, but for his previous club he regularly played there

[Lecter]

He's not played there for us, but for his previous club he regularly played there

He looked like a fish out of water imo

Hes been at the club a long time (6 or 7 years??) the vast bulk of his time hes played the holding role

I think his game has evolved imo, if he was an attacking midfielder he aint now

[RichC]

Lucas didn't look comfortable yesterday and I thought he was average at best but this is more down to the change in position really of which doesn't come naturally to him anymore.

Gerrard wasn't at his best but he made some key interceptions and looked to create from the deeper position he's playing in which adds a higher risk to the pass and therefore his success rate will likely to be lower.

I'm sure he can and will improve in the position if we continue down this route but we will need to find the right balance in midfield to allow this and that for me would probably see Lucas miss out as the movement and athletic ability you'd get currently from Allen and Henderson would compliment better.

[BigChief]

At least Gerrard looked refreshed and up for the battle against a rough Stoke. His presence kept a lot of the Stoke carthorses quiet. However, our midfield is back to conceding unnecessary goals. Henderson and Lucas looked lost in this game and it wasn't down to their own performances.

[RedReet]

He looked like a fish out of water imo

Hes been at the club a long time (6 or 7 years??) the vast bulk of his time hes played the holding role

I think his game has evolved imo, if he was an attacking midfielder he aint now

Before his injury I think Lucas could easily have played that role, as he did show against Benfica under Hodgson in a rare outing as an AM that he’s more than able. Sadly he does look a bit leggy now, and although he didn’t do anything wrong in yesterdays match, I felt the expectancy to get up and down the pitch for 90 minutes didn’t really suit him. I thought it was obvious after about 5 minutes that that role was earmarked for Allen which makes you wonder what the future holds for Lucas.

[Charly]

what we need is a Hammaneque player who has no desire or ego to get forward, who is happy to sit in front of the back four for the whole match.

Lucas has the mentality, but not the ability, in my opinion. And Gerrard the ability, and not the mentality.

[Mike]

Allen was injured.

I know that, but going forward I'd still drop Stevie for most away games, not that I think Rodgers will.

Depends a lot on what is counted in that statistic. Several times he took the ball out of danger and then made a long clearance/pass in a position you would normally find a centreback. To judge the decision in such circumstances you have to see the starting position of Gerrard and where the opposition got the ball (and whether it was a throw in).

Regardless of that, and just by watching his performance yesterday his passing was poor. He keeps going for the Hollywood ball when there is no need to force it and would be better keeping hold of it. A few times even standard forward passes were intercepted when not under much pressure. He needs to do better, and I'm sure he will.

I thought he was poor as well

The problem for me is he vacates the space in front of the back four far too often to be an effective holding player, that coupled with his propensity to give the ball away is a dangerous mix imo

I think Rafa had it spot on when he moved him forward because it negated his lack of positional discipline and also losing the ball higher up the pitch is less of a worry than losing it just in front of your back four

All that said I would still be playing Gerrard but I'd play him further forward and I'd continue with Lucas in the holding role

Thought it was really strange how Lucas was played higher up the pitch yesterday because thats not his game

I don't think its a case of him vacating the space, he just doesn't have the legs to track back as much as a DM should.

[danperkins]

I thought he was poor as well

The problem for me is he vacates the space in front of the back four far too often to be an effective holding player, that coupled with his propensity to give the ball away is a dangerous mix imo

I think Rafa had it spot on when he moved him forward because it negated his lack of positional discipline and also losing the ball higher up the pitch is less of a worry than losing it just in front of your back four

All that said I would still be playing Gerrard but I'd play him further forward and I'd continue with Lucas in the holding role

Thought it was really strange how Lucas was played higher up the pitch yesterday because thats not his game

agree with every bit of that. Also as mike said Stevie doesn't seem to have the legs for that role.

[Daniel 7]

I'm hoping that Steven Gerrard isn't the midfield enforcer / defensive mid signing we all think is needed...

I thought he disrupted defence and midfield yesterday. He was so sloppy with his distribution and was charging around for a fair percentage of the game. Having to get used to a new role at the back end of a career, which is time limited anyway, isn't the greatest of ideas. I'd much rather see a specialist than finding another position for shoehorning in Steven Gerrard. I'd still rather see him as a muscular number 10.

[Jaymo]

If Gerrard is going to start playing as our DM a few things need to improve:

Firstly his positional sense, he wanders too much leaving gaps which the top players will exploit.

He needs to stop or reduce the 60 yard balls, too many times yesterday they were cut out putting the pressure right back on ourselves. He needs to realise hes now Lucas, and should be playing it short and keeping the ball moving.

And finally, Lucas cannot play in a 3 man midfield alongside Gerrard.

[Daniel 7]

Lucas will probably be dropped if Allen is available and Gerrard is sitting further back, won't he?

[Norbs]

If Gerrard is going to start playing as our DM a few things need to improve:

Firstly his positional sense, he wanders too much leaving gaps which the top players will exploit.

He needs to stop or reduce the 60 yard balls, too many times yesterday they were cut out putting the pressure right back on ourselves. He needs to realise hes now Lucas, and should be playing it short and keeping the ball moving.

And finally, Lucas cannot play in a 3 man midfield alongside Gerrard.

Gerrard had equal problems with the 10yd square ball yesterday too. I'd rather he punted it up field than put us under pressure in our own half

[wiw]

Lucas will probably be dropped if Allen is available and Gerrard is sitting further back, won't he?

I think the whole midfield will function better if we go about it that way. I'm hoping Gerrard as DM is just a short-term fix until we sign a top class replacement. I can see the logic behind playing Gerrard there but he doesn't have the rhythm of say Alonso/Pirlo etc and as others have said he disrupts others. I don't think he's happy to just sit in that one area of the pitch and spray balls around, he likes to stay on the move and push forward which isn't exactly in keeping with the role