Steven Gerrard

[Fierce]

Conceding goals, scoring lots more >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Conceding hardly any but scraping wins

If I wasn't a Liverpool fan, I'd think it was brilliant watching Liverpool at present, it's been ages since I truly enjoyed watching games; as frustrating and nail biting as they have been of late

[el matador]

Conceding goals, scoring lots more >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Conceding hardly any but scraping wins

If I wasn't a Liverpool fan, I'd think it was brilliant watching Liverpool at present, it's been ages since I truly enjoyed watching games; as frustrating and nail biting as they have been of late

In all my time as an LFC fan ive never seen the team play with such reckless abandon. But I'm enjoying watching the football and the 5-3 vs stoke was just crazy.

But I'm not sure we could win a league like this.

[Mattshark]

In all my time as an LFC fan ive never seen the team play with such reckless abandon. But I'm enjoying watching the football and the 5-3 vs stoke was just crazy.

But I'm not sure we could win a league like this.

We didn't play with reckless abandon though, we gave the away too much and two goals were easily avoidable defensive errors.

[G]

Story of the season innit-defensive errors or midfielders not being arsed tracking runners.

We knock that **** on the head and we're golden.

[RedReet]

We didn't play with reckless abandon though, we gave the away too much and two goals were easily avoidable defensive errors.

Bizarre statement.

[cream]

Henderson and Allen are not defensive midfielders though, Henderson doesn't have the positional awareness and Allen doesn't tackle well enough.

Defensive midfielders was the wrong term, I think he meant pressing from the front. Having two athletic/energetic midifielders pressing and harrying all the time will lessen the need for a defensive minded midfielder. I think that's the way forward for us.

[Vermilion]

Defensive midfielders was the wrong term, I think he meant pressing from the front. Having two athletic/energetic midifielders pressing and harrying all the time will lessen the need for a defensive minded midfielder. I think that's the way forward for us.

?

"The lad [Abou] went home to the Ivory Coast and got a bit of food poisoning. He must have eaten a dodgy missionary or something."

"I sorted out the team formation last night lying in bed with the wife. When your husband's as ugly as me, you'd only want to talk football in bed."

"Where are we in relation to Europe? Not too far from Dover."

"Even when we had Moore, Hurst and Peters, West Ham's average finish was about 17th. Which just shows how crap the other eight of us were."

"He don't speak the English too good."

[Corndog]

To play that 'regista' role successfully is imo the most difficult position on the field. players like Pirlo and Xabi Alonso are rare, so much of it comes down to game intelligence, neither are very fast players but both can dictate the tempo of a game. I think Gerrard has the ability to play a similar role although i think he is starting too late in his career to master it as well as those two.

Rodgers/Rafa are right, his passing is incredible, and in theory i think he knows what he has to do in that role but practically its all about when to do it, i.e when to risk going more direct, accelerating the tempo, when to play short or back, when to slow the game down with possession.

[spider-neil]

Henderson and Allen are not defensive midfielders though, Henderson doesn't have the positional awareness and Allen doesn't tackle well enough.

Don't agree with that all. The Spurs and City games especially had them controlling the midfield in the middle of the park with Lucas sweeping behind them. In fact I think it is those two performances that convinced Brendan to make the transition with Gerrard now rather than later.

[Mattshark]

Don't agree with that all. The Spurs and City games especially had them controlling the midfield in the middle of the park with Lucas sweeping behind them. In fact I think it is those two performances that convinced Brendan to make the transition with Gerrard now rather than later.

Or look how poor Henderson and Allen were against Chelsea. You can't just look at two games and make that conclusion.

[Red_Polo]

Surely he's using two particular games to support his argument, rather than suggest it is absolute proof?

Anyway, personally I wouldn't like that balance at all. At least not long term. I don't think Gerrard is able to curb his instincts for direct attack well enough to play that role. I'd rather he were further forward where his high risk game bears fruit.

Aside from that, I don't think Allen and Henderson as the furthest forward midfielders is productive enough in an attacking sense. Ball retention, great, but not enough creativity for me.

[Fredo]

Anyway, personally I wouldn't like that balance at all. At least not long term. I don't think Gerrard is able to curb his instincts for direct attack well enough to play that role. I'd rather he were further forward where his high risk game bears fruit.

Don't you think that Gerrard probably realises that at one point, he won't be able to play further forward, on a purely physical point of view. So, his instincts, with time, will be focused towards sitting back and organising the play. He's got all the characteristics to play that sweeper/defensive role IMO.

[Red_Polo]

Don't you think that Gerrard probably realises that at one point, he won't be able to play further forward, on a purely physical point of view. So, his instincts, with time, will be focused towards sitting back and organising the play. He's got all the characteristics to play that sweeper/defensive role IMO.

I'm not saying he can't do it, I'm saying I think he would be better further forward. He may not have the boundless energy he used to but not all attacking players need searing pace - he can still be the fulcrum of the attack. His finishing and final ball will be first class until the day he quits, keep him in the areas where they are used best.

Positional sense and tactical nous aren't his strengths, and instincts take time to overcome. That's not to say he's not an incredibly rounded player and I'm sure he'd do a very good job there, but I think he can still be brilliant further forward for us.

[Lee]

I'm not saying he can't do it, I'm saying I think he would be better further forward. He may not have the boundless energy he used to but not all attacking players need searing pace - he can still be the fulcrum of the attack. His finishing and final ball will be first class until the day he quits, keep him in the areas where they are used best.

Positional sense and tactical nous aren't his strengths, and instincts take time to overcome. That's not to say he's not an incredibly rounded player and I'm sure he'd do a very good job there, but I think he can still be brilliant further forward for us.

Definitely more comfortable with Gerrard further forward. Question is where would he fit in though? I liked him as a number 10 but I can't see how we can fit him, Sturridge, Coutinho and Suarez up top together.

[RichC]

I think that's the reason he's been moved back, I think we'll be looking for that goal scoring midfield player again and to fit him in Gerrard will be playing as the "quarter back" with Lucas likely missing out