Steven Gerrard

[Chazza]

There will come a time when he ends it slowly as well.

True but currently we will be worse off without him as no other player has the ability to move us up the pitch quickly with a range of passing.

Henderson has shown signs of it but not on a regular basis.

[DannyMan2006]

True but currently we will be worse off without him as no other player has the ability to move us up the pitch quickly with a range of passing.

Henderson has shown signs of it but not on a regular basis.

Lovren can pass the ball well enough, we don't need someone to sit in front of the back 4 and spray it about. Stop the midfield dropping and let them get in space. If they actually moved they might occupy the opposition a bit and allow our attackers some space. They're being starved at the moment.

[Kenneth]

Lovren can pass the ball well enough, we don't need someone to sit in front of the back 4 and spray it about. Stop the midfield dropping and let them get in space. If they actually moved they might occupy the opposition a bit and allow our attackers some space. They're being starved at the moment.

100%

[Tee]

Its sad but I often wonder how Gerrard's career would have panned out had Moores/Parry sold to DIC and not the cowboys. It is all assumptions but I honestly think it would have panned out for the better.

I am convinced we would have been sold at some point of the 7 year plan to either Sheikh Mansour or another heavy hitting Gulf Royal family. New stadium would have been ready and Gerrard would have had at least 2 or 3 league championships and another CL. Our team would be pretty much up there with Barca, Real and Bayern.

It has been a long old struggle for him since the demise of the cowboy reign and I genuinely feel for the guy. Not to say we wasted his career, but he really did deserve a load more medals.

[Rich]

Its sad but I often wonder how Gerrard's career would have panned out had Moores/Parry sold to DIC and not the cowboys. It is all assumptions but I honestly think it would have panned out for the better.

I am convinced we would have been sold at some point of the 7 year plan to either Sheikh Mansour or another heavy hitting Gulf Royal family. New stadium would have been ready and Gerrard would have had at least 2 or 3 league championships and another CL. Our team would be pretty much up there with Barca, Real and Bayern.

It has been a long old struggle for him since the demise of the cowboy reign and I genuinely feel for the guy. Not to say we wasted his career, but he really did deserve a load more medals.

Sorry Tee but I really hope you don't honestly believe this guff. Genuinely feel for him?

[captainfog]

Blind spot:

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers insists he has "no concerns whatsoever" about Steven Gerrard.

Rodgers said: "He is a brilliant player for us. It was the team performance that wasn't up to scratch."

"If you look at his numbers and games, it has been as good as ever.

"He is at the age where we need to treat him individually. We want him to be involved in the big games because of his experience and we will always taper that recovery to allow him to be at the very best he can be."

[Chris]

Manager in not publically hammering individual player shocker.

[Fredo]

The notion that he's past it in this system is utterly ridiculous. If he isn't setting up attacks as well as last year maybe it's down to the lack of movement upfront, and that would be understandable as we don't have Suarez anymore. This formation worked a treat at Spurs, so I can't see why Gerrard wouldn't be able to play it as successfully as last season.

At the same time, I can understand that if we don't have the same movement in our forward line, we should adapt our play a bit, but that shouldn't be to the detriment of Gerrard.

[captainfog]

The notion that he's past it in this system is utterly ridiculous. If he isn't setting up attacks as well as last year maybe it's down to the lack of movement upfront, and that would be understandable as we don't have Suarez anymore. This formation worked a treat at Spurs, so I can't see why Gerrard wouldn't be able to play it as successfully as last season.

I just think he's past it, full stop. Legs are gone. Him and Lucas both look like they are running in treacle.

[Chris]

The notion that he's past it in this system is utterly ridiculous. If he isn't setting up attacks as well as last year maybe it's down to the lack of movement upfront, and that would be understandable as we don't have Suarez anymore. This formation worked a treat at Spurs, so I can't see why Gerrard wouldn't be able to play it as successfully as last season.

At the same time, I can understand that if we don't have the same movement in our forward line, we should adapt our play a bit, but that shouldn't be to the detriment of Gerrard.

Yep, been the same for the last few years though, written off in September, "past it", "manager's blind spot" etc, storms back to have a great season and repeat the next season. Though these people will unfortunately be right some time hopefully it isnt for a while yet.

[Fredo]

I just think he's past it, full stop. Legs are gone. Him and Lucas both look like they are running in treacle.

Legs can't just 'go' after a few months. It's knee jerk. Totally.

[captainfog]

Legs can't just 'go' after a few months. It's knee jerk. Totally.

They've been going for the last couple of years. Rodgers moved him back to a DM last season because of it. It's not a new thing.

[Rich]

Yep, been the same for the last few years though, written off in September, "past it", "manager's blind spot" etc, storms back to have a great season and repeat the next season. Though these people will unfortunately be right some time hopefully it isnt for a while yet.

That's the thing though - his body (and game) will fall apart at some point. No one wants it to happen but I think it is entirely justified for someone to question him when you see his current performance levels.

And while it isn't right to solely blame Gerrard for the start we've made to the season, there's no doubt (in my mind at least) that he's been poor. Poor in every game and I include Spurs. That is a major concern as he is playing in such an important position.

[captainfog]

That's the thing though - his body (and game) will fall apart at some point. No one wants it to happen but I think it is entirely justified for someone to question him when you see his current performance levels.

And while it isn't right to solely blame Gerrard for the start we've made to the season, there's no doubt (in my mind at least) that he's been poor. Poor in every game and I include Spurs. That is a major concern as he is playing in such an important position.

[Fredo]

They've been going for the last couple of years. Rodgers moved him back to a DM last season because of it. It's not a new thing.

It's not his pace or his 'legs' having gone which is the issue at the moment. It's the team as a whole not performing to the same level. Pressing game hasn't been up to scratch, and by that I mean, defending from the front. Balotelli isn't Suarez. Then, slow starts to games lets the opposition get a foothold and then we are left chasing games. All of that, exposes our frailties, which is mistakes out of poor decision making or not winning second balls.

His position does not imply that he needs to defend or protect the back 4. If you look at his game, it's all about picking up the ball and distributing it, freed by the relentless pressing game of our forward line. If he is exposed, it's either by a mistake (like the slip against Chelsea or Sakho's poor header on Saturday), but his role is not primarily to defend.