Steven Gerrard

[Fredo]

Nigel in good comparison shock.

I'm a poacher.

[CAD]

We are dead in the water until the SG is resolved in a positive manner. He looks like he is done at top level in the starting XI.
...he looks as stiff on the pitch as Peter North does in bed and as motivated as Putin at a free speech rally. Something close to that anyway...

[baitman]

the steven gerrard that carried this team on his own is now gone forever, but more than happy for him to still have the odd blinder

the problem has been that he has had to carry the team, rather than the players around him consistently doing their fair share.
there were times when he was out injured and the work seemed to be shared out and it was more of a team game.
we need to get back to the ethic of having many players sharing out the graft and goals. steve can still be a part of the team for maybe a couple of years yet, but he has to know his limitations, keep things tidy and allow other players to step up and be part of the team.

the match were suarez and gerrard came on as subs showed how they took the ball and almost refused to pass to team mates.

if we replace gerrard it will be with a team player. the players need to be multifunctional, interchangeable pieces so that as one goes out injured or subbed, another seamlessly fits in.

[Dr-Gonzo]

He's still been playing better then the other centre midfielders, including the teachers pet Allen. The thing is passing the ball about sideways, keeping possession is all well and good. Fortunately we've got players like Stevie and Suarez who will take the risks needed to create and score goals.

[Baracus]

I never shot you down, I took a **** load of abuse for daring to question the quality of transfers at the time.

The squad is weaker mate, I said last season it was being weakened.

I agree the squad is weaker now. It was not back then. It was just standard run of the mill stuff you expect from a mid table club.

[Yozza]

Stevie isnt finished - far from it but he is not the player he was & cannot play the same role as 3/4 years ago

Although I obviously despise the Bacon Face C**t if theres one thing he's good at is getting rid of players at the right time or changing their roles

Ince & Beckham were let go at the right time - he kept Keane on but dropped him further back (IMHO Stevie needs to do the opposite & be pushed forward) then obviously got shot of him when he was undermined by him. Giggs has had a lesser role to play & has added a few years to his career

Wenger also didn't mess around when he sold Viera when he thought his legs had gone - whether BR has the balls to do the same only time will tell

[baitman]

Yozza.

its not just dropping steve, its a question of whether we have a suitable replacement to take that position. if its wide right, then steve shouldnt be there, but if its more central...

[red g]

He's still been playing better then the other centre midfielders, including the teachers pet Allen. The thing is passing the ball about sideways, keeping possession is all well and good. Fortunately we've got players like Stevie and Suarez who will take the risks needed to create and score goals.

His Hollywood balls have been used to great effect this season, Probably the only part of his game thats looking good!!

[Tee]

He's still been playing better then the other centre midfielders, including the teachers pet Allen. The thing is passing the ball about sideways, keeping possession is all well and good. Fortunately we've got players like Stevie and Suarez who will take the risks needed to create and score goals.

[BigChief]

He's still been playing better then the other centre midfielders, including the teachers pet Allen. The thing is passing the ball about sideways, keeping possession is all well and good. Fortunately we've got players like Stevie and Suarez who will take the risks needed to create and score goals.

So what you're saying is Gerrard this season is not as defensively sound as Allen, takes risks, gives the ball away a bit, and creates about as many goal scoring opportunities as Joe?

[CAD]

His balls have been used to great effect this season, Probably the only part of his game thats looking good!!

Agree. The long passes has been his only friend - more or less. Just not enough at CM. Especially not when we consider what we need from a CM in this new system that Rodgers is using. When we add the lack of ability from no 24 to pass a man it gets even worse. We need a player like Silva at CM. Dribbling, passing and great vision. Someone to build all this around. We wont have the money to get that until SG retires - will we?

So dig in friends - 3 more years at least before we get anywhere near the bar...

[kalesh]

Stevie G is an odd one. Going by the examples of Giggs and Scholes – and before that Barnes and Keane – you’d think that the best option would be for Gerrard to play deeper where his reduced mobility is less of an issue. However Gerrard himself has made it clear he doesn’t see himself playing that role for a couple of years, whilst history tells us that Gerrard struggles to maintain his discipline and stay in position whilst playing in central midfield.

One thing, therefore, has to change and it’s either Gerrard’s position or Gerrard’s mentality. He’s shown glimpses of being able to play as the deep-lying CM (I think it was against Man U a couple of years ago he played there and bossed it), but IIRC this has usually happened when he’s been returning from injury

So Gerrard either has to reconcile himself to this or Rodgers has to let him off the leash. It’s odd that Rodgers has hinted he would do this – most obviously in Being Liverpool – but hasn’t yet given it a go. I think Stevie can still play the higher role. He has the vision and retains the power, but we’re seeing fewer explosions of pace. Managed correctly, however – maybe playing 60 mins in an advanced role – I think he can have an impact. But at the moment he’s being overplayed and he’s struggling.

Or maybe he’s simply struggling to come to terms with the fact his body can no longer do what his head wants? His reluctance to shoot from distance would certainly indicate this.

[BigChief]

When I was his age, a few years ago, I was in serious denial. Having played to a good level among my friends and youngsters its a life-changer when you suddenly lose 20-40% of what you could do. Took me a few good years to acclimatise and maximise my 'experience' in a different position. I still don't like it but don't want to be stubborn like my friends who are fading faster, and unfortunately Gerrard who has a lot more self-doubt to come.

[Tee]

He is 32 FFS. Hardly at the end of his career.

If he was 35 or over I would take what you are saying seriously, but for now the only thing slowing him down is the rest of the team.

Even training with inferior players will take its toll. If he was still mixing day in day out with the likes of Mascher, Xabi, Torres etc he would be sharper.

[Pablo]

He is 32 FFS. Hardly at the end of his career.

If he was 35 or over I would take what you are saying seriously, but for now the only thing slowing him down is the rest of the team.

Even training with inferior players will take its toll. If he was still mixing day in day out with the likes of Mascher, Xabi, Torres etc he would be sharper.

Nah I think the ageing process has started Tee. That booking he picked up the other day was telling for me. He had just about made up the ground, but the slide tackle was tired and clumsy. A few years ago he would take taken the ball cleanly, been up on his feet with the ball, and we'd have been on the counter. Instead he failed to reach the ball and took out the man.

He might not be 35 yet, but he's not the force he once was and needs to adjust his game accordingly.