Discuss: Gerrard in the middle

[Dule]

Should he stay there? Or is he more effective on the right where he can attack?

 

What are peoples feelings on where our great captain should play in the current squad?

[Stevie H]

wherever he likes, really. just let him get on with it.

[Swipe]

He's better in the middle. Driving at the heart of the opposition.

 

But as long as he is given freedom, he can do a job anywhere.

[intense enigma]

Stevie is bit like Ronaldinho in the sense that he may not neccesarily be effective when confined to just one particular role as opposed to being given the freedom to play the way he knows best.

[Dule]

I liked him in the middle yesterday with all his energy and hard tackles, but i must admit that i was hoping to see him forward more and having more shots like he usually has done in the past year.

 

Its a hard one, but either way he will always get the job done for us at any position i guess, we are lucky to have him.

[Benitez]

his game seems far more simplified when he's down the right in that freer role and he's better for it. He was trying too many things that didn't come off yesterday. Thought our central midfield was poor yesterday and never got to grips with the game at all.

[hideNseek]

Missed Momo.

[Chili Palmer]

Momo and Xabi in the middle with Stevie on the right when we don't have the ball and wherever he likes when we do!

Edited August 27, 2006 by Kieran

[sutty]

I don't think he's fully fit at the moment

 

Looked like he was blowing about 20 minutes from the end - most unlike him.

[Guest reddave7]

Should he stay there? Or is he more effective on the right where he can attack?

 

What are peoples feelings on where our great captain should play in the current squad?

 

We have three brilliant central midfielders in Stevie, Momo and Xabi. My prefered midfield when everyone is fit is:

 

Gerrard-----------------Momo------------------------Xabi------------------------Gonzalez/Kewell

 

But I'm also sound with Gerrard moving in field and Pennant playing on the right but who we drop in the middle is difficult.

 

Think it's clear we have options but I just hope we don't chop and change too often.

Edited August 27, 2006 by reddave7

[Rimbeux]

Should he stay there? Or is he more effective on the right where he can attack?

 

What are peoples feelings on where our great captain should play in the current squad?

 

Personally I prefer him in the middle, it's a sustainable future. He may do less attacking and have more defensive responsibility, but that is part of the natural development of the player in the team and the team itself, to be in midfield, controlling the game, feeding wingers and strikers, joining in.

 

 

Playing wide or free is, imo, pretty short term, and takes vital experience, practice, time from him being and becoming the central midfielder he will be. The simple truth is that playing wide will mean more wear and tear, and will burn the player out longterm, as compared to time in the middle.

[Karlos]

Aye

 

hmmmmm is that an aye I agree or an Aye Im f***ing confused with what you have written?

[Rimbeux]

hmmmmm is that an aye I agree or an Aye Im f***ing confused with what you have written?

 

 

Complete agreement my friend!

[fred milne]

Personally I prefer him in the middle, it's a sustainable future. He may do less attacking and have more defensive responsibility, but that is part of the natural development of the player in the team and the team itself, to be in midfield, controlling the game, feeding wingers and strikers, joining in.

Playing wide or free is, imo, pretty short term, and takes vital experience, practice, time from him being and becoming the central midfielder he will be.

That's all predicated on the assumption that central midfield is his true position. I'm not convinced myself.

 

These days it seems that its increasingly a case of 4-2-3-1, rather than 4-4-2. Gerrard can certainly do a more than adequate job as one of the two deep midfield players but I think its a waste of his talents in and around the box. I'd rather he played there when his legs start to go, which is hopefully another 4-5 years off.

[Rimbeux]

That's all predicated on the assumption that central midfield is his true position. I'm not convinced myself.

 

These days it seems that its increasingly a case of 4-2-3-1, rather than 4-4-2. Gerrard can certainly do a more than adequate job as one of the two deep midfield players but I think its a waste of his talents in and around the box. I'd rather he played there when his legs start to go, which is hopefully another 4-5 years off.

 

 

Fair argument. But I'd argue back that he's not a number 10 in the classic sense, and at the moment is caught somewhere between, and long term he could be worse off for it. I don't see central midfield as a barrier to getting forward, and it could also be said that being wide, or up the pitch can keep the player out of the hub of the game. Perhaps it also denies the side his ability to go box to box, destroy and create with a full range of passing. Whichever position, there will be gains and losses to the player and the team

[Guest Jack Bauer]

Just stick him somewhere in midfield or attack then tell him to get on with it.

[Bailo]

I think the midfield had to work extra hard yesterday to cover Garcia, who wasn't the best at tracking back.

[Karlos]

Complete agreement my friend!

 

Nice one, just makin sure......ill make a note for next time !!

 

[fred milne]

Fair argument. But I'd argue back that he's not a number 10 in the classic sense, and at the moment is caught somewhere between, and long term he could be worse off for it. I don't see central midfield as a barrier to getting forward, and it could also be said that being wide, or up the pitch can keep the player out of the hub of the game. Perhaps it also denies the side his ability to go box to box, destroy and create with a full range of passing. Whichever position, there will be gains and losses to the player and the team

I don't think he looks comfortable playing off the main striker but RM is a different story entirely.

 

As for keeping him in the game, that is definitely the key issue when he plays RM. If Alonso is playing CM it usually isn't an issue. Its a bigger problem when its (say) Sissoko and Zenden in the middle.

[deelavo]

I was one of the people who thought he was being wasted on the right and his best position was in the middle. However with his Player of the year performances last year and how all of a sudden he is playing brilliant on the right for England, i feel his best position is now on the right with a free role.

Also i thought we missed Momo big style, although he dosen't use the ball great his tackling and energy is brilliant.

[John am Rhein]

more effective on the right where he can attack?

 

That one.

 

And anyway we've got some other top quality players for the center: Sissoko, Alonso.

[Guest Anders Honoré]

That one.

 

And anyway we've got some other top quality players for the center: Sissoko, Alonso.

 

That was a valid argument for him playing there last season. Don't think that is the case this season.

[John am Rhein]

That was a valid argument for him playing there last season. Don't think that is the case this season.

 

Why not? Are Sissoko and Alonso no longer any good?

[Guest Anders Honoré]

Why not? Are Sissoko and Alonso no longer any good?

 

Unlike last season, we also have a viable option on the right now though.

[John am Rhein]

Unlike last season, we also have a viable option on the right now though.

 

Gerrard's still out best option on the right, though.

 

It's also his best position, for what that's worth.