Our Midfield

[Guest RedIsMyColour]

Alonso, Gerrard, Sissoko all top notch players.

 

But when you consider the attacking fluency of The Mancs midfield compared to ours its madness, they sometimes have a centre midfield pairing of Fletcher and O'Shea and the worst thing is the mancs always look like scoring even when they have a weakenned side out.

 

[Cooldude]

The movement of their midfield's very good, something that can't be said about ours at the minute

[The Hitman]

No runners,no penetration,little threat.

[Guest Bernie]

This will be the case until Rafa finds a way to sort out which central midfielder to drop. We are great defensively with the three of them playing centrally, but we lose something going forward. Even with Gerrard playing on the right of a four, we just don't look fluent, because neither Alonso or Sissoko will really pose a threat joining the attack in the middle late. Pennant should play on the right, and Rafa needs to rotate Sissoko and Alonso depending on the Premiership opposition. Europe will be different, where we may need all 3 of them - but even then, I want to see Bellamy and Kuyt playing together more often than not.

[Cooldude]

With Agger now, I think we can afford to do away with one of our central mids and play Gerrard in there without worrying too much defensively

 

Or when Momo and Xabi partners, Xabi needs to play further up the ground while Agger pings it outta defence

 

Always wanted Xabi further up the ground to playmake, we really do lack intelligent passing in our final third. Bellamy has been absolutely starved of service

[Guest ritchie_50]

We need a leader

[Smith]

The movement of their midfield's very good, something that can't be said about ours at the minute

 

Exactly. Off the ball movement is what we're lacking. Too many pylons out there.

[Chili Palmer]

We need a leader

 

Stevie is not a vocal leader he tries to lead by example, its just not a very good example at the minute! we need our captain to grab matches by the scuff of the neck ala last year.

[Shanklyanfield]

Exactly. Off the ball movement is what we're lacking. Too many pylons out there.

 

That is one of the major problems when Xabi and Momo play together in the middle - none of them support the attack and there is a massive gap between midfield and attack. Xabi likes to sit deep and spray balls about and Momo is more of a destroyer, so neither of them will be on the end of crosses etc... I lost count the number of times today when a Chelski Centre Half who was challenged by one of our Strikers cleared the ball, the ball drops out to the edge of the box and Momo and Xabi are 20 yards away both sitting.

 

That is the major problem of not playing Gerrard in the middle, when Xabi and Momo are there very few balls that drop out from opposition CH's get picked up by either of them, with Gerrard in the middle that is what he relishes, running onto knock-downs on the edge of the box not only from our Strikers but also from opposition CH's as he did with the chance he should have scored.

[floyd]

Stevie is not a vocal leader he tries to lead by example, its just not a very good example at the minute! we need our captain to grab matches by the scuff of the neck ala last year.

Totally agree. Seems a bit cheesed off at the moment. More miserable than usual.

[Nebraska Red]

Totally agree. Seems a bit cheesed off at the moment. More miserable than usual.

 

 

and if we see it, you can be sure there will be some media wag salivating at the thought of another "Gerrard wants out" story.

[Guest soueyg]

Seems a bit cheesed off at the moment. More miserable than usual.

 

He's not playing for England. Which is ironic when you consider he's moaning about being played out of position.

 

"Gerrard wants out"

 

Wouldn't surprise me.

 

He changes his mind like the wind. Remember last summer?

[Hassony]

and if we see it, you can be sure there will be some media wag salivating at the thought of another "Gerrard wants out" story.

andy "f***ing" Gray was saying today before the match that Gerrard will demand from rafa to be played in the middle or he will be off!!, redknapp said that He has spoken to gerrard and he it too much of a team man to do this yet Gray was still adamant in is views

[Falconhoof]

andy "f***ing" Gray was saying today before the match that Gerrard will demand from rafa to be played in the middle or he will be off!!, redknapp said that He has spoken to gerrard and he it too much of a team man to do this yet Gray was still adamant in is views

 

 

Except he didn't say that. He said 'what if Gerrard said that'

 

Gray is a prick but don't make stuff up.

[Guest sniffer]

Did anyone know that Liverpool have gone 90 games without playing an unchanged side?

[Chili Palmer]

Did anyone know that Liverpool have gone 90 games without playing an unchanged side?

 

But Rafa has also got us the CL, FA cup and a good Prem performance last year so its hard to use that stick to beat him with. (not that I'm saying you are)

[Guest soueyg]

Did anyone know that Liverpool have gone 90 games without playing an unchanged side?

 

You're determined to find someone who gives a s*** about that aren't you?

 

Was rotation the reason we lost today? No?

 

So what point are you trying to make?

[Bootle Buck]

Totally agree. Seems a bit cheesed off at the moment. More miserable than usual.

 

Maybe the fact that the fecker is being played anywhere but his best position for club and country while those taking his spot are not exactly on top form. Alonso has been way off form for Liverpool as Lampard has for England yet Stevie because of his versatlity is shoved all over the place. Rafa needs to pick his two best CM's and play Gonzalez or Aurellio wide left with one of Pennant/Garcia/Bellamy wide right so we can start to play games with natural width and attack fullbacks, instaed of once again trying to convert CM's into quasi-wingers.

Edited September 18, 2006 by Bootle Buck

[fred milne]

Rafa needs to pick his two best CM's.

He has picked his best CM pairing in the last two league games - Alonso and Sissoko.

[Poolfrog]

andy "f***ing" Gray was saying today before the match that Gerrard will demand from rafa to be played in the middle or he will be off!!, redknapp said that He has spoken to gerrard and he it too much of a team man to do this yet Gray was still adamant in is views

 

Gray was basing his views on the preceding interview with Gerrard and chose to gave his own twisted slant on Gerrard's comments when in fact Gerrard said nothing of the sort.

 

Other comments on this thread about united's fluency in midfield and creating chances etc seem a bit off the pace having watched their game. We created more chances than they did yesterday in our respective games and Arsenal who have been struggling against such giants as Villa and Middlesbrough (at home!) were pretty good value for their win

[Beardsley]

I just wish he would stop taking our corner kicks. How many has he taken and how many have we scored on? 1.000.000 to 0?

He should be outside the box, picking up debris and returning it with warp speed towards the net.