Gerrard - Amount of running he did(nt) do

[Huyton_Red]

You dont see the amount of running off the ball a player does on TV, during the game I think gerrard was walking or trotting around for about 75 minutes, he also pulled out of a couple of tackles.

 

Is he carrying an injury and having to play because we dont have any more central midfielders ?

 

And as alonso was meant to be our holding midfielder, how do we explain the huge gaps every time Arsenal broke on us.

 

Alonso and gerrard can not play together against top class opposition and If/when we finally get a world class right winger next season something will have to give, xabi needs to pull his socks up and have a good second half of the season.

 

Get on your knees and pray for the return of Momo before the barcelona game

 

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N...070108-0903.htm

Edited January 8, 2007 by Huyton_Sissoko

[Guest]

Gerrard should play on the right

[intense enigma]

Gerrard should play on the right

 

[Rimbeux]

3 man job

[Huyton_Red]

Gerrard should play on the right

 

I agree with you this season

 

However if we got a really top winger and Athletico Madrid offered silly money for Alonso then I would be tempted..... Seriously

 

2 into 3 doesnt go. I wouldnt play gerrard wide right if we have a proper winger who we can rely on, ask me who I would drop out of the three in the middle and I would say Alonso.

 

It was alsonso who was meant to be holding on Saturday

Edited January 8, 2007 by Huyton_Sissoko

[Rimbeux]

I agree with you this season

 

However if we got a really top winger and Athletico Madrid offered silly money for Alonso then I would be tempted..... Seriously

 

2 into 3 doesnt go. I wouldnt play gerrard wide right if we have a proper winger who we can rely on, ask me who I would drop out of the three in the middle and I would say Alonso.

 

It was alsonso who was meant to be holding on Saturday

 

 

Gerrard and Momo would leave just as much space, because both tend to follow the ball, the only way it would work would be if Gerrard sat deep as he does for England...

[fred milne]

I agree with you this season

 

However if we got a really top winger and Athletico Madrid offered silly money for Alonso then I would be tempted..... Seriously

 

2 into 3 doesnt go. I wouldnt play gerrard wide right if we have a proper winger who we can rely on, ask me who I would drop out of the three in the middle and I would say Alonso.

 

It was alsonso who was meant to be holding on Saturday

I don't think it is a case of having to drop one of the three, but if it was then it would definitely be Sissoko left out.

[Mondavi]

I agree with you this season

 

However if we got a really top winger and Athletico Madrid offered silly money for Alonso then I would be tempted..... Seriously

 

2 into 3 doesnt go. I wouldnt play gerrard wide right if we have a proper winger who we can rely on, ask me who I would drop out of the three in the middle and I would say Alonso.

 

It was alsonso who was meant to be holding on Saturday

 

 

Can't agree with that, out of the 3 centre mids we've got, Xabi is 1st name on the sheet for me. He's the best of the 3 at switching play, and mixing things up. If we lost him, we'd go back to how we were before he arrived. I don't think Stevie's got the football brain of Xabi, and Momo's strength is in his physical capabilities.

 

Way forward is to play all 3 of them, with SG on the right, or leave out Momo in certain games. If we lost Alonso, we'd need to replace him with someone who can do the same job, and they'd all likely cost as much as we'd get for selling him.

[Huyton_Red]

I don't think it is a case of having to drop one of the three, but if it was then it would definitely be Sissoko left out.

 

Errrr

 

I suggest you go and watch a re-run of Saturdays game and then come back and discuss that outrageous statement you have just made

[Knox_Harrington]

Wild and wrong HS. Neither Sissoko nor Gerrard could sit in front of the back four to save their lives.

[Huyton_Red]

Can't agree with that, out of the 3 centre mids we've got, Xabi is 1st name on the sheet for me. He's the best of the 3 at switching play, and mixing things up. If we lost him, we'd go back to how we were before he arrived. I don't think Stevie's got the football brain of Xabi, and Momo's strength is in his physical capabilities.

 

Way forward is to play all 3 of them, with SG on the right, or leave out Momo in certain games. If we lost Alonso, we'd need to replace him with someone who can do the same job, and they'd all likely cost as much as we'd get for selling him.

 

Momo stops the other teams playing and is the most mobile midfielder I have ever seen.

Gerrard is a world class desructive attacking midifeilder who creates AND scores goal

Alonso switches the ball from side to side and links up play

 

Sorry Mondavi, but first name on the teamsheet my backside. Gerrard and Sissoko for me all the time, with sissoko told to protect the defence

[_00_deathscar]

WTF is this I'm reading?

 

Without Alonso we would be f***ing lost on the field.

[Huyton_Red]

Wild and wrong HS. Neither Sissoko nor Gerrard could sit in front of the back four to save their lives.

 

You dont need to sit in front of the back four, Alonso is 'meant' to sit in front of the back four and every time we play a decent team without momo in there we get cut to bits. Everyone says Alonso has to be in to sit in front of the defence, what f'ckin good did that do on Sat ?

 

Viera did not sit in front of the back four did he ? Momo plays in exactly the same way Viera does, he presses the oppositions midfielders in posession and wins the ball back. He could be a little more disciplined if needed, and press closer to his own defence instead of so high up the pitch if he was playing with gerrard

 

Also gerrard has added a huge amount of discipline to his game since momo has been out, I think he is currently carrying an injury because he hardly ran on Saturday

 

Momo and gerrard for me if/when we get a proper winger with someone like maschereno etc as backup and in case we need to play gerrard wide right due to injury etc

 

WTF is this I'm reading?

 

Without Alonso we would be f***ing lost on the field.

 

In what way would we be lost exactly ?

[pipnasty]

Momo stops the other teams playing and is the most mobile midfielder I have ever seen.

Gerrard is a world class desructive attacking midifeilder who creates AND scores goal

Alonso switches the ball from side to side and links up play

 

Sorry Mondavi, but first name on the teamsheet my backside. Gerrard and Sissoko for me all the time, with sissoko told to protect the defence

 

 

 

....and don't even start me on that Hamann.

 

 

 

 

And what is our record when Momo and Gerrard have played together in the middle?

[fred milne]

Errrr

 

I suggest you go and watch a re-run of Saturdays game and then come back and discuss that outrageous statement you have just made

In the majority of games, I'd play all three but if it came down to a choice of two from three then its got be Gerrard and Alonso as they are better footballers.

 

Gerrard is a world class desructive attacking midifeilder.

I don't think the destructive side of his game has been world class for a while now. The attacking side is of course.

[Huyton_Red]

....and don't even start me on that Hamann.

And what is our record when Momo and Gerrard have played together in the middle?

 

Couldnt tell you to be honest, I think they have only played about three games together, no time at all to build up an understanding

 

I may take a lot of stick for this, but the suggestion that alonso is untouchable to me is wrong. I think if you gave gerrard and momo a few months together we would have the best central midfield in the league

 

Obviously, this is hugely dependent on us having a top draw wide right midfielder, while we have pennant there is no argument, gerrard has to play right. But when/if this winger arrives then it is Alonso I would leave out

[tomasjj]

Someone in this thread must be wearing Momos googles.

 

Momo is a physical wonder of an enforcer and destroyer.

 

Xabi is an intelligent and hard working playmaker.

 

I know what I prefer.

 

Actually, on this seasons form Alonso would rank above both SG and Momo.

[fyds]

Why would he have run so much on Saturday? Most of the game was in their half and in our possession - where was there to run to, as they packed their 18 yard line?

[tomasjj]

I may take a lot of stick for this, but the suggestion that alonso is untouchable to me is wrong. I think if you gave gerrard and momo a few months together we would have the best central midfield in the league

 

And who would protect our defence then, when both SG and Momo are running about?

 

They both lack positional dicipline.

[Huyton_Red]

In the majority of games, I'd play all three but if it came down to a choice of two from three then its got be Gerrard and Alonso as they are better footballers.

I don't think the destructive side of his game has been world class for a while now. The attacking side is of course.

 

It is not about being a better footballer, again go and watch Saturdays game again. Gerrard and Sissoko is a better ALL round midfield than alonso and gerrard by a country mile IMHO.

 

And sissoko is first name on the teamsheet in midfield IMO, he has to play

 

 

And who would protect our defence then, when both SG and Momo are running about?

 

They both lack positional dicipline.

 

I say, for the tenth time

 

who proteced our defence on Saturday ?

[fred milne]

Gerrard and Sissoko is a better ALL round midfield than alonso and gerrard by a country mile IMHO.

How on earth do you know? They've rarely (if ever) been played together.

 

And for good reason.

[12twelve]

Benitez has NEVER played Gerrard and Sissoko as a pair. And I can understand why

[pipnasty]

Couldnt tell you to be honest, I think they have only played about three games together, no time at all to build up an understanding

 

 

And why do you think they have not played together?

[Huyton_Red]

How on earth do you know? They've rarely (if ever) been played together.

 

And for good reason.

 

The reason they have hardly ever played together is momo is considered crucial by benitez and alonso can not play wide but gerrard can

 

Benitez when doing interviews when the gerrard for the middle row was at its height was talking about partnerships, he always mentioned "momo and another"

 

If Liverpool sign someone like Alves, or some other right winger he can rely on to perform week in week out we will then see who he drops out of the three.

 

I say again, Alonso offers us hardly any protection against a decent team, see Saturday for yet more evidence and he doesnt offer as much all round as either Gerrard or Sissoko

 

IF they have to pick two from the three, then its gerrard and sissoko for me

[Knox_Harrington]

You dont need to sit in front of the back four, Alonso is 'meant' to sit in front of the back four and every time we play a decent team without momo in there we get cut to bits. Everyone says Alonso has to be in to sit in front of the defence, what f'ckin good did that do on Sat ?

 

Viera did not sit in front of the back four did he ? Momo plays in exactly the same way Viera does, he presses the oppositions midfielders in posession and wins the ball back. He could be a little more disciplined if needed, and press closer to his own defence instead of so high up the pitch if he was playing with gerrard

 

Also gerrard has added a huge amount of discipline to his game since momo has been out, I think he is currently carrying an injury because he hardly ran on Saturday

 

Momo and gerrard for me if/when we get a proper winger with someone like maschereno etc as backup and in case we need to play gerrard wide right due to injury etc

In what way would we be lost exactly ?

Vieira did sit in front of the back four after Petit went. Who incidentially sat in front of the back four.

 

Regardless though while neither Alonso nor Gerrard played particularly well on Saturday Riise was hugely at fault for the first (and the keeper should have done better), Finnan, Carragher and Gerrard were at fault for the second (and the keeper should have done better) and Carragher made a mistake for the third. At no time did I think, Christ, Arsenal are cutting us open here.

 

We pressed the play and spent pretty much the entire second half in their half.

 

More total overreaction I'm afraid. Added to which on this season's form Alonso has looked the best of our three centre mids and Sissoko (when he played) the poorest.