Sissoko the direct replacement for Gerrard - mainly

[Rory Fitzgerald]

i'm not sure if people will agree with me but when Stevie is playing in midfield, he generally plays alongside one of Alonso/Mascherano. I also think that when Gerrard is missing, Sissoko seems to be t he player that replaces him. Momo seems more willing to get forward and stay ahead of the ball. I dont know whether thats on Rafa's instruction or by Momo's determination to add more strings to his bow given the increased competition.

 

I think Momo is definitely improving but we are all generally agreed that creativity is not Momo's strongest points.

 

I would like to see Benayoun get a go in Gerrard's role with one of Mascherano/Alonso behind him. In games against the biggest teams, maybe not but the majority of our games this season are not against the biggest clubs. Benayoun's strenghts are generally considered to be his comfort in possession, eye for a pass, drifting into space looking for the ball and to a certain extent - a quick burst of pace to get past a defender. OK, he is does not possess the tackling ability of the other players but in Gerrard's absence we would need a creative player (and I dont think Momo is that player. Additionally, we have an excellent back 4 and would have Masch/Xabi behind him so I dont think we would leave ourselves exposed.

 

Just an idea....................

[alias75]

Think Lucas could turn out be the man to replace Gerrard when hes rested, Sissoko isnt good enough going forward and Benayoun isnt strong enough to play in a central midfield 2.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Think Lucas could turn out be the man to replace Gerrard when hes rested, Sissoko isnt good enough going forward and Benayoun isnt strong enough to play in a central midfield 2.

 

.....but this season ?

[Magic8Ball]

The more I see Benayoun play, the more I say .. why?

[Earl Hafler]

The more I see Benayoun play, the more I say .. why?

 

Difficult for players to come in one game in four or five and perform. He played well in his last game but i think he's similar to Pennant in that he needs games to boost confidence. SWP struggled at Chelsea when he was ina and out of the side but thrived when given games and the confidence of the manager.

He and Crouch did not play well yesterday but they weren't given much. Momo and Xabi were poor and the defence played far too many long balls.

 

I'd have preferred to see Babel against Johnson. Play passes to Crouch and Torres into feet and spread the play wide using the pace of Babel and Pennant.

 

Yesterdays team seemed to be one picked so that we didn't lose, possibly pinching it in the second half.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

The more I see Benayoun play, the more I say .. why?

 

I think Pennant and Babel are our preferred wide men. Yossi is better though the center and I think he is a player that demands the ball, is comfortable in possession, knows what he wants to do and has a burst of initial pace to get him away from a man, if we are missing Gerrard's creativity in midfield then I think Benayoun is possibly the only other viable alternative as Momo/Masch/Xabi will never get too far ahead of the ball and in Momo's case is kind of like a 'headless chicken' as he is concentrating so much on controling the ball that he doesnt spot the passes early enough and that is one of the reasons why I think Benayoun should play

[alias75]

at home against easier opposition it could be worth a try but away from home in a tough game i dont think it would work. Hes very similar to Garcia in that his best position is probably as an attacking midfielder in a 3-5-2 formation.

 

He'll do a job for us out wide in that hes tidy on the ball and doesnt give it away much but i agree to get the best out of him he probably needs to play centrally i just dont see where he fits in given the players we already have there and the fact we play 4-4-2 most of the time.

[Guest Kaizer]

The more I see Benayoun play, the more I say .. why?

 

Answer- cheap.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

at home against easier opposition it could be worth a try but away from home in a tough game i dont think it would work. Hes very similar to Garcia in that his best position is probably as an attacking midfielder in a 3-5-2 formation.

 

He'll do a job for us out wide in that hes tidy on the ball and doesnt give it away much but i agree to get the best out of him he probably needs to play centrally i just dont see where he fits in given the players we already have there and the fact we play 4-4-2 most of the time.

 

I'm not suggesting that we accomodate him, I think that in games we need to take to the opposition and Gerrard is rested/suspended/injured then he is a player with talents that can unlocka defence and take us forward.

[Eskimo]

The more I see Benayoun play, the more I say .. why?

 

IMO the lack of movement from the front pairing did him no favors at all yesterday. He loves to play quick one two's in and around around the box and or thread clever through balls into the strikers as was the case a few weeks back when he had Torres and Kuyt running amok. Yossi had a great game that day.

 

Crouch and Voronin are never going to run the channels or burst away from defenders to create space for themsleves and as a result Yossi's game is more limited. I guess what I'm saying is that a clever playmakers needs runners to pick out....

[McBain]

Employing Momo high up the pitch was is and will always be a mad decision

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Employing Momo high up the pitch was is and will always be a mad decision

 

In Gerrard's absence, who would you play ?

[McBain]

In Gerrard's absence, who would you play ?

 

I'd certainly play Benayoun there ahead of him. But the best combination in Gerrard's absence is Xabi/Masch. Not many goals there and we'd need proper wingers either side but it's still preferable to watching Momo with the ball at his feet in the oppo half

[Knox_Harrington]

Benayoun's not the player for that position. He'll get battered. Sissoko looks poorest when Xabi's poor.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

I'd certainly play Benayoun there ahead of him. But the best combination in Gerrard's absence is Xabi/Masch. Not many goals there and we'd need proper wingers either side but it's still preferable to watching Momo with the ball at his feet in the oppo half

 

I would go along with that. I think we missed pace up front and drive from midfield yesterday - hopefully that team is not needed to play on a regular basis i.e. no Gerrard, Mascherano, Torres.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Benayoun's not the player for that position. He'll get battered. Sissoko looks poorest when Xabi's poor.

 

I think the guile he offers vs the work rate of Momo is more preferable in Gerrard's absence in games that we need to take the game to the opposition.

[Guest sniffer]

Benayoun's not the player for that position. He'll get battered. Sissoko looks poorest when Xabi's poor.

 

Benayoun is a bit lightweight on the ball. Frankly, I don't think he is much better than Bellamy, if at all.

[Knox_Harrington]

Benayoun is a bit lightweight on the ball. Frankly, I don't think he is much better than Bellamy, if at all.

I don't think he's Bellamy's replacement nor does he play in the same position as Bellamy.

[Falconhoof]

I hope Lucas starts in the middle against Reading and begins to make a name for himself.

[Maldini]

Man, some of you f*****s change quicker than the wind, Benayoun was our saviour after one good performance in the Champions League, now after one bad one he's a waste of money.

[The_Adder]

Tim Vickery, the South American football fountain of knowledge reckons that Lucas's best role would be alongside someone more defensive, ala Mascherano and possibly Xabi, so he can have the freedom to get forward.

 

I think he is the man.

 

Wonder how hes been getting on in training?

 

Benayoon is deffo much more a Garcia type, the kind that could really do with a freerole or play just behind the fronman(men), but we play 442 a lot so our play doesnt really suit him. Great player to have in the squad though, need players like him.

[CarraLegend]

Benayoun is a bit lightweight on the ball. Frankly, I don't think he is much better than Bellamy, if at all.

 

What a bizarre comparison.

[Frosty Jack]

Benayoun is a bit lightweight on the ball. Frankly, I don't think he is much better than Bellamy, if at all.

 

he's the replacement for smicer

[_00_deathscar]

Had Mascherano been fit, he'd have played, and then Xabi would have played further up the pitch, and we'd have won.

 

Should Gerrard and Mascherano not be available, then Benayoun centrally would be worth a try, but not vs Pompey's central mid. Also, Sissoko can't play deeper, so Xabi would have to play, and whilst his reading of the game is excellent, he would not be helped by Benayoun's poor tackling.

[Frosty Jack]

Had Mascherano been fit, he'd have Should Gerrard and Mascherano not be available, then Benayoun centrally would be worth a try.

 

no

Edited September 16, 2007 by Negativland