Gerrard on the right.

[difs.oner]

Is it just me but the season we used him mainly on the right, wasn't that one of our best years in premier league for a long while. Maybe we should explore using him there again. Just a thought.

[Guest Themba]

Anybody who knows anything about football or even knows Steven Gerrard is aware that he operates at his best on the right. Either on the right or at the head of a 3 man midfield not behind the striker even though its essentially the same thing.

[kop205]

Anybody who knows anything about football or even knows Steven Gerrard is aware that he operates at his best on the right.

 

I disgaree. He is capable of equally brilliant performances when rampaging from the centre of the park as well.

 

The point is though that whereas we have other excellent central midfielders who in their own way can be as effective as Gerrard, we have nobody in the squad who can come close his level of performance on the right hand side. Benayoun is a decent player and has done ok without ever looking like terrifying anyone; Pennant is patently not up to it; Babel is very raw and has been used more in other positions anyway.

 

On that basis alone, I'd personally be putting Gerrard on the right with Alonso and Mascherano in the centre.

 

It isn't about where he personally is 'best' and nor should it be. It is about how he fits into the best posisble XI. Sign or produce a really top quality right midfielder and it could well be that he fits best into the centre.

[Spiblish]

Gerrard should always start on the right and be given free reign to roam.

 

His lack of discipline from this position does not matter as much as it does in the middle and you get the best from him IMO.

[realtarragona]

That ship has sailed (for whatever reason).

 

I don't think he's been used there once this season and the opportunity has arisen.

[Bromage]

Completely agree; he should always start on the right.

[BG]

That ship has sailed (for whatever reason).

 

I don't think he's been used there once this season and the opportunity has arisen.

 

Agreed. It's not going to happen again.

[Stevie H]

it's banging the same old drum but he's just basically easier to negate and to stop when he plays centre mid. you can force him deep quite easily. when he starts the game nominally wide right, teams simply don't know what to do with him.

[honourablegeorge]

Don't think it's to do with his position, or his diccipline, as such.

 

Just that we have a squad that's full of (overstocked with, even) players capable of doing the midfield donkey work, breakign up play, starting off attacks, etc., but we have nobody who contributes in attack the way Gerrard does. So it's a waste to put him in the centre. Let him loose, let him do his thing. Simple as that. Whether he's nominally on the right, or ahead of the midfield, it doesn't matter, just don't give him the donkey work to do.

[Guest JV]

He should go on the right for the good of the team.

[fred milne]

That ship has sailed (for whatever reason).

Ultimately, its the manager's call. If his job is on the line and he thinks playing Gerrard on the right is the best option for the team then whatever reservations Gerrard may have are secondary.

[John am Rhein]

Gerrard on the right? Yes.

[Chili Palmer]

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

it'll not happen though, Rafa is under too much pressure. Can you imagine the press the first time we even draw a game with Stevie on the right??

[John am Rhein]

Sack the press!

[Jim D]

Gerrard is a better player on the right than Pennant, Pennant really by now should have been making that right midfield spot his own but he is not simply good enough for us to go onto another level. He is a decent Premiership player, nothing more and if we need Gerrard to play in that position it obviously shows the shortcomings in Pennant's game despite being a right winger in his natural position.

[John am Rhein]

There's a vast gulf in ability between Gerrard and Pennant. It's really a 'no brainer'. Benayoun's a decent option for the RM position, though.

[Chili Palmer]

Sack the press!

 

if only...

[Guest Taxman]

Agree completely. He's a natural in that position and has less defensive and positional responsibilities and can get on doing what he's good at, driving forward and getting goals.

 

At the end of the day, though, he can play anywhere if he applys himself.

[John am Rhein]

if only...

 

More realistically: ignore the press

[Guest Taxman]

There's a vast gulf in ability between Gerrard and Pennant. It's really a 'no brainer'. Benayoun's a decent option for the RM position, though.

 

Gerrard on the right and Benyoun in the 'hole' behind Torres would be my preference. Not sure Bena is cut out for the right side and the tactical job Rafa expects of his wider players. No point in a creative player like that tracking back all game. He needs to be in those danger areas.

[John am Rhein]

No point in a creative player like that tracking back all game. He needs to be in those danger areas.

 

There's every point. If he doesn't track back it lets the opposition play. Beckham at his best was outstanding at tracking back.

[Guest Taxman]

There's every point. If he doesn't track back it lets the opposition play. Beckham at his best was outstanding at tracking back.

 

Bena doesn't have the stamina or strength of a Beckham or Gerrard and is more intricate. He's at his best in the last third running at players and opeing up space. If he's on the back foot all game chasing a left winger it negates his natural game and lessens our attacking options.

 

It's just another example of the cautious approach which will not win us the league.

[Rich Gobey]

Bena doesn't have the stamina or strength of a Beckham or Gerrard and is more intricate. He's at his best in the last third running at players and opeing up space. If he's on the back foot all game chasing a left winger it negates his natural game and lessens our attacking options.

 

It's just another example of the cautious approach which will not win us the league.

 

 

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

[Guest Taxman]

Go to bed if you're tired.

[John am Rhein]

Bena doesn't have the stamina or strength of a Beckham or Gerrard and is more intricate. He's at his best in the last third running at players and opeing up space. If he's on the back foot all game chasing a left winger it negates his natural game and lessens our attacking options.

 

It's just another example of the cautious approach which will not win us the league.

 

I agree he's probably at his best in a central 'inside forward' type of position, but if he plays right midfield (which he sometimes does) then he has to track back.

 

Tracking back isn't 'cautious' it's just the basics of football.