Stevie me

[Kuyt-fever]

Na he's orite.

 

He seems to adapted his game , he no longer looks out of his depth in-behind Torres but is playing very well. In the last few weeks he's got his drive back and looks to be hitting top form. Some would say he's had a quiet season but it's still seen him score 19 goals and look on course to better his best ever. He also has 10 assists in the premier league alone and Kaizer could tell us how many he has in all competitons.

 

Considering hes not been at his best thats a frightening tally and a testament to his threat even when not playing well. 28 later this year he's entering the prime of his career and could lead the assault on the title next year.

[Ed the Wool]

He looks like he's really enjoying himself at the minute. I've been a critic of his attitude in the past, but it seems somethings changed. Maybe his rant in the press helped release frustration, maybe he feels Rafa is listening more to him and the players re a more fixed system/lack of rotation.

 

Either way, its great to see. Those goals he and Torres scored yesterday reminded me of the understanding between Dalglish and Rush. Long may it continue.

[Guest Prongsy]

He's been awesome at times, even by his own high standards. There have also been times where he and the whole team have been below part.

 

I'm looking forward to the next couple of seasons with more attacking talent coming in to link up with him.

[Lee W]

I'm not convinced that Gerrard is a 'Number 10' yet. When the system works against the top sides and not average teams like Newcastle then fair enough. Would still like to see Torres partnered with someone like Berbatov who has more guile than Gerrard. Eventually defences are just going to sit on their 18 yard line against Torres (like they did with Owen), and we're going to need more variation in our attack.

 

That said it does seem Gerrard does seem to have discovered his drive again.

[MFletcher]

It releases Gerrard from the tactical burdens of the midfield. In a Rafa team, the two central midfielders will sit there and provide a defensive base for the side. That's not what Gerrard is good at. This formation liberates him to do what he's good at - driving runs, shots on goals, through balls etc.

 

Long may it continue.

[Hassony]

One great thing about Gerrard is the "aura" he has about him now, you can see the respect in all his team mates and all his oppopnent when they are playing Gerrard

 

I can't think of anyone in world football at the moment who has a simmilar aura, Zidane had it of course, Ronaldo when he was with real and Brazil, Henry with arsenal

[Guest Anders Honoré]

He's struck up a great understanding with Torres.

 

Was beautiful to see him drive forwards with the ball for Fernando's goal. Scares the s*** out of defenders when he finds room to run.

[Rimbeux]

He's not really playing in the 10 position, or at least he's not the furthest up of the supporting three to Torres. Rather than previously where the ball would be played up to him and he'd be back to goal with maybe one man ahead or level, now its picking the ball up with runners left right and centre already getting ahead of the ball. Far closer to the holding midfield and not generally in a strikers starting position, more Lampard than Bergkamp

[Bootle Buck]

He has also started to look the part in the Captain's role too. Heard him saying the other day how he praised and thanked every player after the game against WHU. Somwetimes I think the rest of the players tend to sit back and hope he can carry them. With Torres in great form there is less pressure on Stevie to be the saviour.

[Mike S]

He's not really playing in the 10 position, or at least he's not the furthest up of the supporting three to Torres. Rather than previously where the ball would be played up to him and he'd be back to goal with maybe one man ahead or level, now its picking the ball up with runners left right and centre already getting ahead of the ball. Far closer to the holding midfield and not generally in a strikers starting position, more Lampard than Bergkamp

spot on. He doesn't do the back to goal stuff very well, but with a striker in front of him who is quick enough to push defences back and strong enough to hold the ball up it means Gerrard has plenty of space to move forward into from midfield.

[MickeyDocs]

Would still like to see Torres partnered with someone like Berbatov who has more guile than Gerrard.

 

 

I would hate to see Berbatov play for Liverpool... the guy is a total prima donna. He isn't fit to lace Gerrard's boots!

[alias75]

Think its quite simple hes playing in a position and in a formation that gets the best out of him, as has been said he has very little defensive responsibility except to press with the other 3 forwards high up the pitch and he now has good options when we break. Hes always struck me as the type of player that thrives when playing with other top players, when Xabi first got here those 2 linked well and now with Torres they've struck up a great understanding.

 

The last few weeks hes been playing fantastic.

[Mike]

I'm not convinced that Gerrard is a 'Number 10' yet. When the system works against the top sides and not average teams like Newcastle then fair enough. Would still like to see Torres partnered with someone like Berbatov who has more guile than Gerrard. Eventually defences are just going to sit on their 18 yard line against Torres (like they did with Owen), and we're going to need more variation in our attack.

 

That said it does seem Gerrard does seem to have discovered his drive again.

 

he's not a number 10 in this formation mate.

[surf]

He's not really playing in the 10 position, or at least he's not the furthest up of the supporting three to Torres. Rather than previously where the ball would be played up to him and he'd be back to goal with maybe one man ahead or level, now its picking the ball up with runners left right and centre already getting ahead of the ball. Far closer to the holding midfield and not generally in a strikers starting position, more Lampard than Bergkamp

 

 

Agree with that.

 

Mourinho's Chelsea played 4-2-3-1 with Makalele and Essien holding, Robben, Cole and Lampard as the three and Drogba up top.

Fill that system with our players and we have Alonso and Masch, with Babel in the Robben position, Gerrard in the Lampard position and Benny/Pennant in the Joe Cole position.

 

Gerrard isn't a nr.10, but Chelsea showed that with good enough wingers/supporting forwards, the formation doesn't need a classic nr.10. It does however require the wingers to be able to run at defenders and chip in with goals.

Edited March 9, 2008 by surf

[Mike]

Agree with that.

 

Mourinho's Chelsea played 4-2-3-1 with Makalele and Essien holding, Robben, Cole and Lampard as the three and Drogba up top.

Fill that system with our players and we have Alonso and Masch, with Babel in the Robben position, Gerrard in the Lampard position and Benny/Pennant in the Joe Cole position.

 

Gerrard isn't a nr.10, but Chelsea showed that with good enough wingers/supporting forwards, the formation doesn't need a classic nr.10. It does however require the wingers to be able to run at defenders and chip in with goals.

 

hence kuyt plays - the irony here, is that if he would have been able to be fit kewel would have been perfect for that formation.

Edited March 9, 2008 by Mike

[MFletcher]

hence kuyt plays - the irony here, is that if he would have been able to be fit kewel would have been perfect for that formation.

 

To be fair, Kuyt has decent movement and can deliver an excellent cross. He's also started to look a bigger goal threat since being moved to the wing, since he's not being asked to be the link man.

[MickeyDocs]

It releases Gerrard from the tactical burdens of the midfield. In a Rafa team, the two central midfielders will sit there and provide a defensive base for the side. That's not what Gerrard is good at. This formation liberates him to do what he's good at - driving runs, shots on goals, through balls etc.

 

Long may it continue.

 

great post... agreed 100%

[surf]

Kuyt isn't the proper man for that formation. I'm sure given a wad of cash in the summer Benitez will bring in someone who is.

And as Mike said, Kewell would indeed have been perfect.

[MickeyDocs]

To be fair, Kuyt has decent movement and can deliver an excellent cross. He's also started to look a bigger goal threat since being moved to the wing, since he's not being asked to be the link man.

 

 

He has played in this role for both Feyenord and The Netherlands. IMHO he lacks the pace to really make this role his own, but it does make him a very useful utility forward, but he doesn't score enough goals - should he go in the summer?

[MFletcher]

He has played in this role for both Feyenord and The Netherlands. IMHO he lacks the pace to really make this role his own, but it does make him a very useful utility forward, but he doesn't score enough goals - should he go in the summer?

 

I'd be driving Voronin to his next club myself. After that, it's a throw up between Crouch and Kuyt.

 

I think Dirk's attitude is exemplary, he has leadership skills, is a big game player and is a better all round player. Crouch isn't that good and his attributes are greatly exaggerated every time he is out of the team. His contract situation dictates a sale anyway.

[Guest Prongsy]

I'm not convinced that Gerrard is a 'Number 10' yet.

 

He isn't playing as a number 10. So there isn't much convincing to do about that.

[Guest JV]

He's not really playing in the 10 position, or at least he's not the furthest up of the supporting three to Torres. Rather than previously where the ball would be played up to him and he'd be back to goal with maybe one man ahead or level, now its picking the ball up with runners left right and centre already getting ahead of the ball. Far closer to the holding midfield and not generally in a strikers starting position, more Lampard than Bergkamp

Exactly.

[Hightown Phil]

Two words.

 

Frank Ribery.

[Guest Prongsy]

Two words.

 

Frank Ribery.

 

What about him?

 

He's average, for a start. Left sided, for a middle and just joined a new club for an end.

 

I could have sworn this was in the thread about new players. Sorry...

Edited March 9, 2008 by Prongsy

[Earl Hafler]

It releases Gerrard from the tactical burdens of the midfield. In a Rafa team, the two central midfielders will sit there and provide a defensive base for the side. That's not what Gerrard is good at. This formation liberates him to do what he's good at - driving runs, shots on goals, through balls etc.

 

Long may it continue.

 

It's something people on here have been saying for ages but Rafa appears to have been reluctant to stick to.

 

We're on form, we were playing against one of the worst sides in the league before an important European away game so i can understand why Pennant was given a run but he has no long term future here. Benayoun looked a little lost on the left but Riise didn't help matters and Benayoun would be better served on the right - linking and switching with Gerrard