Steven Gerrard and where he plays. The biggest problem for Brendan?

 If Brendans biggest problem is where Stevie Gerrard plays then he ain't got too much to worry about. I've said it many times, he could play anywhere just about and be better than the bloke we've currently got playing there. The only person who has a problem, is the player who is trying to get in front of him if Brendan decides that's where he thinks Gerrard is best deployed.

 When Rafa preferred Stevie off of Torres, or wide right, in both cases because a) we had nobody else and b) because Stevie was fantastic in both positions, some people wrongly concluded that that meant he couldn't play in central midfield. This ignores the obvious fact that 85% or so of his appearances for club and country have been in central midfield. He's now playing the holding role and totally unsurprisingly is fantastic at it. The sensible debate is not whether or not he can play there, it's whether or not it best utilises his talents. The consideration must also be whether or not the bloke he is displacing (Lucas) needs displacing as much as some others in the team. The answer to that one is probably no.

 Make no mistake about it though, if the manager sees Gerrard's best position as holding midfielder, Lucas won't get in while Stevie is available for selection. Not in a million years (and I know that will be controversial for some but it's a certainty IMHO).

 

I would like to see the Skipper in a more advanced role as a second striker where he can crack some screamers in for us,a Gerrad is a danger in the box for opponents.

If Brendans biggest problem is where Stevie Gerrard plays then he ain't got too much to worry about. I've said it many times, he could play anywhere just about and be better than the bloke we've currently got playing there. The only person who has a problem, is the player who is trying to get in front of him if Brendan decides that's where he thinks Gerrard is best deployed.

 When Rafa preferred Stevie off of Torres, or wide right, in both cases because a) we had nobody else and b) because Stevie was fantastic in both positions, some people wrongly concluded that that meant he couldn't play in central midfield. This ignores the obvious fact that 85% or so of his appearances for club and country have been in central midfield. He's now playing the holding role and totally unsurprisingly is fantastic at it. The sensible debate is not whether or not he can play there, it's whether or not it best utilises his talents. The consideration must also be whether or not the bloke he is displacing (Lucas) needs displacing as much as some others in the team. The answer to that one is probably no.

 Make no mistake about it though, if the manager sees Gerrard's best position as holding midfielder, Lucas won't get in while Stevie is available for selection. Not in a million years (and I know that will be controversial for some but it's a certainty IMHO).

 

Spot on Mick.

The only argument that can be made against Gerrard playing as a defensive midfielder is that Liverpool need him more elsewhere. He may not be as dynamic as he used to be, or to put his foot through the ball in the way that he used to, but he is still different class to most of our players (Think he might struggle to oust Pepe or Suarez but I wouldn't bet on it ) 

I would like to see the Skipper in a more advanced role as a second striker where he can crack some screamers in for us,a Gerrad is a danger in the box for opponents.

I honestly don't think Gerrard can hit the screamers anymore mate. Since his groin injury he never puts his foot through the ball anymore..... just hits them with the side of his foot.

I certainly wouldn't argue against him playing further forward though as he can still knock the ball in the net and set up chances for fun.

If Brendans biggest problem is where Stevie Gerrard plays then he ain't got too much to worry about. I've said it many times, he could play anywhere just about and be better than the bloke we've currently got playing there. The only person who has a problem, is the player who is trying to get in front of him if Brendan decides that's where he thinks Gerrard is best deployed.

 When Rafa preferred Stevie off of Torres, or wide right, in both cases because a) we had nobody else and b) because Stevie was fantastic in both positions, some people wrongly concluded that that meant he couldn't play in central midfield. This ignores the obvious fact that 85% or so of his appearances for club and country have been in central midfield. He's now playing the holding role and totally unsurprisingly is fantastic at it. The sensible debate is not whether or not he can play there, it's whether or not it best utilises his talents. The consideration must also be whether or not the bloke he is displacing (Lucas) needs displacing as much as some others in the team. The answer to that one is probably no.

 Make no mistake about it though, if the manager sees Gerrard's best position as holding midfielder, Lucas won't get in while Stevie is available for selection. Not in a million years (and I know that will be controversial for some but it's a certainty IMHO).

 

Great post mick.

The reason I started the thread was, at the time, Brendan didn't seem to have a clear role for Gerrard in the side and Stevie himself was a a bit all over the place and nowhere near as effective as he should of bad can be.

Looking at things over the last few games it is clear Gerrard has found his role in both the team and the system Brendan plays as a whole. He isn't trying to force the play anymore, unless it's really on, and appears to get the fact he doesn't have to do everything himself and the team and the system we employ is the most important thing now.

I agree with you that Gerrard, on his day, is the best player in our squad in whatever position he plays and the manager may also feel the same and is why he has dropped him further back after Lucas injury.

All in all he has been fantastic recently and actually showed he can still learn something and adapt his game to best suit the team.

Steven didn't have the best of games last time out but the reason I'm bumping this is more about where he can most benefit the team in the coming weeks.

With Fabio out injured, Shelvey back from suspension and our problems scoring goals at times I'm just wondering if now is the time to move the captain further forward and make use of his attacking instincts and ability to get goals.

Stevie being Stevie, I believe wherever and whichever way he's deployed he'll excel, he's a fighter. But one thing I'm truly worry of is he's 31 and it won't bee too long before he call it a day and make way for the younger players and I hope to see that he makes best use of the remaining time guiding the younger players which will be our future.

I watched closely in recent games, when it comes to that decisive moment in our attack, it's always a Stevie-Suarez combo while the rest were like more or less bolted to the ground, not involved enough or don't want to be involved, or lost don't know what position to take up and most of the time ended up at random positions.  Could it be that Stevie doesn't trust the younger players to be involved or that he thinks himself and Suarez could do it all alone which make it even simpler for the opposition to read our game that led to those stray passes. I could be wrong though.

I could see the sad face in Sterling at times when he made a mistake and Stevie was like shouting at him, used to be Lucas before. In view of Stevie's vast experience, I hope to see him in more of a mentor role than anything else, impart his vast experience to the younger players, embrace them, teach them and provide the necessary encouragement and guidance on the field. Stevie will have at most another 3 more years left while the academy and younger players have just started off and it's a important during this 2 or 3 years transition period. 

I can't see Stevie in the DM position. I think it's a specialist position. It's not about instinct as much as real concentration if played properly. He is far better off in a free role. He could play next to a holding midfielder like Alonso did, but to restrict him to this wouldn't be good for him and wouldn't work properly. We are not talking about someone passing from deep, we are talking about ALWAYS being positionally aware and breaking up play and keeping possession of the football, not raking superballs to marauding forwards. This isn't Gerrard. He can do it but Lucas does it much better.

Yep it will be a waste to play him as DM, his tackling is not that good anymore and he doesn't like to defend. He is a weak link if played alongside a DM unless it's Lucas who can cover like a beast. We have Hendo and Allen who play as DM and Sahin too can play there much better. Gerrard must play as the Am of our midfield just behind a true striker, not Suarez, even if it's Yesil, it should be a real striker whose only role is to score

If you can't get the best out of Steven Gerrard, then it's you doing something wrong.   He's still easily in the top two players at the club, the pther being Suarez.

If you need to tweak your tactics to get the best out of those two, you do so. 

Posters keep banging on about Gerrard not being able to play as a DM but given that our lads seem to be averaging 60 odd % (and more) of the ball in most of the games they have played this season I'd argue there is less need for a water carrier in there. Gerrard has been very good the past few games. I agree he needs to show a little more patience on the ball, he needs to retain (rather than risk) possession a little better BUT you wouldn't want him to become mr safe pass all the time because we'd be in danger of having a team full of players doing just that.

I was thinking more along the lines of something like this and posted it in the match thread

Allen Sahin

Shelvey

Suarez Gerrard Sterling

For me this gives us a great balance in midfield with Allen sitting, Sahin slightly further and left sided and Jonjo in front.

Also give us fluid front three and our best attacking options right now to get a goal or two added to Shelvey's ability to support the front three as well.

I'd like the boss to give it a go as home to Reading is a perfect opportunity to set out a really attacking side.

I was thinking more along the lines of something like this and posted it in the match thread

Allen Sahin

Shelvey

Suarez Gerrard Sterling

For me this gives us a great balance in midfield with Allen sitting, Sahin slightly further and left sided and Jonjo in front.

Also give us fluid front three and our best attacking options right now to get a goal or two added to Shelvey's ability to support the front three as well.

I'd like the boss to give it a go as home to Reading is a perfect opportunity to set out a really attacking side.

I posted this idea in another thread in this forum.  Not exactly this formation but the idea to play Gerrard up front, alongside Suarez and Sterling.
Gerrard isn't a "real" Number 9 but do we have a "real" number 9 at the moment?
I don't think so, the player who comes closest to "our" number 9 is Borini. But he wasn't outstanding in this early season, so why should we not try the possibility to play Gerrard up front?
I share your opinion with playing Allen and Sahin in a deeper role and let them control the game and with Shelvey who will support the three players  up front.

When Lucas comes back I think he should be moved to the right of the front three. If we could get a top striker in we could maybe shift Suarez to the left (the role he played with Ajax) with the obvious excellent options of Sterling and Suso.

I cant remember the last time Stevie controlled a game from the centre of the pitch (maybe the derby at Anfield last season?) but his delivery and finishing are still top quality. Something like this looks very strong to me, imagine a Huntelaar or Llorente as the "number 9" in there and we would have a excellent starting eleven with no obvious weeknesses.


              Pepe

Kelly   Skrtel Agger  Glen
       
          Lucas    Allen

              Shelvey

Gerrard  *****  Suarez

When Lucas comes back I think he should be on the bench - another game passed him by yesterday. He delivers well on free kicks but there is no drive from him at the moment. He just doesn't seem to suit the style and he looks lost at times. It's a problem.

Needs to be more of a second striker now.

Great cross in for the second goal.  That's all he did though.  I agree with the posters who suggest he should be played as part of the front three - a good replacement for Suso.

I remember fondly his time on the right wing when we had Mascherano and Alonso in our central midfield - scored a barrel of goals and we ended the season on 86 points wasn't it.

I don't think he can compete in the middle anymore - relieving him of that duty and let him stick to his ability to create that final killer ball.

Him and sahin really need to swop worrying our boss can't see something so glaring. Wondering has Gerrard a bit to much say in where he plays.

Him and sahin really need to swop worrying our boss can't see something so glaring. Wondering has Gerrard a bit to much say in where he plays.

I remember when Benitez was Boss and Stevie played On the right wing and as a second striker behind Torres,thats where he was most devastating,Gerrard was not happy playing in those roles and wanted to revert back to being in midfield.

Rafa: I'll get the best from Gerrard
 
Rafael Benitez has launched a passionate defence of his handling of Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard and his own managerial record at Anfield.
 
The Spanish coach has been criticised for his decision to play the 26-year-old England midfielder on the right rather than in the centre of midfield and there are noises coming from the Gerrard camp that he is not happy with the situation or the role he is being asked to play.
 
Benitez said: "I am as happy as Steve McClaren with Steven Gerrard and where he is playing. Steve scored 23 goals last season, playing on the right side of midfield. He is not being played as a right winger."
 
He added: "Are you seeing him making crosses from the byeline? No. He is always getting the ball and coming inside, that is what the role is. And he had the best season of his career playing that way.
 
"England can see that and that is where they are playing him too. Yes, Stevie can play well in central midfield, he could play well anywhere.
 
"But we have more balance with Momo Sissoko and Xabi Alonso there, and with Stevie wider. That works for our team. He goes inside and scores 23 goals, that surely is a good role for him.
 
"I have talked to Stevie, and he is happy. He is the captain and must be an example for the rest and he knows that the most important thing is the club, the team, the supporters and after that, the players."
 
Gerrard is set to be one of Liverpool's senior stars who are rested for the Carling Cup third-round clash with Reading at Anfield on Wednesday night.
 
Benitez is likely to blood youngsters Gabriel Paletta, Jamie Smith, Danny Guthrie and Lee Peltier in his squad, while England Under-19 goalkeeper David Martin will be on the bench because Jerzy Dudek is suspended.
 
Even without Gerrard in the team his form remains the major topic of conversation.
....

Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/football/22456-rafa-ill-get-the-best-from-gerrard#ixzz2AgTSWmLl

Rafa got the best out of him shabs. Agree with JD as well would prefer to him play further up as well say instead of suso.

Also you to drop sahin in and you also have shelvey or Henderson to play a role in midfield as both players can get around better than Gerrard.

Also you to drop sahin in and you also have shelvey or Henderson to play a role in midfield as both players can get around better than Gerrard.

Agree especially with this.  Henderson, when used this season, has looked far better than the player forced to play on the wing last year.  And Shelvey has the required drive and athleticism you need in the Premier League.

It's a no-brainer for me.  I think the only reason managers since Benitez haven't gone with it is most probably Gerrard's reluctance to play there himself.  If he wants to carry on playing for Liverpool he does need to face up to the fact that he is not the surging central midfielder he used to be. 

I'm going to disagree about putting him into the front 3( what a surprise i hear you scream ) - he doesn't have the pace or the type of skill set for that quick wide play we see from the guys out there. He should be the higher guy of the three sitting behind Suarez - that is where he is most effective IMO . Even when he was forced out wide when we had Momo and Xabi in the middle - he spent most of his time cutting inside anyway.

El Capitano is ending his career, he's well on his way to becoming a spent force, this is Liverpool FC not Steven Gerrard FC, he should play where his manager wants him to play without quibbles, its as simple as that.

He's been privileged to play and add to the history of our club and to be made a multi millionaire in the process.

He definitely had his best seasons playing on the right of midfield and as a second striker. Rafa deserves the utmost credit for making Gerrard so dominate.

Brendan's said the front three is not so much about flair and pace as it is workrate, if I'm not mistaken. I think pushed higher up the pitch, Stevie can work hard to win the ball back and move it on quickly. And if he's on the right and cutting in, that means Johnson or Wisdom essentially become the wide player, which is pretty much how it works out anyway. I don't think it will hurt to try him out there in certain match-ups.