After seeing Gerrard play a much deeper role at the weekend following on from a performance against Arsenal where he was poor and didn't seem to know where he was playing is it possible that the manager doesn't know or is yet to find out where he sees the captain in his team.
Against Arsenal I thought Gerrard was awful and to me it looked like he was trying to be everywhere while actually doing very little. It didn't look like he was playing a role the manager would want as I feel he should have been the furthest forward of the midfield three but too many times he was back in front of the back four in space where Allen was playing.
Against Sunderland it was clear that the manager changed things with a two and a one in midfield with Gerrard sitting beside Allen. Now I think he played well here especially second half but for me it was a role that doesn't get the best of the player and also a role that can be played just as well by others in the squad.
You could easily have Henderson or Sahin with Allen and I don't think it would have harmed our game at all.
Henderson Allen Allen Sahin
Shelvey Shelvey
I also think that Jonjo deserves his place in the side and on the evidence of the weekend Brendan feels the same but is moving Gerrard to a position where he has less impact on the game the best way to get Shelvey in the team? Also what happens when Sahin is fully up to speed with the rest of the team?
Brendan has talked in the past about Gerrard being one of the attacking players and originally has played him as the furthest forward of the three whereas he was the deepest of the three at the weekend.
Is the moving about of the Captain because the manager feels he is the best player for those positions or is it because he can't yet find a role for him that gets the best out of both him and the team?
« Last Edit: Sep 17, 2012 01:47:29 pm by srslfc »
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