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Gerrard as our false nine

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eecheerow

eecheerow

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I'm sure it's come up elsewhere, but I'm far too lazy to find it, but what are our thoughts on this? He's likely our best finisher, but it's obviously not a perfect fit. Spain obviously had mixed results using it this summer and it arguably didn't come together for them until Cesc played like a forward as opposed to a midfielder.
 
Didn't Rafa or Houllier try playing Gerrard upfront in one or two games when all our strikers were injured?
If I remember it correctly it didn't work too well.
 
Yeah they did but it was a totally different tactical set up. The false 9 position requires a tremendous amount of intelligent running to work effectively, its essentially a position that every move has to be made relative to the positioning/movements of the supporting wide forward/midfielders or else you end up with too many players occupying the same space and making the opposition defences job easier. Im not sure Gerrard is suited to that, his best attributes are his aggression and ability to drive forward I dont think subtlety has ever been his strong point, I think he could do a shift there but you would probably negate most of his best attacking qualities, his best position now would be in a central role just behind a wider positioned fron two, which gives him options in front of him and space to run into

Borini-----------Suarez
--------Gerrard

Something like that, it would allow him to drop back and help the midfield out if required without totally messing up the balance of the team and give him a clear channel to attack when in possession with the other two forwards dragging the CBs out of position
 
Something like this is defo worth a try, and I'm pretty certain Rodgers WILL try it sooner rather than later:

---------Sahin----Lucas
---------------Allen
--Suarez--Gerrard--Assaidi
 
RedStar said:
Yeah they did but it was a totally different tactical set up. The false 9 position requires a tremendous amount of intelligent running to work effectively, its essentially a position that every move has to be made relative to the positioning/movements of the supporting wide forward/midfielders or else you end up with too many players occupying the same space and making the opposition defences job easier. Im not sure Gerrard is suited to that, his best attributes are his aggression and ability to drive forward I dont think subtlety has ever been his strong point, I think he could do a shift there but you would probably negate most of his best attacking qualities, his best position now would be in a central role just behind a wider positioned fron two, which gives him options in front of him and space to run into

Borini-----------Suarez
--------Gerrard

Something like that, it would allow him to drop back and help the midfield out if required without totally messing up the balance of the team and give him a clear channel to attack when in possession with the other two forwards dragging the CBs out of position
Click to expand...

I like this idea. Gerrard needs to run into space, that's when he is at his best.

So it's going to look like 4-4-2 diamond on paper, but transform to 4-3-3 in the attacking phase. Let's see if Brendan is thinking in this direction at all.

Borini-----Suarez
--------Gerrard---
Sahin--------Allen
--------Lucas-----
 
Another possibility is Suarez playing false nine (he definitely has enough intelligence and subtlety for that), with Gerrard bombing forward from RW.
 
rurikbird said:
Another possibility is Suarez playing false nine (he definitely has enough intelligence and subtlety for that), with Gerrard bombing forward from RW.
Click to expand...

If we were intent on playing a false 9 then Luis would certainly be the most obvious candidate, he has enough pace to trouble defenders thereby forcing them deeper when he pushes upfront which stretches the gap between the opposing midfield and defence leaving gaps that can be exploited when the false 9 drops deep and the supporting players burst forward to exploit the holes left behind. I cant remember if Rodgers ever employed a false 9 at Swansea so Im not sure if its something thats in his plans but Im sure he will try a number of options depending on the personnel available.

Stevie may find himself used sparingly this season, with Sahin and Allen coming in and Lucas returning from injury I would expect those 3 to form the basis of our midfield. The forward positions are less straightforward and he could certainly be used in a number of formations/combinations but at this point we are yet to settle on a formation or lineup, and unlike previous seasons I dont believe that building the team around Gerrard is going to be particularly productive at this point in his career, he either fits into the system or doesnt play there is no point trying to shoehorn him into the team.

In a set up that requires everybody pulling in the same direction at all times there is no room for somebody who lacks positional discipline and constantly wanders around in search of the ball. People have assumed Gerrard will automatically adapt and players like Jamie and Carroll will struggle, but I think Stevie will be one of those who has to change the most in the way he plays to become a fixture in this new team.
 
Back in Dec 2008:

Having scored over 100 goals for the Merseyside club over the decade he has played for the first-team, Gerrard certainly has the ability. And with Fernando Torres our injured for up to three weeks, it seems the 28-year-old could move into a more forward position alongside Robbie Keane.

"Stevie is a great finisher and can score great goals, so maybe he can play as a striker," Benitez said.

"When he is older and does not have the same pace, he will still have the accuracy and he can still be a great finisher. He’s already one of the big names but I still think he can improve.

"From 26 to 29 is the best age for a player and Steven always wants to learn."

“He is still young, 28 for a player is the best age and I think that he will not lose his power and he will not lose his quality.

“As a player in terms of his physical condition and technical ability he will not lose these things, so he can only improve because he can read the game better every year. I don’t know how long he will be as strong as he is now. But if he can stay with the same energy and same power a few more years he will be better and better.

“He is now one of the big names and 10 years in the same club and scoring 104 goals for a midfielder is amazing. But he can score more goals and still be more effective on the pitch.”
Click to expand...
 
Not for me. His strengths are still coming from deep and driving the team forward.

I'd rather give Borini a go through the middle because his movement is decent and he gets himself into good positions.
 
I was thinking about this earlier Gerrard once again is the saviour. We have to play him as part of the front three, Sahin, Allen and Shelvey will be the midfield three with Gerrard as one of the front three, he's the only one who can make things happen in the final third
 
LadyRed said:
he's the only one who can make things happen in the final third
Click to expand...

I know you don't like Suarez, and yeah his finishing is often poor, but if there's anyone who makes things happen in the final third consistently, it's Luis.

As for the general sentiment, I agree. He may not be the best fit for a role in the front three, but in our current situation he will surely be used there.
 
There was a moment in the Hearts game when Gerrard, after Suarez had gone on about ten of his 'wriggle into the box and then lose the ball/fall over/shoot wide' runs, did exactly the same. So maybe it's catching. Digger was sometimes used up front - I remember a game v QPR when he was fantastic in that role - but I doubt it will work these days with Gerrard. The best defenders will dominate him. Maybe in the last quarter of a match against the weaker teams he might be quite effective.
 
Mamma Mia said:
I know you don't like Suarez, and yeah his finishing is often poor, but if there's anyone who makes things happen in the final third consistently, it's Luis.

As for the general sentiment, I agree. He may not be the best fit for a role in the front three, but in our current situation he will surely be used there.
Click to expand...

If there were other players in the box maybe Suarez's runs would produce more chances, but it's as if his teammates are happy to stand back and watch his trickery rather than move and create space and be available if the ball breaks to one of them.
 
gkmacca said:
If there were other players in the box maybe Suarez's runs would produce more chances, but it's as if his teammates are happy to stand back and watch his trickery rather than move and create space and be available if the ball breaks to one of them.
Click to expand...

That was one of the main problems of large season when we had Downing and Henderson in the side. Both players seemingly allergic to the penalty area.

It wasn't a problem during Kenny's first spell in charge when he would pick Kuyt, Maxi or Miereles regularly.
 
I don't think Gerrard should play 'up front' like a number 9, I just think he needs to play further up, ideally in behind a front two but more likely on the right of a forward three.
 
Sunny said:
I'm really not sure Gerrard has the legs for it anymore.
Click to expand...

Playing further up means he's required to track back a little less than if he's in the middle of the park, so would actually work better as he would be required to cover less ground
 
You will probably find, this was why Rodgers was looking to buy Dempsey.

The best player we know have to fulfil this role, as a false number 9.. is Joe Cole..

However as he is always I injured, we may never see him..
 
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