I don't get the Allen in the holding role bit. He was fucking beyond woeful when deployed there.
I reckon we should drop Gerrard for a bit, just until he regains his form.
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That's where he played in his first 10-15 games when Lucas was injured, and looked really excellent.
After that initial period, he looked poor no matter where he played - which may incidentally have been down to his shoulder injury.
I still have hopes for him - he clearly has loads of technical ability, and the guts to demand the ball every time. I'm not exactly sure what's been his problem. A combination of the injury and the lack of balance in Rodgers' midfield probably.
Regardless, I think the holding position is where he might actually find home. He lacks the range to be a full-blown CM playmaker, and the goals to be an AM. Seems logical to have him in front of the back four. He could quite easily be a Parker, Carrick or Barry. He's technically superior to all of them for starters.
After that initial period, he looked poor no matter where he played - which may incidentally have been down to his shoulder injury.
I still have hopes for him - he clearly has loads of technical ability, and the guts to demand the ball every time. I'm not exactly sure what's been his problem. A combination of the injury and the lack of balance in Rodgers' midfield probably.
Regardless, I think the holding position is where he might actually find home. He lacks the range to be a full-blown CM playmaker, and the goals to be an AM. Seems logical to have him in front of the back four. He could quite easily be a Parker, Carrick or Barry. He's technically superior to all of them for starters.
Agree with all that. I really rate Allen, & until the news of his shoulder injury came out was perplexed by his downturn in form.
He'll come good.
The need for a single player setting the tempo is more felt in a 4-2-3-1. The three midfielders have separate roles and separate strengths in that sort of set-up. For e.g. Alonso the playmaker, Mascherano the ball-winner and Gerrard the goal-getter.
You needn't necessarily have to do that though. A 4-3-3 obviates the need for a single player setting the tempo - the three midfielders just hold different positions, but are broadly on the same level and wavelength technically - which means they're always good to exchanging passing quickly. So the entire three-man midfield sets the tempo together as opposed to one player.
This is what I had in mind:
------------------Allen
----------Witsel
-----------------Coutinho/Gerrard
That's a midfield that wouldn't need a single player to set the tempo as all three would be quick, technically competent midfielders capable of passing short and quick.
Rodgers came in as a 4-3-3 proponent, but we end up with a weird mix and match of a 4-2-3-1 mostly.
We don't have to drop Stevie G. What we need though, is to have the courage to yank him if needed, and that depends on us having the quality backup players available that allow us to withdraw him. Even on a bad day, we all know he can still be a match winner either by converting peno's or pulling out a crazy sweeping pass. He doesn't always do that, but the potential is there more often than not, which means he's almost undroppable or cannot be confidently withdrawn as we don't have too many of his ilk.
When we have the players in midfield whom the manager can trust to pull that off, I think we'll be more comfortable withdrawing him. Henderson is developing well under Rodgers but isn't ready to fill Gerrard's huge shoes consistently, while Allen hasn't played much. The likes of Aspas and Alberto are still very new to the team, so I can't blame Rodgers for not having enough faith in them yet and thus keeping Gerrard on the pitch even though he's not pulling his weight at times.
When we have the players in midfield whom the manager can trust to pull that off, I think we'll be more comfortable withdrawing him. Henderson is developing well under Rodgers but isn't ready to fill Gerrard's huge shoes consistently, while Allen hasn't played much. The likes of Aspas and Alberto are still very new to the team, so I can't blame Rodgers for not having enough faith in them yet and thus keeping Gerrard on the pitch even though he's not pulling his weight at times.
I actually think we need someone else to take set pieces - I'm not a fan of Gerrards corners - his free kicks are good.
Isn't this why Rodgers brought in Sahin, to give Gerrard competition/rotation possibilities? It didn't work out because Sahin couldn't displace Gerrard and also couldn't adjust to playing in a different position. He was not happy with his role in the team and as such, there was no chance he would agree to a permanent move a year later - so Rodgers decided to abruptly abandon the project he fought so hard for only 6 month before.
But I don't think he has completely abandoned the idea of buying another CM/playmaker. We were credibly linked with a "Turkish Xavi" from Galatasarai this summer and speculatively with Xabi, which maybe shows that Rodgers is thinking in this direction, but perhaps he didn't consider it as high a priority as strengthening some other positions. Basically Rodgers believes in the idea of competition for every position and I don't think he will make exception even for the captain. I think next summer we will be in the market for a CM playmaker.
But I don't think he has completely abandoned the idea of buying another CM/playmaker. We were credibly linked with a "Turkish Xavi" from Galatasarai this summer and speculatively with Xabi, which maybe shows that Rodgers is thinking in this direction, but perhaps he didn't consider it as high a priority as strengthening some other positions. Basically Rodgers believes in the idea of competition for every position and I don't think he will make exception even for the captain. I think next summer we will be in the market for a CM playmaker.
Agreed, his corners are muck and he's superb in the air so should be in there
Agreed. His corners for England always seemed brilliant so I wonder if he changed them due to the players he had to aim at or instructions from the manager.
Whatever the reason, they're just as good for us now.
It is also true though that he's a boss header and he would definitely have added to his goal tally over the years if he went in for corners and the odd FK.
Unfortunately, yes.
I seriously think he needs time out...
Having said that... we have no other options... atm
Signing another AM, Midfielder might just prove to be the worst decision by Rodgers.. (closely followed by putting 4 CB's at the back...)
Having said that... we have no other options... atm
Signing another AM, Midfielder might just prove to be the worst decision by Rodgers.. (closely followed by putting 4 CB's at the back...)
He's played one good game all season
I see no reason why Allen/Hendo/LAR can't play that role for the time being. Certainly can't do too much worse.
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