Is Gerrard back?

[mark1975]

Dropped for a game to give him a breather, played further forward in the following game = goal and a big hand in our forward play and Hendo's goal.

As said, if used more sparingly and in his "favoured" role, he can be an influence. It's not so much that the deeper role is dead in the water, but without the need to hit teams early with long balls to counter them, due to not having any quick players to release, the build up play is best left to the likes of Allen, allowing Stevie to do what he does best - probe around the opposition area and link up with Lambert, who is also starting to show his experience for us.

Will we see an Indian Summer from Captain Marvel?

 

[mom]

He never left. Just played in the wrong spot by his manager.
Yeh I think he can have a real influence up frontish

 

[KopRed]

His body is no longer as quick as his brains. When he plays in that attacking mid position the pressure comes much quicker, and you could see he knows a player is coming but just couldn't quite react quick enough. Many times he had to stretch or just forcefully poke the ball somewhere because he just couldn't quite react to the faster defender.

Ironically I think he should model himself after Fat Frank. Keep it simple, cover the pockets of space in front of the opponents penalty box, stop and pass. Ultimately, don't over think or over do, he needs to trust some of his team mates to deliver.

If he is going to revert to that all action Gerrard and tries to do everything himself, I could see him failing badly.

 

[Glen C]

He never left. Just played in the wrong spot by his manager.
Yeh I think he can have a real influence up frontish

Spot on. He's never been a DM and never will be. He looks a lot better further forward and thats where he should always be used.

 

[Mystic]

He never was a DM or playing as one, he was a playmaker, due to the lack of outlet this season we need a proper DM not a playmaker, thats why he's been shown up. I'm happy with him playing further forward, even more happy if he gets rotated and isn't assumed an automatic starter for every game.

 

[ILD]

We got away with Gerrard in the DM role last year (he was effectively deployed as a QB) as we had so much fire power in front on him (Sterling, Suarez, Sturridge). This season we have had a static Balo/Lambert up front and Gerrard has exposed us in midfield. No idea why it took Rodger's so long to play our only DM (Lucas) in a DM role and allow someone of Gerrard's quality to help out in attack.

I hope Gerrard is used efficiently and intelligently to get the most out of him. I celebrated as soon as the ball dropped to him Tuesday night. He'll tuck them away all night.

 

[localny]

He's 34 not 44. His age is an issue more about playing back to back games, than about quickness in reaction and speed right now,

 

[mark1975]

He's 34 not 44. His age is an issue more about playing back to back games, than about quickness in reaction and speed right now,

This.

I don't see his mobility much of an issue in that role, and he's far from as laboured as many people are his age. His ability to make a yard for himself and to play a first time ball is still there. Of course you will get the odd moments where he's leggy and age will show, which is why we need to look after him, cf Lampard, Giggs & Scholes. We'll get the best of him if we do that. He can be an influence, but I think he's been spreading himself too thinly (or rather, Rodgers has). Preserve him, be clever with him and he'll be a big contributor.

 

[hmmmmm1]

Surely the reason he played well was because he was rested and so more fresher......

 

[mark1975]

Surely the reason he played well was because he was rested and so more fresher......

Yeah, that's what I said in the original post, that he was rested the game before, which obviously helped. If we keep doing that, then we'll see a big improvement IMO.

 

[juniormember]

Surely the reason he played well was because he was rested and so more fresher......

Not really, no.

 

[juniormember]

As long as he doesn't have intelligent and quick players like Sturridge and especially Suarez making those runs when he has the ball in deep positions, he's pretty much close to useless playing DM.
So playing attacking mid makes absolute sense, though it goes against the supposed style of Rodger's system where all the attacking players have to work their bollocks off when they don't have the ball.

 

[hmmmmm1]

Yeah, that's what I said in the original post, that he was rested the game before, which obviously helped. If we keep doing that, then we'll see a big improvement IMO.

So rest him for Saturday so fresh for basle hopefully..........

 

[mark1975]

As long as he doesn't have intelligent and quick players like Sturridge and especially Suarez making those runs when he has the ball in deep positions, he's pretty much close to useless playing DM.
So playing attacking mid makes absolute sense, though it goes against the supposed style of Rodger's system where all the attacking players have to work their bollocks off when they don't have the ball.

He does work though, but the demand between doing that higher up the pitch, and infront of the back four is completely different.

 

[rurikbird]

He never was a DM or playing as one, he was a playmaker, due to the lack of outlet this season we need a proper DM not a playmaker, thats why he's been shown up. I'm happy with him playing further forward, even more happy if he gets rotated and isn't assumed an automatic starter for every game.

Spot on.

 

[Mors]

I'll get off his case if the boss plays him further up the pitch for the rest of the season, but he's a bollocks DM. Only problem is, to accommodate this we're probably going to have to play lucas for the rest of the season.
I think he can be effective for us this season playing further forward, not all the games though.

 

[#roadred]

Isn't today the 15th anniversary of his first senior goal, a 4-1 win against Sheffield Wednesday. Happy Anniversary Stevie!!!!
(I'm gonna have to admit, that if I'm wrong, it wouldn't be the first time).

 

[Judge Jules]

Surely the reason he played well was because he was rested and so more fresher......

It's a combo of this *and* his being used in the right way at last IMO.