Newcastle post match thread
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Should he? Gerrard lacks just about everything physically these days to play in that position.
Even more so yesterday when everyone looked knackered.
Studge said last night that they were quite happy with a point considering they were extremely tired from the international games. We looked it in the 2nd half.
The one good thing thats being developed in this team though is a different mentality. We're not giving up, are hard to beat and are grinding out results. Thats very positive imho. This team were a bunch of losers a couple of seasons ago and the mentality is changing.
What does he need physically to play that position? Playing central midfield requires discipline, energy and 100% concentration, playing the hole role doesn't require him to cover ground and do a tremendous amount of running, he can sit or roam and do what he does best, pass the ball.
I just dont see him being that agile and athletic to play there.
He's lost a bit of pace and struggles in the final third these days.
His passing was sublime yesterday and tbh I think he's best position is his current one.
We could obviously try him in a more attacking position, but I hope Coutinho is back against WBA.
He's lost a bit of pace and struggles in the final third these days.
His passing was sublime yesterday and tbh I think he's best position is his current one.
We could obviously try him in a more attacking position, but I hope Coutinho is back against WBA.
Exactly. Gerrard's a clever player who could actually expend less energy there than in his current position. Kenny could play there when he was older and slower. I think Benitez was right when he said Gerrard could move forwards rather than backwards as he gets older.
Don't forget, him "struggling" in the final third these days could be attributed to him playing a deeper role. You notice as you get older that when you make those runs from deep, when you get in the final third you can lack the energy to be as sharp and powerful as you can be. Not having to make up the ground in the first instance can play a huge part.
Agree with that entirely.
Plus, one of the dangerous points with Gerrard was his arriving at the top of the box and burying it. He's finding it harder to get there these days coming from so deep and we're missing this side of his play. Having him further forward adds menace and goal scoring threat. I'd like to see Lucas and Henderson at the back for a couple of games just to see if they can provide the shield that's needed.
If this allows Stevie to be further forward then I remain convinced that's a good thing. He's still an elite player and his very presence would give Suarez and Sturridge more room.
I thought Henderson had a good game again yesterday, and it will be tough to bench him next week.
Listening to the arguments re Gerrard then yeah maybe we should try him further forward against WBA.
I'm not convinced but we need to reshuffle our midfield and maybe Lucas - Henderson is a better fit with Gerrard at AM.
Could Gerrard have told Rodgers where he feels most comfortable playing though? And sees himself as a CM?
Would explain why Rodgers never plays him further forward.
Listening to the arguments re Gerrard then yeah maybe we should try him further forward against WBA.
I'm not convinced but we need to reshuffle our midfield and maybe Lucas - Henderson is a better fit with Gerrard at AM.
Could Gerrard have told Rodgers where he feels most comfortable playing though? And sees himself as a CM?
Would explain why Rodgers never plays him further forward.
Yep agreed. Also I'd like us to play 4-3-3(ish) again. At the moment with the wing backs and two deep CM's the team is just too back heavy. The lack of support for attackers means we are pretty much relying on Suarez doing something special for goals. Moses is going to a waste in his current role and even though Coutinho would certainly do better I feel he too would struggle a bit as he'd be crowded out too often.
I'd like to try something like(as a rule of thumb, Ryan. Not a 'best XI'):
Johnson-Toure-Sakho-Cissokho/Enrique
-----------Lucas------Hendo-------------------
Moses---------Gerrard--------------Suarez
---------------Sturridge------------------------
Coutinho coming back means we'd have an excellent impact player to throw in from the bench too.
Gerrard's preference should never be a criteria IMO. He's always fancied himself as a CM - where he plays for England - he loves being the hero who can do it all. Tackle big, pass big and shoot big.
For all that preference, neither Houllier or Rafa played him in a two-man midfield. Which was all for the better- he was the best 'third' midfielder of a generation. And for all his wonderful physical attributes, I don't think that's what made him stand out in that role. It was his vision and finishing which was really special - and that's something he still has. He'll still do well up there.
Except he's huffing and panting in a deeper role - struggling to set the tempo - with a very average conception of when to release the ball short or long, when to drop deep to collect the ball, or to understand that the most important thing in central midfield is to keep the ball and the full-backs moving rather than dawdling on the ball and looking for a killer pass.
Our defence and attack are looking good after a long time. Solve the midfield, and we'll walk the top 4. I'm not convinced Rodgers sees it though.
It's actually so good we don't even need a keeper!
Players and their boots: do you think they actually test them pre-match these days? I know they go through the motions with the warm-up, but the number of players, once the game starts, who keep slipping over and look utterly amazed at the fact that they're doing it, is mind-boggling. Studge had to change his boots yesterday, during a game. Then he kept slipping over. You'd think they'd know about such things these days.
Some good points mate.
If you believe the journos that follow Liverpool, we're in the hunt for a top CM and will spend big in January.
Hopefully Rodgers can see what we're missing.
Has the Tage said anything?
He's to busy standing on the roof of his car watching the lads practice at Melwood, I think..
The second was a free-kick given away in a dangerous position by Skrtel (don't get me started on that).
http://motd.lfc.vn/s14-w08-newcastle-liverpool-hd/
Cheers RB.
The defending for their second was atrocious, keep at fault for their first as well. The positive is that those can be trained out.
Maybe. Skrtel worries me at set-pieces. In this case he cluelessly jumped and barged into Toure leaving us two men down. The worst, though was Cissokho who was ball watching and allowed Dummet to slip past him and volley home. The free-kick was also needless in the first place.
We did look like we could have nicked it at the end, though which is a positive in itself.
We could stick with a 3-5-2, and play with two advanced players instead of just the one
Juventus playing 3-5-2 here, with Napoli playing 3-4-3
Lucas could play the deep role with Gerrard and Coutinho playing ahead of him. Could work especially against lower table teams.
Juventus playing 3-5-2 here, with Napoli playing 3-4-3
Lucas could play the deep role with Gerrard and Coutinho playing ahead of him. Could work especially against lower table teams.
From Facebook, didn't see this until now. Dem eyes.
DEAD EYES!
I've been wanting Gerrard to play further forward from the start of last season.
If Lucas, Henderson or Allen aren't capable of performing in the deeper central positions, then they're surplus, because they've no business being in the attacking third.
Again - Moses Jason business being in the centre - for him it's out wide or on the bench.
I feel sorry for Sterling - what the fuck's he doing at RB.
It seems Rodgers is desperate to play half the team out of position just so as he can facilitate playing Gerrard out of position - is it Gerrard that's driving this?
.... and I agree - Lucas & Henderson in the centre next game, Gerrard just ahead, Suarez & Moses attacking from either side of Sturridge, with Suarez & Sturridge also interchanging,
If Lucas, Henderson or Allen aren't capable of performing in the deeper central positions, then they're surplus, because they've no business being in the attacking third.
Again - Moses Jason business being in the centre - for him it's out wide or on the bench.
I feel sorry for Sterling - what the fuck's he doing at RB.
It seems Rodgers is desperate to play half the team out of position just so as he can facilitate playing Gerrard out of position - is it Gerrard that's driving this?
.... and I agree - Lucas & Henderson in the centre next game, Gerrard just ahead, Suarez & Moses attacking from either side of Sturridge, with Suarez & Sturridge also interchanging,
Which one(s)?
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