The Elephant in the room

[Dirkus_Circus]

What is wrong with Steven Gerrard?

Is it simply the injuries to himself?

Is the injuries to his strike partner Nando?

Is he disinterested and disenchanted with Rafael Benitez?

Is he loafing around because we have no shot at the title this year?

No matter what the answer our captain has been at best, about 49% of what he was last year, and honestly I can't remember a good shift he put in for LFC since about September.

What gives?

 

[Terrier]

As time cracks on - he's probably hit the blunt realization that he wont be lifting the PL Title with this current team.

 

[Hansern]

I thought he's been getting back to him former self of late. He was very good against Everton, and was also good last night.

Once Torres is back, we will see even more of our captain.

 

[keniget]

He's not 25 and playing in central midfield any more. He relies on service these days and last night must have been very frustrating for him. Time after time he made the runs and / or the space, but the right pass just didn't come.

 

[jexykrodic]

I think SG has been affected by injury more than anything else, as has his team. He struggles, the team struggles.

I doubt his desire or belief are blunted.

 

[themn]

The tackle on the edge of our area, second half, last night, makes a nonsense of this post.

 

[Fabio]

But there can be no doubt he's nowhere near his best. He's improved but I was still underwhelmed by his performance last night. PErhaps because we've been spoiled by his performances over the years that now we see him playing 'well' as opposed to 'amazing' we think it's a poor patch?

 

[Ossi]

I feel sorry for him having to play with the likes of Insua, Lucas, Degen and N´Gog in a season where we should really be pushing for the title. I felt sorry for him yesterday when he tried to play one-two with N´Gog/Lucas/Insua but never got the pass back.

He is one of the best footballers in the world.
He is our captain.
He wants to win the title.
He doesn´t have many years left.
He should be playing with better players than the above (injuries or not).

 

[Portly]

[quote author=Ossi link=topic=38888.msg1053519#msg1053519 date=1265880567]
I feel sorry for him having to play with the likes of Insua, Lucas, Degen and N´Gog in a season where we should really be pushing for the title. I felt sorry for him yesterday when he tried to play one-two with N´Gog/Lucas/Insua but never got the pass back.
[/quote]

How much is he getting paid? £120,000 per week? In business management, we were always told that a manager has to do the best he can with the resources that are made available to him. The same applies to a football captain.

I don't feel at all sorry for Stevie, I think he should get on with it. He showed he still has the ability in the second half of the Everton match.

 

[Richey]

He's spent the best part of his career being forced to completely carry our team.
You can't expect one man to do that forever.

By his own very high standards he hasn't had the best of seasons but because of how much we have relied upon him when he has a dip in form it really shows.
You'd think as a top 4 club we'd have other players who could raise their game to compensate.

This is not necessarily a temporary problem either. Gerrard will be 30 in a few months. He'll remain a superb player for a while yet but its a big ask for a player over 30 to be as dynamic as he has been in the past.

 

[RolandG]

Stevie needs to go back to the centre of midfield so he can boss the game. Playing behind the striker is not working out because he is not getting any quality ball. He ends up dropping back to collect before he can carry or distribute. Neither Lucas or Mascherano can pass beyond 20 yards so there is no supply.

On a brighter note, he does seem to be finding his form of late.

 

[Roopy]

I miss the days when he used to score from outside the box.

Those were the days.

 

[Ossi]

[quote author=Roopy link=topic=38888.msg1053588#msg1053588 date=1265891782]
I miss the days when he used to score from outside the box.

Those were the days.
[/quote]

Indeed. Back in the days he even tackled.

 

[Portly]

[quote author=RolandG link=topic=38888.msg1053587#msg1053587 date=1265891764] Playing behind the striker is not working out because he is not getting any quality ball.
[/quote]

And the reason for that is the combination of Lucas and Mascherano in front of the defence. We always struggle to produce creative play with that line-up.

 

[Red_Till_I_Die]

[quote author=Roopy link=topic=38888.msg1053588#msg1053588 date=1265891782]
I miss the days when he used to score from outside the box.

Those were the days.
[/quote]

Indeed.

Although he needed to realise early doors last night, that N'Gog wasn't going to win ANY headers, and should therefore stop running off him like a man possessed.

 

[RolandG]

That's fairly obvious! A player from Argentina and Brazil that lacks creativity? WTF?

I'd rather have Gerrard next to Mascherano. Aqualani supposedly thrives behind the the striker, so get him in there behind Torres. Gerrard will feed them quality ball all day. Without Torres, Rafa is overly cautious. When are we ever going to play 2 up top?

 

[Ossi]

[quote author=Portly link=topic=38888.msg1053524#msg1053524 date=1265881610]
[quote author=Ossi link=topic=38888.msg1053519#msg1053519 date=1265880567]
I feel sorry for him having to play with the likes of Insua, Lucas, Degen and N´Gog in a season where we should really be pushing for the title. I felt sorry for him yesterday when he tried to play one-two with N´Gog/Lucas/Insua but never got the pass back.
[/quote]

How much is he getting paid? £120,000 per week? In business management, we were always told that a manager has to do the best he can with the resources that are made available to him. The same applies to a football captain.

I don't feel at all sorry for Stevie, I think he should get on with it. He showed he still has the ability in the second half of the Everton match.
[/quote]


And I think he does...I just feel sorry for him having to play with crap footballers.

 

[Rouge Penguin]

If Aquaman thrives behind the striker, then expect him to appear on the left in the coming weeks.

 

[RolandG]

Rouge, Aqualani has already appeared on the left plenty of times.............. LEFT OUT that is! :laugh:

 

[Red_Till_I_Die]

[quote author=RolandG link=topic=38888.msg1053602#msg1053602 date=1265893178]
Rouge, Aqualani has already appeared on the left plenty of times.............. LEFT OUT that is! :laugh:
[/quote]

Burn.

 

[Stulikesdrums]

I thought this thread might be about Gerrard's diving. It is getting embarrassing at this stage.
Last nights effort was the worst I have seen yet.

 

[Fabio]

[quote author=Stu link=topic=38888.msg1053651#msg1053651 date=1265904170]
I thought this thread might be about Gerrard's diving. It is getting embarrassing at this stage.
Last nights effort was the worst I have seen yet.
[/quote]

i actually giggled at that last night. That simply was so blatant he's lucky he wasn't booked

 

[Peatcheo]

Gerrard must look around him and think REALLY!?
Everyone just looked at him last night to single handedly beat a top 4 team. It was embarrassing how clueless we looked going forward.

 

[franklyfrank]

Tbh i reckon Gerrard's delighted we have the likes of Reina, Johnson, Carra, Agger, Masch and Torres in the ranks.

Their all top quality footballers, Benayoun and Kuyt imo are more than good enough as well.

What Gerrard i'm sure is looking for is more strength in depth and more quality ion key positions ie left back, left wing and up front.

Don't forget we've been hampered massively by injuries this season and that's no excuse as the team have still let the club down but take 4 or 5 players out of any top side(all at the same time) and they'll struggle.
There's been times this season when we've had 7 or 8 first teamers all missing the same games due to injury, how can you compensate for that??

 

[franklyfrank]

[quote author=franklyfrank link=topic=38888.msg1053674#msg1053674 date=1265908200]
Tbh i reckon Gerrard's delighted we have the likes of Reina, Johnson, Carra, Agger, Masch and Torres in the ranks.

Their all top quality footballers, Benayoun and Kuyt imo are more than good enough as well.

What Gerrard i'm sure is looking for is more strength in depth and more quality in key positions ie left back, left wing and up front.

Don't forget we've been hampered massively by injuries this season and that's no excuse as the team have still let the club down but take 4 or 5 players out of any top side(all at the same time) and they'll struggle.
There's been times this season when we've had 7 or 8 first teamers all missing the same games due to injury, how can you compensate for that??
[/quote]

 

[RedStar]

[quote author=Stu link=topic=38888.msg1053651#msg1053651 date=1265904170]
I thought this thread might be about Gerrard's diving. It is getting embarrassing at this stage.
Last nights effort was the worst I have seen yet.
[/quote]

Its been an embarassment for a long time now, the fact that its never mentioned doesnt mean its not happening. Unfortunately as he has gotten more desperate during the season the diving has become more outrageous, if hes not careful he will get sent off for it pretty soon

On the main topic I think its a combination of factors, he cant really be effective in the number 9 position without both a decent supply line and a forward running in behind creating space for him to operate in. At the moment we dont have either of those. Add to that the injuries have taken their toll and I imagine he has no intention of putting himself through the ringer to carry Lucas et all to 4th with a world cup looming large on the horizon. I hate to say it but I think he is saving himself for the only competition he can win this year

 

[Ryan]

We expect far too much from him. If he's not scoring last minute winners, or banging in goals from 30 yards, he's automatically "playing shit" or "frustrated".

I actually think he does well not to lose the fucking plot with what's around him sometimes. Look at us when we're 1-0 down... Absolutely everything has to go through him, cos we don't have enough world class talents around him to take the thing by the scruff of the neck themselves.

There's nothing wrong with Steven Gerrard, apart from the some of the players he has to play with.

 

[franklyfrank]

[quote author=Ryan link=topic=38888.msg1053750#msg1053750 date=1265927606]
We expect far too much from him. If he's not scoring last minute winners, or banging in goals from 30 yards, he's automatically "playing shit" or "frustrated".

I actually think he does well not to lose the fucking plot with what's around him sometimes. Look at us when we're 1-0 down... Absolutely everything has to go through him, cos we don't have enough world class talents around him to take the thing by the scruff of the neck themselves.

There's nothing wrong with Steven Gerrard, apart from the some of the players he has to play with.
[/quote]

But what about them players i mentioned, surely he'd be more than happy playing with them?

Obviously the big problem is he isn't playing with 3 or 4 of them as they're injured hence we need several new top quality signings in the summer.
Easier said than done though... 🙁

 

[LFC_DO]

29 going on 30

 

[Squiggles]

[quote author=Ryan link=topic=38888.msg1053750#msg1053750 date=1265927606]
We expect far too much from him. If he's not scoring last minute winners, or banging in goals from 30 yards, he's automatically "playing shit" or "frustrated".

I actually think he does well not to lose the fucking plot with what's around him sometimes. Look at us when we're 1-0 down... Absolutely everything has to go through him, cos we don't have enough world class talents around him to take the thing by the scruff of the neck themselves.

There's nothing wrong with Steven Gerrard, apart from the some of the players he has to play with.
[/quote]

^

This