The old Gerrard in the middle debate...

[6TimesaRed]

Do we throw him back in the middle.. and risk unbalance in the team, in terms of our forward line ?

Does Gerrard have what it takes to perform back in the middle these days? given the fact he has a much more attacking game than the like of Alonso & Lucas

it did us no harm this time last season when Keane was about... (we where at the very least getting results)

the way I see our game developing, Rafa wants two defensive midfielders to cover the fullback positions, so the fullbacks can player higher up the field. Surely this policy given our results has to be abandoned now.. Maybe cover the right back with Johnson and thats about it.. The left side is our achillies heel... at least till Aurellio is back... Dossena back in the mix anyone? ? Personally i think Insua is struggling.

So do we discipline Gerrard to play a more defensive position and risk losing his attacking threat ?



----------------Reina---------------
Insua--Skrtel--Carra--Johnson
Riera--Masher--Gerrard--Kuyt
-------------Benayoun------------
--------------Torres---------------

 

[Mors]

He has to go back in the middle for the good of the team, until we have adequate players to fill the gap(s).

But as he's golden boy, there will be uproar if he's moved out of that position, and Rafa is a bit stubborn with his formation/systems to go changing it around. I think we'll be struggling through until Aquaman is fit.

 

[Paddy]

We looked so uncomfortable in midfield against Spurs and Villa, he simply must go back in the middle and play a trio of

Riera-------Benayoun-------Kuyt

Ahead of Gerrard and Mascherano. The only way forward until Aqualani is fit.

 

[6TimesaRed]

[quote author=Mors link=topic=35475.msg932743#msg932743 date=1251281322]
He has to go back in the middle for the good of the team, until we have adequate players to fill the gap(s).

But as he's golden boy, there will be uproar if he's moved out of that position, and Rafa is a bit stubborn with his formation/systems to go changing it around. I think we'll be struggling through until Aquaman is fit.
[/quote]

why I said.. 'So do we discipline Gerrard to play a more defensive position and risk losing his attacking threat ?' That will be the excuse Benitez would use not too..

 

[gkmacca]

Oi, dear old Dad, where the heck have you been?

Language, Timothy! I 'ad a bit of bovver last night. Mindless cockney nutters running about covered in blood, bricks and stones, and knives here there and everywhere, cor blimey it was chaos!

You were at the West Ham v Millwall game?

Nah, we had your uncle and some cousins round for a curry. Chas and Dave were there too.

Cah! Didn't invite me!

Well, Louise don't much like the old knees up, does she?

Language, Timothy! Anyway, dear old dad, this Gerrard fing...

Flipping heck, not again? Don't tell me they're murdering him again??

It's sort of between murdering him and crucifying him. They might be moving him back to the centre.

About flaming time!

And moving him away from the attack.

Bladdy Nora!!! Are they INSANE?? I don't call that murdering him. I call THAT stabbing, raping, crucifying and murdering him twice over!

I know. Amazing, ain't it? He's the best central midfielder who plays behind Torres in the world! Like we always say, he HAS to play in the centre up the front just behind the centre forward. What is wrong with Benitez? Bladdy foreigner!

Bladdy foreigner!

Oh well, dear old Dad, they're doing a 2-for-1 Chinese Crispy Duck down at the Mosley Centre caff tonight, fancy joining me?

Thought you'd never ask, son!

 

[6TimesaRed]

[quote author=Paddy link=topic=35475.msg932744#msg932744 date=1251281606]
We looked so uncomfortable in midfield against Spurs and Villa, he simply must go back in the middle and play a trio of

Riera-------Benayoun-------Kuyt

Ahead of Gerrard and Mascherano. The only way forward until Aqualani is fit.
[/quote]


How long is it going to be till he is fit though... ? the lads back in a 6 weeks to 2 months.... then it will take him another couple of months to fit into the English game...

You won't see the best of him until at least January... and by then our Title challenge will well and truly died!

 

[rage]

[quote author=Paddy link=topic=35475.msg932744#msg932744 date=1251281606]
We looked so uncomfortable in midfield against Spurs and Villa, he simply must go back in the middle and play a trio of

Riera-------Benayoun-------Kuyt

Ahead of Gerrard and Mascherano. The only way forward until Aqualani is fit.
[/quote]

this is the only way we will not be out of the title race by xmas.

 

[6TimesaRed]

lol @ macca...

made me chuckle that did...

 

[Squiggles]

Risk unbalancing a forward partnership? There isn't one at the moment.

Lucas needs dropping, that's for sure

----------Torres---Kuyt--------------
--Riera--------------------Benayoun
---------Gerrard---Masher-------

 

[Mystic]

[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=35475.msg932759#msg932759 date=1251282927]
Risk unbalancing a forward partnership? There isn't one at the moment.

Lucas needs dropping, that's for sure

----------Torres---Kuyt--------------
--Riera--------------------Benayoun
---------Gerrard---Masher-------
[/quote]

Gerrard and Torres are our forward partnership.

 

[zlatan18]

SIMPLE!! sell babel and sign van der vaart!


torres

riera van der vaart kuyt

gerrard mascherano

 

[Brizzle]

[quote author=Paddy link=topic=35475.msg932744#msg932744 date=1251281606]
We looked so uncomfortable in midfield against Spurs and Villa, he simply must go back in the middle and play a trio of

Riera-------Benayoun-------Kuyt

Ahead of Gerrard and Mascherano. The only way forward until Aqualani is fit.
[/quote]

Correct!

 

[Squiggles]

Not literally...

There's little point in having two world class but isolated individuals up front for us.

They're getting isolated because neither Mascherano or Lucas have the ability to supply the strikers, and even the wingers, with a decent ball which stretches the opposition, resulting in opposition teams having few problems stifling our attacking play.

At the moment it's stop Johnson and you've stopped Liverpool.

 

[Vlads Quiff]

I don't think Insua is struggling. He might be suffering a little because Yossi keeps drifting in field

regards

 

[Vlads Quiff]

anyways , back to the issue

I agree with Squiggles on his balanced 442 formation, and there is no "forward partnership" there is an "attacking partnership" with Gerrard and Torres, as Gerrard still plays behind and comes forward.

That partnership came about by accident and worked, but it isn't at the moment and does not when one or other is missing as no one else seems to be able to play either role. It is therefore (ironically) in some ways a liability. It also seems to rely heavily on a creative midfield player, which we don't have fit at the moment.
It is therefore imperative that we drop it in the short term for the traditional well balanced 442 that was suggested with Kuyt up front with Torres, until we can see if Aquilani can play.


regards

 

[Mystic]

[quote author=Vlads Quiff link=topic=35475.msg932786#msg932786 date=1251284437]
I don't think Insua is struggling. He might be suffering a little because Yossi keeps drifting in field

regards
[/quote]

I'm with you Vlad, I think he's been very good, in fact if it wasn't for Johnson being superman on the right I think he'd be getting a large number of plaudits.

 

[zlatan18]

[quote author=Mystic link=topic=35475.msg932802#msg932802 date=1251285221]
[quote author=Vlads Quiff link=topic=35475.msg932786#msg932786 date=1251284437]
I don't think Insua is struggling. He might be suffering a little because Yossi keeps drifting in field

regards
[/quote]

I'm with you Vlad, I think he's been very good, in fact if it wasn't for Johnson being superman on the right I think he'd be getting a large number of plaudits.
[/quote]


i agree! insua has been good and he got the assist for the torres goal against aston villa =] he needs to be given credit, he is only 20

 

[Stulikesdrums]

As soon as I red the thread title I knew there would be a Macca special in here.
Excellent stuff Macca, the Redknapp skits are the best.

 

[SummerOnions]

Say what you like, it will not fucking happen.

 

[6TimesaRed]

[quote author=SummerOnions link=topic=35475.msg933077#msg933077 date=1251307053]
Say what you like, it will not fucking happen.
[/quote]

thats my worry..

we all know how stubborn Benitez is...

 

[Molbystwin]

Gerrard has to start in the middle now surely... 2 defeats when our midfield totally failed to work, another bad performance will probably kybosh our entire season. I'm fairly sure that it is not possible for Lucas to have any confidence left...he doesn't warrant any.... stick gerrard there fuck what Sky ae gonna say.

 

[Shadey]

[quote author=jono@home link=topic=35475.msg932751#msg932751 date=1251282339]
[quote author=Paddy link=topic=35475.msg932744#msg932744 date=1251281606]
We looked so uncomfortable in midfield against Spurs and Villa, he simply must go back in the middle and play a trio of

Riera-------Benayoun-------Kuyt

Ahead of Gerrard and Mascherano. The only way forward until Aqualani is fit.
[/quote]


How long is it going to be till he is fit though... ? the lads back in a 6 weeks to 2 months.... then it will take him another couple of months to fit into the English game...

You won't see the best of him until at least January... and by then our Title challenge will well and truly up and running !
[/quote]