Poll Middle or behind the striker?

[Judge Jules]

Indeed. I'm actually far from sure that CM is Gerrard's favourite position any more, but I'd still have played him in CM all season. Players' preferences have to take second place when the team's needs dictate otherwise. So should the manager's preferences for that matter.

 

[mark1975]

[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=39538.msg1078425#msg1078425 date=1269943183]
Indeed. I'm actually far from sure that CM is Gerrard's favourite position any more, but I'd still have played him in CM all season. Players' preferences have to take second place when the team's needs dictate otherwise. So should the manager's preferences for that matter.
[/quote]

I think he just likes to play centrally JJ, I think his issue has been when he's played wide. He probably appreciates the lesser workrate and potential to be more of an attacking force while playing off Torres, plus he probably loves the partnership, but he probably also thrives on getting stuck in and driving the midfield on. And to be fair, he supplied Owen in a similar way to the way he plays now with Torres, from a deeper more orphodox CM role.

 

[Jürgen4PM]

[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=39538.msg1078425#msg1078425 date=1269943183]
Indeed. I'm actually far from sure that CM is Gerrard's favourite position any more, but I'd still have played him in CM all season. Players' preferences have to take second place when the team's needs dictate otherwise. So should the manager's preferences for that matter.
[/quote]

^^^

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=39538.msg1078429#msg1078429 date=1269943546]
[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=39538.msg1078425#msg1078425 date=1269943183]
Indeed. I'm actually far from sure that CM is Gerrard's favourite position any more, but I'd still have played him in CM all season. Players' preferences have to take second place when the team's needs dictate otherwise. So should the manager's preferences for that matter.
[/quote]

I think he just likes to play centrally JJ, I think his issue has been when he's played wide. He probably appreciates the lesser workrate and potential to be more of an attacking force while playing off Torres, plus he probably loves the partnership, but he probably also thrives on getting stuck in and driving the midfield on. And to be fair, he supplied Owen in a similar way to the way he plays now with Torres, from a deeper more orphodox CM role.


[/quote]

if rafa played aqua then gerrard could essentially be a forward and an attacking midfielder in the same team as both players would switch positions as and when is needed, i.e. gerrard dropping deeper when we our under the cosh. that's if rafa had balls as that would leave us open to the counter attack.

 

[Fabio]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39538.msg1078400#msg1078400 date=1269940996]
[quote author=Fabio Alrighty-o link=topic=39538.msg1078382#msg1078382 date=1269938294]
My issue here is that when gerrard played in the middle this season we've done well. When he's played off a front man (torres or otherwise) he's been unimpressive. He's scored 6 league goals this season I think, down to his poor form. So why should he be behind the striker? I think people look too much to last seasons sexy football and expect to see that this season when torres and gerrard are up top. We need to focus more on current form. Lucas has been shit, Aqua had his best game when playing off the striker while being indifferent in the middle. Gerrard has been indifferent behind the front man this season, yet excelled in his favourite position.

Perhaps we should play players where they like to play
[/quote]

erm, didn't gerrard play in the middle v wigan?
[/quote]

Well everyone was complete and utter toss that game so it wouldn't have mattered where he played, we still would've lost

 

[darkstarexodus]

He needs to be involved in the play. When whatever midfield combination we throw together gets overrun or can't move the ball to Torres and Gerrard, he will be isolated and ineffective.

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=Fabio Alrighty-o link=topic=39538.msg1078519#msg1078519 date=1269949808]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39538.msg1078400#msg1078400 date=1269940996]
[quote author=Fabio Alrighty-o link=topic=39538.msg1078382#msg1078382 date=1269938294]
My issue here is that when gerrard played in the middle this season we've done well. When he's played off a front man (torres or otherwise) he's been unimpressive. He's scored 6 league goals this season I think, down to his poor form. So why should he be behind the striker? I think people look too much to last seasons sexy football and expect to see that this season when torres and gerrard are up top. We need to focus more on current form. Lucas has been shit, Aqua had his best game when playing off the striker while being indifferent in the middle. Gerrard has been indifferent behind the front man this season, yet excelled in his favourite position.

Perhaps we should play players where they like to play
[/quote]

erm, didn't gerrard play in the middle v wigan?
[/quote]

Well everyone was complete and utter toss that game so it wouldn't have mattered where he played, we still would've lost
[/quote]

that may be but looking in the games in isolation away from home we were totally overrun and gerrard was dominated by a child whereas at home where the away team were expected to sit deep (and did) gerrard had more freedom.
I really don't think gerrard's future lies in the center of midfield.

 

[LEMONed]

He should play behind the striker, when we don't play the Mascherano + Lucas combo.

 

[Fabio]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39538.msg1078587#msg1078587 date=1269954405]
[quote author=Fabio Alrighty-o link=topic=39538.msg1078519#msg1078519 date=1269949808]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39538.msg1078400#msg1078400 date=1269940996]
[quote author=Fabio Alrighty-o link=topic=39538.msg1078382#msg1078382 date=1269938294]
My issue here is that when gerrard played in the middle this season we've done well. When he's played off a front man (torres or otherwise) he's been unimpressive. He's scored 6 league goals this season I think, down to his poor form. So why should he be behind the striker? I think people look too much to last seasons sexy football and expect to see that this season when torres and gerrard are up top. We need to focus more on current form. Lucas has been shit, Aqua had his best game when playing off the striker while being indifferent in the middle. Gerrard has been indifferent behind the front man this season, yet excelled in his favourite position.

Perhaps we should play players where they like to play
[/quote]

erm, didn't gerrard play in the middle v wigan?
[/quote]

Well everyone was complete and utter toss that game so it wouldn't have mattered where he played, we still would've lost
[/quote]

that may be but looking in the games in isolation away from home we were totally overrun and gerrard was dominated by a child whereas at home where the away team were expected to sit deep (and did) gerrard had more freedom.
I really don't think gerrard's future lies in the center of midfield.
[/quote]

i can see how he can stay in the middle personally, or at least rather how he should. When he plays behind torres he seems to stay in the central areas and doesn't like to switch with whoever is on the right or left. This rigidity often leaves him marked out the game when he's not on form. He's powerful enough to surge into the box or play a perfect pass, but he tends to not like to drift. This drifting or swapping postions with the wingers would free him up to actually get at their defence. We need a attacking 3 who are all willing to swap with each other, like maxi, babel and kuyt showed. Gerrard is then allowed to surge from deep and has more attacking players to pass to. However the wigan game obviously was the exception to this rule, as they had a young central midfielder who was hungry to play and we had a disenchanted captain who looks like he has one eye on the world cup

 

[Jürgen4PM]

Edit: Wrong thread.