Funnneeeee 'slams' Gerrard for inability to be a defensive midfielder

[sh#t waffle]

Funnneeeee, bearing in mind Can will be out for at least another month or so, and Diarra doesn't play for us, who would you play as the deepest midfielder now?

 

I'd give Allen a go there. He can't be worse than Gerrard. Play Lallana and Henderson ahead of him.

That's what I would do, too. Kudos to you, you must be extremely proud.

[Gym Beglin]

All this is moot because I can guarantee you that Gerrard will continue playing in this position and in pretty much every game

 

We're up against West Brom next, and Claudio Yacob will boss our midfield. Not sure what odds you can get on West Brom winning at Anfield at the moment but we'll get beat. We've just played midweek, with our non-DM 34 year old playing the whole game again, and West Brom have rested up their proper midfield.

 

You don't win the game if your players don't win their individual battles.

[Jairzinho]

Funny how Lucas hasn't been mentioned in this thread, Lucas can still do a good job as a DM, anywhere else on the pitch forget it but in Gerrards position he can do a solid job.

 

Last season when Gerrard was injured Lucas done well there, him, Henderson and Allen had a fantastic game away to Spurs and played really well away to City and Chelsea in games we really didn't deserve to lose, especially City.

 

Rodgers has lost his mind playing Lucas and Gerrard in the midfield together this season, it's one or the other, i'd back Lucas to do a good job if he came in for Gerrard to play in his proper position.

 

I think he's probably marginally better at the defensive side of the game than Gerrard. We won't get the range of passing, but he's possibly a slightly more solid option.

 

Lucas being mentioned usually ends the thread's discussion in any meaningful sense, unfortunately.

[Jairzinho]

It dont matter where they play

 

Oh right. 

[The Golden Eel]

We're up against West Brom next, and Claudio Yacob will boss our midfield. Not sure what odds you can get on West Brom winning at Anfield at the moment but we'll get beat. We've just played midweek, with our non-DM 34 year old playing the whole game again, and West Brom have rested up their proper midfield.

 

You don't win the game if your players don't win their individual battles.

 

I think there's every chance we'll lose this weekend too. 

[Gym Beglin]

Funneee, but you are going the other way to the "sunshiner" comments. He needs to be managed better and needs to be treated like everyone else in the squad.

I welcome sunshiner comments, but I won't agree with them. The displays tell their own story, the goals-against column this season and last tell their own story. He's a round peg in a square hole and that's never going to change.

 

He has flashes where he looks exceptional still, but it's his whole game that's the issue. His positioning, his movement, his reading of danger, his emphasis on attacking passes. His job in the team is not to be attacking, he needed to learn to concede that to his teammates but he's been unable to let that go. He's supposed to mind the shop, nothing much else.

[Section_31]

Blame the Manager. He plays him in that position and should have actually bought a good quality Defensive Midfielder in the Summer. It's been obvious we've been crying out for an actual good one for ages.

We don't need a defensive midfield, that's old school bullshit and it's had its day, what we need is 110% high tempo play in every single game and to outscore the opposition in every match. If they score four we'll score five - don't let anyone kid you that's not sustainable.

[Russ Atmosphere]

We don't need a defensive midfield, that's old school bullshit and it's had its day, what we need is 110% high tempo play in every single game and to outscore the opposition in every match. If they score four we'll score five - don't let anyone kid you that's not sustainable.

But, but, all the teams with trophies... oh hang on.

[Jairzinho]

Trophies Smophies.

[skend04]

We're up against West Brom next, and Claudio Yacob will boss our midfield. Not sure what odds you can get on West Brom winning at Anfield at the moment but we'll get beat. We've just played midweek, with our non-DM 34 year old playing the whole game again, and West Brom have rested up their proper midfield.

 

You don't win the game if your players don't win their individual battles.

7/1...amazing odds for seeing how shit we have been. I might stick a tenner on it.

[JustTosh]

Allen? He's

 

 

 

I'd give Allen a go there. He can't be worse than Gerrard. Play Lallana and Henderson ahead of him.

Allen? He’s got the energy to do it, he’s got the technical ability, a good head on his shoulder and the right attitude. But he’s never done it before. I’m afraid he’d press and chase and run like a dog, and consequently leaving spaces open behind him to be exploited.

I don’t think DM is in his DNA, just like it’s not in Gerrard’s

Still, what the heck. I’m all for trying. Maybe Allen could do the job. A master stroke if it worked. We’re desperate so let’s try something desperate.

[Rotpeter]

Allen? He's

 

Allen? He’s got the energy to do it, he’s got the technical ability, a good head on his shoulder and the right attitude. But he’s never done it before. I’m afraid he’d press and chase and run like a dog, and consequently leaving spaces open behind him to be exploited.

 

I don’t think DM is in his DNA, just like it’s not in Gerrard’s

Still, what the heck. I’m all for trying. Maybe Allen could do the job. A master stroke if it worked. We’re desperate so let’s try something desperate.

Allen played DM in the olympics. People of questionable judgment said he did OK.

 

Still if we are going to be shit, watching Kid Allen bounce off grown ups will at least provide some light relief. Although Skrtels vertical headers seem to be making a come back, so maybe we're covered.

[DanDanShaw]

Gerrard doesn't even close down anymore, it's getting embarrassing watching him play this position. 

 

We'll burn Henderson out again towards the back end of the season as he does enough running for two players as it, counting in Gerrard's inability to do fucking anything nowadays - and Hendo's running for 3.  It's a joke.  He'd never say it, but I bet he gets frustrated with Gerrard sometimes.

[J-V]

We don't need a defensive midfield, that's old school bullshit and it's had its day what we need is 110% high tempo play in every single game and to outscore the opposition in every match. If they score four we'll score five - don't let anyone kid you that's not sustainable.

 

Heard that line in the Summer.  It's worked out well.

 

[J-V]

Allen played DM in the olympics. People of questionable judgment said he did OK.

 

Still if we are going to be shit, watching Kid Allen bounce off grown ups will at least provide some light relief. Although Skrtels vertical headers seem to be making a come back, so maybe we're covered.

 

Which Olympics.....

[TheFridge]

I think he's probably marginally better at the defensive side of the game than Gerrard. We won't get the range of passing, but he's possibly a slightly more solid option.

 

Lucas being mentioned usually ends the thread's discussion in any meaningful sense, unfortunately.

 

 

The defensive side of Gerrards game is pretty much non existent, Lucas would do a lot better in that regard and that's what we all want above anything else from someone in the DM role isn't it?

 

Can't help but flip flop with Gerrard, i backed him at the start of the season to carry on in the role off the back of last seasons high, we had only lost 1 game out of 15/16 with him there last season but it's all gone to shite this season and it's hard to see it improving with Gerrard playing every game at DM, can't believe he hasn't been rested yet for a league game, this season is surely the season when it has to happen.

 

I know what you mean about not being able to have any meaningful discussion about Lucas, it's just surprising we are talking about the DM role and he hasn't been mentioned, he ain't half as bad as some make out in that position, he knows the role better than anyone on our squad and when played there last season he done a competent job.

 

I'd like to see this front 6...

 

 

............Lucas...........

 

Hendo..............Allen

 

.........Lallana..............

 

Sterling........Sturridge

 

 

It looks well balanced and is our best formation, Sterling with a free role to do whatever he likes, plenty of legs and graft in that front 6, something we desperately need to get back to doing is pressing the fuck out of teams that front 5 can do it with Lucas mopping up behind them, the creativity and pace and goals are there too, it also frees Henderson up to get forward more.

[xerxes]

I don't think that there are many who would disagree that Gerrard is no DM.

 

He is still one of our best players though, and still deserves a place. His intelligence, awareness and goalscoring make him an obvious candidate for a more forward role, like Lampard has at City.

 

This is a Brendan problem really as he adapts to Gerrards failing legs and the loss of Suarez. It also underlines how no-one else has risen to the challenge

[Trevorjc]

Funny how Lucas hasn't been mentioned in this thread, Lucas can still do a good job as a DM, anywhere else on the pitch forget it but in Gerrards position he can do a solid job.

 

Last season when Gerrard was injured Lucas done well there, him, Henderson and Allen had a fantastic game away to Spurs and played really well away to City and Chelsea in games we really didn't deserve to lose, especially City.

 

Rodgers has lost his mind playing Lucas and Gerrard in the midfield together this season, it's one or the other, i'd back Lucas to do a good job if he came in for Gerrard to play in his proper position.

 

Totally agree Stevie has never been and never will be a DM he should be either starting in an AM position which takes away from the pressing game as he hasn't got the legs for that or coming on for the last 20-30 minutes when the game is stretched 

[Rotpeter]

Lucas is a very good DM in a team that plays compact and compresses the play. In our current setup, he's just not athletic enough.

 

Rodgers has about 10 games I'd say to get us over-scoring again, or he will have to abandon this suarez system for something more back to basics, which acknowledges the need for defending.

[Ezekiel 25:17]

7/1...amazing odds for seeing how shit we have been. I might stick a tenner on it.

 

 

Sad.

[Gym Beglin]

Or, or...Lassana Diarra on a free, tomorrow.

[liverpoolsno9]

 

we re conceding from corners and free kicks. I dont think he can be blamed for that.[/quote

 

No, he can't be blamed for that at all.....but we do come under quite a bit of pressure & leave ourselves wide open, teams know our weakness & play on it = more attacks/corners & free kicks in dangerous areas against us. If we had a specialist in that position, we would be better organised/balanced, both defensively & in attack as it would give Hendo or whoever a bit more freedom to push on.

[Jairzinho]

Or, or...Lassana Diarra on a free, tomorrow.

 

Could we?

 

I've been doing some thorough research (two minutes of reading after a google search) and it seems he's still a Lokomotiv Moscow player, they just didn't register him. So we'd have to wait until January to sign him because technically he isn't a free agent.

[TheHowieLama]

So Funnneee wants to play Flanagan or Sakho at DM or if that sound logic does not pan out, go after an illegal transfer of a player - that about sum this thread up?

[Iceman]

The trouble with discussions of this nature is that they often turn into a contest as to who loves our captain more, and by extension, who is the most loyal supporter.

 

He's a weak link in his current position. Opposition teams know it. Everyone not connected to the club can see it. If some are scared to say it, then I understand that, but it doesn't mean it's not the case. 

 

If Rodgers persists with it then on it's on his own head. I like Rodgers a lot and I think he's a good manager but he needs to show some flexibility and some backbone right now. He needs to change it up, because doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome is as we all know, completely hatstand.