Is Gerrard still the Answer

Kemlyn

If you don't create chances you don't score goals.

It's a very simple game.

No its all about passing until nobody shoots

Barca and spain have proven quailty in the final 3rd, we dont, so we need Gerrard to obviously adapt his game, but dont totally stop what made who he is today..

Newcastle and Spurs are fine examples of having winners in the team, people who will follow footballs orginal rules.... Score more goals than the other team!


The last few years they have signed the players they need and not just with Padew, Houghton done his part too!

Spurs have focused on their final third too!

We have signed about 5 or 6 CM's with low stats of making any influences in the final third!

Whilst I think Gerrard can be wasteful and look for the impatient hero pass a little too often for my liking, this is not, in my opinion, Gerrards worst fault. I think it is his workrate that disappoints me most of all.

Midfilelders like Lucas and Allen put him to shame in this area. Watch him closely. He will throw himself into a fifty fifty and people think "ooooohh...look at that commitment" But real committment is being switched on for the full 90mins, probing, tracking back, jockeying, etc. Just turning up when you have the ball at your feet and shuffling yourself into a nice defensive shape is not enough. He can do lots more. Look at Fat Frank. He, again in my opinion, is contributing in games far more than Gerrard in the last couple of years. Gerrard simply does not work hard enough.

It is a contributing factor while we have been relatively poor over the last 2-3 years. In fact I put it down to him moping around during the last year of Benitez's reign...and he has not recaptured any decent form since then. Odd games yes, but actual sustained periods of good form then he has not delivered.

What gets to me the most about Gerrard is the amount of short passes he misplace. Against Stoke, he made a pass to Sterling; instead of passing the ball into sterling since Sterling was hugging the line, he passed the ball as ifege was making a through pass and our attack was cutoff. Replay showed he had no business in helping Sterling cover ground by making a bad pass. All he had to do was make a short, simple pass to Sterling and let sterling do the rest. Imo I feel Gerrard wants to be that guy to the point that it is not helping his team mates. Lucas came off age with a Gerrardless Liverpool. I think we had some of our best results as a team recently when Gerrard was out injured. If I have to pick a Liverpool player who is doing his utmost to adapt his game to our new style of play it is Carragher. Xabi Alonso is also one of the best long passers in the game but choose his moments wisely. Scholes is quite good in long passes as well and completes a lot of those passes. Even Beckham can be in that list. Gerrard to me gambles a lot with his passes ignoring the effect it has on the team if it fails. How many times have Gerrard lost the ball in midfield and he isn't bothered to track back? Getting caught in possession and not tracking back can lead to goal scoring oppurtunity and we have had our fair share of that already with most of them leading to one man. What we need is a discipline Gerrard, not Gerrard. The end

Well said StrongByrdpool

I agree with every point you make there.

He will throw himself into a fifty fifty and people think "ooooohh...look at that commitment"
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But not you, eh?.....you’re sharper than the average bear

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I think it is his workrate that disappoints me most of all.
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He touched the ball more times than any other player in the last game, against Stoke.
How did he manage that, with such a low work-rate?

Midfielders like Lucas and Allen are playing a deeper role than Gerrard, so they’re supposed to track back more. He ran 380 miles last season, 10% of it sprinting, which is above average even for a central midfield player

Your theory doesn't add up. Maybe when people say "ooooooh, look at that commitment", they're being more perceptive than you are.

I find some peoples lack of faith commitment!!

Who will step up to replace him eventually has always been the worrying question. Until now. I believe we have 2 players capable of doing so, and I'm certain one of those will take that leading midfield role. Shelvey and Henderson. Currently my money would definitely be on Jonjo, but if Jordan can adapt mentally to being at a big club, he has all the ability to be as good if he believes in himself more. He needs to get over the fear of failing playing his natural game and he'll be a great player.

The central midfield positions is the area of the squad which is strong. Allen, Sahin, Lucas (when fit), Shelvey, Henderson, Suso (can play AM in more of a 4-2-3-1) and of course Gerrard offer real depth and potential.

With this comes the onus on the players who are selected to perform, No ones postion should be nailed on.

My hope is that BR won't be swayed by sentiment is he feels that Gerrard or Allen should be dropped for Sahin if they aren't producing. If Lucas isn't up to standard when he returns then perhaps he shouldn't play. If Shelvey dives in, or Henderson shows a lack of confidence ect ect. The same goes for club captain Steven Gerrard. If he shows signs of wear and tear and under performs, then he shouldn't be immune to the drop either.

Time must be given at the start of the season to adapt, but after say 10 league games in certain conclusions can be start to be made, with the understanding that things can change, for better and for worse. Our strength in this area of the team is key to how we do this season. They are imo all good players and nobody should be considered an automatic choice.

That includes the modern club legend Gerrard.