Liverpool FC Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 12/13

26-11-2012 01:07PM

Gerrard should be in the final 3rd or nowhere. This is so obvious it's not funny.

When Lucas comes back that needs to happen.

I'd be worried Rodgers might push Allen further forward and leave Lucas and Gerrard in the middle.

gafferino · 26-11-2012 01:07PM

Here I agree with a lot of the things that are being mentioned about Gerrard. Age and injuries definitely catching up. I think he is/will be best in the attacking trio.
However I draw the line at Gerrard not being bothered. I think that is a huge disservice to the man to say that. He is at Liverpool since he was 9 and loves the club - he deserves our respect and benefit of the doubt at times given all he has done for the team and club. He has yet to hit the highs we are used to this season and find his feet with Rodgers formations. Maybe he is not gone yet but needs to work out and he can adjust his game to continue at the top. Same as Giggs and Scholes did - you dont see Utd fans moaning that Giggs isnt rampaging down the wing anymore (granted they have other players now that do that) but just think its a bit much to question his commitment to the team.

Melion · 26-11-2012 01:08PM

rarnes1 wrote: »

Gerrard should be in the final 3rd or nowhere. This is so obvious it's not funny.

When Lucas comes back that needs to happen.

I'd be worried Rodgers might push Allen further forward and leave Lucas and Gerrard in the middle.

Never going to happen.

His talk to Shelvey before the Hearts game is enough for me. Gerrard will be moving to the front 3 soon.

PRAF · 26-11-2012 01:09PM

RodgersLFC wrote: »

Anyone a bit concerned at the lack of contribution from Gerrard this season?

He gives the ball away a lot, and doesnt make much effort to get it back. In fact, you usually see him strolling back when we lose the ball - either his legs are gone, or hes not 100% bothered.

Now that Lucas is back, I wouldnt mind seeing Gerrard "rested" for a few games and play Lucas and Sahin deep, with Allen ahead of them. Should bring decent balance and would hopefully get the best out of all involved. Sahin needs to be a deep lying playmaker, Lucas can break up play and Allen can be more creative.

Excuse me, did you not see the recent LFC love-fest on Gerrard? Did you not see all those pros rolled out to lavish praise on Stevie (Zlatan for example). He is clearly both the best LFC player ever and the best midfield player of his generation by a mile (lots better than Keane, Scholes, Viera, and Zidane).

Sure any mistake he makes is always followed by "rare mistake from Gerrard there" or else totally ignored by the commentators.

:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

TBF I still think he is a class act. He can still do things on the pitch that no one else in the team, or the league for that matter, can do.

However, he should be played in the final third where he can do most damage and when his weaknesses will be minimised. Time to give Sterling a rest and play Gerrard in the front 3 IMO.

PRAF · 26-11-2012 01:13PM

mike65 wrote: »

The next big split among supporters!

Lucas---Allen
----Sahin

Lucas--Allen
----Suso

I like those two options. Also like the option below

Lucas--Allen
----Shelvey

rhonin · 26-11-2012 01:24PM

RodgersLFC wrote: »

Anyone a bit concerned at the lack of contribution from Gerrard this season?

He gives the ball away a lot, and doesnt make much effort to get it back. In fact, you usually see him strolling back when we lose the ball - either his legs are gone, or hes not 100% bothered.

Now that Lucas is back, I wouldnt mind seeing Gerrard "rested" for a few games and play Lucas and Sahin deep, with Allen ahead of them. Should bring decent balance and would hopefully get the best out of all involved. Sahin needs to be a deep lying playmaker, Lucas can break up play and Allen can be more creative.

There was an incident near the end of the game yesterday where Suarez won a corner. The ball ran behind the goal and Suarez went to pick up the ball and looked to throw it the corner taker (normally Gerrard) but nobody was there. In the end he had to take it himself. Gerrard was at the edge of the box with his hands on hips. He looked tired to be honest but it shows two things imo.

1. Suarez seems to be in another mind set to most of the other players. Never gives up.

2. Gerrard doesn't have the legs any more and needs to be utilised better.

26-11-2012 01:40PM

Melion wrote: »

Never going to happen.

His talk to Shelvey before the Hearts game is enough for me. Gerrard will be moving to the front 3 soon.

Hopefully, play him to his strengths as he hasn't the legs /game for current role.

Melion · 26-11-2012 01:42PM

rarnes1 wrote: »

Hopefully, play him to his strengths as he hasn't the legs /game for current role.

TBH i think playing him on the left side of the front 3 could be a massive plus for us. Cutting in on his right foot and getting his shots off.

Luckycharms_74 · 26-11-2012 01:44PM

mike65 wrote: »

The next big split among supporters!

I'd bench him quickly enough myself, its clear as day he's not got the legs and more importantly has no brain/discipline for playing deeper, so what do you do with him? Play him higher up the pitch? He still needs legs for that role, he seems to have lost that burst of power that would take him past the opposing DM into the danger zone. Play him wide? Maybe but he'd only be filling in for one of Sterling/Assaidi/Suso/Enrique (if the latters new role is permanent) in that position and he won't like that (would Rodgers have the balls to effectively demote "Mr Liverpool" and take the captaincy off him?).

----Lucas
Sahin--Allen

Lucas---Allen
----Sahin

Lucas--Allen
----Suso

Hendo--Allen
--Shelvey

Just a few of the variations, depending on circumstances, that can be played without even thinking about Gerrard.

Spot on there mike. I think Kess made a similar argument Re: Gerrard a couple of weeks back. As you have said, the fact is Gerrard doesn't not have the legs to to it anymore in every game. I'd prefer to see him pushed up in that front three, as I don't think BR has the cahones to drop him. If he drops him and our results are similar to now he will get grief off the fans. I think next season we will see Gerrard phased out gradually ala Lampard at Chelsea.

missingtime · 26-11-2012 01:47PM

I think using Gerrard as an impact sub might work well. Say for the last 20 or 30 mins of a match.

26-11-2012 01:50PM

Melion wrote: »

TBH i think playing him on the left side of the front 3 could be a massive plus for us. Cutting in on his right foot and getting his shots off.

Been wanting him there from start of season tbh. Obviously Lucas injury messed up the whole midfield.

Could be a great option for us.

Melion · 26-11-2012 01:50PM

missingtime wrote: »

I think using Gerrard as an impact sub might work well. Say for the last 20 or 30 mins of a match.

Too risky for a manager like BR who already has some people on his back, if he was to drop Stevie and results didnt change then he would be in even more trouble.

Melion · 26-11-2012 01:51PM

rarnes1 wrote: »

Been wanting him there from start of season tbh. Obviously Lucas injury messed up the whole midfield.

Could be a great option for us.

So did BR i would imagine. He blatantly said it to Shelvey before the Hearts game.

spockety · 26-11-2012 02:14PM

Melion wrote: »

So did BR i would imagine. He blatantly said it to Shelvey before the Hearts game.

What did he say? (Presume this was in Being Liverpool... haven't seen it)

Melion · 26-11-2012 02:15PM

spockety wrote: »

What did he say? (Presume this was in Being Liverpool... haven't seen it)

Basically he wanted Shelvey to get used to playing in the midfield trio because Stevie would be moving up front.

daRobot · 26-11-2012 02:29PM

PRAF wrote: »

He is clearly both the best LFC player ever and the best midfield player of his generation by a mile (lots better than Keane, Scholes, Viera, and Zidane).

You genuinely believe Gerrard is a better player than Zidane?

Oscorp · 26-11-2012 02:31PM

daRobot wrote: »

You genuinely believe Gerrard is a better player than Zidane?

Turtyturd · 26-11-2012 02:33PM

daRobot wrote: »

You genuinely believe Gerrard is a better player than Zidane?

I think comments like that are thrown in for the lurkers....It's funny when they start showing up in other threads.

daRobot · 26-11-2012 02:34PM

Wow, quick off the mark there with your nerdy response.

daRobot · 26-11-2012 02:37PM

Not directed at you either Turty

26-11-2012 03:14PM

Melion wrote: »

Basically he wanted Shelvey to get used to playing in the midfield trio because Stevie would be moving up front.

Hadn't heard that until now. Haven't brought myself to watch that show yet.

D'Agger · 26-11-2012 03:15PM

rhonin wrote: »

There was an incident near the end of the game yesterday where Suarez won a corner. The ball ran behind the goal and Suarez went to pick up the ball and looked to throw it the corner taker (normally Gerrard) but nobody was there. In the end he had to take it himself. Gerrard was at the edge of the box with his hands on hips. He looked tired to be honest but it shows two things imo.

1. Suarez seems to be in another mind set to most of the other players. Never gives up.

2. Gerrard doesn't have the legs any more and needs to be utilised better.

I noticed that - first thing I was saying was "WTF is our only striker doing taking the corners"

At the same time, the tempo and pace to the game was unbelievable from what I saw - players on both teams were working incredibly hard to win posession, then working the opposition when they had it, lots of quick breaks too - Swansea were dangerous on the counter.

Honestly, I was happy enough with our performance yesterday - gutted we couldn't get the win but Swansea are a good team who play ball and are capable of great things, it was one of the best 0-0 draws I've seen in a bit.

Sterling, was poor imo - misplaced passes and one or two instances of poor control I know he's young and still learning but if Downing or Henderson did one or two of the things he did they'd be hounded for it - would have put Suso on for him with ten to go, just to see if he could dig out a pass for Suarez to get onto.

Melion · 26-11-2012 03:17PM

rarnes1 wrote: »

Hadn't heard that until now. Haven't brought myself to watch that show yet.

It was much better than i thought it would be. Not as cringeworthy as expected.

Gbear · 26-11-2012 03:23PM

D'Agger wrote: »

Sterling, was poor imo - misplaced passes and one or two instances of poor control I know he's young and still learning but if Downing or Henderson did one or two of the things he did they'd be hounded for it - would have put Suso on for him with ten to go, just to see if he could dig out a pass for Suarez to get onto.

Poor is incredibly harsh.

He burned out towards the end but he had an ok game.

In particular, his driving run playing 1-2s with Johnson and Hendo. He looked willing to push us on. No hiding on the wing.

He already has shown such a huge amount of tactical discipline and willingness to work - those are far more difficult to develop IMO. That he has them already bodes very well indeed.
His decision making and final ball need a bit of work but we shouldn't expect much from him until he's 22/23. That's 5 years of playing an awful lot of first team football for him to develop. Even your Messi's and Ronaldo's didn't have a huge amount of end product at 17.

26-11-2012 04:06PM

Melion wrote: »

It was much better than i thought it would be. Not as cringeworthy as expected.

Alot of people have said that.

I'll get round to it at some stage.

Francie Barrett · 26-11-2012 04:07PM

Kess73 wrote: »

Right now Allen is our only midfielder that we can rely on to do the CM
role and he looks like a player that is burning out through being overworked. With Lucas out it seems that having to do some of the workload for his other "partners" in midfield has been slowly creeping up on him, and other teams also look top have figured out that Allen gets very little support in the centre from whatever combination we put in midfield with him.

Lucas looked great in the 60 minutes or so he had for the under-21's. We already know he's a class act, so I wouldn't have too many worries about him not being the same player. I think the combination of him and Allen gives us two very solid options at the heart of the midfield. As for who makes up the point of the midfield 3, no one has nailed down that position, but out of everyone who has tried, Suso has been most impressive for me.

First choice midfield

--- Lucas - Allen

Suso

Back-up midfield

--- Sahin - Henderson ---
--- Shelvey/Gerrard ---

Under no circumstances should Gerrard be allowed to play in deep-lying role that Lucas and Allen occupy. We all know he doesn't have the legs, but more importantly his stray passes leave us wide open to counter attack. If we're in a jam, I don't have a problem with him playing in the AM role, it's just not ideal.

Francie Barrett · 26-11-2012 04:08PM

Gbear wrote: »

He burned out towards the end but he had an ok game.

I thought he looked tired as well.

Yet you still here some clowns demanding that he start every game :rolleyes:

Slattsy · 26-11-2012 04:12PM

I'd have :

--- Lucas --- Allen --- (as holders basically)

Gerrard--- Suso/Sahin ---- Sterling

Suarez

Nuri Sahin · 26-11-2012 04:13PM

Chucky the tree wrote: »

Here's the full image of the goal that wasn't given yesterday.

Just on the offside call from yesterday. The attackers should be given the benefit of the doubt springs to mind. If the linesman was 100% adamant he made the right call, fair enough. Not much you can do. But if there was the slightest bit of doubt it was a poor decision for me. Poor or not, whatever the case, it was a massively disappointing whatever way you want to look at it for us... and those put money on Enrique Anytime @ 11/2 >_>

mike65 wrote: »

The next big split among supporters!

I'd bench him quickly enough myself, its clear as day he's not got the legs and more importantly has no brain/discipline for playing deeper, so what do you do with him? Play him higher up the pitch? He still needs legs for that role, he seems to have lost that burst of power that would take him past the opposing DM into the danger zone. Play him wide? Maybe but he'd only be filling in for one of Sterling/Assaidi/Suso/Enrique (if the latters new role is permanent) in that position and he won't like that (would Rodgers have the balls to effectively demote "Mr Liverpool" and take the captaincy off him?).

----Lucas
Sahin--Allen

Lucas---Allen
----Sahin

Lucas--Allen
----Suso

Hendo--Allen
--Shelvey

Just a few of the variations, depending on circumstances, that can be played without even thinking about Gerrard.

Ding, ding, ding!

It's really is that simple.

Gerrard on the other hand has gotten a free pass from far too many. Some might say he has earned that right, I call BS on that. If we want to progress this season, obvious striker in January issue aside, Gerrard needs to play upfront and in Suarez current form, that RW is his only option. I wouldn't be fussed if he played RB over midfield truth be told. I can imagine the faces of people as they read that last line

Think it was Melion who hit the nail on the head though a little earlier, it just won't happen. The backlash from many if Gerrard were to be dropped, and it can be argued that he should be, would be something fierce. Rodgers knows this. I firmly believe, he doesn't want Gerrard in the midfield, he just isn't his type of player. I look at the United thread and match threads occasionally, I really hope Gerrard doesn't become a source of great frustration for the majority as Giggs at present and Neville were at the end of his playing career for them lot.

By the by, Suso and Sahin have a great understanding from the games/minutes I've seen of them playing at the same time.

Turtyturd · 26-11-2012 04:21PM

Nuri Sahin wrote: »

I look at the United thread and match threads occasionally, I really hope Gerrard doesn't become a source of great frustration for the majority as Giggs at present and Neville were at the end of his playing career for them lot.

If he starts going down that route I would rather see him retire.

Then we can bring him out of retirement after 6 months and proclaim him 'the best eva'.:pac:

Liverpool FC Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 12/13

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