wat i kenot brain is why gerrard shuld play as deep midfield.. why cant no 10 role>?

Sometimes I wonder too, off form or not, Gerrard is still a great distributor. He isn't as creative as Coutinho on his feet but he is in my opinion still a better passer than Coutinho and most definitely a better goal scorer.

u know wat.. coutinho bring more shit whenever i see him play lately.. he tend to make more shoot rather than pass.. he's the worst the shooter on par with allen... u'll see how frustating his teammate when he take the shot

I just realised that up until 21 games played, we have the best defence (at HOME) in the League with only 6 conceded (same goes for Arsenal & Man City).

And we have the best attack AWAY from home with 24 goals scored.

We really need to improve on defending away from home if we are to maintain being in top 4, or even challenging for the title this season.

Here's the way I see it as explained before. Just my opinion of course.

The game has evolved and it's continued to do so. In the old days, the traditional English centreforward consisted of a bloke who was tall and built like a tank, much like Duncan Ferguson or Jon Toshack. Some teams still adopt the "Route 1" approach like Stoke, hence why they field Peter Crouch or Bolton who used Kevin Davies as a battering ram. Since then, the more successful sides have deployed forwards with not just brawn but with some pace as well. Why? Since the days of Ian Rush, forwards were required to defend as well and hence they needed more mobility. This is also no doubt in part to the implementation of the offside rule so teams could no longer park their skyscrapers in front of opposition goals. Forwards now had to track back and get back into onside positions, and then toe the line, looking to break the offside trap when their team was in possession.

Back to your question then. Gerrard still offers bursts of pace but he no longer maintains that for as long as he did. As like most of the top sides, BR favours a high pressing game which is why you see the likes of Suarez, Coutinho, Sterling, Sturridge, Allen and Henderson burst a lung to close down the opposition on their own half, often chasing down one centreback after another. This requires that you have a high level of fitness and stamina. When your forwards and midfielders cannot keep up with their opposite numbers, it places more stress on the defenders.

This article was written in 2013 and notice what they all have in common? http://magazine.topman.com/category/lifest...world-football/

They are all fairly quick and industrious. Because teams close down so quickly these days, players aren't afforded a lot of time on the ball which makes someone like Coutinho suitable for the no. 10 role. He's quick but not only in terms of pace, but in terms of playing his passes. When you are so high up the pitch, you aren't afforded the time to pick out a killer pass. A simple flick or dink can send your teammate through and this is where Gerrard isn't as effective at the young Brazilian. Stevie G was renowned for his lung bursting runs forward, taking huge strides with his long legs, powering the ball towards goal after locking in, not for his ability to unlock tight defences with a quick instinctive short pass. He favours what was coined "the Hollywood pass".

For these reasons, I'm more comfortable with him playing deep.

The intent of deploying Gerrard closer to the CBs is understandable but whether he cna play there effectively over the long run is another question. I think he can just about play the role but he's got a long way to go before reaching the Pirlo or Xavi or Xabi level. Mind you the likes of Xabi and Pirlo took years to hone their craft, Gerrard hasn't got the time on his side. To illustrate the challenge, take a look at the following pic.

Against Stoke, what was noticeable was that he often took up a position between the two centrebacks who drifted out wide as they have been since BR took over. In a sense, Gerrard did play the role of the now defunct, "Libero" or sweeper. In this regard he offers something that Lucas or any other defensive midfielder doesn't. The sweeper used to be the deepest player who would dictate play right from the back because he offers a range of passing that other defenders do not. The benefit that I can see from having someone in the sweeper position is that he can send long, raking passes up the park quicker and with more accuracy than if we were to have say Martin Skrtel punt a Hail Mary pass forward. Only difference is he doesn't start as a sweeper so what? A "false no 5"?

I agree that he did look to release the forwards a lot quicker with long range passes - like a quarterback. In theory, it could catch a lot of defense off guard especially against teams that play with a high line. He did this a few times against Stoke but a lot of those passes were incomplete as depicted by the analysis i posted. It's definitely a work in progress and i wouldn't pit all the blames solely on him because the other midfielders didn't look as comfortable themselves. It's not just Gerrard that needs to settle in his new role, Lucas too has to get used to his new forward midfield role. In a way, it's a great opportunity for both Gerrard and Lucas (both of whom can be said to have stagnated) to reinvent themselves. It's ironic that both of these players may end up reversing their roles - hopefully it will come full circle and to our benefit.

If it works out, it will be one of BR's most amazing coaching achievements.

Based on current play, a number of players need to adapt and quickly, in order to maintain our sort of attacking play, these includes Hendo, SG, Allen and Lucas...I cant emphasize enuf that we are both short and sufficient in the middle of the park, depending on what formation we play with...but one type of player we definitely cant get enough is Coutinho type - more fluid, excellent control & 1st touch...good passing range, altho mostly within the box or just outside, a softer type of player. A good comparison is between ronaldo and messi...where the former is more power packed, strong running and turns, bullet of a shot and thunderous free kick, whereas the latter - is softer, more placing than power, breathtaking 1st touch and fluid play with constant interplay, not to mention an eye for quick pass into the channel...For me gerard is more ronaldo-ish...than say messi-ish...age is also unforgiving, as such, i would say no no to play SG in advance role..as he neither the 1st touch nor fluidity...not least, SG's dink and thru passing is unimpressive.

Why thread no picture? Hard to find yo

holtby will suit our playstyle although we may dream to get him

trying to get the mod to fix it

unless someone has the link for me. i couldnt get the link from the previous thread

Transfers or rather the lack of it have been really disappointing so far.

This is the best chance to cement top 4 place or if luck favouring a title challenge.I am suspecting it is FSG who are reluctant to spend.

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11669/9117282/

A good read about news position..he complete pass is shocking in last match and some error leading to stoke goal.. He need to adapt fast there. Lost balll in our defensive area can cause us goal..

https://forum.lowyat.net/uploads/thumbs/75/...pg?v=1384576774

I think moving SG to DM is a brilliant idea...

Firstly it can prolong SG career... Need lesser stamina... Lesser running..
His long range pass is perfect for the role... Best for fast attacking attribute...
SG is tough... Strong in tackling.... Good header of the ball....
SG definitely got all the attributes to be a good DM...

He just need a few matches to get used to it... To program his mind to being a DM....

thank you for your service

Indeed but we are basing our comments on the Stoke game alone as it was the first time he's been played that deep. I do agree however when counterattacking, you sometimes do not have much to aim at and yet, you need to play a quick pass thereby affecting your pass completion percentage. We play much more counterattacking football now than we did under Rafa so Xabi was afforded more time to pick out a pass and I'm assuming he therefore had more targets to pick out and we would often venture forward patiently unlike now. In a sense, Stevie has to take more risks which is fine when we're counterattacking. It's when we the opposition has tracked back and we are building up our attack that I don't want Stevie playing suicidal passes, leaving us exposed as our fullbacks are usually in the opposition half at this point.

In the case of Lucas, I hope it's a case of riding a bicycle. Earlier footage of him playing for Gremio depict a box-to-box type midfielder who would burst forward from midfield into the opposition box. As Anfield, seeing Lucas take a shot on goal is as rare as a sighting of Bigfoot.

Gerrard n Agger didnt vote for Suarez haha. Only Skrtel did.

This is no way rivals Stevie's call to arms in the tunnel during half-time in Istanbul but still, I like to hear managers challenge their players all the time.

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/45...Brendan-Rodgers

Our lads showed some bottle alright.