Evening gentleman Gerrard has been given the go ahead to travel with England for the utterly pointless game agaist Sweden. Now, obviously Gerrard is a hero for us, but does anyone else find his apparent unquestioned position in the National Team as a bit unmerited based on his form? Steven has been poor in pretty much every game except United this year where he suddenly became interested in playing again. Coupled with his performances last year, I think we should be asking questioning about his starting place in our team, let alone a first teamer and Captain for England. I would drop him for us and make him work his way back in the team because I don't think he's motivated, and I think we're carrying him. He shouldn't be in the National Team in my opinion. Playing for England is not helping his legs for us either. What does everyone else think? http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20306158
I'm totally fed up with the crap that's talked about Gerrard and I'm sick of the rubbish that's talked about his play on this board. There's nobody better in the country. He's just being asked to do far too much to satisfy everybody. If and when we get Lucas back and Gerrard can move 10 yards further forward he'll just be immense.
Yes he is being asked to do much to much that is true. But I think good form should awarded by a national place and I don't think Gerrard has been playing well. I think thats fair comment?
Yeah there isn't much. Cleverley and Barry? Shelvey? Wilshire? Okay they will never be as good as Gerrard, but when do we let the new guys in? Do you think Gerrard's form has merited a place then? I think we should be useing him sparely here whilst also making him work for his place - its to easy for him to get in the team.
Don't think anyone should have a guaranteed starting position at club or country level. The goal is always to have two players of equal ability for each position. Well.....except Lucas because we all seem to think when he comes back in our CM & AM are going to transform into world beaters lol, Gerrard, Shelvey, Hendo & Allen will all apparently click & the goals will flow. By God I hope we're right! That and these promised extra strikers!
I'd prefer him to not be playing in meaningless international friendlies. Especially when its going to be his 100th cap too!
Agree with Dave, Gerrard's been absolutely fine for us, I don't get where all the criticism comes from. Sure he's not the athlete he once was and can't run box to box any more, but isn't the whole purpose of trio of midfielders in the centre so that we can have two people roaming around a bit whilst one sits deeper? Don't blame Gerrard because Allen can't defend for ****. Don't blame Gerrard because BR doesn't play Hendo in the deep defensive role because he feels compelled to start Sahin and Allen as well as Stevie. Some of the best passes seen this season have come from our number 8, defense splitting wonder passes which set off Sterling or Suarez...just a shame we don't always score from them or we'd be praising Gerrard.
Thanks SM, I was beginning to feel like a voice in the wilderness. frank, the return of Lucas will at least mean that Gerrard, Allen and Sahin will not have to spend so much time and effort attempting (and failing) to cover the DM position whilst creating attacks from both deep and advanced midfield positions.
Somebody help me out & extract from the daily fail page as the attachment on the app is being uppity again http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2231950/Steven-Gerrard-emulates-Bobby-Moore-photo-schoolkids-Liverpool--EXCLUSIVE.html
Dave I've sounded harsh on him but only because performance vs expectation has been off. I don't actually think that's been his fault. I just think by being automatic first choice for 90 or having him do one & half jobs at his age is counter productive & almost disrespectful to the man himself as we aren't getting the very best of him now that we could. But as someone said regarding England in "who is better to replace him?" Rings true for the moment at club as well. I meant it when I said I hope to God we are right about Lucas. Would love to see a resurgent Gerrard or the Allen BR talks about. From a lot of the interviews from manager to youngsters the same thing is repeated: both Gerrard & Carragher work harder in training than anyone else with the exception of Suarez. You can't count how much that attitude is worth around so many young players.
Last season I believe that Kenny always wanted to play Gerrard in the hole behind Suarez and Carroll but for a number of reasons he could never achieve it for a run of games. This season Rodgers is having the same problem. It's clear that Gerrard is no longer the ultimate Captain Fantastic box to box midfield general but he has an amazing eye for a pass and the ability to create space for both himself and others. It's great to hear about his rep on the training ground. If he can impress upon our youngsters that no matter how much talent you've got you still need to work, it can only bode well for our continued success.
Don't worry, you're not alone dave. I don't think Gerrard's been anywhere near as bad as some on here seem to think. He certainly isn't the player he was, but he set the bar so high he can't keep that up forever. Strangely, he seems to me to be playing better for England than us, when it used to be the other way round, although that was probably because he was played out of position to accommodate Fat Frank's limelight hogging.
I don't buy the excuse of Gerrard not playing to his full potential because Lucas is out. If anything, Joe Allen has been covering for Lucas and has done a pretty decent job (bar the Chelsea game). I think it's time we start playing someone who is hungry for first team performances as at least they are motivated to find a more permanent spot in first team.
Not totally in the wilderness Dave. I've said many times that the thing for me with Gerrard is that he's always had to adjust position or style of play with each new manager that's arrived. It takes time to do that but each and every time he does adjust and finds his feet soon enough. Throughout his career he's always struck up an understanding with the front players (Owen, Torres and now Suarez). It's always going to be harder to do that when you're learning to play a different formation but he has always managed to do it. Unfortunately we all know his days of lung burstin box to box running are over. The days he could drag the team along for weeks on end are probably over too (and quite frankly by now we shouldn't still be needing him to do that anyway). However despite the fact that he hasn't been on top form this year I'd still have him as the first name on the team sheet whether that's for Liverpool or England. The reason...he's still a class above anyone in either squads midfield. Do I want him playing meaningless England friendlies? No because I'm selfish and don't want him getting injured. Ask Gerrard however if he wants to step out with the captains armband again. His answer will be different than mine and at the end of the day what else would you expect from him? That's the measure of the man.
Gerrards biggest problem in a way has been that he's so much better than those around him he's been shunted from position to position to cover the deficiencies in both squads. Can you imagine asking Fat Frank to play left wing, right wing, right back, holding midfielder and attacking midfielder? Couldn't happen so Gerrard has suffered for it (certainly at international level).
Gerrard isn't the same player anymore and hasn't been for the past 3 seasons. However, we don't have anyone else who is good enough to displace him (based on individual talent/ability). I still believe that if we took Gerrard out of the team, then we see a far more fluid and cohesive midfield. The reason I say this is because Kenny's first 6 months (10/11) where he had to use the likes of Maxi, Kuyt, Lucas, Meireles when Gerrard was out injured, Liverpool were winning games and scoring goals. Then the first half of the next season (11/12), we were playing very good football but didn't win as many but we were still in the mix. Gerrard then returned at the start of 2012 and it's been the worst year I can remember. Personally, I don't think it's a coincidence.
Gerrard isn't the player he was but is still better than other options we have. Thats just credit to how good he once was The only thing that bugs me about Stevie is laziness. He quite often doesn't track back, especially when he loses possession.
