I think the Euros proved to me that he's still got it when utilised correctly. He's still the best we've got by a country mile when played correctly (and I agree DF that in this system he'd have looked a whole lot better playing where Downing played on Saturday). Everyone should also bear in mind that he came back for pre season later than many others and so hasn't had so much chance to link up with Borini and Allen he's only played one game with. I just think we should be showing our support rather than seeing how quickly we can shove our top players out of the door.
All Good Billy! hey I'd happily take being proved completely & utterly wrong and Gerrard bounces up and does a Giggs.... The playing great football thing not the humping every leg in reaching distance .....
Well, we don't know that for sure, do we? Possibly, or maybe he'll drop him after a dozen games if he thinks his presence is detrimental. This has been my issue with some fans for a long time now- predicting what will happen when none of us know. I'm not having a go at you, frank. We were all massively disappointed with our start on Saturday after talking ourselves up, and we react in different ways. Some are resolutely upbeat and others see the end of the world. There's nothing we can do about it so I prefer to just strap in and enjoy the ride and be optimistic about the outcome. Though I'd still kick the cat every time we have a bad game. If I had a cat.
Funnily enough, i nearly mentioned Giggs but chose not to. A mate who is a Man Utd fan wanted Fergie to sell Giggs when he was about 29/30. Basically, he didn't think Giggs was effective anymore having lost some of his pace to be able to have the impact he had on the left wing and so, he thought he was the best time to cash in on him whilst he was still worth £20m+. Instead, we saw Beckham leave. Who was to know that almost a decade later that Giggs would still be one of the main men? As i said above, I'm not saying Gerrard should be dropped or kept in the side, I was just trying to say that people aren't judging him on one game
Billy, be nice. He should sell him now for the following reasons; He is not good enough to carry an average Team any longer. He has not developed a short passing game the past 12 years, he certainly isn't going to do it now. His injury record means he cannot be relied upon. He still has other strengths, and still has value in the market, but another year? He could prosper at another Club. His wage would be freed up Rogers doesn't have to face the constant nagging for Gerrard to play if he is sold.
I agree with this, imagine how different this particular thread would look if we lost 3-0 and Gerrard wasn't involved. We'd all be going mental. I think Gerrard is an easy target for blame because of the sheer brilliance we have been so fortunate to witness over the years. He isn't done yet, that much I am sure of.
Ok to answer your post: We should improve the "average" team rather than making it more "average" He can pass short as well as anyone (ask Suarez who he enjoys linking up with). His injury record I agree is an issue but we don't sell Lucas and Agger because they have had injuries we try and manage them better. Just as with Giggs/Lampard or Scholes modern players can still play well into their mid to late thirties at the top level. He could prosper at our club still. We can free up wages (if needed) by dumping Joke Hole and/or Downing Rodgers would face a whole load more "nagging" if he sold Gerrard. How's that for nice DS?
No offence taken Saint. I'm not one that expected miracles this season so the only disappointment I had wasn't the defeat necessarily it was the heads dropping. As I said earlier as did our Manager after the game there will be a few more days like that before the years is out. As you say I'm looking at what Ifs as all fans do and giving my opinion on each hypothetical: (Sorry MITO) 1)We continue to struggle with BR changing things around trying players here & there but sticking with his philosophy? I'll not criticise him or the players for trying their best to improve how we play first because I believe results will eventually follow naturally i.e. I have faith in our manager & his plans. 2) if however he Doesn't drop Gerrard no matter what: I'll criticise the manager not the player. 3)if he Continues to play any player in a position that seems to effect the entire team negatively with no end result in site? (keeping in mind our knowledge of Lucas & how that turned out!) I'll criticise the manager. 4)Gerrard (or any other player)continues as he has too regularly over the last 2 seasons to give off "I give up" body language when it's not going our way? I'll criticise the player. 5)after all the players & managers efforts if we still look weak in areas or overall and the Owners don't stump up to supply the manager with the players for the system they agreed to by hiring him in the first place? I'll criticise the Owners. None of the above is necessarily what I think will happen or want to happen but I thought this was just one of those general hypothetical discussion threads to pass the time of day. Let's put it like this at the start of every 90 minutes I support every player running on to the pitch be that Lucas, Gerrard or even Adam & Downing because I always start with the assumption they are going to give 100% so in my own defence lol I'm not being knee jerk or negative I'm actually looking forward to each & every game I'm just airing my concern over the subject under discussion. As I said I would love to be utterly wrong!
For the record I do think Gerrard has a short game, one/two´s in and around the penalty area for example, I meant in terms of a CM position, constantly ticking the play over. Also I do believe he is good enough for the 1st team, what im trying to garner is, based on the players we have in the squad, would we be more efficient with someone else in CM with Gerrard perhaps on the right of the front three ? or are we happy with Gerrard in CM with A.N other as the right sided attacker, for anyone who says Suarez on the right (I also believe that is where he´d be best utilised, providing we use Andy Carroll or another First choice number 9 if one is bought in to replace him) for the sake of this discussion, lets just assume, as looks likely at this moment in time, that he will fill the Number 9 role.
Our team needs a dynamic player in midfield. Gerrard has been doing this for years and I think it's finally caught up with him. He injected so much dynamism, energy, fight into our sides, which often led to silverware. Yaya Toure is that man for Man City. Rooney is the man for MUFC (not a midfielder but he's the player who will chase everything down, win the ball, assert physical dominance), Alex Song was the one for Arsenal. We have Lucas, the ball winner. Allen who keeps the ball. We need a midfielder who run all over the midfield, winning the ball back with force (strong tackles can often get the crowd going again), running with force and joining the attack. Along with losing Alonso and Torres, we also lost the old Stevie G.
If we want to get the best out of Gerrard then I truly believe that he should be played in the hole behind either a front two or three. For the life of me I cannot see why this role can not be incorporated into the way Rodgers says he wants us to play. For those who criticise his pass accuracy I would like to suggest that he is attempting to play incisive balls that will always have a lower success rate.
