Isn't Sinclair a winger? Rodgers seemed to use him quite a bit last season at Swansea Can't say I have seen Gerrard and Adam referred tp as 'disciplined' before, it certainly wouldn't be an attribute I'd associate with either although Gerrard was fairly disciplined for England this summer Both players want to get forward and both players want tot make that killer pass every time, is there enough room to have two 'Roy of the Rovers' in the side? I'd say no and keep Adam (if he must stay at the club) as a back-up for Gerrard
IMO, Gerrard is one the most disciplined English football players - and has been referred to as such many times by pundits. He can (and has) excelled in various positions on the pitch, for England and for us. Lampard, good player though he is, couldn't play as a right/left back or as central defender for instance (at least not well!). If you mean defense-minded, Gerrard can tackle very well and in his prime tracked back like no one else (a true box-to-box hero). Admittedly his positional awareness has, at times, let him down in defensive set-play scenarios. Also, Adam is very poor at this. Perhaps this is what you mean by disciplined? As far as I am aware disciple could be, perhaps, curbing your attacking drive if asked to. Operative phrase there is 'if asked to'. I'd expect most managers played Gerrard and Adam as attacking midfielders and gave them license to maraud forward at whim. It's obviously hard to exhibit discipline if it's not part of your role, or rather that the discipline you do show in your position is not obvious. I guess one of the points I'm rather labouriously making is that it depends what you mean by 'disciplined'
P.S. agree with you on Adam as Gerrard back up - that was the main reason we got him I guess. He'll never be as good as Gerrard, unfortunately for us!
Think it would be worth a shot moving Johnson to RM during the friendlies if we were playing a 442 but if we are playing 433 I wouldn't want him playing as a right forward. Think we do need someone with a bit of pace as we do lack that a bit. Walcott and A.Johnson have been branded around and Scott Sinclair was linked earlier in the summer I think.
You obviously have a different understanding of what disciplined means The bit I have highlighted is what I was getting at. IMO, a disciplined played plays where he was told and doesn't move too far from the area - aka a Mascherano type I certainly do not question his ability, I even think Adam has ability, just not to the same level
Got you. You mean disciplined at defensive set-plays. Fair play; I agree. Not sure you can just use the word 'disciplined' for that rather specific definition, though.
Not quite set plays although all players should have that anyway. I mean disciplined as in sticking to tactics and position. Both Gerrard and Adam like to roam about the park and spray the passes from where ever they get the ball. IMO, this is not being disciplined at all. Not that it is a bad thing either but when players roam or interchange then you need a DM (Lucas) to sit and pick up the bones if possession is lost. As I said, I don't doubt Gerrard's ability. Not so sure about Adam though, I'd prefer to see, Henderson or Jonjo in there before Adam. If Aquilani stays (see signature) then I would pick him alongside Gerrard and Lucas in a midfeild three
The best players are intelligent players. Gerrard is certainly intelligent on and off the ball. Therefore, he should be able to adapt to the new system.
If they roam everywhere without permission then I agree they lack discipline; but, as we are not privy to their on-field instructions, is it not a touch presumptuous to label them as undisciplined? For instance some players are instructed to go where they please and the other players have to pick up defensively where the roaming player is absent. Some commentators say that the remaining players have to be more disciplined to compensate for the absence of a player. However, both the roaming and filling-in players are working to strict instructions (doing their part, playing their role) and therefore are disciplined (i.e. following instructions). I guess the confusion arises with the choice of words by many pundits, e.g.'freedom' for describing roaming players and 'disciplined' for describing the filling-in players. 'Disciplined' usually just means 'following instructions' or 'trained'. Also, totally agree with putting Shelvey and Henderson before Adam (all good players but first two offer a bit more for me). I often wonder who will become the better player between Shelvey and Henderson. I usually punt for Shelvey, but Henderson has a lot of potential (you don't become England U-21 captain for nothing!), too. Tricky.
Yeah, fair point about following instructions I guess for me it is the fact that neither bust a gut to get the ball back after losing possession. If Adam or Gerrard are further up the pitch they sort of stand and scratch their head before casually jogging back in. I don't mind one (or two if the second is up front) being like this but any more can be costly IMO
I don't like lazy back-tracking either. But I think Gerrard tracked back more when he was younger so I cut him a bit of slack in that respect (he, unlike most, has earned that) - in some respects I'd rather he saved energy for attack these days. When I see it in younger players (or less used players) it makes me furious, though. They should be closing down constantly without the ball, and finding space and being available for a pass when we have possession. In short, they should be constantly working as a (and for the) team. LFC deserves no less from its players. I've often said I'd love AJ here. Maybe a touch risky but he has pace and trickery. DSCFTW!
