Good news about Glen - I consider him a main fixture in our back four and he's so useful in attack. Right and left footed. Not too keen on Gerrard and I'm sure he'll just go straight back into the starting line up.
Gerrards still great, he should just play further forward. I feel we are loosing goals with him sat so deep.
His form has dipped and I wouldn't class him as great anymore. He's definatly one of the better players in the squad but he's not made an impact for a couple of years now and I believe the teams performance has suffered when he's starting. No coincidence that our last two good performances were against Wolves and Arsenal - both when Gerrard wasn't starting. But I do agree that he should be playing higher up the pitch alongside Luis and then we can see the best out of Gerrard.
Nope - don't agree re Gerrard. I was in the ground when he came on against Newcastle and he completely changed the game. He's still our most creative midfielder and a clinical passer. He does however shoot like my mum right now but that will return.
Who else can play deep whilst Lucas is out? It would have to be Spearing plus one of Adam or Henderson IMO.
Spearing should hold and Gerrard should play more advanced. Adam should only play when Gerrard can't imo - he should be back up only. Adam and Gerrard in the centre doesn't work.
I like the idea of Rafa's 4231 with Henderson and Spearing holding with Gerrard in the hole. Put Suarez and Bellamy/Kuyt/Downing either side of Carroll/Kuyt.
Yeah I would love to see this. Suarez played a lot of his football as a left forward before moving to us so not sure why we haven't tested this yet, he skins full backs for fun!
I think we need to look at those things but right now we're not too well served in midifled. adam is a complete ball watcher and i think its a streight choice ebtween him and gerrard and theres no contest there imo. spearing is all we got for deep laying and that worrying in the extreme, hendo work very hard but needs to settle down into one position. a 4-2-3-1 has merit but you have to figure out where to put bellamy, downing, suarez and then carroll/kuyt.... the one thing about 4-2-3-1 is it requires real pace up top and neither carroll nor kuyt have that have they?
I don't think that is true. If the front man can hold the ball up and bring others into play then that is fine IMO, brings the 'three' into play too.
well i don't agree based on seeing morientes playing and seeing guys like kuyt ty to go just that. however... that said. 4-5-1 which is basically 4-2-3-1 has served newcastle well enough hasn't it? My own view is pace all round is required, and when rafa was playing deep and defensive he relied on the quick ball and early release form gerrard to the speedy torres to score the goals.... pace on its own is no good but a good un with pace is just ideal. just my opinion which of course is no more valid that yours.
I think pace helps as it does whatever system you play, but I don't think 4231 (or 451) depends on a pacey front man. Adebayor isn't particularly pacey but he leads the line at Spurs with VDV in behind, the pace comes from the wide players - Bale and Lennon.
