I know this belongs in the match thread but its happened! Actually happened. Gerrard is on the bench for todays game and Lucas starts! Unfortunately Johnson starts to, and Moreno is again rotated. Lets see what different this makes. Are the things we have been saying going to turn out to be significant?
The biggest favour stoke could do for us is have shawcross snap Johnson on two Mark my words lfc will have no left side all game again
I actually expected this tbh. Here's what i think. Rodgers played him last week, then a full 90mins against mighty Ludogowhat (was the Basel game which matters anyways), so the coward probably begged Gerrard to have a rest this game, since his job is on the line. old stevie might've just cut him some slack. But i'm certain he'll be the first one coming on and probably around 60th minute.
Rodgers didn't have a choice but to drop/rest him. He'll be back in the team next week. Rodgers doesn't have the bottle to drop Gerrard on form/merit. Only when the pressure of the media is on him.
Thought you'd get a result today...Ironic Its Johnson that got the goal lol Amazed Stevie Me was dropped/rested though
Right decision. His best role now is coming on with 20-30 minutes to play to boost the team in terms of tactical options and morale having an LFC legend on the pitch. Its advantageous for him as the opposition are tiring by that point so won't get at him as much and he's freer to show the quality he does have left, rather than being harried and knocked about from the first moment. Only problem is when he's not on the pitch there's no ****er to take free kicks or corners and you're into hiring a blimp so you can get the ball back. We kicked on when he was introduced today. The first half was very poor, we just had no ideas at all and seemed to be at a constant stand still. Second wasn't great either but a lot better by our current low standards.
Gerrard has so much experience to bring. He should never be about the 90 mins on the pitch but (as a legend) the influence he has off the pitch and on the training ground. I don't know about this, but if there's nobody on the pitch to take his corners or free-kicks (or even his movement, shooting, passing) then I question why Gerrard is not being used to coach others in training to do that. Over the last 8 years you can see the influence Scholes and Giggs have had on the likes of Carrick, Rooney, Nani and Fletcher. It shows in their playing style and then when the seniors have played, you have seen them guiding those younger players also. Surely Gerrard with his experience should be encouraged to do the same.
Does he deserve a new contract on allegedly 140k a week? Or shall we do what Mourinho did with lampard and let him go? Difficult decision. We should let him go but to the states (and make sure he does not come back to play for a prem team in the mid season) or we could retain him for coming in after 70 minutes. Will he want to do that? I think we owe him to let him go on a free
tough one, chelsea had the players already in place for Lampard, so not really a loss to them apart from what he done for the club and wont be forgotten obviously, but i mean more on the pitch and what he offers now, they have better. do we? Can supposedly, but then down the years we have said that with a few players who have come who are supposed to be the one to replace him. i don't think he justifies his wages as far as on the pitch goes but he is worth it for what he offers off of it, a US team will snap him up, as its a great marketing tool for them like lampard and others who have gone over. also he has a family, so not just what he wants to do, also not sure how old his girls are, but if we are talking exam area type thing, not good to uproot and emigrate. i doubt he will take it, but be nice if he took a player/coach type role, and took a back seat and come on in last 20 mins of games in a more attacking role, than the stupid defensive one he has been told to do. can also pass on his experience, something we lossed when Hyypia,Carra,Alonso,Masch left etc, lets not make the same mistake over and over, please!!
