Gerrard has been poor this season and just walks around everywhere, but coutinho has been worse so far this season.
You lads should all know that if he continues playing every game he will be burned out totally by Christmas It's really that simple He looks atrocious on the ball coming from cbs, the speed of even taking it in is not there so if I were any manager is have a cm close him down rapid every time. Lambert got that right. Shane lfc want to now all run away from goals rather than towards as we've killed our own goal threat
Gerrard can only play if he has 2 CM's in front of him. He cannot play in a midfield 2 which restricts the formations we can play. Offers little protection to his centre backs and hasn't got the legs to cover the attacking fullbacks. Great penalty taker. I would love to see Allen playing in that role - positionally aware, great passing, tactical, quick on the turn and can start attacks. Have Can and Hendo in front of him.
Its not Gerrard's role to cover the full backs. When the full backs attack and need covering Gerrard drops into CB and a CB covers full back. Less running for all and easier to revert back to shape when the ball is retrieved.
Gerrard's prime contribution last season was his dead ball delivery, from what I've seen this season even that appears to be a struggle for him at the minute. He said himself last season that Henderson "was his legs", that tells you that he's severely compromised as a midfield player and that in having to cover for him so is Henderson. He gets deeper and deeper every time I see you play, he looks like one of the CB's at times. He's still got a wand of a right peg though, but he's rapidly becoming the indulgent 'quarterback' that Beckham was in his latter days. Rodgers needs to start rotating him and slowly easing him out the side, that'll be interesting as I doubt Me La will share that view.......
Exactly, the fact that Hendo is having to do his running for him is taking away from what the lad can offer himself, he's come leaps and bounds but I think he next step-up will come once he doesn't have to put in his own shift and half of Gerrard's Agree, that Allen in that role isn't a bad shout, more mobile, very good technically, may not quite have the passing range but he's more disciplined that Gerrard.. I love Gerrard, up there as one of the greatest, if not the greatest Liverpool player, ever, but he needs to realise himself that at times, him not being in the side will help!
should just use Lucas and Can as holding mids rotating wise and move Gerrard further forward for say 60 mins a game, then bring on either Lambert or Borini for last 20-30 mins a game. he goes too further forward now anyway and isnt disciplined enough in my opinion for that role, as he is used to attacking his whole career, so let him do that and see if 1 he can get his shooting boots back or 2 it might help the supply to our forwards more. that's what i would do personally, give him 60-70 mins a game in more advanced position, think it would help the forward as well, as other teams know what a shot he used to have on him so may open up space for others, which is something at the moment we are failing to do.
As the DM/holding mid, it is his duty to cover for the full backs when they attack. He should be able to cover that ground quickly and occupy that space. At the end of the day, it's not his fault as he is simply getting older and his legs are going, but also he has never had to do anything as disciplined as this role requires. Lastly - Gerrard hasn't done anything differently to what he did last season (bar the poorer set pieces). The difference this season is that the DM and defence can't hide behind a world class attack who saved us every week.
With our injuries at present I don't think we have a choice but to play Gerrard. With a fully fit team I would either start Gerrard with a view to him only having to last 60 mins or have him on the bench to come on when we need to control the game more having taken the lead. His legs have definitely gone, but he has the experience and the respect of the other players to calm things down when a bit of panic could kick in. I suspect as the season progresses he will play less.
This is the salient point. One of the key roles of the DM is to cover the fullback areas and Gerrard simply hasn't got the legs to do this effectively. When you're playing with a diamond this is especially relevant as the full backs are exposed in that system anyway. Fine when you're on the front foot and penning the opposition back, and he can using his passing ability in an attacking sense, however when under the cosh his lack of mobility is weakening you defensively.
Does he though? If anything, I think he's the opposite - if we go a goal down, he'll force things and be the aggressor. One example is when he made the mistake against Chelsea last season and he did everything he could to rectify that mistake by trying to force it.
Crystanbul is the best example, when he was seemingly ignoring Rodgers and was pressing forwards chasing the goal difference.
i do agree once he slipped all discipline went out the window. he can communicate things and be calm once its not his issue. you saw that last night as he was telling them the plan after scoring right to badontelly who was...like i'm a god here wtf..... but once he slipped he lose all shape and refused to play the role and did the same v palace there no point trying to shhot from 30 yards and missing every time v chelsea when you needed to tell them to turn chelsea not play in front. we got behind once and created panic that second half but he was too busy shooting to see i'd have no issue if he was smart and sharp on the ball but could only patrol a small area... ie like pirlo but he looks sluggish and about to get caught in possession every time now
yes he should cover full backs to some extent but actually the role is with split cbs to actually cover them and especially if one stride up to make advantage of space... he is not doing that now and last year he was. in effect its supposed to be a back 3 when in possession but he aint sitting in
the only option we have is lucas to come on.... his legs are gone too but mark my words if gerrard plays v west ham we are going to suffer
