Liverpool FC Forum

[115-1073096938]

1. Firstly, a comment made today by the Leverkusen manager about fearing Gerrard and him being the heart beat and brains (which he certainly isn't) behind this Liverpool side. To me this sounds like reverse psychology. Maybe he's saying this in the hope that Gerrard does play and our team mentallity is that we can't lose because Gerrard's playing... which would cause us problems.

2. Think about the attitude of the players who are playing in the game. They won't want to come off, so they're going to give it 100% percent and Hamann and Biscan this season have shown they can both do a job together, they both protect the back four well and don't leave gapping wholes by chasing the ball down like a headless chicken.

3. Should we need Gerrard, he'll be coming off the bench and should be fired up to go on and prove the manager that he was wrong to leave him out. This in turn could bring uot the best of him and we all know how good he is at his best. His recent performances haven't warrented a starting place anyways in all honesty, Igor and Didi gave us more against Bayer than Stevie has for the last 4 or 5 games now.

4. Imagine the impact it would have on Leverkusen, Gerrard isn't playing, we have every chance, is it a motivation? Possibley... its also something which could cause an over confidence and frustration if things don't go there way from the start.

5. Imagine the Leverkusen players seeing him coming off the bench, i know, for me personally, if i was to see a player i knew was class coming onto a pitch full of tired players i'd be gutted!!

Something to think about there i think.

[Santa]

I would start Gerrard and if he didn't pull his weight, I will hull him off at half-time. Not starting Gerrard and getting him in as substitute will have a reverse effect for a player who thinks he is more important than the club. Biscan & Hamann done well yesterday but to not start a player who on his best day can be a world beater is suicidal.
Maybe Rafa might choose to play 5 across midfield to counter the expected early offensive by Laverkusen?

[115-1073096938]

I gave my reasons and stand by them.

Gerrard isn't, and hasn't for some while, been in the correct frame of mind to play in a game of this importance from the start.

If he starts i'd be EXTREMELY suprised if he was one of our best 4 or 5 players on the night. As for taking him off... i'm sorry but i disagree with that. The psychology of taking off a player of that calibre is the reverse of bring on a player of that calibre.

Gerrard should not start.

[Santa]

I understand your reasoning and I don't disagree with them entirely. We have coped without Gerrard this season and to not start him at this game might just hammer in a point or two.
Like I said, possibility of playing 5 in midfield is pretty high (as Rafa used to favour while at Valencia) with Milan the lone striker.

[112-1077774096]

1. Firstly, a comment made today by the Leverkusen manager about fearing Gerrard and him being the heart beat and brains (which he certainly isn't) behind this Liverpool side. To me this sounds like reverse psychology. Maybe he's saying this in the hope that Gerrard does play and our team mentallity is that we can't lose because Gerrard's playing... which would cause us problems.

2. Think about the attitude of the players who are playing in the game. They won't want to come off, so they're going to give it 100% percent and Hamann and Biscan this season have shown they can both do a job together, they both protect the back four well and don't leave gapping wholes by chasing the ball down like a headless chicken.

3. Should we need Gerrard, he'll be coming off the bench and should be fired up to go on and prove the manager that he was wrong to leave him out. This in turn could bring uot the best of him and we all know how good he is at his best. His recent performances haven't warrented a starting place anyways in all honesty, Igor and Didi gave us more against Bayer than Stevie has for the last 4 or 5 games now.

4. Imagine the impact it would have on Leverkusen, Gerrard isn't playing, we have every chance, is it a motivation? Possibley... its also something which could cause an over confidence and frustration if things don't go there way from the start.

5. Imagine the Leverkusen players seeing him coming off the bench, i know, for me personally, if i was to see a player i knew was class coming onto a pitch full of tired players i'd be gutted!!

Something to think about there i think.

and then we can virtually guarantee that he f*cks off at the end of the season

[LiverpoolMadman]

I would start Gerrard and if he didn't pull his weight, I will hull him off at half-time. Not starting Gerrard and getting him in as substitute will have a reverse effect for a player who thinks he is more important than the club. Biscan & Hamann done well yesterday but to not start a player who on his best day can be a world beater is suicidal.
Maybe Rafa might choose to play 5 across midfield to counter the expected early offensive by Laverkusen?

Agree... 5 across midfield and we must score atleast one goal.

[wee_boi888]

1. Firstly, a comment made today by the Leverkusen manager about fearing Gerrard and him being the heart beat and brains (which he certainly isn't) behind this Liverpool side. To me this sounds like reverse psychology. Maybe he's saying this in the hope that Gerrard does play and our team mentallity is that we can't lose because Gerrard's playing... which would cause us problems.

2. Think about the attitude of the players who are playing in the game. They won't want to come off, so they're going to give it 100% percent and Hamann and Biscan this season have shown they can both do a job together, they both protect the back four well and don't leave gapping wholes by chasing the ball down like a headless chicken.

3. Should we need Gerrard, he'll be coming off the bench and should be fired up to go on and prove the manager that he was wrong to leave him out. This in turn could bring uot the best of him and we all know how good he is at his best. His recent performances haven't warrented a starting place anyways in all honesty, Igor and Didi gave us more against Bayer than Stevie has for the last 4 or 5 games now.

4. Imagine the impact it would have on Leverkusen, Gerrard isn't playing, we have every chance, is it a motivation? Possibley... its also something which could cause an over confidence and frustration if things don't go there way from the start.

5. Imagine the Leverkusen players seeing him coming off the bench, i know, for me personally, if i was to see a player i knew was class coming onto a pitch full of tired players i'd be gutted!!

Something to think about there i think.

and then we can virtually guarantee that he f*cks off at the end of the season

Ditto to that. Maybe start then pull him off is better.

[woof woof !]

1. Firstly, a comment made today by the Leverkusen manager about fearing Gerrard and him being the heart beat and brains (which he certainly isn't) behind this Liverpool side. To me this sounds like reverse psychology. Maybe he's saying this in the hope that Gerrard does play and our team mentallity is that we can't lose because Gerrard's playing... which would cause us problems.

2. Think about the attitude of the players who are playing in the game. They won't want to come off, so they're going to give it 100% percent and Hamann and Biscan this season have shown they can both do a job together, they both protect the back four well and don't leave gapping wholes by chasing the ball down like a headless chicken.

3. Should we need Gerrard, he'll be coming off the bench and should be fired up to go on and prove the manager that he was wrong to leave him out. This in turn could bring uot the best of him and we all know how good he is at his best. His recent performances haven't warrented a starting place anyways in all honesty, Igor and Didi gave us more against Bayer than Stevie has for the last 4 or 5 games now.

4. Imagine the impact it would have on Leverkusen, Gerrard isn't playing, we have every chance, is it a motivation? Possibley... its also something which could cause an over confidence and frustration if things don't go there way from the start.

5. Imagine the Leverkusen players seeing him coming off the bench, i know, for me personally, if i was to see a player i knew was class coming onto a pitch full of tired players i'd be gutted!!

Something to think about there i think.

There's a fine line between genius and madness , sorry Stu I think you've just crossed it .
Remember the old maxim "If fit always field your best eleven" .
It seems a lot of "fans" have got it in for Stevie Gerrard at the moment but whatever their reasons may be it can't be denied that Gerrards contibution to Liverpools success has been immense ,even Rafa has said "Gerrard will be vital in the second leg"

[Ciggy]

Think we should worry about Chelsea now and Newcastle games see how he plays then, if he is underperforming then yes by all means, but you cannot drop him.
And the 5 in midfield thing I dont like as we are not used to playing that system.
Even if Rafa done it with Valencia, Liverpool cant play that way, and Igor and Stevie are similar players both attacking and this doesnt work.
What are we going to do when Xabis back
Hamman, Gerrard, Igor all good players theres going to be a problem but as Rafa said its a nice problem to have.

Imagine if Houllier would have played Igor in his correct position, bet we would have had a really good player on our books.

[Paul C]

I agree hole heartidly with Stuart, I think gerrard would do a better job coming off the bench personally, also it would give Igor more confidence that he'd been chosen over Gerrard cos Igor is a great player but lacks confidence.

[woof woof !]

Unless you rate Biscan as a better player than Gerrard I fail to see any logic in starting him ahead of Gerrard .

Admittedly Biscan had a fine game the other night ,so what ? all of a sudden from being laughed at by many fans for most of his time at lfc he's now a "great player" who should get the nod ahead of Gerrard  ?




   

[FrankM]

(I will hull him off at half-time. )

And all he normally gets is an orange

[woof woof !]

(I will hull him off at half-time. )

And all he normally gets is an orange

         
LOL

[Fowler_E7]

have to disagree with Stu on this one, in a big match you should always pick your best players and Gerrard is one our best players so there is no question if whether gerrard should play in my opinion.

[JBG]

"Why I wouldn't start Gerrard against Leverskusen!" is because Stu wants to reclaim his throne as king of controversy on this forum!

There's a tiny bit of logic in what Stu is saying, but despite Gerrard's bad attitude recently, he's still our best player by a country mile and with Alonso, Cisse, Pongolle all injured for the Bayer away match and Morientes cup tied, we need all hands on deck.

Bayer will throw everything at us and I expect a whirlwind start from them like Basle made against us away in 2002/03, but they will take chances at the back and Gerrard is capable of punishing them if the game goes loose, which I expect it to, as our team isn't capable of shutting this game down defensively like it used to.