Liverpool FC Forum

by **stmichael** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 7:37 pm

Can I just say how great it is to see him playing with a great deal more discipline in recent weeks, especially yesterday in a big League game against another one of the big boys.

I thought Stevie was very disciplined yesterday but still quiet. Gerrard has matured to be a disiplined player in Sissoko's absence. In the second half, he practically playing infront of defence and there were times Alonso was even futher up the field than he was. It was good tactical plan to protect the 2 goal lead. The old Gerrard might have gone up a few times without protecting the back four, but not the Gerrard of yesterday. I dont remember him making a load of aggressive challenges nor 'putting himself about' a bit. The lads I sit by all agreed by I guess we all see the game differently. For those of you watched the game on the box, you have the benefit of seeing things we dont twice but I do remember him pulling out of a tackle or two. He did get SWP if I remember so that was one kick I enjoyed.

I heard he got MoM on SKy which made me laugh. Even if he did have a great game I personally think Carra, Dirk, Fabio, Xabi and Dirk played better. It's almost like Sky give these awards to him to re-inforce their warped idea that we're a 1 man team.

He's still a good distance away from being back to his best of a few seasons ago when he looked like he play opponents on his own. As for being the best in the world? I think Stevie has the ability to be anything he wants in the game but for me, he still doesn't run games the way he has done in the past. He also needs that agression in EVERY game. I realise you get a bit cleverer as you get older and also a bit more disclipined and probably mellower too.

He's had an up and down season for me. He's been awesome in flashes and invisible in a fair few. He's that good he never has a terrible game but he does frustrate me a tad because he's still doesnt control or snuff out opponents like Keane could and he's got far more natural ability than the Cork crackpot.

I just want him to play like that all the time - even when we're in a bad spell. I don't mean be a match winner as he's entitled to an off day more than anyone else at the club; rather, I want him to show that controlled aggression in every game. There have been just one or two too many this season where he hasn't. I suspect it's linked to his personal confidence, which is the main reason why I still question his suitability for the captaincy (a moot argument, I know).

by **Elchris** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 7:44 pm

he's da man :blues:

by **RedBlood** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 8:54 pm

ahdy gray made a comment that some people think gerrard cant defend?? he didnt give any names but i just wondered who these idiots are? gerrard has played rigth back on many occassions and been man of the match there arent many midfielders if not defenders that would beat stevie in a tackle

by **stmichael** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 9:00 pm

Saying Gerrard can't defend is nonsense. Three or four years ago he was the best defensive midfielder in the Premiership who would crunch into tackles and win the ball like Keane and Vieira did. He's just changed his game in the past few seasons, to the extent where I questioned his discipline to play CM in a 4-4-2 against a very top side.

Gerrard now seems to be thinking about his game rather playing purely on instinct. I don't think that's an easy adjustment for him to make as his entire game is based on simply being better than everyone else so not really having to think; he usually just does. However, there have been clear signs since Big Mo's injury that he is trying hard to listen to Rafa's instructions. Sometimes that has led to games where he has stayed back too much, but yesterday the balance was better.

Having said that, I still don't think he was amazing against Chelsea. He had a good game, but it was nothing by his own high standards. I was just impressed because he worked really hard and was vocal all match. There was none of that apparent "it's all passing me by" attitude we've seen on a number of occasions against these before. He simply did his job and did it well; a cog in a machine, if you like.

by **Sabre** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 9:10 pm

I think St Michael's post is interesting for some reasons.

I always thought he has a very good tackle, but in some games of last two seasons I did see that sometimes his positioning wasn't the best or as St Michael says sometimes left unprotected the back four+Alonso.

Only a few posters noticed that or posted it, because perpaps it's a bit nitpicky to say that of a player whose form ranges from good to excellent. Now that SM mentions it, I do agree he has improved in that part of his game.

I've seen last 3 seasons of Gerrard regularly, not before because I hadn't a great bandwidth connection and just saw him in highlights, so I cannot tell really wether he was better all that years. But I think his level has been impressive all this three seasons, even when he had to sacrifice for the team and play in the right and a few times in the left this season. It will be complicated to get again the mad number of 23 goals in a season he got las season, as that's not normal, but I'm amazed with this player

If Someone says that Gerrard CAN'T defend then he knows fúck all about football or they haven't compared Gerrard to the likes of Riquelme, Ronaldinho or other players that play in his position. He did some mistakes most of them due to the intensity he put in a game, and his natural tendency to visit the opposition box, but he has a great tackling ability and I never saw he refused to track back and help in defensive tasks.

Good post SM.

by **woof woof !** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 9:19 pm

Some good points your posts St Mick , Stu the Red would love it . I remember him arguing years ago that Gerrard was primarily a defensive midfielder whilst my take without denying gerrards defensive qualities was he was at his most majestic when surging forward as an attacking midfielder . I guess what we ended up with was one of the worlds most complete midfielders . Which leads me to the point I wanted to make .

Your comment

It's almost like Sky give these awards to him to re-inforce their warped idea that we're a 1 man team.

is something many fans often allude to and I for one think you're all being a bit thin skinned . I never translate the plaudits that Gerrard receives as an indication that Sky ,ITV ,BBC or whoever consider that we are a one man team . It is instead an acknowledgment that we posses on of the best midfieldplayers in world football . To deny than we would be a poorer side without him or complain that he got the MoM award again is just stupid .

btw Juventus are rumoured to be preparing a £30 million bid for him in the summer , god forbid it's true and we let him go , but hey , maybe Pennant , Alonso , Kuyt or even Zenden might have a chance at the Mom award .

by **stmichael** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 9:55 pm

There were still long spells when we couldn't get hold of the ball in midfield though. I'm sure Rafa would prefer a ball winner in there alongside Alonso and at the moment it's Gerrard. I don't think this arrangement will last though once Sissoko's back and fully fit, even though we could make a very strong argument for Gerrard staying in the centre of midfield.

by **monkey 20** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 10:07 pm

great post st michael!!!

by **woof woof !** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 10:18 pm

stmichael wrote:There were still long spells when we couldn't get hold of the ball in midfield though. I'm sure Rafa would prefer a ball winner in there alongside Alonso and at the moment it's Gerrard. I don't think this arrangement will last though once Sissoko's back and fully fit, even though we could make a very strong argument for Gerrard staying in the centre of midfield.

Perhaps your comment

Can I just say how great it is to see him playing with a great deal more discipline in recent weeks,........... Gerrard has matured to be a disiplined player in Sissoko's absence.

Is an indication that Gerrard realizes that if he wants to stay in his favourite position (central midfield) he has to be more considered in his overall play . Can't just maraud forward at will and that he is in fact competing with Sissoko and Alonso for a midfield spot .He knows when fit he'll always be on the team sheet , what he's now realised is that if he wants the CM role he has to convince Rafa not to move him .

by **Crouchamania** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 10:45 pm

There were still long spells when we couldn't get hold of the ball in midfield though. I'm sure Rafa would prefer a ball winner in there alongside Alonso and at the moment it's Gerrard. I don't think this arrangement will last though once Sissoko's back and fully fit, even though we could make a very strong argument for Gerrard staying in the centre of midfield.

I for one would prefer Gerrard in the centre but the question is who does Rafa leave out? Could he play a 3-5-2 formation as it has worked in the past.

I believe one of the main reasons Gerrard's form was poor at the start of the season was because of all the media hype in where he should play. Now he has cemented his place in the centre his confidence has returned.

by **Scottbot** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 10:52 pm

stmichael wrote:Can I just say how great it is to see him playing with a great deal more discipline in recent weeks, especially yesterday in a big League game against another one of the big boys.

Agree with that. I said in the match thread that it was good to see the Captain putting in so much effort into the defensive part of his game and i seem to recall Rafa making similar comments a little while back.

When Sissoko was fit the debate raged on about how best to accomodate our three best midfielders and i generally came out fighting for the 'Gerrard on the right' camp because i did not believe Alsonso and Gerrard could really play together in a flat four. I also felt that Gerrard had outgrown the defensive instincts he regularly displayed as a younger player. Where once his game was all about ball-hunting, agressive tackles and launching counter-attacks with those fantastic through balls, in recent times it has been all about those rampaging runs into the box, the one-twos, ferocious shooting and most of all, goals.

Momo's injury (and the manager's instructions) have forced Gerrard to revert somewhat to the player he was a few years ago. He looks a more rounded player right now and you can see he has faith in his team-mates to get the job done, he isn't trying to do it all on his own, and we look a better team for it. It's a nice problem to have but it could be a real headache for the boss once Sissoko is back because the Alonso/Gerrard partnership is looking better by the game.

by **weringo** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 11:23 pm

Gerrard has been magnificent in his return to the centre of midfield, but I still think Rafa will put him back on the right once Sissoko is fit. Rafa is a cautious manager who prefers to have 2 defensive minded midfielders in the centre.

Imo this can only benefit the team, as when Stevie plays in the middle he has a lot more responsibility to defend as well as attack because that is Rafa's way of playing. Unless we play 3 in the centre of midfield, Gerrard's extremely high attacking threat will be slightly restricted as he wont have the freedom we saw he had last season when he was roaming all over the place causing havoc.

The quartet of Kewell, Alonso, Sissoko and Gerrard is the strongest midfield in Europe when they are all at the top of their game and I think them 4 will give us the best chance of getting past Barcelona.

by **metalhead** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 12:06 am

Actually st.mich, he was really quite in the first half, he was much better in the second half and thought he was a menace in midfield. He attacked and defend, I saw how he tackled SWP and other players. He showed some strenght when winning the ball! I thought to myself its the young defencive Gerrard we used to see 3 years ago.

There was this pass to kuyt in the second half that blew my mind, it was like a bouncing flick I think, I don't remember, it was fantastic! I thought he was amazing in the second half.

This is going to cause Rafa a problem when Sissoko comes back from injury, but I don't think he will shift Gerrard on the right unless Rafa believes it balances the team, but I still conclude that Gerrard will stay center in most games he is doing well.

by **Sabre** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 12:28 am

It's a dilemma. Many of us think that the team is stronger with Sissoko, Alonso and Gerrard. But only one of them is complete enough to be a good wing midfielder, and we also like Gerrard in the middle. It's a difficult equation.

by **112-1077774096** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 1:25 am

all i will say with gerrard in the centre we have won 11 games and conceded one goal whilst scoring goals for fun, lets go back to sissoko in the center earlier in the season and gerrad on the right, well you know what i am about to say........

i have said all along gerrard should be in the centre, i know we all have our reasons why sissoko should be there but its becoming a bit of a catchphrase for me now, 'look at the facts'.

the facts dont lie guys, gerrard is a central midfielder of the highest calibre and to move him when sissoko is back will be a massive mistake

Liverpool FC Forum

Steven gerrard.... - Improved discipline

Who is online