KopTalk.com Forums Football Liverpool FC Forum Gerrard Reborn ?!

But if Gerrard is going to try become Scholes we will be wasting the best attacking talent at our club. He can't dominate the way Pirlo did - *that* is what a "deep lying playmaker" does, and Gerrard simply doesn't have those skills in his locker anymore. Think about it - when last did he lash a ball at the goal from 30 yards? Quite a bit. When last was one on target? I think we have to go all the way back to Hodgson for that (there may have been one against Napoli). The 40 yard pass for which he's famous? Generally it's wayward or cut out. He can clearly still take a free kick, penalty, or corner, and still has a good cross on him - that suggests he should play on the right as an attacker.

Coming back from Euros, frankly the Liverpool lads can hold their heads high. The rest... not so much.

Johnson was excellent throughout the tournament, Stevie had the best dead ball delivery I've seen from a Red for 18 months, Carroll looked hungry, won the ball in the air seemingly at will, and scored an excellent goal, and Henderson did no worse than Parker.

Terry had one good game. The rest did no better.

But if Gerrard is going to try become Scholes we will be wasting the best attacking talent at our club. He can't dominate the way Pirlo did - *that* is what a "deep lying playmaker" does, and Gerrard simply doesn't have those skills in his locker anymore. Think about it - when last did he lash a ball at the goal from 30 yards? Quite a bit. When last was one on target? I think we have to go all the way back to Hodgson for that (there may have been one against Napoli). The 40 yard pass for which he's famous? Generally it's wayward or cut out. He can clearly still take a free kick, penalty, or corner, and still has a good cross on him - that suggests he should play on the right as an attacker.

Gerrard needs to play with two strikers (or one super striker)and him in the hole. That is his best position. He must not worry about his defensive duties and he must have a maestro in front of the defence to control the game almost alonso-like.

it was no coincidence that we saw him at his best when he was with Torres and Alonso behind him.

How do you know he can't play this role again? The last manager that played him there was Rafa, no other manager has utilised his full potential as a goal scorer. He may be a bit old but I can gurantee you he can get many more goals there and can still play especially if the defensive duties are taken away from him. Some players go to their 40s, Gerrard is still young.

with Rodgers everyone must press, but it is an organized press not run all over till you die like with Hodgson.

and from what i understand from Brendan's tactics he uses 3 CM players, one anchored in front of the defense, and 2 in the very center of the pitch, they rotate attacking the "hole". it's not like with Rafa where one player was committed to this role.

meaning the old role is not even available, but the new Gerrard will need to do his job AND the Alonso job but with organized switching with the other CM player.

this will actually:
1) save his energy
2) help him avoid injury from overworking
3) extend his career as an important player
4) take full advantage of his long experiencing in influencing both attack and defense
5) teams will have a harder time tracking 2 CM players switching attacking roles