Gerrard - Is it just me...

[Valleys Red]

...or is he f*ckin awesome?!

 

I know I'm stating the obvious (to the majority of people) but there is no other midfielder in the world that is anywhere near as good a player as him. No way.

 

Even though his goal scoring form is not quite as good as last season, everything about the way he plays is a joy to watch, from his passing to his aggression to his leadership to his skill.... (endless list).

 

What I enjoyed today was seeing the obvious panic of the Chelsea players whenever they had the ball and saw SG hurtle towards them. They all know (as do we) that he is a monster tackler and more often than not he wins tackles mentally (as in "in the mind", not mentally as in "psycho") just by the way he plays and the energy he's got.

 

Makes you realise that we should enjoy & appreciate each game he plays for us cos I'm quite sure there'll not be another player quite as good as him for many, many years to come.

[Bootle Buck]

I was watching him closely today and he just seems so much faster in his reactions to everyone. Even defending if he misses in the first tackle he makes sure he gets right back for a second bite. It's amazing to think what he could do if he was just given completely free role like Lampard and not have to put the defensive work in he does. I hope Rafa can find a way to play Momo, Stevie and Xabi in the same team. They would be by far and away the best in the league.

[Cooger]

I hope Rafa can find a way to play Momo, Stevie and Xabi in the same team. They would be by far and away the best in the league.

 

For sure!

 

I can't wait for Momo to return then we can see Gerrard playing further forward, whether on the right or behind a lone striker and he can influence the game in the final third more. His best position is in the centre, but it doesn't matter if he is on the right or anywhere, he'll still have a makor influnce.

 

When Momo returns we'll have a cracking team putting the opposition under constant pressure. Bellamy and Kuyt do this upfront and when we have Momo back, teams will find it even harder to score against us.

[abc]

For me, Stevie has proven without a doubt he is our best central midfield player. For the last season and a bit, even up until the Arsenal away match when Zenden played in the middle, I've always agreed with Rafa that Stevie's better position was starting from the right.

 

Today's match just goes to show the tactical discipline, game awareness and intelligence and maturity that Stevie has learnt in his game. From his improving reading of the game to that sublime dinked pass to Kuyt in the 2nd half.

 

He's been putting in some superb captain performances. We are definitely seeing the best of Gerrard in the middle.

[chiliking]

Gerrard has not been better than Xabi this season, how anyone can suggest that is beyond me.

Xabi is one of a few players that always been doing his very best through the campaign.

[floyd the barber]

personally thought Gerrard was average today, certainly got stuck in last 20mins...before then, he seemed...well, kinda quiet by his standards.

 

For him to get man of the match on sky was laughable to be honest.

[fyds]

Had a very fine, solid Captain's performance today without being spectacular or highly noticeable - which is sometimes exactly what's needed.

[floyd the barber]

Had a very fine, solid Captain's performance today without being spectacular or highly noticeable - which is sometimes exactly what's needed.

 

agreed....he was obviously told to sit deeper than usual to guard the ballack and lampard factor.....this allowed us to keep the ball out wide and hit early crosses into the box, noticeable by how much possession both pennant and riise had.

[Sheida V]

Why can't we play a 3-5-2? This would allow Momo, ALonso, and Gerrard to play in their best positions, with 2 strikers?

 

Is it vital to have 4 at the back?

[JRC]

Agree that today his performance was more about discipline than the wow factor we sometimes get. I would have liked him to cut loose a little more, esp later on, as he was Head & Shoulders above Ballck and Fat Frank. But adding that tactical disciplne has been something we've been asking for for a while, and he is starting to deliver.

[Guz]

Gerrard has been playing a more restricted role ever since Momo got injured. He has had to because Xabi cannot just sit and let Gerrard roam as say Didi used to or Makelele can for Lampard. Xabi and Stevie's performance was mature, intelligent and skilful for the 90 minutes - they were fantastic. Both players proved they don't have to be 'hollywood' to play well.

 

One of the moments of the match for me was Stevie b******ing one of our players for giving the ball away before running most of the length of the pitch to win it back, when we were 2-0 up with about 10 minutes to play. Top class.

[fyds]

Why can't we play a 3-5-2? This would allow Momo, ALonso, and Gerrard to play in their best positions, with 2 strikers?

 

Is it vital to have 4 at the back?

We've played that sysytem a few times, even 3-4-3. It's a quaestion of having the right players available, against the right opposition and being properly au fait with the system. As the team grows in confidence, you'll see more of it i reckon - especially at home and when teams play with just one up front.

[anny road]

agreed....he was obviously told to sit deeper than usual to guard the ballack and lampard factor.....this allowed us to keep the ball out wide and hit early crosses into the box, noticeable by how much possession both pennant and riise had.

 

 

you thought Gerrard was average?

[John am Rhein]

I hope Rafa can find a way to play Momo, Stevie and Xabi in the same team.

 

Surely he's already done that many times?

 

 

Is it vital to have 4 at the back?

 

YES

[Jacko]

Gerrard has not been better than Xabi this season, how anyone can suggest that is beyond me.

Xabi is one of a few players that always been doing his very best through the campaign.

 

 

Nah - Xabi was just as bad as the rest of the team earlier in the season and now Gerrard is playing at a higher level than Xabi therefore he's been better than him. Voila.

 

On a seperate note after Gerrard scored a wonder goal against my Spurs supporting mate on Pro Evo this morning he went on to tell me that he really didn't like Gerrard and that was overated only turning it on every 5 games or so. I thought he was on the wind up but he believed it saying he was only an average World class player I told him I thought he was the best in the world in his position and he couldn't argue with me. He claims lot's of people feel the same. Anyone else heard this? I knida thought that along with Henry he was one of the most widely respected players in the Premiership?

[Cooger]

No point in doing the Xabi / Gerrard comparison. They both started the season poorly, as did the whole squad except for Agger, Kuyt and Momo.

 

But now together they are controlling games and playing extremely well together. No better partnership in the Premiership at the moment, possibly Europe. Last season Gerrard didn't show the same hunger to defend as he did in attack, which is why people doubted him playing centrally regualarly. This season he has shown more discipline and Momo has a toguh job getting in the team when he returns.

 

Having said all that... I'd still play Momo in the middle more often than not.

[Andy @ Allerton]

The way he played today was absolutely superb

 

No Hollywood balls. No moves 'for the camera'

 

Just 100% focused and 100% committed play.

 

He gave everything for the team from the kickoff to the final whistle.

 

If he played in that superb and unselfish manner in every game I think that he would soon be recognised as the best player on the planet in short order.

 

He was absolutely immense yesterday - never seen him even near that.

 

Brilliant brilliant stuff

[Guest Ant]

I can't bring myself to show any love to him, granted he is fecking ace but I still have a niggling doubt after the whole Chelsea thing, I don't know the truth and probably never will but from what I seen and what I saw he was very very close to leaving.

 

Sorry for bringing up that old Chesnut again but still

[Buzz]

I thought Xabi and Stevie worked really well yesterday. They both seemed well disciplined as in covering for eachother when the other went forward or roaming. After his smack in the mouth, Xabi seemed to get forward alot more than usual, and I thought Chelsea didn't seem ready, or, prepared for that, expecting him to sit deep permanatley. The worked really well together and although Gerrard has rightly received plaudits for his closing down of player and/or space, I thought the whole team did so all game, even Bellamy and Gonzales, comming late, used their speed to chase players and the ball, and it really unsettled Chelsea.

Edited January 21, 2007 by Buzz

[Andy @ Allerton]

Yep

 

We bossed the midfield from start to finish

 

The only time that they looked like they had a midfield was when Xabi was off the field

[psl]

I can't bring myself to show any love to him, granted he is fecking ace but I still have a niggling doubt after the whole Chelsea thing, I don't know the truth and probably never will but from what I seen and what I saw he was very very close to leaving.

 

Sorry for bringing up that old Chesnut again but still

 

He was offered mind blowing sums of money and the chance of a Premier League title and was understandably tempted. However, he turned them down (twice) and has since led us to the Champions League, FA Cup, scored about 40 goals, been our best player consistently and said he never wants to leave.

 

Its time to forgive.

[Rimbeux]

Why can't we play a 3-5-2? This would allow Momo, ALonso, and Gerrard to play in their best positions, with 2 strikers?

 

Is it vital to have 4 at the back?

 

 

We're crap at it, much better with 4 at the back. 4-3-3 dutch style is the future

 

 

 

Nah - Xabi was just as bad as the rest of the team earlier in the season and now Gerrard is playing at a higher level than Xabi therefore he's been better than him. Voila.

 

On a seperate note after Gerrard scored a wonder goal against my Spurs supporting mate on Pro Evo this morning he went on to tell me that he really didn't like Gerrard and that was overated only turning it on every 5 games or so. I thought he was on the wind up but he believed it saying he was only an average World class player I told him I thought he was the best in the world in his position and he couldn't argue with me. He claims lot's of people feel the same. Anyone else heard this? I knida thought that along with Henry he was one of the most widely respected players in the Premiership?

 

Highlights culture best ignored, it turns the likes of Lampard, Robinson and Given ito the best in the world.

[Cooger]

He was offered mind blowing sums of money and the chance of a Premier League title and was understandably tempted. However, he turned them down (twice) and has since led us to the Champions League, FA Cup, scored about 40 goals, been our best player consistently and said he never wants to leave.

 

Its time to forgive.

 

He wasn't offered a deal, so he thought Rafa wanted rid and it was a misunderstanding. He is just as loyal as Carragher, the only difference is every club in the World want Gerrard.

[D.Boon]

Gerrard was easily MOTM yesterday. An excellent disciplined performance putting Ballack and Lampard completely in his pocket.

 

Although the manc taxi driver yesterday informs me he is wasted in our team and we are a one man team.

 

c***

[psl]

Think Carra was very much MOTM yesterday.