Steven Gerrard

[Mellotron]

5 out of 60 odd starts I believe

Nope. He was saying only 5 times has he played in EXACTLY the role he wants to, not talking about just central midfield. Under Sven alone he played Centre Mid a lot more than 5 times.

He wants the free role also coveted (previously) by Rooney, Joe Cole, Lampard, even Beckham at times wanders into it.

 

[Mellotron]

I see where you are coming from Chappers. I'm unsure whether a 33 or 42 is best for the squad we have. Still, my point stands that if Gerrard is picked next to Lampard even in a 442 he will have to fit into the system and not go roaming off.

Agreed on point. But surely 33 or 42 depends on the game. We need to learn to be more flexible as a national team.

 

[CHAPPERS]

I just don't ever want to see Lampard and Gerrard line up in the same side. Is that too much to ask?

 

[One True BHA]

NO IT f***ing WOULDN'T.

Sorry to 'shout' but we've been trying to accomodate all our 'best' players in the team for years and it hasn't worked. Time to attempt to pick the best TEAM not the best players.

the best team would include gerrard. it just means picking players that compliment him, i.e. not frank lampard.

 

[CHAPPERS]

Well currently I see Lampard as up there with Gerrard in terms of ability and he is certainly a lot better at not marauding across the pitch like a twat.

 

[Mellotron]

ARGGGH *RIPS HAIR OUT*

The best team is the team that works best together. Why would you assume Gerrard "plays well with others" when we've seen he is very undisciplined positionally for England?

We KNOW Lampard and Gerrard don't work together, and at the moment Lampard is showing that he is more adaptable than Gerrard. Thus Lampard should get the spot.

 

[Mellotron]

the best team would include gerrard. it just means picking players that compliment him, i.e. not frank lampard.

Again you're talking about upsetting the balance of the team to accomodate one player.

England and Capello are more important than Gerrard. Gerrard HAS to adapt to Capello's way, NOT the other way around. If Capello wants to play Lampard then Gerrard HAS to learn how to be discplined positionally. Otherwise he DOES NOT PLAY.

Sorry but this has been gone over so many times now.

 

[One True BHA]

Again you're talking about upsetting the balance of the team to accomodate one player.

England and Capello are more important than Gerrard. Gerrard HAS to adapt to Capello's way, NOT the other way around. If Capello wants to play Lampard then Gerrard HAS to learn how to be discplined positionally. Otherwise he DOES NOT PLAY.

Sorry but this has been gone over so many times now.

yes, and i agree with your point. but i think capellos best TEAM would include a holding midfield player, and gerrard in the middle.

gerrard and lampard can not play together. therefore, gerrard, being the better player, would play ahead of lampard as the attacking midfielder.

im not suggesting we try and play them all together at the same time because it has been proven time and time again that it does not work. our best team needs to be found, and for me, and capello i imagine, that includes steven gerrard.

 

[Rusthall Seagull]

ARGGGH *RIPS HAIR OUT*

The best team is the team that works best together. Why would you assume Gerrard "plays well with others" when we've seen he is very undisciplined positionally for England?

We KNOW Lampard and Gerrard don't work together, and at the moment Lampard is showing that he is more adaptable than Gerrard. Thus Lampard should get the spot.

On the back of one game against Croatia? I seem to recall the Gerrard/Barry partnership against Russia at Wembley being as effective. No assumption there...

 

[Tooting Gull]

Like everyone else, I think it's one from Lampard and Gerrard. I'd have said Gerrard was the better player - but situations change. Lampard has done well against Croatia, and Gerrard won't have impressed anyone in the England set-up by judging Liverpool's games before and after the Croatia match were more important than England World Cup qualification for an operation he could have any time. He's a very lucky boy we won anyway.

 

[Mellotron]

On the back of one game against Croatia? I seem to recall the Gerrard/Barry partnership against Russia at Wembley being as effective. No assumption there...

I have said earlier in the post a few times that Gerrard/Barry works well. I'm just saying no one player HAS to play. I think it's Gerrard or Lampard dependent on form and attitude.

 

[Mellotron]

Like everyone else, I think it's one from Lampard and Gerrard. I'd have said Gerrard was the better player - but situations change. Lampard has done well against Croatia, and Gerrard won't have impressed anyone in the England set-up by judging Liverpool's games before and after the Croatia match were more important than England World Cup qualification for an operation he could have any time. He's a very lucky boy we won anyway.

Quite. I have to admit that Gerrard's attitude of late has annoyed me and made me slightly baised against him. It does make me wonder how closely his thoughts towards England resemble good ol' Carra's.

 

[Albion Rob]

Lots of interesting points but I think the key thing to consider is that we shouldn't change a winning team.

Lampard must have known he was drinking in last chance saloon a week ago and to be fair to him turned in a very good performance and was denied an excellent goal by a harsh decision.

Gerrard chose (or was told) to have an operation that ruled him out of the game, Lampard took his chance and he should continue with Barry in the next game.

It is hard to fathom why Gerrard doesn't shine for England in the same way as he does for Liverpool. Maybe it is a passion thing, maybe it is that he is (arguably) playing in a weaker team or maybe it has just become psychological now. I suppose one thing we should be glad of is that at a time when we are bemoaning our lack of strength in depth as a national side we have Barry, Carrick, Hargreaves, Lampard and Gerrard all able to fill the centre of the park in a variety of combinations - I guess it is down to the manager to pick the right combination for each match. His hand was forced to a large degree for the Croatia game but it certainly looked like the right pairing for that match.

 

[Mellotron]

Lots of interesting points but I think the key thing to consider is that we shouldn't change a winning team.

Lampard must have known he was drinking in last chance saloon a week ago and to be fair to him turned in a very good performance and was denied an excellent goal by a harsh decision.

Gerrard chose (or was told) to have an operation that ruled him out of the game, Lampard took his chance and he should continue with Barry in the next game.

It is hard to fathom why Gerrard doesn't shine for England in the same way as he does for Liverpool. Maybe it is a passion thing, maybe it is that he is (arguably) playing in a weaker team or maybe it has just become psychological now. I suppose one thing we should be glad of is that at a time when we are bemoaning our lack of strength in depth as a national side we have Barry, Carrick, Hargreaves, Lampard and Gerrard all able to fill the centre of the park in a variety of combinations - I guess it is down to the manager to pick the right combination for each match. His hand was forced to a large degree for the Croatia game but it certainly looked like the right pairing for that match.

Good considered post well put. We are certainly not short of quality midfielders.

Goalkeepers, Full back and Strikers are the areas where we could have more quality/depth.

 

[Simster]

Lots of interesting points but I think the key thing to consider is that we shouldn't change a winning team.

Lampard must have known he was drinking in last chance saloon a week ago and to be fair to him turned in a very good performance and was denied an excellent goal by a harsh decision.

Gerrard chose (or was told) to have an operation that ruled him out of the game, Lampard took his chance and he should continue with Barry in the next game.

It is hard to fathom why Gerrard doesn't shine for England in the same way as he does for Liverpool. Maybe it is a passion thing, maybe it is that he is (arguably) playing in a weaker team or maybe it has just become psychological now. I suppose one thing we should be glad of is that at a time when we are bemoaning our lack of strength in depth as a national side we have Barry, Carrick, Hargreaves, Lampard and Gerrard all able to fill the centre of the park in a variety of combinations - I guess it is down to the manager to pick the right combination for each match. His hand was forced to a large degree for the Croatia game but it certainly looked like the right pairing for that match.

Completely and utterly agree. Lampard did as he was told and turned in a quality performance in a brilliant team display. Therefore he keeps the shirt and Gerrard doesn't play.

 

[One True BHA]

Good considered post well put. We are certainly not short of quality midfielders.

Goalkeepers, Full back and Strikers are the areas where we could have more quality/depth.

i don't want to start another debate, but we do have several young goalkeepers that WILL turn into top class players

foster/carson/hart/green/kirkland/lewis to name but a few

 

[Mellotron]

I think we have a lot of GOOD goalies....but I dunno about top class?

All that you listed are good, but do you really see an air of Reina, Buffon or Casillas about any of them?

 

[One True BHA]

I think we have a lot of GOOD goalies....but I dunno about top class?

All that you listed are good, but do you really see an air of Reina, Buffon or Casillas about any of them?

i like joe hart. i really think he will be world class. the same goes for scott carson.

 

[Mellotron]

I am definitely a fan of Carson, and get very annoyed when a large number of people write him off based on McClown's terrible decision, the biggest chucking in to the biggest deep end ever. No wonder Carson looked terrified. He's still recovering.

 

[Les Biehn]

Hart looks to me like he could be top class.