Sven to use Gerrard at left midfield

[Suss]

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N144841040510-1358.htm

" Sven Goran Eriksson has hinted Steven Gerrard could be the answer to England's left sided problem during this summer's European Championships.
England have employed a number of different players down the left over recent seasons, and Eriksson has come to the conclusion that the inspirational Gerrard can do the best job for his team in Portugal.

"I think we have solutions, and maybe the best solution so far is when we play with a diamond system and using Steven Gerrard to the left side," he said.

"He always played very well for us there so that might be a solution.
You have other players, you have [Kieron] Dyer who could play there, you have Joe Cole, who plays there for Chelsea a lot of times and doing very well. So I think we have solutions but maybe so far the best one is Gerrard."

Eriksson is full of praise for the Liverpool skipper following a magnificent personal season at Anfield.

"He can do everything as a player," said the England coach. "He deserved the Liverpool captaincy and he's a different player now the one I first saw when I came here three years ago." "


I think Sven is crazy if he does this. Steven Gerrard is the best player in England's team. He should be played in the middle of the field where he can dominate the game.

[Mikey10]

Sven is an idiot....

[Pazarius]

The problem is all our decent midfielders are best in the centre. Gerrard has probably been the best performer at left midfield we have tried. To some degree he is wasted out there, but we aren't short of good centre midfielders.

We would probably be worse off if we moved Gerrard to the centre, as we would have a player (Dyer,Lampard,Scholes,Hargreaves,Joe Cole etc) who is finding it even harder to make an impact in left midfield.

Sven should have given the A Cole/Bridge left side another look. Everyone seemed to think it worked well in the macedonia game, despite the failings elsewhere on the pitch.

Or he could have tried a 3-5-2 with Bridge or Cole as a left wing-back, removing the problem position entirely.

[Twenty26Six]

I'm not a big fan of Sven Goran and even though he has brought great stability to the National team, I don't think it will translate into silverware. One of the biggest problems with the England setup is this obsession over playing with true wingers and a 4-4-2 setup. England has no wingers anymore, at least no willing ones. Beckham has already stated his detest for playing wide right.

Sven's idea to play a diamond midfield may be his best available option. Having Beckham/Gerrard pinched in gives you a strong grip on center midfield and two guys that can distribute well. In the diamond it's just not all about crossing. This also gives Sven the ability to play with a true attacking midfield on the field.

It's a nice idea but questions are everywhere. Who do you play at AM, Scholes or Lampard? Scholes is the better player but Lampard may get the nod. Also, I don't see a great option at DM either. Nicky Butt was Sven's guy in '02, but he hasn't seen much action lately. Maybe that will keep him fresh, but most likely rusty.

If England really wants to win anytime soon, and if Sven had any steel. They would shake things up. Play something suited to their strenghts rather than something that looks good on paper. Formations don't have to be symmetrical to succeed.

The biggest barrier though is just too many options. England has many guys of equal value/talent. They have only a few clear cut standouts. But for once I would like everyone including SGE to stfu about the left wing position. It isn't that important. Left wing does not make or break a team, and it won't matter to England at all if they play like crap in goal, center midfield or striker.

[RobB]

I`d like to see Scholes and Lampard paired in central midfield. They can then alternate who goes forward when we`ve got possesion and both drop back to defend when needed.

I`d compare our formation to Arsenals. Attacking fullbacks: Cole/Neville (Cole/Lauren), right-footed player playing LM: Gerrard (Pires). RM playing inside-right: Beckham (Ljungberg). Striker with a second striker just behind: Owen/Rooney (Henry/Bergkamp). The difference would be England playing two naturally attacking midfielders: Scholes/Lampard compared to Arsenals defensive Viera/Silva.

This team would be well balanced and with Gerrard and Beckham tucking inside, Scholes and Lampard wouldn`t be too exposed.





Rooney(Bergkamp) Owen(Henry)

Gerrard (Pires) Scholes (Viera) Lampard (Silva) Beckham (Ljungberg)

Cole(Cole) Terry (Toure) Campbell (Campbell) Neville (Lauren)

James(Lehman)

[Suss]

Rob, leaving Lampard and Scholes in the central midfield would leave the defense way too exposed. Neither player has ever played in a defensive midfield role. It would make most sense to let Gerrard play the holding role. He is the best player on the team and can dominate the game from that position. I would use Lampard in the left midfield role that Sven plans to play Gerrard in.

[shoestring]

Rob, leaving Lampard and Scholes in the central midfield would leave the defense way too exposed. Neither player has ever played in a defensive midfield role. It would make most sense to let Gerrard play the holding role. He is the best player on the team and can dominate the game from that position. I would use Lampard in the left midfield role that Sven plans to play Gerrard in.

I totally agree.

I just hope sven doesn't give into beckhams "I want to play in the middle" bollocks aswell.

I keep thinking we have a chance this year, and then you remember who the manager is.

[RobB]

The problem is that Lampard has never played on the flanks and wouldn`t give Ashley Cole the kind of protection he needs, at least Gerrard has played RM and knows what the full-back needs from him. He can take that to the left side.

Lampard and Scholes in CM would be a problem if played with wide players like Chelsea and Man Utd play (Duff/Gronkjaer and Giggs/Ronaldo). With Gerrard and Becks playing narrow they would find it easier.

[Suss]

My main argument is that you don't play your best player out of position for convenience. Steven Gerrard could play anywhere on the pitch. But his best position is in the center of midfield. He is capable of being the best player in the tournament. I'm afraid he will be wasted if he is used on the left wing.

[RobB]

I don`t think Gerrard is so much better than our other midfielders that he should push them out of position regardless. Lampard and Scholes are equally important to Chelsea and Man Utd as Gerrard is to Liverpool. Gerrard stands out more for his club because so many Liverpool players have underperformed the last two seasons.

[Twenty26Six]

Lampard and Schole are not two way players, but Gerrard is. Also, any Manchester United fan will tell you that Paul Scholes best position is behind the strikers and not out left. Lampard has been good for Chelsea this season and is a national prospect, but you also have to consider he has been playing in front of Claude Makelele and Geremi all year.

If Aston Villa had Steven Gerrard you guys would be battling for third place. I don't think you can make the same claim if you had Scholes or Lampard.

[RobB]

.

If Aston Villa had Steven Gerrard you guys would be battling for third place. I don't think you can make the same claim if you had Scholes or Lampard.


I think any of those three would have an equally positive effect on my team. The present Liverpool team makes Gerrard look good, although I do rate him as England`s best midfielder.

Anyway, the left side of midfield isn`t no mans land. Pires, Zidane, Nedved and others play for their club (and in some cases Country) there and can be influential. My point would be that of our midfielders Stevie G would be head and shoulders above the others on the left side but only a little better when in the centre.

The problem is that SGE will likely play Butt and in doing so water-down the quality of our midfield.

[Mobile]

I keep thinking we have a chance this year, and then you remember who the manager is.

The manager who took over our World Cup qualifying campaign when we were bottom of our group with one point and then steered us through to the finals by winning the group which included Germany (who never lose qualifying games)?

The manager who took us out of a World Cup group including Argentina and then took us to the quarter-finals?

The manager who took us to Euro 2004, winning our qualification group which included World Cup semi-finalists Turkey?

The manager whose record stands at one defeat in competitive matches?

Yeah, we're really unlucky to have Sven in charge. Bring back Keegan, eh?

:rolleyes:

[sendorange]

Sven will use Gerrard on the left side of a diamond. Gerrard is more than good enough to handle playing there and it's not the same as playing left wing in a 4-4-2. I would say it's better for Gerrard to play there as he has a lot more space and freedom to move around than when he's stuck making tackles behind Scholes or Lampard.

[Bizzo]

My main argument is that you don't play your best player out of position for convenience. Steven Gerrard could play anywhere on the pitch. But his best position is in the center of midfield. He is capable of being the best player in the tournament. I'm afraid he will be wasted if he is used on the left wing.

Sven's musings to the press about Gerrard suggest playing him on the left in a midfield diamond. Gerrard would not be playing as a left winger. Most of the attack down the left wing would come from the LB (Cole) overlapping.

Although midfield is a strength for England, only Beckham, Gerrard & Scholes have ever really impressed consistently & Scholes has struggled the past few years. Butt has done well but in a limited role.

Assuming Sven does settle on playing a midfield diamond I would play Owen Hargreaves in Butt's role with Gerrard to the left & Beckham to the right with Scholes up top. I think Hargreaves can match Butt's defensive contributions but also offer much more through his passing & attacking abilities.

In certain situations Lampard, Dyer, Joe Cole & Butt can all be very important depending on injuries, suspensions & tactical changes.

[Alan Partridge]

Yes it is crazy. Gerrard won't be able to play his best and the line of midfield will be weakened. Sven is tinkering with the squad at the wrong time and this will effect England's chances of Euro 2004 glory. Hargreaves or A Cole are best to play left midfield.