The Steven Gerrard thread...

[Teso Dos Bichos]

Everyone has heard the rumours and speculation regarding Steven Gerrard and his "possible" move to Chelsea. There has been a lot of debate surrounding him over recent months and I felt it would be best to have one thread to stick everything in. Whether the actual transfer happens or not is irrelevant in my eyes. That is not what I am interested in. Instead, I would rather debate whether he would be a good signing and if you believed he would be able to effectively fit into the current/future side.

If we only look at player numbers and dismiss player quality for a second, then it becomes apparent that bringing in another central midfield option isn't really a priority. Instead the priority should be a left-back, right-winger and another forward. Obviously that is my personal opinion, so feel free to disagree, but it isn't relevant to the main purpose of the thread. So going by numbers, Gerrard isn't needed. However, if we now factor in player quality and the aim of improving the overall team/squad, it is obvious that changes will be made. The current list of central midfield options reads:

Makelele, Lampard, Cole, Tiago, Jaroski, Smertin, Parker, Geremi

It is obvious that some of these players will be leaving the club. I would assume that Smertin and Geremi are already waiting beside the exit door. Just behind them would possibly be Parker and perhaps Jaroski. However, the latter is a versatile player and it is always useful to have at least one in the squad. Parker is my favourite Chelsea player and he did cost £10 million, so I think he might stay, at least for another season.

So who should be brought in to bolster or improve the squad. Two recent names mentioned are Ballack and Gerrard. I believe that they, including Lampard are far too similar. Chelsea's midfield trio is effective because they all perform different roles, Joe Cole included. That is why I am not sure whether either would be successful in that position. Many have stated that they feel the Lampard/Gerrard partnership for England has been relatively weak, because neither is good at tacking. To that belief, I would definately agree. This could be a potential problem for Chelsea, although the key factor could be the inclusion of Makelele into the equation. It will certainly be interesting to see.

But is there really any need in bringing in another similar player to Lampard? Can the Chelsea midfield adapt to the change? More importantly, if it does happen, then what do you do about Makelele? He is the key player in the side, but is getting older. How long will he be effective for and surely it would be better to target a central midfielder who can do a job in the present, but will also be able to eventually replace Makelele in the future?

Lots of questions, quite a bit of rambling, but an interesting topic of discussion.

[Azimuth]

I agree that Chelsea have perfect role players, and believe Makelele to be virtually irreplaceable in that he is happy to never leave his defensive postion. I just can't believe Gerrard would be able to fit that spot and be content to do so. Therefore, I find no roster spot fo rhim to fill unless someone big were to leave.

Like him, though!

[slipereypete]

I think that Geremi and Smertin are gone over the summer.. so it would look like this

Gerrard Makalele Lampard
(Tiago) (Parker) (Jarosik)



Edit: i forgot about Jarosik i think he would be more likely to be in the 2nd 3 than Cole would...

[blackjack]

I think the emergence of Joe Cole has made it evident that we really don't need Gerrard. Of course a player of his quality would improve any squad on paper, but this team's chemistry is worth preserving. Tiago and Jarosik can provide cover for Lampard and Cole, and Gerrard is certainly not the player to replace Makalele (no-one can). We're better off finding a real young DM and molding him into a Makalele-type stopper. This midfield vehicle ain't broke, there's no need to fix it.

[Clan]

Well, we can speculate all we want, the bottom line is this.

If Mourinho likes him, he'll try to get him.

Where he'll fit into the team will be Mourinhos decision.

By all indications, he does like him.

[Colm]

Chelsea don't need him, Gerrard is a great player but Chelsea don't need midfielders, they need a left back and mabey a striker. For me Gerrard will go to Real Madrid in the summer. i'm 99% confident that deal will happen. The Fernando Morientes transfer probably has a say in it.

[ise_bashis]

more importantly... does gerrard wanna leave?
ask that question first... then you can speculate

[bushmqn03]

[QUOTE=Azimuth]I agree that Chelsea have perfect role players, and believe Makelele to be virtually irreplaceable in that he is happy to never leave his defensive postion. I just can't believe Gerrard would be able to fit that spot and be content to do so. Therefore, I find no roster spot fo rhim to fill unless someone big were to leave.

Like him, though![/QUO

Stephen Gerrard will never leave liverpool at least for now and will not fit into chelseas style of play

[Colm]

more importantly... does gerrard wanna leave?
ask that question first... then you can speculateI think he does/but then again he dosn't. I could be wrong but when he signed his new contract last summer he didn't seem that happy. I know he loves Liverpool but that dosn't mean he dosn't want to leave. Rooney said he loved Everton and left. Beckham loves Man Utd and left for Real Madrid and in my opinion Gerrard will leave for Real Madrid this summer but feel free to disagree.

[ise_bashis]

i 'd rather see him at madrid... but i dont think he will be as usefull there as he is at liverpool now.

i dont know about roonie, but beckham probably left because :
(a) its REAL MADRID
(b) he was fed up with ferggie

plus, do you think stevie will want to leave after he wins the CL with liverpool? :D

[Teso Dos Bichos]

Beckham left because:

(A) He wasn't doing the business on the pitch
(B) He lost his place to Solskjaer


Gerrard wants success and to improve as a player. He knows that is unlikely to happen at Liverpool. However, because he loves the club he gave it a second chance and signed a contract so the club would get a big fee for him. Whether this CL run is enough for him is debatable. Regardless, that isn't relevant to this thread.

[Eddie26]

Credit goes to Teso. Great thread and excellent post.

[Clan]

Mourinho had a vision last Summer, before even playing a game in the league, that vision had Stephan Gerrard playing for Chelsea.
Gerrard turned down the move.

The most important thing, Teso, is if Mourinho still has that vision.
It's hard to tell.All this wondering of where Gerrard would play was obviously worked out by Mourinho last Summer.He is quet adept it would seem at getting players to play in different positions, not only that but actually looking quiet good whilst doing so.
His latest revelation, Gudjohnson playing as a play maker in midfield is looking like a master-stroke.The willingness to push Ferriera to left full and the exceptional job he has doen with J Cole would lead one to think that he can take Gerrard and evolve him into something other than a straight forward midfield player (term used loosely).

Really, it all comes down to what Mourinho thinks he can do with Gerrard with the team as is, not what Gerrard as is can do for Chelsea.

[CanadaBlue]

It would appear that Chelsea offers him a better stage on which to play.
Playing with the best player in England, for the League Champions [to be], in the CL in Europe [unlikely for 'pool unless they win it], in England [!!] and for the best coach in the world. And in the end, for a player of his caliber, who wouldn't want to do that and be with us?

[Teso Dos Bichos]

Being partnered with Lampard every week could be a deciding factor, regardless of whether people think it is a good partnership or not.

[ise_bashis]

Beckham left because:

(A) He wasn't doing the business on the pitch
(B) He lost his place to Solskjaer


Gerrard wants success and to improve as a player. He knows that is unlikely to happen at Liverpool. However, because he loves the club he gave it a second chance and signed a contract so the club would get a big fee for him. Whether this CL run is enough for him is debatable. Regardless, that isn't relevant to this thread.

... try again

[Riz]

Ah, this will be a fun thread to go back and look at in the future.

Sorta like searching the archives here for the "Wayne Bridge to join Chelsea?" and "Duff to move from Blackburn?" threads. :D

[ise_bashis]

It would appear that Chelsea offers him a better stage on which to play.
Playing with the best player in England, for the League Champions [to be], in the CL in Europe [unlikely for 'pool unless they win it], in England [!!] and for the best coach in the world. And in the end, for a player of his caliber, who wouldn't want to do that and be with us?


best players in england?
best coach in the world?

when is your lunar landing scheduled for?

[schafer]

Honestly, I don't think we need him. Lampard is, in my opinion, a better all-round player, and as has been mentioned on several other threads concerning Gerrard, his main weakness seems to be his lack of tactical knowledge. Given the style of play that Chelsea use, this could be a major detriment. Besides, I think J. Cole could play that position perfectly, as he can't cross well enough to be a truly effective winger. The money is better spent elsewhere, like on Ashley Cole;)

Also, Parker has never really been given a run of games in that position, so I wouldn't rule him out yet. The last couple games, Mourinho has been almost using Gudjohnsen as a 3rd CM, with the way he drops deep so often.

The bottom line is, Gerrard is a great player, but I honestly think it would be a waste to bring him in.

[BridgeMonkee]

Need? Well, to be honest I think that we might just need him.

At the moment we have 3 great mids in Joe Cole, Lampard, Makalele.
We have promising mids in Jarosik, Parker and Tiago.
We have Smertin and Geremi, not bad players by any means, but players that just have not found the form and the place in the team.
I'd happily release Geremi and Smertin and bring in Gerrard.

3 spots with 4 man contenders Makalele, Lampard, Joe Cole and Gerrard.
Tiago has had his moments, scored some goals and is not as bad a player as some of us suggest (I mean he's better than Stanic imo and a long way from Joka or De Useless).
Parker? Well, he was going to get some games and then he got injured, so we don't know really. But he has the ability.
Jarosik? Nothing of note as yet. He looked good playing for Moscow.