Steven Gerrard is not a central midfielder

The debate about Steven Gerrard's best position has been raging for years. Rafael Benitez played him wide right one season, and every man and his dog in the press just couldn't wait to refer to Gerrard being forced out to the flanks, being played out of position and sacrificing himself for the good of the team. Not once can I remember the decision being hailed a success after his 23 goals from a wide position that season. He was just being moved out there to accommodate less versatile players in the middle, and ensuring we had our best midfielders on the pitch, with Gerrard being the sacrificial lamb given the graveyard shift, all for the apparent good of the team.

Steven Gerrard is the best right back in the league. He is the best left back in the league, and he'd probably be the best centre half in the league if given a run there. That's how good he is. There's nothing he can't do. Strong with his left foot and his right. Good in the air, brilliant passer of the ball and can tackle as well as anyone I've seen. Massive engine, great desire, brilliant shot and a superb crosser of the ball. He reads the game well, and I can't pick any technical faults with his game. He's an all round footballer, so much so, that play him in any position on the park, and he'd look like he'd played there all his life.

He had a spell at right back when he first came into the side under Houllier. He filled in at left back when needed, and even slotted in at right back as recently as the European Cup Final in Istanbul. He had a full season wide right, and has been moved around the midfield, depending on our formation, for a number of years now. Yet he has always maintained that he prefers to play in the middle of the park. But does that make it the right position for him? I'd enjoy playing in the middle of midfield every week, but it doesn't mean I'd be most effective there does it? I'm more suited to propping up the bar and screaming from the stands. Steven Gerrard is better suited in a more attacking role; he is wasted as a central midfielder.

His drive and energy going forward are his greatest assets for me. The ability to drive on and threaten defenses. Make himself a threat every time he has the ball. He just can't do that from a central midfield position in a traditional 4-4-2. He can have more time and space on the ball to pick his cross field pass in that position, and use his energy to track back and make brilliant sliding challenges, but he doesn't offer anywhere near as much of an attacking threat in the position as he does if played out wide, or just behind the front man.

Last year we played with a 4-2-3-1 formation. Javier Mascherano and usually Xabi Alonso playing as the two more holding midfield players; Gerrard supporting Fernando Torres, with Ryan Babel to the left of him and Dirk Kuyt to the right. He had the security of two men behind him protecting the back four, as well as two men playing wider, allowing him the freedom to roam and penetrate, bombing on to support Torres and being a constant attacking threat. To me, his most effective position.

Look at it as the manager of the opposition. Where do you not want Steven Gerrard to be? I'd be happy to see him sat deep trying to pull the strings and spraying 40 yard passes all over the place. I'd be happy to see him tracking back and having to fulfill defensive duties. I wouldn't want to see him running at my back four or driving in at them from a wide position. I wouldn't want to see him in space around the edge of my box. His drive and power are hard to contain. He can shoot and score from anywhere around the box. He's a constant threat when going forward; so why take that out of his game and leave him restricted in the middle of the park?

No matter where he plays, he'll be the best player on the pitch. But to get the most out of him, he has to be given license to roam and penetrate. He has to be given the freedom to attack, and that can only happen if he's away from that central midfield position where he has defensive duties to consider.

This season so far, Mascherano has been away at the Olympics with Argentina, and we've missed him, badly. With Lucas also out in China with the Brazil squad, we've been missing our 2 natural holding midfield players, and have had to alter our formation to accommodate it. We've been playing a 4-4-2 so far, with Gerrard and Xabi Alonso sitting deep, Kuyt and Benayoun out wide, Keane and Torres upfront, and it just hasn't worked. We've escaped with 3 wins and a draw so far, but the play has been poor and our attacking threat pretty much non existent. There's no ideas or drive from midfield. No creativity or penetration in support of the front men; and for me, that's mainly down to the reigns being thrown onto Gerrard while sitting in the middle of the park.

With Mascherano and Lucas now back with the squad, I'm convinced we'll see a different approach, and a completely different Liverpool side. The personnel won't change dramatically, but the way we set up and approach the game will. Mascherano will return to the side and offer that security, sitting alongside either Alonso or Lucas, allowing us to return to the 4-2-3-1 formation that worked so well in the second half of last season, and served Benitez so well during his days at Valencia. Gerrard can be given a more attacking role and removed from the central midfield, playing in a 3 behind Fernando Torres.

Steven Gerrard, Robbie Keane and Ryan Babel would be my 3 for those roles. All 3 being able to switch and roam; having the security of two holding midfield players behind them, and a world class striker ahead of them. All 3 players being capable of finding space and running at the defense, something we just haven't been able to do without the lynch pin that is Javier Mascherano holding everything together, and giving us that confidence to attack.

To me, there is no need for the wingers that everyone seems to be crying out for. The bigger need is the return of Javier Mascherano, to allow Steven Gerrard to move out of central midfield and into a position that will offer an attack threat; playing in front of the traditional central midfielders, being able to drift out wide and drive at the opposition.

If we were to continue with the current formation, and play a 4-4-2 all season, then then need for wide men becomes apparent. There is just not enough creativity and guile in Dirk Kuyt and Yossi Benayoun if utilised on the flanks. But we're not going to stick with 4-4-2 once Mascherano and Lucas return. We'll revert to the 4-2-3-1 and allow the creativity, width and attacking threat to come from those 3 men playing behind Torres. Steven Gerrard will be one of them.

Whether he plays in the same role as last year, the central man of the three in support of Torres, or if he plays wide right to accommodate Robbie Keane in the central role, he'll be a constant threat. Roaming in front of the two holding players, switching with Babel and Keane, and all three of them capable of scoring and creating goals. So why the need for wingers if we're not going to play with a system that uses them? We have enough creativity and attacking potential already; but all depends on the solid platform that Javier Mascherano provides. It relies on the release of Steven Gerrard from that role.

He is not a central midfielder. Certainly not in a 4-4-2 anyway.

Paul Jones

Comments

[Martin Mc Grath]

I agree with everything written in this article.
Gerrard was in his best position last year, tucked in behind Torres. Gerrard could play anywhere on the park and still stand out. This is why Robbie Keanes signing baffles me.He gives us more options but is gonna play the same position Stevie played last year just not half as good!

[Paul Jones]

I think this weekend merely confirms this view.

Once again he sat there sweeping up behind the midfield, looking to spray meaningless 50 yard balls across the field and not getting forward to attack the following cross or infield ball.

He offers no attacking threat back there, a complete waste of one of the best players in the world.

Everyone but himself seems to be able to see it.

[Cally77]

What a load of pompous, self important, cliched drivel.

[Gareth McKeown]

where is the kind of entertaining football we all saw from Rafas Valencia when they battered us during their pomp? 5th season in and he still seems to be putting square pegs in round holes. Things like playing Kuyt woefully out of position, Keane on the left of midfield and how many right backs have we seen at the club? Speaking of Keane out on the left - I can accept that if its part of a dynamic attacking side but not as part of team set up not to concede. How many shots on target against villa? None. Thats not good enough for a side 4 years in the making.

[Andrew Graham]

Agree with all the previous comments but as you say he can play just about anywhere on the pitch and look accomplished. He is the most complete footballer we have but only one side in the PL or at least one manager can really capitalise on his adaptability and movement - Arsene Wenger.

[andrew harris]

Excellent! totally agree, as with other posters, exactly what i have been shouting at the 'experts' on sky and itv for the past 2 years! how can a player who has to play cm, win player of the year and score 23 goals from a position he doesnt suit?! i wish they would just look at the facts..he forces the issue too much from cm, the risk is taken away when he plays further up the pitch

[Kopite]

At last! Someone who clearly watches the reds play... I couldn't agree with you more and believe me there are plenty of season ticket holders who also share your view.... He is so important to us for his pace, creativity and goals that anchoring him to a 4-4-2 midfield role kills his game...

[Jabran]

Something I've been saying for ages! The team looks much more balanced with Stevie Mbe on the right.

Now lets just get Dirk Kuyt in defence...

[Kopite]

At last! Someone who clearly watches the reds play... I couldn't agree with you more and believe me there are plenty of season ticket holders who also share your view.... He is so important to us for his pace, creativity and goals that anchoring him to a 4-4-2 midfield role kills his game...

[Paul, Colne, Lancs]

Absolutely spot on. I've been thinking pretty much the same for weeks:
Torres
Babel Keane Gerrard
Alonso Masch
...with Ngog, Kuyt, El Zhar, Beny, Lucas and Plessis filling in as needed. The only possible issue being general left side - no real left-footed holding player, nor attacking MF. I guess we lost Barry. But maybe Riera can give Babel some competition...