Lampard

[Kinky Gerbil]

If he is the second best player in the world then i am Hitler and London Irish hates Mcghee

 

[Chopper West]

Does this mean you are changing your name again to KinkyHitler?

 

[Withdean Wanderer]

(i was about to do this thread, but i'll put it in this one)

Right, I've been a huge critic of Gerrard for England in recent times, but tonight I've finally been won over in the argument that they can't play together. AND I feel that Lampard should make way, and not just because of the goal.

Lampards shooting tonight was abysmal. I've defended him on the basis that he's in form and scoring goals - well 2 games may be harsh to judge, but he's certainly not on form (not that Gerrard is much better mind).

In the 5 minutes tonight when Gerrard stayed forward (just before half time) we had about 4 chances. However, we were almost done on the break from a counter attack. In the rest of the time that Lampard was further forward, he's had 4 chances in the whole match, and fluffed all of them over the bar (except for one, which he dragged wide).

So in order to expose Gerrard to his true capability (which is clearly further forward), you need a defensive player. Carrick or (dare i suggest it) Hargreaves. They can break up play and get the ball rolling forward. Failing that, a 5 man midfield with Beckham bought inside and Lennon (who was SUPERB) on the wing, although this seriously effected Beckhams game, despite the cross for the goal.

I firmly Believe we CAN win this tournament, but to do so we just HAVE to find a way of getting the best of Gerrard - if Lampard is sacrificed, so beit. But Gerrards goal tonight was just a suggestion of what he could do for us in an attacking position that Scholes played so well in the late nineties.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

So in order to expose Gerrard to his true capability (which is clearly further forward), you need a defensive player. Carrick or (dare i suggest it) Hargreaves. They can break up play and get the ball rolling forward. Failing that, a 5 man midfield with Beckham bought inside and Lennon (who was SUPERB) on the wing, although this seriously effected Beckhams game.

Almost caught when it was 0-0 because bioth had pushed forward.

 

[Withdean Wanderer]

Almost caught when it was 0-0 because bioth had pushed forward.

Perfect reason to get rid of one of them then for a player who can hold the midfield line

 

[Blackadder]

I've said it for ages. Gerrard and Lampard are both very good players but if one has to give way, it has to be Lampard.

You can NOT play without Gerrard.

 

[London Irish]

Can't leave Lampard out, he still looks the main goal threat IMHO regardless of his balls-ups today

 

[Withdean Wanderer]

Can't leave Lampard out, he still looks the main goal threat IMHO regardless of his balls-ups today

So how do you accomodate both, and have us looking like a half-decent footballing unit?

 

[turienzo's lovechild]

So how do you accomodate both, and have us looking like a half-decent footballing unit?

in a 5 man midfield, or with gerrard on the RIGHT

 

[Withdean Wanderer]

in a 5 man midfield, or with gerrard on the RIGHT

3 at the back? Drop Ashley/Joe Cole? One Up front Play Beckham in the middle??

Seems to cause more problems than it solves

 

[London Irish]

So how do you accomodate both, and have us looking like a half-decent footballing unit?

I would play 4-5-1, Rooney up front, Carrick holding, Lampard and Gerrard supporting Rooney, use Crouch as impact player from the bench

 

[Withdean Wanderer]

I would play 4-5-1, Rooney up front, Carrick holding, Lampard and Gerrard supporting Rooney, use Crouch as impact player from the bench

I can't really judge on that - a bit harsh on leading our form goalscorer out, especially for a bloke who isn't likely to be match fit. But I haven't seen a lot of ROONEY up front on his own

 

[Rookie]

Drop Lampard, overrated and selfish player being dropped would do him some good and allow Gerrard to do what he does best and get forward

 

[turienzo's lovechild]

3 at the back? Drop Ashley/Joe Cole? One Up front Play Beckham in the middle??

Seems to cause more problems than it solves

i'm not paid £5m a year to solve it, so i don't really know


however, sven is paid that much......we have two of the best central midfielders on earth, yet in his 6 years in charge he hasn't found a way to accomodate both. any other nation would build their team around them , yet sven seems to just bung them in anywhere(ie his diamond formation a few years back)

 

[Silent Bob]

Can't leave Lampard out, he still looks the main goal threat IMHO regardless of his balls-ups today

I agree, and he's still a better all round midfielder than Gerrard.

It's a tough one it really is, would be made a bit simpler if we had a striker capable of playing alone.

 

[Tooting Gull]

It is a very tough call, but I'm coming round to the view that we will be a better team for dropping one of them.

Lampard's finishing would have been a disgrace in the Sussex County League today, but at least he was getting in the positions, and he can't miss that many again. Can he?

 

[Sid James]

I agree, and he's still a better all round midfielder than Gerrard.

It's a tough one it really is, would be made a bit simpler if we had a striker capable of playing alone.

How is he a better all round midfielder when he can't tackle ?

 

[Silent Bob]

Because he can pass. Besides diving (usually with two feet) in doesn't make you a good tackler.

 

[Sid James]

So being able to pass ( no better than Gerrard ) makes you an all round midfielder. Don't ask for much do you.

 

[Silent Bob]

His passing is much better than Gerrard, and yes, passing is surely THE most important attribute for a central midfield player?

Certainly The Best Midfielder In The World™ shouldn't give the ball away when playing simple passes as much as Gerrard does.

And Lampard is actually BETTER defensively because he has some sense of positional discipline.