The Soccer Blog: The Inconsistent Brilliance of Steven Gerrard

Wednesday, 9 March 2011

The Inconsistent Brilliance of Steven Gerrard

By: Noel | March 8th, 2011
Tweet Gerrard in Training

In the wake of the West Ham disaster we spent a fair bit of time delving into the issue of Steven Gerrard as a central midfielder. And for the most part we seemed to agree it just wasn’t the grandest idea in the history of everything. So of course, as always seems to be the way, when the match against Manchester United came around it was inevitable that he would both start in the center of the park and that he would put in the sort of solid and composed performance one would expect from a central midfielder, for at least one afternoon wiping out the doubts and reservations so many have about him being placed in a position where he finds himself able to influence everything–and then goes and tries to do absolutely everything at the expense of doing anything particularly well.

Above: Steven Gerrard tries to do absolutely everything against West Ham, leading
to a lower completion percentage and at times abandoned defensive duties, while
Below: His passing shows a more disciplined player who kept to
more central areas against Manchester United

Gerrard United Passing

It is worth remembering, too, that his performance in a fairly central role against Chelsea was also one of his better displays, though then it was as one of the outside players in four man diamond in midfield rather than as part of a clear pair. Still, it was a far more reserved role than those who imagine him a mostly attacking player often talk of wanting to see him in, and one that required him to remain conscientious of his defensive responsibilities in a way he often doesn’t seem capable of against lesser sides, where the urge to grab the match by the scruff of its neck against a retreating opponent often seems to lead to abandoned defensive duties.

That is fine, of course, if he’s the most advanced player, but in a deep role against an underrated West Ham midfield it lead to Liverpool becoming outmanned in both possession and defence on the frequent occasions his heart overpowered his intellect and sent him dashing off to all four corners of the pitch.

However, none of this seeks to wholly damn Steven Gerrard for at times lacking the positional discipline to be effective in the middle: It’s also meant to praise the skill and drive that means that when the games really are at their biggest he has the clear ability and focus to play that more central role as well as anybody. After all, no matter anything else, most everybody agrees that at the end of the day he is a phenomenal player and one of the best to ever wear Liverpool’s red. It is odd, though, that despite all his skill it is against supposedly lesser opponents when he lets himself wander, giving in to his more attacking nature, that it has a way of clearly making Liverpool look a less cohesive whole. Odd in part because in past years the idea of two largely holding–or at least defensively responsible–central midfielders was often seen by fans as being overly negative, and yet when Gerrard is put in the middle with a remit to wander wherever the wind takes him the team suddenly finds itself missing a solid base on which to build the attack from, tending to suffer unless it happens to be the sort of day on which he puts in a dominating performance that will be the talk of every paper and website and form for the next week.

Above: The tackles and interceptions maps against West Ham are almost
painful to look at, showing a player who isn’t committed to the defensive
side of the game, while Below: Against United, an increased determination
and staying in more generally central areas result in defensive
maps much more typical for a central midfielder

Gerrard United Defense

Against United on the other hand, he put in a quiet performance, yet it was a more composed one than we had previously seen from him under Kenny Dalglish–even including the solid display against Chelsea, where first Maxi and later Aurelio offered some degree of central assistance from the other side of the midfield diamond. He didn’t try to take the game into his own hands and force the issue, and perhaps seemed less obviously influential for it, but his relatively understated and responsible play was nonetheless integral to Liverpool’s success.

There’s still reason to wonder, especially based on past examples, if he has the determination to play such a necessarily restrained game against some of the sides below Liverpool in the standings to avoid giving those opponents a foothold, confidence, and improved odds on the counter. And there’s still reason to wonder if largely restraining his natural attacking game is generally in the best interest of both himself and the club. Still, he did the job against United, and with the way Meireles has been playing, and with Suarez’ luminance and Carroll’s first steps into the squad, perhaps United shows there is a way for him to grow into a more reserved role without leaving the team bereft of attacking options.

Of course, people always wonder why it is that Liverpool can run out against a side like Chelsea or United and play phenomenally after a dire performance against a side like West Ham, and often it simply comes down to an inability to be fired up for every match over a long and at times arduous season. That in itself is a fairly natural phenomenon, though it does seem that the performance of Gerrard against the Hammers and then United is both a microcosm of this reality and a key, root cause of it for the team as a whole. With his inconsistency between matches being at times amongst the worst in the squad, in many games the dilemma will remain where to play Gerrard to both do the most good for the team–but also so that it does the least harm when he’s not driven by circumstance and opponent to stay mentally sharp. Because unless he can learn to at least keep his game more simple, restrained, and focused against lesser opponents, that natural drive to be involved everywhere combined with a more lax approach since it’s just West Ham will still have the potential to hinder Liverpool’s growth and hurt the club when the matches seem less important.

Some Related Liverpool Posts:Blog Pollin’: Steven Gerrard’s Best PositionBuilding a Better TriangleDeconstructing Luis Suarez v. WiganZone 14Gerrard and Agger Fit, More on Rafa, and Other Thursday Notes

Category: Miscellaneous, Premier League

Tags: Batshit Crazy Ramblings, Charts And Graphs, Miscellaneous, Premier League, Steven Gerrard, Tactical Analysis, Tactics
Tweet « Say the Right Thing: The Manager | Home | Hillsborough Breakthroughs, Thanking Hodgson, and Other Wednesday Notes »steven.those West Ham chalkboards are absolutely abysmal.redtrev73Bang-on tactical assessment and analysis of the Gerrard conundrum noel....i'm just gonna come out and offer my tuppence worth, at risk of being cast as a rafa-acolyte, but shouldn't The King try stevie on the right of a three up-top with luis left and carroll through the middle for what's left of this season? How scary is that? 4th is a dream really, but that forward line could win us the Europa....and i, for one, would love to see Kenny gatherin cups in may again. We all remember his goal return on the right of a four. With raul, lucas and dirky behind....that is formidable, if a little overly attacking in certain circumstances.LouverpoolThat would be true if Suarez could play in Europa for us this season.broas am sure we all remenber gerrard amd lampard were the most frighting attacking midfielders in the prem and in the world you could say. and most in the 08/09 season it was always a debate on who was best but we new it was gerrard. but no we can see both off them are dropping and goals and assist have dropped both around the same age. so i saying to of the best english midfielders and arguably over 3 -4 years are no longer more. there peak has now gone i am using lampard to as to say its not a temp thing with gerrard i dont think it will come back as 18 months is a long time and lampards proves with exactly the same happing to him both peaked and were in there prime at the same time almost same age but both fell together. gerrard will still show bags of world class but it wil be 1 in 4 or 5 compared to his 10 in 10 ratioUgeswaranGerrard Gerrard Gerrard... I love you... Gerrard will be back to his top form very soon..... YNWA GERRARDtifoso471excellent post Noel. I think you summed the Stevie situation perfectly.
I really think Stevie has the potential to continue being a huge asset to Kenny's team because of the versatility that he offers. He can play a deeper, more reserved role if needed, play behind a striker or play in the right midfield putting where he has a superb ability to put in delicious crosses.
Hopefully with the huge pressure to carry the team of his back, he can just concentrate on going out and playing his game, which would be amazing to watch.Smitty_wI see a lot of comments that its been 18 months since he has performed at his best. the same amount off time that other flog has been under performing. What was it that happened back then ?brogerrard kept getting knocks and injurys. he would then start hiiting form looking the world class player he was them he would be out agine. thats has bin the case for that amount of time that i think it not injurys keeping him from his best its his best has gone and not keeping him away from injurysjonnysingaporeKK's trying to play him in the Alonso role, which he could do as he has good vision, and Raul is younger so can tear up and down the pitch as the forward midfielder. Sound enough as he'll last a good few years there.

But I like him on the right of MF, putting in potent deliveries. he just understands danger areas as do class forwards. It's a great match and he does so well there.

His experience and talent is going to be a dream for KK and Clarke as they rebuild this year and in the summer. He has the expertise and the wisdom now and with the correct tactics/coaching he'll be a huge asset to the side.

The forwards will relish having him feeding them and the confidence will be infectious. There'll be wave after wave of flowing attacks except where the opponents mf is particularly strong, but that's where he will come into his own.LucasLeiva21Perhaps we should accept that Stevie, in consideration of his advanced age and his recent history of being injury prone, will never be an attacking midfielder again. Perhaps we should have faith that behind the scenes, King Kenny has discussed this in detail with Captain Fantastic, and Stevie G. will embrace this new role, and eventually thrive in it.

Or, you guys can join me in living in the past and watching this wonderful video of Gerrard kicking Hungary's ass from an advanced position, featuring horrific editing and nauseating techno!DiegoI can only see Stevie G play late into his 30's if he re-invents himself tactically by staying put and keeping the game going, and just taking long range shots. His body is not going to give more if he keeps playing the way he does. Arsenal just sucks ass. Barcelona is a much better team. BUT We need the gooners to win that EPL crown so we can go out and win it next year and deny put those MANCS were they belong: Below us. TROLOLOLOLOLPyroI can only see Stevie G play late into his 30's if he re-invents himself tactically by staying put and keeping the game going, and just taking long range shots. His body is not going to give more if he keeps playing the way he does. Arsenal just sucks ass. Barcelona is a much better team. BUT We need the gooners to win that EPL crown so we can go out and win it next year and deny put those MANCS were they belong: Below us. TROLOLOLOLOLBloggerGreat blog , really highlights the main cause behind liverpool's inconsistent match performances. Ironically, Gerrard the main engine of liverpool is responsible for the failures of past and present performances as Gerrard's discipline directly affects the teams balance and consistency. However not all blame is on the captain as the other players lack the responsibilty to dictate the game as rely on their captain to perform day in and day out which leads to the inconsistency and discipline. If liverpool can learn not to rely on Gerrard as much then we may see more results like the one we saw on sunday.cheekyfellowNot to hijack what has been done here but...Arsenal's blunder only wishes we were in the champions league even more :(

DoggerReally interesting post. Stevie G is indeed one of the very greatest players to wear red but is guiltier than most of inconsistency. When he's fired-up he's untouchable. However, too often (in recent seasons in particularly) he seems to play far too many hollywood balls which give possession away and then doesn't break his neck to win the ball back. I'd like to see him keeping things a little more simple and then turn on the magic when the game needs it. Stevie G is still amazing of course but a little more consistency from the captain would inspire us against the lesser teams....blog comments powered by Disqus