Eriksson to play Gerrard as striker?

[slipperydave]

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson says he has not ruled out the possibility of using Steven Gerrard as a striker at the World Cup finals.

With Wayne Rooney a doubt with a broken foot and Michael Owen only just back from a similar injury, Gerrard has been touted for a forward role.

Eriksson said: "Steven Gerrard can play in a lot of positions and one is as a second striker.

"I'm sure he could play as first striker but a lot depends on Rooney."

Manchester United star Rooney is almost certain to miss the group stages of the tournament and is thought to be a doubt for the knockout after suffering a broken metatarsal last month.

More here (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/england/4990422.stm)

[zahidmaqbool]

hmm.. Gerrard is a very good player he can definately play there.. but I think so he should be played as a Central Attacking Midfielder..

[rob]

sounds perfect to me, I actually think gerrard would be better as a forward when playing for england

[BristolUK]

Sure, Gerrard could play as an out and out striker....in maybe reserve team football.
But this is international football and there's a huge difference between getting forward into an attacking position from a midfield role and being an attacker where top defenders at the peak of their game will take the ball from you in a tackle or where the first touch lets you down. Or they'll not give you space and you need a few tricks etc etc

[rob]

I agree - he wouldn't be able to be an out and out striker but what's that got to do with anything?! He'll be a forward - inbetween the midfielders and striker. Reverting to a 4-5-1 when we're under pressue. I see his role like Freddie Ljungberg for arsenal when we play 4-5-1 in the champions league.

[Lonso]

Yes, many have been saying this ALL ALONG (LFCfreak!!).

Need to play Carrick and Lampard to back him up. Sounds like a real threat to me.

EDIT: The important term there is "second" striker, behind the "out and out" striker. Of course he's not just going to be put in the deep end like that all of a sudden in the biggest football stage! :rolleyes:

[shizz]

Sure, Gerrard could play as an out and out striker....in maybe reserve team football.
are you real or what,stevie as more than enough in his locker to play there,theres not many people who can stop him on his day or on a bad day for that matter,this could be svens first good move for a long time

[Lonso]

are you real or what,stevie as more than enough in his locker to play there,theres not many people who can stop him on his day or on a bad day for that matter,this could be svens first good move for a long time

Nah he should never play as a 'lone' or a 'out and out' striker because first of all that's completely different to playing off or behind a striker and secondly because its not the best position to get the most out of his overall talents which include vision and long/short passing.

When he is allowed to ROAM about, in the hole, it should be awesome to watch. Pure delight I reckon.

[rob]

lonso (or any other lfc fan) - didn't he play this supporting role in the CL qualifiers earlier this season? think I remember him doing that and scoring shit loads of goals...?

[Aus-Fan]

Let him play however he wants and wherever he chooses, he is a genius.

[kidujp]

lonso (or any other lfc fan) - didn't he play this supporting role in the CL qualifiers earlier this season? think I remember him doing that and scoring shit loads of goals...?

Not really an LfC fan but...;)
I remember him scoring 6 goals in the first stage ...that's after missing a match or so.

[jak914]

I think Gerrard should play as a CAM instead of a forward. Too hard to switch to a position like that for a world cup. He is better in the middle of the field IMO. Playing up top though is a possibility for him though. Interesting to see how this will play out.

[Dirtycheat]

gerrard would make a great striker, especially alongside rooney but it will probably never happen because of other strikers etc.

but as a replacement for rooney, noboody better for the job. he is so versatile its unbelievable, plays right mid, atackin cm, dm, rb and striker. great player.

i was just wandering, will carrick then play gerrard's role in CM?

[Unregistered]

I have never seen Gerrard play as a striker. But one thing I know is that being a striker is a lot like being a GK. Why? Positioning is one of the most important aspects, if not THE most important one. And not a lot of players have that. It's just an instinct. If you don't have it, you'll be lost in the layers of defenders and won't be any good.

imo Gerrard will not be a good striker. Players like him, or Zizou, Lampard, and Ballack are good when they come from behind. I just don't think Gerrard has that instinct in him. I think England should play with 1 man up front, have a solid DM, and let Gerrard and Lampard make forward runs as often as they can.

[Dirtycheat]

I have never seen Gerrard play as a striker. B


i dont think hes ever benn played as a striker but i think he probably would know how to position himself well as one. he is naturaly gifted.

[BristolUK]

I agree - he wouldn't be able to be an out and out striker but what's that got to do with anything?! He'll be a forward - inbetween the midfielders and striker. Reverting to a 4-5-1 when we're under pressue. I see his role like Freddie Ljungberg for arsenal when we play 4-5-1 in the champions league.

You misunderstand me. The thread title refers to him being a striker. My post was made with that in mind and not a response to your post. I agree with you about him being useful forward of midfield...that's a different role to being a striker. Different even to being 2nd striker.

[BicOfBorg]

Gerard is best in midfield, coming from behind to welly a ball in. Plus he´s a workhorse which is important if your going to dominate midfield. Svens should play Crouch and Walcott if the others arn´t fit.

[Ralle]

Hmm it's a ok idea. The best thing is to play him as an offensive midfielder so that he can shoot from distance and play the ball in behind the defence. I just hope that England will play their 4-4-2 with Crouch and Walcott in front. But it all depends on Owen and Roony...

[drumice]

I'm trying to understand why not one mention of the great Michael Owen has been made in this thread yet.

[lawless7]

If erickson plays gerrard as a dmid in the B international I think we should kill him.
The only way to go is to play aholding midfield player an player gerrard where ever he wants to play. As long as it inst Dmid.

As a striker i dont see that happening pool tried that an he hated it. Gerrard needs to roam with lampard but lamps .
I would say england should play a 4-1-3-2 with joe cole close to owen with him an gerrard interchanging positions left center and right. Rotating will allow us to better keep control off teh ball an prevent us from being overun in a crowded midfield.
For england to win we have to be cretaive an apply pressure plus keep the organizations. My only worry is owen not the fitness but how to prevent him from getting double teamed playing as a lone striker. Well he should be really rested as he hasnt played at all this year, he will have to do alot off running and ball possesion.

[Yiannis]

Facts:1)Steve can play off the striker but not as a striker. 2)Gerrard cannot play the defensive midfielder role in the 4-4-2.He's not that type of player.Fucking Houllier tried to establish him in that role.But it seems so that SGE was unable to understand that all these years.

I know it may sound radical and kinda extreme but have you ever thought of that system(Taking into account that Rooney and Owen were injury free):

3-5-2

-----------------Robinson--------------

---Neville/Ferdinand----Terry/Campbell-----Carradona

------------------Carrick/King-------------

Beckham-----Gerrard-------Lampard------Cole

---------------Owen------Rooney-----------


Obviously there are no side backs but you have there 3 very good defenders and what is more with that system Gerrard and Lampard can easily roam forward with Carrick covering their asses.;)

[saurabh]

In the first game, England will play Crouch and Owen upfront and lose the game. After that Eriksson may try something on the lines of giving Gerrard an attacking role and that will take England to next round. :rolleyes:

[zahidmaqbool]

I'm trying to understand why not one mention of the great Michael Owen has been made in this thread yet.

:)
Well thats because we are talking about gerrard.. I hope so man Owen plays...but if he isnot fit then nothing much can be done, other than playing crouch and walcott...

[Kan]

Its not bloody rocket science. Play them where they play bloody best. Don't shift the fools around

Beckham/Lemon-----------Carrick----------------Cole
---------------Gerrard------------Lampard----------
------------------------Whoever---------------------

or push carrick back a little and put gerrard upfront or lampard upfront just behind the lone striker. Jesus England's strength and depth is in midfield so play to their bloody strength.

[soniq]

England will win the WC if so.

[gonekais]

I posted this earlier in another thread, but since I'm too lazy to say it all again but still want to contribute, I thought I'd repost, with a few changes:)

No doubt with Gerrard's class he will perform admirably in that role, but I don't think he is best suited to playing in the hole. This will involve him playing with his back to goal and having to hold up the ball alot, whereas he is undoubtedly more effective driving towards goal at considerable pace, distributing the ball, or taking shots from distance.

On paper it looks to be an attractive and appropriate proposition however I think his contributions will be severely curtailed and even nullified if he plays in this position. This would be similar to the failed Scholes experiment at Man Utd, where he played in deep behind van Nistelrooy. This resulted in him being unable to make those superbly timed runs in the box from midfield and hence his form dipped dramatically.

Gerrard is much better off playing in a five man midfield alongside Lampard and Beckham, with either Carrick or Owen Hargreaves (I hope it doesn't come to this:D) protecting the back four and Joe Cole sitting deep behind Owen. I don't think Ledley King has the calibre to perform the defensive midfield, holding role at international level. His shortcomings were woefully exposed against Argentina. Defensively he is very sound obviously, however he was left increasingly isolated when Gerrard and Lampard bombed forward and was unable to get the ball to them. Carrick would be more adept at distributing the ball to the other midfielders once the ball has been won back.

With this diamond system, Lampard and Gerrard will pose a greater threat as both will be able to pursue their natural attacking instincts without one of the two having to compromise and stay back while the other makes the forward runs. In this manner, Lampard and Gerrard are played to their full potential without having to sacrifice their talents for the sake of "fitting" into an inflexible playing system in order for both to play on the starting 11.

Joe Cole would be superb in the hole and Peter Crouch as a late second half option is also viable. Cole's pace and trickery or Crouch's aerial dominance and holding up of the ball will offer variable dimensions to England's attack. In addition, the inherent understanding emanating from playing club football together between either Cole/Lampard or Gerrard/Crouch will be an added bonus for Sven.

While it looks highly unlikely, still hope for Rooney to make a miraculous, expedient recovery

[ELLADA]

I think playing Gerrard as a striker is an excellent idea. It will significantly reduce the chances of him making a back pass to Henry.

[Dirtycheat]

i believe that gerrard is a better attacker than lampard. theyre both great but gerrard is absalouteely immense.