Gerrard In or Out?

[N'ZMAV]

if we was in the middle of a normal patch of form, a few wins, draws and defeats then people would be saying that was a good solid point yesterday.

[ChicagoLion]

I thought we did ok yesterday - I thought he had a plan and it worked.  To some degree it looks like he is learning

I worry by how few of the players Gerrard seems to rate / trust (he uses the same players over and again), and rarely uses subs in any meaningful way

Our current form is 27 points from 21.  Dean has 24 from 21 - so we are tracking roughly the same for the last just over a season - i.e. lower middle half.

Hopefully a few key upgrades will help.  I cant see a complete overhaul as I cant see there are many we can sale, and I cant see us spending more than 100m - 150m, so I would see 5 or so the max coming in.

However we cut it, I think this last 12 months has done some damange in the short and medium term to our plan.  I think if we dont see us kick on next season it will be curtains for much of the current management structure.

All the clubs that have finished above us last season, have all got better or have plans in place - and newcastle have overtaken us as the "up and coming club"

The damage to our short and medium term plan drive up the M6.

[Abbeyfealeavfc]

Trouble is we're not in a normal patch of form and we were playing a team yesterday with one eye on their fixture in the week. We'd have approached yesterday in exactly the same way as they did if we were in their position. Besides a change was made by purslow in the interests of progress. We're currently struggling to demonstate that.

[Ads]

The midfield 3 were flat and compact yesterday. I think with Marv and then next season with a quality holding player, the 8s can't revert to type a bit more.

We still created chances, more than Leicester and had more attacking opportunities/territory than Spurs. Issue is, 2 chances fell to Bailey and he skied one, didn't get to the other and what Watkins created for himself he wasted.

No real issue with drawing away at a side about our level. If you're not going to win, don't get beat, a mantra we've not had for a few years now.

[Exeter 77]

Is Tim Iroegbemum a candidate for that quality holding player? Gerrard seems to rate him.

[olaftab]

if we was in the middle of a normal patch of form, a few wins, draws and defeats then people would be saying that was a good solid point yesterday.

As I said yesterday on post match thread a point there, generally, is very good and as we were not taking any risks post 4 defeats it is understandable why we didn't go for a win against an indifferent Leicester team. 

[mrfuse]

Is Tim Iroegbemum a candidate for that quality holding player? Gerrard seems to rate him.

I still think we need to bring in a quality holding player but that doesn't mean Tim should miss out. We could play both at the same time in certain matches as long as they develop an understanding a bit like Rice and Phillips. Also rotation, injuries and cup games could give Tim plenty of game time.

To not strengthen that position we have been going on about for season after Season would be a massive mistake on the back of  hoping one our youngsters is going to be consistent.

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

If Tim isn’t going to come on in games that we’re comfortably leading in or start games when there’s not much to play for (relatively) or crying out for players in his preferred position I can’t see him starting next season when we’ll be playing for something.
It’s  difficult situation when trying to blood younger players but if you give them a chance I think generally the fans would be more patient with the team as a whole.

[Chris Smith]

Is Tim Iroegbemum a candidate for that quality holding player? Gerrard seems to rate him.

I still think we need to bring in a quality holding player but that doesn't mean Tim should miss out. We could play both at the same time in certain matches as long as they develop an understanding a bit like Rice and Phillips. Also rotation, injuries and cup games could give Tim plenty of game time.

To not strengthen that position we have been going on about for season after Season would be a massive mistake on the back of  hoping one our youngsters is going to be consistent.

Cup games, do we still enter them?

[Goldenballs]

Is Tim Iroegbemum a candidate for that quality holding player? Gerrard seems to rate him.

I still think we need to bring in a quality holding player but that doesn't mean Tim should miss out. We could play both at the same time in certain matches as long as they develop an understanding a bit like Rice and Phillips. Also rotation, injuries and cup games could give Tim plenty of game time.

To not strengthen that position we have been going on about for season after Season would be a massive mistake on the back of  hoping one our youngsters is going to be consistent.

Cup games, do we still enter them?

Technically yeah.

[Brend'Watkins]

If Tim isn’t going to come on in games that we’re comfortably leading in or start games when there’s not much to play for (relatively) or crying out for players in his preferred position I can’t see him starting next season when we’ll be playing for something.
It’s  difficult situation when trying to blood younger players but if you give them a chance I think generally the fans would be more patient with the team as a whole.

The evidence is there. Yesterday he replaced Luiz and was an instant improvement so he starts next game for me on that basis. Likewise Bundia for PC.

[mrfuse]

Is Tim Iroegbemum a candidate for that quality holding player? Gerrard seems to rate him.

I still think we need to bring in a quality holding player but that doesn't mean Tim should miss out. We could play both at the same time in certain matches as long as they develop an understanding a bit like Rice and Phillips. Also rotation, injuries and cup games could give Tim plenty of game time.

To not strengthen that position we have been going on about for season after Season would be a massive mistake on the back of  hoping one our youngsters is going to be consistent.

Cup games, do we still enter them?

Technically yeah.

I should have clarified just the 2 cup games that we will play.

[OCD]

If Tim isn’t going to come on in games that we’re comfortably leading in or start games when there’s not much to play for (relatively) or crying out for players in his preferred position I can’t see him starting next season when we’ll be playing for something.
It’s  difficult situation when trying to blood younger players but if you give them a chance I think generally the fans would be more patient with the team as a whole.

The evidence is there. Yesterday he replaced Luiz and was an instant improvement so he starts next game for me on that basis. Likewise Bundia for PC.

He'll start with a very similar team again. Iroegbunam is still only 18, presumably he'll either be loaned out next season or he'll be making regular cameo appearances and continuing training with the first team until he starts looking like he's ready to start regularly.

[eamonn]

We need to be in Europe to keep all the squad involved but the squad isn't good enough for a team in Europe. So...I dunno...

In a way, I hope we are hindered somewhat by FFP this summer. We're experts at buying expensive players who do shite for us and we can't offload for a decent fee.

Gerrard's got an army of coaches. Get them to harness the best out of the existing squad with a couple of top-drawer acquisitions i.e the fabled midfield-stopper and then get the fuck on with it and prove you can play as a good a game as you talk one.

[Beard82]

Poch going to be on the market soon. 

Do you think he would come?