Funny this… he misplaces almost all of his passes in that clip. Nowadays, all people on twitter would say that he’s shite, will never make it as a first team regular etc.
It’s good to be reminded from time to time just how imperious he was. Simply the best and the most complete player I’ve seen in a Liverpool shirt. It’s a shame he’s not able to forge a managerial career his playing career deserved but hopefully there’s enough time for him to do that.
who does he replace in the lineup in Klopp’s system pre-Thiago? Wijnaldum or Hendo? cannot be Fab back then.
To my mind, he replaces Wijnaldum. Fab protects the defence. Hendo does a bit of everything, but leans toward protecting the defence. Gerrard has license to rampage, knowing things are safe behind him. Even then, he would still get his tackles in and protect the defense too.
Wijnaldum was a good player for us, alongside Henderson and Fabinho, but replacing Wijnaldum with Gerrard in that trio is a significant upgrade.
Hendo as understudy to Steven?
Klopp era. Henderson no longer an understudy at that point.
Prime Gini’s ability to be press-resistant and coming out of tight situations with the ball was crucial to our success. That’s one thing he had over Stevie
fixed for truth. On his day he could squirm out of a swarm with the ball like few others could.
It was bloody outrageous! Saw him a few times in the flesh at Anfield during that period. Fuck me he was quick and tenacious!!
Gini had his plus points and was a good player for us. I definitely agree with the ability to come out of tight situations with the ball.
With that said, I do believe that the plusses Stevie would add, if a prime Stevie played alongside Fabinho and Henderson, would have taken us higher.
Think prime Stevie could have played the false 9 too.
Oh absolutely!
Apr 26, 2019…5-0 drubbing of Huddersfield. He was very good, was subbed off for the return of Ox from injury.
Same season, Cardiff City 4 - 1. Any danger he was the first to react and get the ball back. Immensely strong under pressure and unbelievably quick in the flesh.
Prime Stevie under Klopp wouldn’t only be head and shoulders above someone like Gini, but the midfield would be built around him, which is only logical.
He’d probably play as the RCM with a bit more freedom, sort of how Bruyne used to play or still does here and there.
That would’ve possibly been the ideal position for him really. Not too tied to a position as a double-six in a 4-4-2, not too wide playing on the right of a ‘4’, not playing too much back to goal being a #10/second striker in a 4-2-3-1.
Maybe in some emergency situations only, other than that I don’t think so.
That’s a great video, really enjoyed watching that!
He was an absolute genius to be fair. Many of his tackles, passes and goals in that video don’t seem humanly possible, and yet he did it time and time again. As if he was possessed by a devil.
Of course, that it exactly the part which he can’t transmit to his players as a coach. It must be frustrating for him.
Just stumbled on to this thread. Am I really reading a serious debate on the merits of Gini vs Stevie G in midfield?
Can appreciate even more how good he was now.
Since he retired, there isn’t a single midfielder in world football that has his combination of physical attributes, footballing abilities, and game intelligence…and at the levels he had three.