Could Steven Gerrard Play Right Back for England?

October 13th, 2008 | by: Daryl |

The good folks on Sky’s Sunday Supplement gathered for coffee again this weekend (sans Jimmy Hill of course, he’s no longer invited) and discussed the two big questions from Saturday’s 5-1 win over Kazakhstan. As usual they came up with some interesting analysis.

Click the links to see the video…

First question: is it OK to boo Ashley Cole?
The Sun’s Shaun Custis believes that Cole is paying the price for all his tabloid shenanigans. Henry Winter suggests that the negative reaction stems from England fans who support lower league clubs and are basically sick of the money-bloated English Premier League, as represented by Ca$hley.

Custis also stressed that Cole needs to sit down and do some good PR interviews. Not sure if he meant that for the good of the England team, or if he was just angling for a Sun exclusive.

Second question: how do we solve the Lampard/Gerrard thingy?
Ah, the question with no answer. Henry Winter would drop Lampard and play Gerrard, which seems insane given the form Lampard’s in right now.

Other suggestions include shunting Gerrard out to the left (which could very well happen against Belarus) playing both men central but with Gerrard as the designated DM and Lampard the AM (which might work against weaker opposition) and – my favourite suggestion because it’s a new idea – playing Gerrard at right back.

Before you die laughing, this is an idea worth thinking about. Obviously it’s not Gerrard’s best position, but he can play there. I still say that it’s Gerrard or Lampard in midfield, not both. And to answer Brian Wolnough’s question: if it’s between sitting Gerrard on the bench and playing Gerrard at right back, then why not hand Stevie G the number two shirt?

[video links via 101 Great Goals]

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http://olivierdems.blogspot.com/ Michel-Olivier

no
jack

i think that would be a terrible waste of gerrard’s talent. i think if steven gerrard is continually able to adapt to other positions throughout the entire pitch, why should he have to suffer when lampard cannot budge from the middle of the pitch. i think that the gareth barry-steven gerrard pairing worked quite well, lampard could well be a super sub or a deputy to gerrard. i know that isn’t preferable but it’s just an idea. another idea is that lampard could possible be put out on the wing. it may better suit his attacking sence, and his crossing is already fantastic so i see this as a plus. he could cut in and shoot from distance or something. i was also thinking if england could play a 5 in midfield as an experiment. this may not suit the strikers though…

rooney rooney heskey
lampard
j.cole-barry-gerrard-walcott lampard-barry-gerrard-walcott
a.hole-terry-ferdinand-richards a.hole-terry-ferdinand-richards
james james

i don’t know what anyone else thinks…this is kind of a frusterating topic and i can’t see a way around it…
jack

okay so the lineups got messed up..sorry
http://www.bigfourblog.com steven.

could Lampard play right back?
http://epl.theoffside.com Rob

I’m sure if Liverpool asked Gerrard to play RB he’d do it in an instant. Would he want to for his country? Doubt it.
http://www.worldcupblog.org Daryl

I reckon he’d still do it though. He wouldn’t be exactly overjoyed about it, but I get the feeling Gerrard is like Beckham in that he’s so committed to England he’ll do whatever’s asked of him.
ghost of steve finnan

Micah Richards is a better right back anyway. I don’t think England is so dominating offensively to be playing guys out of position on defense. No doubt Stevie G. would get caught out at an inopportune time ot two, or ten.

Don’t be silly!