A substitute, really Dave, after that performance?

In fact, I find the suggestion that after wading through all the negativity over the years and finally emerging with some kind of credit since the beginning of last season he would find his place under threat just because Steven Gerrard is fit quite offensive to the player.  It is almost a suggestion that, regardless of form, ability of worth to the team, you will be dropped if certain other players are fit.  I’m sure that not a lot of people will agree with me but I feel that after being absent for such a long time Gerrard should have to earn his place back in the team, particularly after our recent 10 game unbeaten run, in which a number of players have excelled, not least of all Lucas himself winning a number of Man of the Match awards in the process (not to mention being the reigning fans player of the year).

Of course, Prentice’s opinion just feeds back in to the oft-held view of much of the local and National media that Steven Gerrard’s strongest position is in the centre of midfield.  Anybody who has seen him playing there for prolonged periods though will tell you a different story.  It is no coincidence that his best seasons in a Red shirt came when he was playing as a right-sided midfielder/wide-player (2005-06 scoring 23 goals and winning PFA Player of the Year) and as a support striker behind Fernando Torres (2008-09 scoring 24 goals with 10 assists).  I would like to think that Kenny too knows where he feels Gerrard’s best position is and also recognises the fact that while Lucas is essentially a ‘holding’ midfielder, that isn’t all he is about.  Indeed, one of the strongest aspects of Lucas’s game is his pass completion rate and the fact that he – more like Alonso than Mascherano – is often the bridge between defence and attack when it comes to piecing moves together.  While Steven Gerrard is still one of the best attacking players in the world, he lacks the game intelligence of players like Alonso, Hamann and now Lucas and the maturity to fill the role that the modern central midfielder is required to.

Putting Steven Gerrard in the centre of midfield for me is the footballing equivalent of putting a Lion in a small zoo enclosure; cruel, unnecessary and not what nature intended for him.  Gerrard is of much greater value to the team with the shackles off much as Lucas is much more valuable to the team when he is not on the bench and is given the responsibility that allows players like his captain to flourish further up the field.

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