Steven Gerrard’s Groin (Again), and Other Monday Notes

By: Noel | September 5th, 2011

It’s Monday. It’s September. The summer is over, with little but short days and dreary weeknights at Stoke to look forward to in the fall. Unless you’re one of our five Australian readers, of course. But then you’ve got the local wildlife being in a 97% more killy mood to look forward to, so it’s not all good. At least the new football season has well and truly gotten underway, and no matter where you are, we can all agree that that’s a good thing…

* Since the arrival of Kenny Dalglish, it’s once again become fun to follow what the club’s manager is saying to the press and about the club and squad. It hasn’t only been Dalglish doing the talking, though, as Steve Clarke has been a presence in a way that Sammy Lee before him never was when it comes to talking about the club and players, and once again the Scot is on message, discussing being “reasonably satisfied” with the club having had one of its best starts of the Premier League era:

We’re all reasonably satisfied with the start. Obviously we’re two points missing from the perfect start, but if you analyse the performances and how we’ve done, everybody should be quite happy.

Each game individually has had pleasing aspects. It was important to go into the international break on the back of a good performance and win. We got that against Bolton, so that’s probably been the most satisfying game so far.

Not even a bit of excitement, then. Which is probably as it should be. He does, however, find the time to drop a little teasing hint (or just a teasing tease) on the fans in his typically understated way:

You can always pick up a game that’s interesting, whether it’s by television coverage or getting down to watch it. I’m actually penciled in to go and watch Lucas play against Ghana

There’s always something you can do and always a game you can watch—and who knows? You might identify a talent for the future.

I can already hear the Babelcopter revving back up to bring Neymar to Melwood in January.

* Steven Gerrard and his groin have returned to training after the latest setback from the latest surgery for the latest injury, and if everything goes according to plan this time around, he expects to make his return to action on September 19th against Tottenham. Which will be fantastic news if it actually comes to pass, except that the constant complications since he last played against Manchester United in March of last season and frequent new, negative developments over the months when it comes to Gerrard and his groin will likely have most waiting for him to step on the pitch against Tottenham before believing. Even if it does all work out and he trots on after seventy minutes with the match in hand to get a little run around, many will likely take at least a few months of having a healthy Gerrard around before any kind of expectation that he might be a regular contributor to the squad returns.

And whenever he does return, for both the the sake of his continuing recovery and because he hasn’t kicked a ball competitively in six months it will be important to ease him back into things slowly.

* In other player news, England will take on Israel on Tuesday night in U21 action, but new captain Jordan Henderson won’t be in the side after being sent home by Stuart Pearce. Henderson doesn’t have any injury concerns, but after the England manager admitted the player was exhausted at the Summer’s U21 European Championships qualifiers that England failed to advance from, there is a renewed focus on managing the fitness of those who are heavily involved at their clubs. And that’s something that Liverpool fans can certainly get behind, even if most would probably prefer it if Henderson retired from international competition tomorrow.

That about does it for a slow Monday while we wait for Lucas and Brazil to kick off against Ghana at Craven Cottage, but in the meantime, while you wait for that and Raul Meireles to explain why he isn’t a Judas…

Some Related Liverpool Posts:

Category: International Duty, Premier League, Team News

« Internationals Wrap Up | Home | Internationals Preview: Tuesday’s European Qualifiers »

Antwambam

why is kuyt in everyones team he has a first touch of a rapist
Lachlan Mccarthy91

Make that six Australian readers Noel.
Antonio

The title : "Steven Gerrard's Groin(Again)" before reading the contents, give me kind of shock that Gerrard has just injure his groin again during training, which for a while I am thinking if we are going to lose him for the whole season. Fortunately it is not.
Beside 5 Australians, there are also other fan from around the world visiting this blog frequently, such as me from Singapore.
Scottytoohotty

Don't Forget New Zealanders either, bloody Aussies
pk13

You know you kiwis are really just another state don't you! Speaking for %20 of the Australian readers...
poorscouserbobby

I dunno I always preferred the Kiwi's company in Afghanistan... they were more willing to share their beer.
Suarez from the car park...

What's the Dylan Moran connection?
Noel

He mentioned Australia. I mentioned Australia. Some days there's nothing especially deep or exciting about the connection.
Suarez from the car park...

and there I was looking, nay searching for the meaning of life. I feel cheated.
Ryan

Just like every time you guys post Monty Python videos?
Suarez from the car park...

do they mention Australia?
Noel

And now for something completely different... does make for a handy get out of jail free card when you're drawing a blank.
Danny

Any ideas on what became of Sammy Lee? Don't even recall being given a specific reason for his departure. Not that Steve Clarke doesn't seem to be working out, I'm just curious.
Noel

Forced out by Dalglish in favour of Clarke by most accounts and currently looking for a job—and likely hoping to get another crack at manager, though not at the Premier League level.
Ryan

And what's up with Gerrard creepin' behind the blue wall man? He must be eyeballin' dat Hendo and Adam, all up in his positionz.....
Ryan

Ah, Stevie's groin. The only one more famous than mine. Sad isn't it, how one tiny part(for me, quite large) of a such a beast can be his weakness? Any Gerrard highlight clip would make one doubt that such an animal as Stevie could be hindered by anything. But anyways, some lineup ideas for the Captain:

-----------------Reina----------
Johnson-Carragher-Agger--Enrique-
-----------Lucas---Adam------------
--Downing----Gerrard-----Suarez---
----------------Kuyt-------------------

At any point in the game, it could switch around to:

----Kuyt-------Gerrard----Downing------
-----------------Suarez-------------------

Or, with Carroll:

-------------------Reina-----------------
---Johnson-Carragher-Agger-Enrique----
------------------Lucas---------------------
---Hendo/Kuyt-----------------Downing--
-------------------Gerrard----------------
-------------Carroll---------Suarez-------

I prefer to have Henderson seeing the bench when the Captain is fit. And all these ideas were considering that converting Gerrard to a more central, defensive role is a failed concept.

Oh, here is my formation for the Stoke game:

------------------Reina--------------------
-------Skrtel----Coates---Agger---------
--Kelly------Lucas---Aurelio-------Enrique
----------Adam------------Downing------
-------------------Carroll-----------------

So, back to the formation of early last year. For me, Carroll should get the nod on this one. He hasn't faired that well against them in the past, but I don't think there is any risk in starting him; it looks good on paper, anyway. Kelly did well against Stoke last year, And Enrique instead of Johnson should keep things wide. Downing plays more centrally for this formation, but able to go wide and cross. Same thing with Adam; central, but able to cross out wide.

That lineup is taking into account that Aurelio is fit, and that Coates is ready to start. Let's assume Aurelio has a mystery injury and Coates forgot how to just stand in the middle and head the ball:

-----------------Reina---------
---------Carragher-Skrtel-Agger--------
--Kelly----Lucas---Enrique------Downing
-----------Hendo----------Adam--------
------------------Carroll---------------

Eh? meh? let's hope Aurelio is fit.

Back to the first formation with Coates and Aurelio, substitutions could be Kuyt for Carroll, Suarez for Aurelio(when he gets injured), and Bellamy for Adam. All kinds of attacking options would be available then:

---------------Reina--------------
-------Skrtel--Coates--Agger----
--Kelly----Lucas--Aurelio-----Enrique---
--------Adam----------Downing----
--------------<==Kuyt----\\-------

-Downing moves up to a more forward role, Kuyt goes right like in a two striker formation.

---------------Reina------------
--------Skrtel--Coates--Agger----
---Kelly---Lucas---Enrique----Downing
-------------<==Adam---\\---------
-------------Kuyt-----Suarez---

-Suarez makes it switch to a 2 striker formation, but can drop back and center to be more like the original formation, essentially taking Downing's role.

-------------Reina-------------
--------Skrtel--Coates--Agger-----
---Kelly----Lucas-Aurelio--Enrique-
--------Downing==>---Bellamy-------
-----------<==Carroll---//----

-Same basic principle as the other formation changes.

Too early for Stoke formations? My bad.
NotTooXabi

A phrase never uttered in the annals of humankind, and as such, should be cherished and feared like a Carragher goal celebration:

Ryan just dropped a tactical Kama Sutra on Stoke City.
Ryan

No Kama Sutra until Gerrard is ready to put his groin in the hole behind Suarez...

heh heh Seriously, that joke is mint. Endless entertainment! I haven't had this much fun since J. Cole!
Roy Chandra

Ryan , Come on dude. what are you thinking of playing Aurellio. secondly what are you thinking by playing Aurellio in the middle. Thirdly don't you know that Skrtel is injured. Whats with all these formations that have 3 centrebacks, we are playing Stoke.

I would think with injuries and so on this is how we should line up.

Reina

Johnson - Carra - Agger - Enrique

Henderson - Lucas - Downing

Kuyt - Carroll - Suarez
Suarez from the car park...

playing aurelio - hopeless optimist, rather like the rest of us reds!!
Andy

A 3 man defense is very useful against a side like Stoke who play with two physical out and out strikers. Two of the centre backs can man mark and the other one can cover.

Most sides play with an out and out striker and a withdrawn one in the hole, hence there is only a need for two centre backs, one to mark and the other to cover. The defensive mid can pick up the player who plays slightly deeper.

Also, playing three at the back and then five or six in midfield gives us a numerical advantage so we should be able to dominate possession.

It might seem defensive, but it can be used in an attacking sense...
Ryan

I did not know Skrtel was injured, thanks for the info. Aurelio played in the center in this exact same fixture last season. The same exact 3 in the back formation was used in this fixture last year. I understand that was because we had some fullback problems, but I don't think we need to put too much emphasis on the flanks, especially against Stoke. Stoke is going to be an aerial game, a physical game. Thats why Carroll gets the nod, in my opinion. I feel like he can have a big bowl of Stoke; and like it. And that's also why I chose 3 center backs instead of 2.

But I get what you're saying, we most likely won't do anything so tactically awesome.
Ed

Skrtel's not injured anymore, he started against Exeter, was on the bench against Bolton, and played a full 90 on Friday against Ireland.

Glen Johnson is, though, so leaving him out of your eleven makes good sense. Except there's no sense in leaving out Luis Suarez, because THAT SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN.
Suarez from the car park...

Should Stevie's groin play on the right or in the hole?
Ryan

In the hole. For all puns and purposes.
Mike

Hiyo!
AustinRed

I'm pretty sure Adam won't be available for Stoke after picking up a knock on his hip during international duty.
Noel

All the info I've been able to find on it is pretty specific in only ruling him out tomorrow. Who knows with mystery injuries to parts unknown, but could easily go either way when it comes to his participation against the Hairy Potters.
AustinRed

Ah. I hope you're right. I read a couple of articles yesterday that seemed to assume he would miss Stoke. If so, its not the end of the world. I kind of wouldn't mind seeing Spearing or Shelvey get some time with the new squad.
Ryan

Thanks for the info. Then I guess Hendo gets the nod to play. It's central enough for him to play like he did at Sunderland.
ShedYourYellow

There is never an inappropriate time for a post on Steven Gerrard's groin.
Suarez from the car park...

particularly with pictures.
NotTooXabi

...yep, these are our fans.

To groin a phrase, if Stevie goes missing...we might know his abductor.

That's how slow things are...I'm making anatomy puns.

*hangs head*
ShedYourYellow

Regret nothing. You are to be applauded for your attempts at being humerus.
CheekyFellow

Why don't you take a seat over here...