Our Stevie G has gone through another successful surgery…. and like so many instances, our Captain has put his body on the line for our club. Cramps did not stop him from finishing the game in Instanbul and ensuring the runs of Serginho was checked. And cramps did not stop him from equalising at Cardiff either, inspiring the other teammates and giving the rights for our Pepe to stop 3 penalties. He is 31 this year, at this age and coupled with his injuries, his pace will be questioned but not his spirit and determination.
After Alonso left, it was obvious, we missed him, we missed the quality that he brings to the team. Our player who could effortlessly give a 40 yard pass onto the feet of his teammates and scoring from halfway lines was no more. Before Alonso’s arrival, the player we had that could spray these direct balls and dictate the tempo of the game was none other than our skipper. Then with Stevie G’s pace, directness, penetrating runs and a knack of scoring goals(and important ones too), he was best suited to play just off the Striker. Alonso sat in centre midfield giving Stevie the freedom of Anfield to create havoc to opposing defenders. When Alonso left, there was a void, Aquilani could have been that player to fill that void but sorry Roy had other plans.
Stevie G playing in a centre midfield role will be best suited if he was to be freed off his defensive duties or if there was another defensive midfielder behind him to serve as an “insurance”. That insurance is our Lucas. When Manure came visiting this year,that was exactly the role that he played in. Kenny played 4-2-3-1, with Lucas and Stevie in midfield, the 3 attacking players(Suarez, Meireles, Maxi) in front of him swapping positions during attack confusing the Man-ure’s defence and supporting Kyut in attack.
Now what I would think we need to do(apart from strengthening all other areas that all of us already know) is to find another Stevie G, and that my dear REDs would be very difficult. Will we or will we not come across another Stevie G(2004-07) in our lifetime? Feel free to comment my dear REDs….cheers