Steven Gerrard

[Cerberus]

I don't "clearly" agree with everything that's been said. The cretin remark was a bit over the top but I can't help but get over zealous by this topic. I'm not "blinded" either. He's out of sorts. He was played deeper that Henderson the harrier. Flavour of the week. He's still capable of being a match winner for us which is more than I can say for any of the others in our midfield.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Is he still a match winner?

 

[Mors]

I don't think it's harsh at all, it's inevitable, it comes to all players as they get older. He's not the player he was when he was 25. We wouldn't expect to wheel Dalglish out and expect him to perform at premiership levels. Gerrard is on the other side of the hill now, and due to the fantastic levels and performances he's had during his career, carrying us pretty much by himself, he's now not going to get near that, todays performance is going to become the rule, not the exception. We've got to face he's coming to the end of his career, and what a fantastic servant he's been to this club.

 

[Sunny]

I don't think it's harsh at all, it's inevitable, it comes to all players as they get older. He's not the player he was when he was 25. We wouldn't expect to wheel Dalglish out and expect him to perform at premiership levels. Gerrard is on the other side of the hill now, and due to the fantastic levels and performances he's had during his career, carrying us pretty much by himself, he's now not going to get near that, todays performance is going to become the rule, not the exception. We've got to face he's coming to the end of his career, and what a fantastic servant he's been to this club.

Well said.

 

[Mors]

Is he still a match winner?

Not if it involves shooting. If it's just picking out passes, most probably yes, some of his hollywood balls today were awesome. But as far as shooting goes, he couldn't hit a cows arse with a laser-guided banjo.

 

[Cerberus]

Is he still a match winner?

He was the only one making forward, creative passes so yes in my view he can be.

 

[Sunny]

Is he still a match winner?

No. He's still a decent player but the game changing Gerrard seems to have left him. He's still one of the greatest players to wear the shirt and always will be.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

I don't think he can. He's been below par all season and I can't remember many potential match winning situations or opportunities he's had never mind taken. Not slagging him, don't even think he's finished as some allude but something is not right, whether it be the system he's playing in, fitness or mentality.

 

[Gary25]

He's not the player he was that much is obvious. I think the injuries he's picked up over the years playing for our club have taken its toll. I really don't feel as a player he could have given much more for the team yet that seems easily forgotten when people are calling him lazy and moaning. I dont think that's right. I also think he's not actually the problem. Our historical over reliance on him is and that can no longer be justified nor do I feel it's fair on him, especially his own fans jumping on his back. He owes this club nothing in my view

He's very slack defensively imo. It's not his natural game i know but he doesn't get stuck in and he doesn't bust a gut to get back and help. he just wonders back at his own pace and it's very annoying to watch.

I just think at the minute, he's more of a hinderence to the team than a help. He doesnt make a tackle, he's sloppy in possession, he doesn't look like scoring. He can still produce the odd defence splitting pass or the odd good cross but on the whole, it's not enough.

I'd rather see a younger and more hungry player in his place(Suso/Shelvey) even just for a few games.

 

[Sunny]

I just think his body is fucked nowadays. That last injury was a bad one and one too many

 

[Fabio]

Yeah, he's done as a driving force. He'll still be a good player for us, but it's whether he can adapt his mentality to being second fiddle. At the moment he's trying too hard with Hollywood balls and flicks.

He needs to keep it simple and keel it natural

 

[dantes]

What he needs is to not be hauled out for a stupid europa league game in midweek because the other players are cunts. Nor does Gerrard ever ever need to track back. If he jogs back at his own pace, then some fucking cretin like Henderson should sprint back to cover for him. And if he doesn't sprint, then he can go fuck himself back to where he came from. Is what I would be saying at half time.

 

[gkmacca]

One thing he must do now, as captain, is work with the young players, encourage them and guide them. He's been a negative force in the past when others have struggled, but he's got to be positive now and push them on.

 

[Fabio]

One thing he must do now, as captain, is work with the young players, encourage them and guide them. He's been a negative force in the past when others have struggled, but he's got to be positive now and push them on.

Exactly

 

[Gary25]

What he needs is to not be hauled out for a stupid europa league game in midweek because the other players are cunts. Nor does Gerrard ever ever need to track back. If he jogs back at his own pace, then some fucking cretin like Henderson should sprint back to cover for him. And if he doesn't sprint, then he can go fuck himself back to where he came from. Is what I would be saying at half time.

Aye, his goals, assists and all round productivity in the final third should mean Gerrard doesn't have to track back.

 

[Wizardry]

It's time for Brendan to do the right thing and drop this lazy, moany, de-motivated and unperforming "Captain" of ours.

Another dismal performance. Sick to the back teeth of it.

I'm more sick of people looking for an easy target - any easy target will do.


Gerrard isn't anywhere near what he was 3 years ago when he seemed capable of anything.

Now he's become human but these proclamations that he's "poor", "dismal" and "pitiful" are as dopey as they come.

He's been better than Allen in the last 5 weeks or so, still looks about the only one who's going to open the defense apart from Suarez and his mere presence creates a question mark in the opposition.

Some of his passing was actually average against Swansea in that it looked like just another prem player. Some of it was laser like.

His reluctance to chase back at times is the only truly disturbing part of the game for me; otherwise there are plenty of players falling well short of the standard he's setting.

 

[gkmacca]

I don't think it's fair to assume that anyone criticising Gerrard is doing it because they've decided they need a target. Someone might disagree with the criticisms - fine, fair enough, but the criticism is hardly forced. There's no pleasure involved. Quite the opposite.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

There's no pleasure involved. Quite the opposite.

One must remember that this is the player most of the forum grew up with ... We didn't have Keegan (Sorry Judge), Kenny or even Rushie in his pomp. We had Fowler, Owen and Gerrard. Now Gerrard is becoming 'human' and for those that point that out, it's tough ... One of the greatest players to ever wear our strip is winding down his career.

 

[gkmacca]

Yes. I still don't want to accept that he really is as shot as he seems, which makes the frustration greater. Every time he insists he's fine I half believe it. I guess he's the same...

 

[Sunny]

I don't understand or agree with the lazy, moans, not giving a fuck etc... comments. Sure, he's not the player he was but those type of comments are OTT and uncalled for. Understand the frustrations but people have short memories sometimes .

 

[Loch Ness Monster]

The pressure of playing for us and the expectations of him clearly affect his game, the simple things seem to be challenging at the moment. Watch each of his England performances over the last 12 months since that last bad injury, and it is clear that he is less mobile yet seems to pick the right pass and do the simple stuff well. Even the difficult passes seem to come off.......... I think he is simply trying too hard for us and struggling to meet the demands from an impatient and frustrated crowd.

 

[gkmacca]

There's probably some truth in that.

 

[Woland]

I think it's the opposite. He looks like he's too comfortable with us and makes lazy decisions, raising his game for England.

 

[dantes]

Aye, his goals, assists and all round productivity in the final third should mean Gerrard doesn't have to track back.

Your mistake is in trying to treating everyone fairly. When you do that you end up being a loser. The harsh truth is, it is in our interests to have Henderson run himself to the point of being crippled before we allow Gerrard to shed a single bead of sweat.

We need to win games. Hence we do everything that possibly can be done to keep Gerrard fresh and free to attack for 90 minutes. Henderson and Allen sure as fuck are not match winners, and the only fucking thing they have in their locker than can win us a match is if they take the burden off our best player. Lucas understood and performed that function really well in previous seasons. It's fucking time for the other midfielders to follow suit.

 

[Red Mullet]

Your mistake is starting this thread

Corrected

 

[keniget]

I think it's the opposite. He looks like he's too comfortable with us and makes lazy decisions, raising his game for England.

I think I'd be more inclined to go with that than perhaps some of the other theories.

We saw a pretty good version of Gerrard for England in the summer.

I think he's basically just given up at Liverpool. I bigged Suarez up for working his bollocks off despite not really getting his just rewards... well, Gerrard in some ways has been doing that for 10 years and perhaps it's finally taken it's toll.

 

[Wizardry]

I don't think it's fair to assume that anyone criticising Gerrard is doing it because they've decided they need a target. Someone might disagree with the criticisms - fine, fair enough, but the criticism is hardly forced. There's no pleasure involved. Quite the opposite.

Actually, I personally think many are doing it for that reason macca. When things aren't going well then people want to find a reason - that's human nature. Lucas, Henderson, Carra, Johnson etc have all had their turn but there's no bigger statement than to have a shot at the captain and clubs best player in 30 years........ maybe ever.

If he was genuinely poor then it would be justifiable but he's a long way from the worst performed player on the pitch; I suspect he's more frustrated than any of us that he can't do what he wants to do but the number of times towards the end of the game that he busts a gut to get back in defense; the constant search for the forward pass; his intent to shoot but awareness to try and set it up for someone else are all signs of him wanting to do well.

The fact he consistently hits his passes and the fact he's the only one who consistently opens up the defense with a ball from midfield show he's well and truly good enough. His burst of pace isn't there anymore but at the moment the opposition need to stop Suarez and then Gerrard and Sterling. He needs a couple of other threats elsewhere in the team to relieve some of the attention.

I hear LTW's comments as well - I personally didn't grow up with Gerrard; I grew up watching the last few years of Keegan, Rushie, Kenny, Souness etc. My attachment for Gerrard is because he's one of the greatest players we've ever had who grew up in the stands before he got down to the pitch. The team and the club are as indebted to him as he is to them but the fans are different IMO; I think we're indebted to him as long as he's lacing a boot

 

[Vlads Quiff]

Indeed so Wizz. I don't rate Gerrard as high up the list of Liverpool greats as many do, but like Carra of the last couple of years I think we are justified in any criticism, no one is immune.
I also agree that I don't think he was the ideal choice of captain, he is not a natural leader of men, he may be in a position to lead by example.
However, I do think we need to show the greatest of respect for the guy, in whatever we do say, he has dragged us kicking and screaming through many seasons almost single-handedly , he could have jumped ship, but when it came down to it , he couldn't do it.
I think the form thing is down to a few things, the style does not suit him, all of a sudden Suarez is the Big Cheese in a club where for almost 10 years he has been, that and he is just not playing well.
I don't think this is a permanent thing, but he needs to get over it or prepare to be dropped, as I said before no one is immune, and , like Pepe, it might do him some good.

regards

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Spot on Vlad.

 

[Sunny]

Apart from Gerrard is a Liverpool great and high up there in that list. In my opinion of course.