Steven Gerrard

Why have Liverpool and Sky been using Bret Hart's catchphrase all evening to describe Gerrard? Even Alan bleedin' Parry uttered the "best there is, best there was, best there ever will be" comment as though it's something those genius Scousers came up with for Stevie G.

Liverpool had it written on their cards for fans to hold up too. Couldn't they get something about Hulk Hogan to fit, brother?

 

Aye, but Bret won titles....

Stevie's no sharpshooter.

 

Didn't have the ambition to leave them to win many more trophies than he has. Should have joined Chelsea the two times he had a chance to and then he'd have won the premiership. Should have tested himself abroad at one of the best teams in Europe. Underachieved for England despite his ability. Stood out more playing for Liverpool because they haven't had that many players of similar level during his time there.

 

Never won a Premiership title; a beacon of mediocrity in an England side which won nothing.

Based on the above, it's as though Andros Townsend or Ryan Shawcross is retiring.

He did win a Champions League, though, so we can raise him to the level of, say, Helder Postiga in terms of his accomplishments.

 

Lack of ambition? Come on!

Look at Michael Owen & Ashley Cole & how little respect Liverpool & Arsenal fans have for them to see why he made the right decision staying at Liverpool & not moving to Chelsea.

The stood out more because he played with weaker players doesn't really work because he had his best spell when he was surrounded by 3 world class players in Torres, Mascherano & Alonso.

I do think more of our players should test themselves abroad but he was captain of Liverpool & is a Liverpool lad, I don't blame him for not going to Real Madrid. There fans are proper bell ends as well, look at the hammer they've given Bale & in the past they even abused Zidane!

 

I don't get why people refer to medals when comparing the ability of players.

It's a stupid argument.

Andy Cole, Sherringham, Solskjaer & Yorke won more premiership medals than Shearer, none were better.

Stephane Guivarch has won a World Cup & Messi hasn't, he's definitely not better.

What's a greater achievement, winning a few premiership medals surrounded by world class players or leading a team to one European cup victory surrounded by Biscan, Baros, Cisse, Traore & Kewell?

 

Erm Matt Le Tissier?

 

What's your point?

 

It's good for Liverpool that he's going. They've been much better when he hasn't played this season.

 

Fantasmic end to a mediocre footballers career at his home stadium. Well done Palace !!!!

 

I for one won't knock him for not winning medals etc. I think he's been a superb footballer. I just think Lampard is/was better, and not just because of the medals, but because of what I saw over the last 17 years or whatever. I think he was too loyal to Liverpool in the end. Lampard did it for West Ham initially, then became Chelsea's best ever player, and even on his last legs he did very well for City.

Both he and Gerrard were both wet lettuces for England though. But then, as you say, Messi (and Ronaldo) aren't as effective for their countries.

Great player, Gerrard. Will go down in history as one of the finest to come out of England.

 

I think our national side would be better if more of our top players in their prime tested themselves with a different culture/language/lifestyle. It's insane some of the names he's being mentioned to in the same breathe for premiership all time midfielders like........

Paul Scholes with his medals.
Frank Lampard accomplishments and Chelsea all time scorer.
Patrick Viera part of the Invincibles.
David Beckham league title won in four different countries.

 

He was an excellent player for Liverpool, but more often than not, he disappointed for England. He wasn't rubbish in the national side, and he did have some good games, but he never lived up to his potential and rarely matched his performances in the Premier league. Not being a Liverpool fan, I don't have much interest in what he did for them. He was a virtual ever present in a very disappointing period for the national side, and as a fan of England I don't hold him too high regard. I don't dislike him either, but he was just OK and had a good game once every ten games or so.

 

I suppose my original and main point is the type of player he was. Put that in a Barnsley shirt (relative ability accepted) every week and I'd be besotted

 

Neil Redfearn would be the obvious Barnsley equivalent. He could tackle, pass, run with the ball, beat a man and shoot as well as any player I've ever seen. IMHO he had a sot on him much better than Gerrard and if you put together a show reel of the two players' goals, I believe Redfearn's would be more impressive.

Gerrard had better defensive qualities, I can't imagine Redfearn would have ever been used at full back like Gerrard sometimes was or be asked to sit in front of the back four, and Gerrard could claim to have a better range of passing that was more accurate, although not significantly better.

I believe the major difference between the two players was their athletic ability. Not that Redfearn was poor in this regard. He'd run all game and the way he looked after himself coupled with his natural fitness allowed him to extend his career long past the point when many players retire, but he didn't quite have the pace which, in my opinion, was the primary reason he only played 2 and half season in the top flight.

Gerrard was an amazing natural athlete, blessed with speed, strength and stamina way above the majority of his peers. Had Redfearn been lucky enough to be born with that same natural athleticism, I have no doubt he would have spent the majority of his career in the top flight and represented his country.

Potentially, we have a player on the books right now with the same attributes as Redfearn and Gerrard. He's nowhere near there yet, but Josh Scowen can tackle, he can pass, he can run with the ball and he can beat an opposition player. Not sure about his shooting yet, we appear to have a policy at Barnsley that no one should ever shoot under any circumstances, but it's early days. As yet, there is no comparison, but the potential is there and I'm looking forward to seeing how he progresses next season.

Speaking of Neil Redfearn:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/leeds-sack-neil-redfearn-because-5709088

Massimo Cellino really must learn to keep his big mouth shut, because if he did say those things, Neil Redfearn may very well chin him. I kind of hope he does.

 

The management of the England side in the 2000's was terrible.

In the early 2000's we had one of the best central midfielders in Scholes & played him on the left wing, we then had Gerrard in the late 2000's who was one of the best players on the planet as an attacking midfielder been played as a defensive midfielder or on the left wing & Frank Lampard in the middle in a 4 man midfield when he didn't have the athleticism for the role & no club manager would play him there.

I still can't believe we went to a tournament with Beckham on the right, Gerrard & Lampard in the middle & Scholes on the left. Balance of that midfield was *****.

And then we continued to play Heskey just so Beckham had someone to ping crosses to.

Simon Davey could've done a better job with the golden generation than Eriksson, McLaren & Capello did.

Managers just picking big names year after year rather than our best team. It's no coincidence that when we actually played a defensive player in front of the back 4 in Nicky Butt in 2002 we came closest to success. Even though he wasn't a great player he was a square peg in a square hole & he only got a run in the team due to injuries.

Can't believe how bad we did with Neville, Terry, Rio, Sol, Cole, Beckham, Lampard, Gerrard, Scholes, Owen & Rooney.

Look at the depth we had at centre back, as well as Rio, Sol & Terry there was Carragher who was beating top teams in Europe with Liverpool, Woodgate who was that good at the time Real Madrid took him & Ledley King who like Woodgate would've been a top player were it not for injuries. We'd kill for that sort of talent now.

I don't blame Gerrard, Lampard or any player for been **** for England. I blame the managers, who kept making the same mistakes & not learning.

 

Sums up my feelings to a tee.

 

On Heskey - the reason why he was played so much is because he was a good foil for Owen. MO states him to be the best partner he had.