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Gerrard will leave a ship without its Captain

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Steven-GerrardSPORTS players are only truly appreciated when they are gone – sold, injured, retired, no longer with the sport they have occupied and served so well because they are taken for granted and their presence is overlooked.

One example would be when Lucas Leiva was injured for Liverpool away at Chelsea in the 2011/12 season and had been outstanding for the previous six months. He missed the rest of the season and Jay Spearing or Charlie Adam took his place – neither filling it with any conviction or quality.

It is one of the factors for Liverpool’s 8th place finish in the league that season.

However, that doesn’t apply to a certain Steven Gerrard when his name is brought up for conversation between Liverpool and England fans. Against Newcastle, he became only the 24th player to score 100 goals in the Premier League, converting a penalty against Tim Krul. If anything, it would have been apt if this milestone goal had come from a long range drive outside the box, leaving the keeper with no chance, as he has done on countless occasions through the years. Manchester United, Olympiakos, West Ham. The list goes on.

Living in the South East of England has some benefits (warmer weather etc), but the main drawback is the 250 miles between home and Anfield – therefore I don’t get to attend as many home games as I’d like. However, on the 3rd August 2013 I decided that there was one game I had to get to. For whilst some may say this was a meaningless occasion, those inside Anfield one the day would viciously disagree, as well as every other Liverpool fan and sports fans who have watched Steven Gerrard.

It was his testimonial, and to many it was more important than any old league game. Yes of course Liverpool fans would swap an occasion like this for the Premier League title – Gerrard would be at the front of the queue – but this match allowed everyone who had witnessed everything he had done (and continues to do still) for Liverpool Football Club to gesture their everlasting gratitude. And I was honoured to be one of the fortunate to be inside the stadium.

The programme, the fans singing the Gerrard song, even the arrival of Olympiakos was all tailored perfectly for the perfect day for Liverpool’s captain. The victory, however enjoyable, was not the main event. It was the fans, united as one, standing up to commend Gerrard from the beginning to the very end and the electric atmosphere was breathtaking and completely unforgettable.

There will be a day when he hangs up his boots forever, and whilst hopefully that day will not come for a while, especially if continues to play at the highest level, it is something we need to be prepared for. This is because Gerrard’s departure will sever the final link of the Academy graduates of the 90s, playing in a Liverpool team and surrounded by staff who had links to the glory days of the 1970s and ’80s and of Shankly, Paisley, Fagan and Dalglish.
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Yes, Gerrard was obviously not playing in those days but he is almost the end of a family tree, a succession line that stretches back over 40 years and has been gradually depleting in the last couple of decades. Jamie Carragher has recently walked away from the playing side of football, leaving just Gerrard and despite attempts from other Academy players to break through, from Spearing and Conor Coady to Martin Kelly and Adam Morgan, Gerrard is the only first team player with memories of another age.

It will be incredibly hard to replace him, but there are candidates who could grow at least to fill some of the space vacated by arguably the greatest player Liverpool have ever had (debate still goes on – Gerrard vs Dalglish).

Jordan Henderson is a player currently on Liverpool’s books who has qualities that seem similar to his captain – bursting forward, working tirelessly, being able to pick a pass and now starting to score some goals. However, he is way off the world class qualities he needs to pick up the mantle, and only time will tell if he comes close to reaching it. One player who exists across Stanley Park is Everton’s emerging midfielder Ross Barkley. Extremely talented and a player who Gerrard has actually encouraged to stay at Everton (!), Barkley is someone tipped for great things in the future and possibly in the present too, with very similar qualities to Gerrard. He now needs to consistently display it and especially in the most pressurized matches. However, it would be problematic to say in the least for Liverpool to be able to sign Barkley, but there might be someone in football in England to compare Gerrard to once Barkley has fully matured and Gerrard is gone.

But forget replacements. There is no one out there who could ever replace Steven Gerrard and eclipse what he has done for Liverpool. There may be players in the future who perform on an even higher level than Gerrard, with past names such as Pele and present names such as Lionel Messi coming to mind. However, his devotion to his one club, his leadership and presence and his incredible timing when producing his best football has helped inspire Liverpool to fantastic results that will live forever in the memory. The rule that occurs in sport will not apply to Gerrard, as he is worshipped at Liverpool and never taken for granted, and it is a testament and a tribute to the incredible legacy he has created, which will stand the test of time.

Having sadly missed Liverpool’s glory years, most of the successes I have seen and will remember have had Steven Gerrard as the main inspiration, the heroic leader who drags Liverpool single-handedly back into games which appear lost. He the captain I have grown up with, and even though I am immensely biased and love Stevie, I will miss him when he retires. Not because I under value him and will then realise his importance, but because of the polar opposite. Vincent Kompany sums it up nicely on Twitter:

‘Steven G is awesome. Best P.L player I’ve ever played against’.

I managed to go to the testimonial of the greatest player ever to play for Liverpool. Not a bad match to add to my growing Anfield collection.

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8 comments

  • aaron says:

    Can’t speak highly enough of the guy. Sheer class!!!!

  • FSG Out says:

    Know your LFC history. When Souness left in the mid-80’s it was the first year we went without either the European Cup or League title in 7 years. Now THAT is what i call a captain and competitor!! Ha haaa!!

  • john kamau says:

    lack of useage of players from youth group make it hard to get the best

  • stevie says:

    Jordan rossiter looks a good bet to take over eventually but are we brave enough to play someone who comes through our academy? Playing someone who comes through the ranks……..I know……ridiculous concept!!

  • MoezLadjimi says:

    Steven G
    Is the best best player
    Hi can play any where
    For me he is hero don’t forget
    2005 Istanbul not even
    Maradona will change that game????
    His the best and I’m so proud to
    Be L F C supporter

  • JamieG says:

    Incredible player who has done some amazing things in a Liverpool shirt, BUT, still put him third behind Souness and Dalglish, and in that order.

  • Marshall says:

    No Carra . No Reina . When Gerrard quits there will be no leaders .

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