WE are only just clear of game six and I have to force myself to voice what many Liverpool fans are thinking: are we seeing Stevie’s last campaign?
Although I still see flashes of brilliance in the occasional seeing-eye pass that lands perfectly at Jordan Henderson’s or Daniel Sturridge’s feet, the frequency of these moments of magic seem to be decreasing. More than this, our captain and preeminent warrior shows a level of disinterest in recent games that worries me and opens the team to more full blooded attacks and counters.
Of course I could be totally off the mark in that Steven has been given a new role in which he is less involved in the offensive aspect of the game. Perhaps he has been instructed by Brendan Rodgers to limit his lateral movement and concentrate more on cutting off passing lanes, but I still don’t sense the fire and commitment we have come to expect from a man who has single-handedly won us games and even trophies.
He is far more subdued in celebrations and generally looks tired and distracted. This used to be his team but he has ceased to be the focus; rather than the team conforming to his strengths, it has found other distractions that have left the captain as an afterthought. The disruptions of the last two years have ignored the team and its long time icon to focus on the manager and Luis Suarez – individuals rather than the group.
[ad_pod id=”unruly-video” align=”center”]
I think that somewhere in there Gerrard lost something – his desire, his joy in playing the game, or even his confidence in his own superiority. Players at the level of the Premiership need some sort of indefinable edge, a belief in themselves that allows them to eschew doubt and concentrate almost single mindedly on their craft.
What is to be done? Nothing. I think that the skipper is still better than any pretenders to his position. Joe Allen? Don’t make me laugh. Although he has yet to show us what he is capable of, he still lacks the height and presence of Gerrard. Luis Alberto? Not yet and maybe not ever. Although we have a very capable number 10 in Philippe Coutinho, we have no dominating midfielder to pair with Lucas.
I certainly hope that Gerrard regains his form and terrorizes opponents as he has done throughout his career at Anfield. He deserves to go out a legend and he deserves one more shot at the Champions League. If he returns to his previous form and the team continues to gel as they have so far, perhaps he (and we) will see European nights again. I am sure that all Liverpool FC fans will get behind the team and sing his song in many games to come.
Live4Liverpool is recruiting columnists. For further info contact the site editor at live4liverpool@snack-media.com
Follow us on Twitter here: @live4Liverpool and ‘Like’ us on Facebook
Gerrard should joining the management instead of the 2 years contract extension. Gerrard will be the most fearful future manager for LFC !!!
Gerrard should have retired from England team after Euro 2012. His performance against Swansea after the international break was very poor. He looked very tired and not up to speed
A spell on the bench works wonders and would give him a good wake up call.Sometimes you just got to except your best days are behind you and liverpool fans must except that too Gerrard was never a world class player just a player that could do world class things. Liverpool fans and England fans overlooked all his miss placed passes because he would pop up with one pass that would lead to a goal then everything was all right.The game is getting faster and he is getting slower time to move on
Shut up u.. Gerrard not world class ?? Are u a man u fan or summin ??
Your having a laugh.you don’t know what your talking about.stevie is on of the greatest footballers ever.even all his piers say it.a true legend.show some respect.do you even look at football.dope
I do feel gerrard has not been up to his usual high standards, to claim that gerrard is not a world class player is criminal and an insult to the man. Clearly age has caught up with him and he is no longer the player he used to be but you can’t deny the fact that he would walk into any team in the world, even Zinedine Zidane acknowledge him as a world class player. Thank you.
In order to consistantly play in world class balls surly makes u world class.. Are u trying to say the quality of balls he delivers is a fluke or just luck ?? I think not.. He may not be the player he was but he is still the same man.. He needs a rest.. Its as simple as that
I agree with you wholeheartedly. I also think it was not only Stevie who was tired but most of our team. My main point was that he can’t be expected to play 90 minutes anymore, especially following international duty.
I also think that Stevie still belongs on the national team at least as much as Frank Lampard and Rio Ferdinand. The man is class all the way and I watch him intently for every match.
Your a dope
maybe he is playing further back where he is told so you dont see him as the first person to congratulate the scorer like you use to. Did you not see the migonlet penalty save and how stevie who was right there reacted ?
I think I admitted as much in my opening paragraphs. Stevie has always been a good soldier and follows the Managers instructions to the letter. That may well be the case here.
Gerrard is by far the best midfielder we have, here lies the problem. we have the worst midfield i have seen at Anfield, if Gerrard is below par, it sticks out like a sore thumb, as he does’nt have the players with the quality required around him, so he can’t hide. Lucas and Allen could’nt lace his boots, Henderson is a squad player at best and we’ve had to loan Chelsea reject Moses because Rodgers does’nt trust Sterling or Ibe enough.
I agree. IM not impressed with hendo at all.. Hes the new kuyt.. Works his socks off but not got the required quality..
No, we need Henderson , Lucas to do more in mf. It will come gradually. Steve as playmaker.
If you remember last season he started poorly then as well but soon picked up just before xmas and then never looked back. This season it’s bit of the same and this week he has already said he needs to pick it up by xmas, he’s his own worst critic.
Even when he’s poor he’s still probably our best Midfielder bar Coutinho what does that say about the others???
He has the beautiful pass to Sturridge that leads to a Suarez goal in the 36th minute. 88th minute, he has two defensive headers. The last header leads to a Sunderland corner which we defend successfully and leads to a counter and another Suarez goal.
However, everything that is written in this article is not far off the mark. I see it as well. I think it is his age and tired legs. He needs to be a sub or not on the bench every few games. Who will step up in Gerrard’s shoes?
This is a joke, our own fans questioning stevie g’s talent?
He hasn’t been great this season, and nor will he be until rogers does the right thing and sit him behind the front two, where he should be!
I know Gerard’s not the same player as 2005 but we’re talking about captain marvel, a premier league talent, not some dope on a Sunday morning, if you think Gerard hasn’t got the strength, will and desire to get from box to box still then you’re stupid.
He could do it all with his eyes closed and Brendan Rodgers is holding back his natural game, and to top it off, coutinho, who has been dictating our games is injured and we’re completely missing a midfield between the defence and forwards but he’s still getting him to play holding mid? The mind boggles?
Put stevie in the middle behind the best strike force in the prem and see what happens!
It’s driving me mad.
Ynwa.
i agree, houllier and benitez realised he was more effective in an advanced role. put him behind the front two!!!!!
people questioning stevie g? shame on you, he will score some crucial goals this season, mark my words
33 years old. Missed 10 months of the season before last with a hip injury followed by groin infection.
What you’re seeing now is a Steven Gerrard devoid of his running power. A natural reduction in his on field influence is inevitable. Same thing happened to Keane and Viera these all action midfieiders hit the wall in their 30s. Problem is the delusional fans still think this Gerrard is the Istanbul version. That guy is gone. Gerrard is now a one in five performer with the occasional hollywood ball thrown in.
i feel compelled to comment on this terrible piece of journalism.for starters steven gerrard has looked more focused this season than he was in the last three for many reasons like injuries ,transitions that all players go through at the latter parts of their careers and the team being *.even if we had messi the past few seasons we still would have been bipolar with form.i think you have too look jt the players stevie had around him and what position he was playing when he was on fire.alonso and javier wer in the hole with jamie and samie behind them.the spine of the team was like a rock which aloud stevie the freedom to do what he please without having to worrie about losing the ball or thinking about defending.to question steven gerrards commitment to liverpool is like questioning your commitment to being a -journalist its a childish attemt at analyses.for you to disrespect the best liverpool player ever and in my opinion the greatest example of a true leader and captain football can offer is only to disrespect your loyalty as a fan and your ability as a journalist.what happend to practicing you’ll never walk alone.for me you are making a meagre attemt to question the heartbeat of our team.if he gets injuries again you will see how much hes been contributing to our good form
I totally agree wit ur write up. U really r a true fan, don’t mine the backbiting fans!!!
First of all, that was then and this is now. I would never disparage Steven Gerrard and still consider him Liverpool’s marquee player. That being said, I stand behind my comments in the article. It is because I love Stevie that I watch him closely in every game. It is still a fact that we struggle when he has an off game, demonstrating his importance to the team. I feel that most of his diminished participation in offense is a result of change of position and team strategy. I do feel, however, that his appearances in so many matches during the course of the year and his participation on the national team tend to overtax his strength and lead to the things that I talk about in the article.
I realize that there will come a day when we will no longer be able to enjoy the fluidity and sheer talent of our skipper. Rather than ignoring the fact that there must be a certain decline in performance I would rather appreciate every opportunity to see him play – with the knowledge that he is a superior man but still a man.
Thank you for the comment.
In the last few matches , sad to say Stevie’s form had been dropping together with Lucas. That is why our defense been put under tremendous pressure.
well Stevie is getting old power and vision aint the same .Not playing behind the strikers is no excuse no.8 can even play like no.6 and still change games eg Yaya Pirlo Xabi
Come on liverpool
Lucas is too poor and thus depressing stevie’s performance get somebody like Yaya Toure and you will see that G is the pure General.