at least make a plausible criticism like he's lost a bit of pace and doesn't close down as effectively because of age

or he's lost that shot accuracy from 20+ yards out that he used to score from all the time

or he can't do the box to box role because he'd be shattered after 60 mins and need resting regularly

there are valid criticisms to make without making yourself look like an idiot

comment by Robbing_Hoody -Escape goating pre-madonnas so that profits put me in folk law pacifically to show what an shambles Christmas is as it's not rocket sconce cos I'm a massive pendant. (U6374)
posted 55 seconds ago
His reading of the game is nothing short of terrible.
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Never spots a run and I'm surprised he made it at all really especially as he started defensively.

Rafa never liked tactics ether so he had nothing to offer Gerrard coaching wise and within weeks at Chelsea he would have come on leaps and bounds in the realms of perception. You could say he'd free his mind because that's entirely tangible, apparently, and as a Doctor..... Phil knows.
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Spot on

comment by There'sOnlyOneReds (U1721)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by phil neville has three left feet (U13806)
posted 40 seconds ago
comment by There'sOnlyOneReds (U1721)
posted 18 seconds ago
comment by phil neville has three left feet (U13806)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by The Kaiser's Trainers (U5676)
posted 1 minute ago
"Gerrards biggest weakness is reading the game as a deep lying midfielder"

that's exactly what he was nominated for team of the season for doing

are you lacing your crack with mercury and lead again?
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His reading of the game is nothing short of terrible.Part of the reason you shipped so many goals last season was due to Gerrards poor reading of the game,often exposing your defence due to his lack of discipline to sit in front of the back 4 to offer protection.

There was no coincidence in Leicester scoring 2 and creating numerous chances when Brendan decided to play a rested Gerrard in the heart of your midfield.

He is total liability in that role,I'm just gutted that he's fooking off the end of the season
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Gerrard has long been a great reader of the game, highlighted last season when it was the main attribute needed for the role he played, when he was nominated for player of the year at 34 years of age.

You talk some absolute cack but this has to be top of the list.

Jesus.
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Be thankful he's gone the end of the season,your first 11 will be stronger because of it.

How has he performed this year in the same role,will he be up for player of the year again?.
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Yeah Lucas, Henderson or Allen will sure show us that we're better without Gerrard.
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Looking at the Leicester game you might just be right in your assessment there

I think this was always going to be gerrards last season with liverpool. With this in mind do pool fans think rodgers was wrong not letting gerrrard start against madrid away this season.

If he is so terrible at reading the game how could he get so many assists?

comment by roonited (U11635)
posted 5 seconds ago
I think this was always going to be gerrards last season with liverpool. With this in mind do pool fans think rodgers was wrong not letting gerrrard start against madrid away this season.

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Rodgers saved Stevie from humiliation by keeping him out of the side,he should be thankful that his last game against a genuine European giant only ended in a 3-0 defeat

I don't think we had much chance at all at points v Madrid. We almost knicked a point when we brought Gerrard on late. So it was the right decision tactically in hindsight.

you could make a case that it wasn't good for morale and was conceding defeat, but you could also say that based on form, none of the regualr starters deserved to start anyway.

there isn't an obvious right or wrong on this IMO

comment by Robbing_Hoody -Escape goating pre-madonnas so that profits put me in folk law pacifically to show what an shambles Christmas is as it's not rocket sconce cos I'm a massive pendant. (U6374)
posted 1 minute ago
If he is so terrible at reading the game how could he get so many assists?
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Defensively he has no idea,letting opposing players stroll past him without picking them up,constantly exposing your back 4 to midfield runners,he's a joke.

He can pick a pass,but even that now is on the wane this season and he's even been dropped from taking corners and freekicks during games

well considering he started lie, and excelled at, defensive roles, is known as a box to box midfield general, and his crunching tackles were effectively trademarked.....

isn't it more likely that he's lost pace and stamina rather than the ability to play football and defend?

seems a lot more likely as a reason

unless you just don't like him and will say just about anything negative to fish for a fight. which also seems fairly likely.

It's amazing so many knowledgeable people in the game have been tricked into thinkin Gerrard is world class for 15 years, give that you - in your infinite wisdom - have highlighted his serious deficiencies. It's a miracle he even knows how to kick a ball.

comment by 🔥💩He's French, He's Flash... I'm sorreh teh say it's Moyseh... (U9335)
posted 1 minute ago
It's amazing so many knowledgeable people in the game have been tricked into thinkin Gerrard is world class for 15 years, give that you - in your infinite wisdom - have highlighted his serious deficiencies. It's a miracle he even knows how to kick a ball.
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You believe he was 'World Class' for 15 years then so be it that's your view.

This World class player was used as a utility player for the first few years of his career,he also was moved from his preferred position more than once by different managers so they could play more suited 'better' players in his position.

To me a true World class player doesn't get shunted around,his pure class alone would cement his role in the side and lesser players fit in around.

Purely opinion,your opinion he was World class for 15 years,my opinion he was a great player for a few years,but pundits(mostly ex Liverpool) and fans perpetuated the myth that he has been a top top player year in year out.

He hasn't simple as

Dr Phil is genuinely the most clueless poster on this site and that takes some doing.

comment by There'sOnlyOneReds (U1721)
posted 3 minutes ago


Dr Phil is genuinely the most clueless poster on this site and that takes some doing.
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Another great contribution by toor

I don't think he was world class for 15 years, but he broke into the Liverpool first team as a promising youngster and cemented his place in the squad. By 2003/4 he was one of the best in his position and by 2005 was undoubtedly world class - a level he maintained for at least another 6 years.

comment by 🔥💩He's French, He's Flash... I'm sorreh teh say it's Moyseh... (U9335)
posted 2 minutes ago
I don't think he was world class for 15 years, but he broke into the Liverpool first team as a promising youngster and cemented his place in the squad. By 2003/4 he was one of the best in his position and by 2005 was undoubtedly world class - a level he maintained for at least another 6 years.
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You said clearly earlier that you believed he was World class for the last 15 years(I have not altered this like you did with something I typed earlier)

t's amazing so many knowledgeable people in the game have been tricked into thinkin Gerrard is world class for 15 years, give that you - in your infinite wisdom - have highlighted his serious deficiencies. It's a miracle he even knows how to kick a ball.

My opinion on Gerrard is that he was a great player for Liverpool for a few years but has largely dined on his past exploits.

Not said he was never a great player at all like some have tried to say,but he certainly got more praise in certain quarters than he actually deserved

Over 15 years he has been lauded at first a top talent, then a top player, then world class. Not once in the last 15 years has he ever been considered anything less than a potentially world class and then unequivocally world class player. The way you've been going on you'd think he was on a par with that ginger lad who had one good season at Reading before Chelsea spùnked a load of cash on him

all British players get the better media hype fullstop

I don't think it would be fair to single Gerrard out for the general domestic media bias. He didn't get any more or less than the other domestic 'stars'

I don't think Gerrard ever got more praise than he deserved. He earned all the praise he got by regularly being the best player on the pitch.

To me a true World class player doesn't get shunted around,his pure class alone would cement his role in the side and lesser players fit in around.
=================

You don't rate Rooney? He's quite good.

Either way you're showing a shocking understand if you think Gerrard was shunted round due to a lack of ability.

Scholes on the left for England

Hargreaves (who was class) shunted to defence

Essien used to get moved to defence despite arguably being the best in his position in the league

Suarez was a right sided forward/wiinger who got pushed to centreforward. Although that only lasted until we bought sturridge and we moved him to more of an off the striker role.

Rooney as an attacking mid even under Fergie

I think players get moved because they are versitile and have enough class to be effective in multiple positions.

Gerrard didn't get 'shunted' anywhere due to a lack of ability. Benitez wanted to play with two holding midfielders - Alonso and Mascherano - with Gerrard behind Torres. Considering he played some of his finest football in that role I hardly see how it can be used as a stick to beat him with... If anything it highlighted his overall quality and versatility. That is not a bad quality. Look at how Giggs and Pirlo were able to prolong their careers through being versatile enough to adapt to new positions - but both still needed and had the quality to adapt to and perform to a decent level in those positions.

Oh and as for "true world class players" not getting moved between positions, Messi and Ronaldo both frequently get switched between the wings and central roles. Are they not world class, because sometimes their managers want them on the wing?

I mean seriously, in any given season Messi will play striker, winger, second striker and number 10.. Can't be world class.

Rafa Benitez talks about Steven Gerrard's decision:

"If I could think of one word to describe Steven Gerrard it would be ‘passion’. He was my captain at Liverpool Football Club for six seasons and we worked closely together to develop a side that could win the Premier League and the Champions League. Without Steven we could not have achieved the incredible success that we enjoyed throughout those years."

"The ‘Miracle of Istanbul’ was only possible because of him. Steven inspired the team that night, refusing to believe it was an impossible job at half time against AC Milan. He led the charge with a wonderful headed goal and showed the determination needed to win a penalty for our third goal. And when called upon to sacrifice his position on the pitch for the team he didn’t hesitate. It was the perfect stage for him to showcase his talents, and Steven and the other Liverpool players were rewarded with the European Cup. He nearly always thrived on the big occasion, producing one of the great FA Cup goals as we beat West Ham at the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff. And the partnership he developed with Fernando Torres produced some of the most exciting attacking football the Premier League has ever seen."

"After hearing the news today that Steven will leave Liverpool at the end of the season I wanted to wish him all the best for the future and thank him for his all his hard work during the time I was at Anfield."

"Liverpool FC is not just losing a great athlete, or a great footballer. The club is losing its ‘red’ heartbeat. Steve, remember, you’ll never walk alone."

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NOTE
"And when called upon to sacrifice his position on the pitch for the team he didn’t hesitate."