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Steven Gerrard's Injury Is Good For Liverpool
His status as Captain Fantastic is assured, but do Liverpool's other players play better without him? Is it possible that the team is actually a stronger unit without Anfield's very own Roy of The Rovers?
Steven Gerrard has been the architect of a high-percentage of the moments that have made the goose bumps and mercury rise in unison and turned me into screaming lunatic. The Champions League final against AC Milan where he used the platform of Didi Hamann to almost single-handedly drag Liverpool back into the match, the 2006 FA Cup final where his winner turned me into a floor punching madman at a packed Belfry in Birmingham in front of a load of millionaire golfers and at least 50 other goals, tackles and unworldly deeds.
Yet for some reason, amongst all of this, I’ve had an itch to scratch for a while now. Are Liverpool a better team without Steven Gerrard?
I understand that it sounds ridiculous to even think it, but before you eviscerate me in capitals and exclamation marks below, have a think about it. I’ve spoken to other Liverpool supporters about this, some have agreed, some have said it’s nonsense and other have sat on the fence. I’m guilty myself of thinking all three depending which way the wind blows and whether one of his Hollywood passes ends up in the Anny Road or at the feet of a striker. No player in my adulthood has done more to drag an often average Liverpool team kicking and screaming from the pits of poor football to winning games. He has been the heart, lungs, voice and studs of Liverpool for so long now that to imagine Liverpool without him and also Jamie Carragher is nigh-on impossible.
Steven Gerrard is a fantastic footballer, still on his day a man capable of winning games on his own, besting anyone Barca, United or Real Madrid place in front of him and forcing the hairs on my neck into a footballing version of prickly heat, and his status as one of, if not the, greatest footballer Liverpool have ever had is assured.
So what, you may ask, am I banging on about? I’ll explain.
Steven Gerrard is a legend in his own lunchtime. Every academy player, foreign signing, kit man and tea lady look up to him, they want to impress him, they want him to think they are good at their jobs. As far as a cuppa goes, this is a good thing, no-one wants weak tea in the morning, but his status and inclusion in the team can, at times, have a negative effect on the players around him. In the first instance they try too hard, players like Lucas, Meireles and even Spearing play better when Gerrard is not around. They focus more on their jobs and less on trying to get in the captain’s good books with ill-adjudged flicks and glamour balls.
Liverpool have an icon in charge and and an icon with the captains armband, the challenge is of course if they can become a symbiotic unit in the mould of Keane and Ferguson and lift others around them to glory rather than turn them into shrinking violets.
In the second instance Gerrard, as the icon, demands the ball. He is a living, breathing, Roy of the Rovers, he has dragged Liverpool out of the mire on so many occasions that his mindset has had to be that of ‘give it to me and I’ll do the rest.’ This was fine with say Maradona at Napoli, Diego is a once in a lifetime player who could do the lot and also played in a more advanced position. When Gerrard plays in a central midfield position, which he will now surely have to with Suarez, Carroll and hopefully a couple more attacking players coming in, his barnstorming nature and occasional tactical naiveties affect the shape of the team. It is no surprise that when Liverpool finished second to Manchester United in 2008-09 Gerrard played off Torres and ahead of the perfect pairing of Alosno and Mascherano, a Quaterback and a destroyer who gave the team a perfect balance.
The third part of this conundrum is potentially a very positive one; can Liverpool be a better team with Steven Gerrard in it? Can Kenny Dalglish change Gerrard’s perception of himself as a marauding one-man army and turn him into a stoic general. Can the king convince his prince that he doesn’t need to build the team around him, but instead make him a glittering and essential component of a team that can grow with him and beyond his eventual retirement?
Gerrard has said that he fells fitter than he has done for years following the groin surgery he underwent and that, in principal, bodes well for Liverpool. The stickability and trickery of Luis Suarez adds a breadth to Liverpool’s play that we have missed, Andy Carrolll is adept at bringing others into the game – Kevin Nolan, a very destitute tramp’s Gerrard, scored most of his goals off Carroll’s knockdowns – and could ask for no better player to knock balls down to in shooting range, Lucas has grown into a player capable of filling Mascherano’s size fives and the addition of genuine width should give Gerrard a lot more to aim at with his cross-field passing.
In principal, the addition of two or three more genuine international class players should also take the pressure off Gerrard and allow him to focus on his strengths. Liverpool have an icon in charge and and an icon with the captains armband, the challenge is of course if they can become a symbiotic unit in the mould of Keane and Ferguson and lift others around them to glory rather than turn them into shrinking violets.
So have Liverpool been a better team without Steven Gerrard? Yes. Can they a better team with him? Yes again. I can’t wait to find out what happens. Six weeks and counting.
YNWA.
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COMMENTS
No team in the world would be better without Stevie, still the best!
YOU ARE WRONG!
That is a load of shite sorry but could be the worst article i have ever seen You tool!
I understand the logic behind it Owen, but I can see a lot of scousers hitting the roof, #calmdowncalmdown, he is due a good season, after last years write off
Bazualdo are you a lfc fan cos if you are you not scouse and you need to show the liverpool people a bit of respect or fuck right off that is not even funny you sad cunt
The only spell of the season where Liverpool actually played decent football was for the vast majority, without Steven Gerrard. So i think there is some basis for this article, Liverpool fans take your blinkers off.
Many people, most of them not Liverpool fans, but not all, have been saying this for the last 5 years or so. But let's make one small point upfront; the last time Steven Gerrard played for Liverpool they tore champions elect, Man Utd, a new spincter. I've been a Liverpool season ticket holder for many years and Gerrard is certainly the best player that I've seen in red since John Barnes. But, make no mistake, he's nowhere near as good a player as the man who is now his boss. Gerrard is a very special and sometimes gifted player but not a very intelligent one in terms of tactics and strategy. This was highlighted for me after the departure of players who were, like Gary MacAlister, Danny Murphy and latterly, Xavi Alonso. For me, there have long been parallels which could be drawn between Gerrard and Bryan Robson at Man Utd, in that he too was a great player, albeit not as good as Gerrard, but his club only ever seriously challenged for the league once Robson had largely been replaced as he came to the end of his career. However, the key to Gerrard and Liverpool's future is the man I've already mentioned; Kenny Dalglish. The arrival of Dalglish has changed Gerrard's standing in the icon stakes. Stevie's no longer the main man. Dalglish was a better player than Gerrard and he's also one of the great managers in English football history. Only Dalglish and two other legends; Herbert Chapman and Brian Clough have ever won the title with two different clubs. But in the global community that is Liverpool Football Club, Kenneth Mathieson Dalglish is so much more than any these things due to the part he played in the dark days immediately after Hillsborough. Calls for the knighthood that he is surely due to receive sometime soon started back then. As for Gerrard, well, as I've already said; the last time he played for Liverpool they destroyed Man Utd at Anfield, which can't be over-looked. However, the view expressed in the article began to become more widespread as Kenny's team, with Suarez at it's heart, blitzed its way through the latter stages of the season, playing The Liverpool Way, better than at any time since the days of Roy Evans, without Gerrard. In my opinion, this was down to the presence of Dalglish (and the coaching of Steve Clarke), not the absence of Gerrard. I believe that we will find out whether Liverpool are better off with or without Gerrard this season. My feeling is that he will be a part of a successful Liverpool side for the remainder of career. But if he doesn't work out then Dalglish will do whatever he thinks necessary and because of The King's unique status, the fans, myself included, will back him to the hilt in whatever he decides to do.
I really enjoyed this article and completly understand the topics behind it.raul meireles what a different player when stevie g wasnt around it seems like all players stepped up to the plate alot more.i think after his time out last season even gerrard has a different respect for his liverpool team mates due to there stellar performances without him.dont get me wrong though id rather have our squad sheet with gerrards name glowing in midfield rather than to not even grace the subs bench.cant wait to see him back in action and hopefully putting his name further more in the history of liverpool footballing legends.a fit stevie g has any team in the premier league worried
Yes, they will be better without him. Currently, everything goes through him and that is blocking the other players from Flourishing which hurting the whole team. As shown late in the last season, they were beating teams that they lost too in the first part of the season with him, Torres and the old clown for a manager. Yes, all three contributed for the teams downfall in the first part of the season but more so Gerrard because he was not functioning properly and if he doesn't function the whole team fails. Play the team without him and they will produce results to prove that they are good enough to be in the team otherwise ship all of them down the drain.
is my dong better without a satchel? that's a ridiculous theory. He would improve any midfield. why not ours?
Liverpool score on average a goal a game more when Gerrard's not playing than when he is.
Liverpool without stevie is not liverpool at all
Ok, i'll be honest and say I only read the first few paragraphs of this article before I decided I would read no more. No doubt, a big part of the article IS to provoke reaction by making such a bold
Ok, i’ll be honest and say I only read the first few paragraphs of this article before I decided I would read no more. No doubt, a big part of the article IS to provoke reaction by making such a bold statement... Without a doubt Stevie-G is the heart and soul of Liverpool. Simply, no, they would not be better without him. Nowadays great world-class players in the premiership are common... whereas players that genuinely care about their club are few. A player like Stevie is irreplaceable... (to the left, to the left)...
nonsense article.how can you leave gerrard out just for average footballers like spearing,shevly,lucas,etc.May your fingers as well as your brain catch some fungal disease
The team was performing better when gerrard was out becase of the appointment of King Kenny. Maxi and meirelles both started to flourish.. Gerrard holds up the ball because he has to.. When we got 2nd behind UTD by 4 points it was because Gerrard at the time was the best player in the world and was playing remarkable football. Liverpool will without a doubt get better with steven gerrard on the pitch. When it comes down to it in the 85th minute the game is tied there is no player I would rather have than steven
I understand the article totally and would say it's not wrong but not right either.. Just a point of view that I for one have shared at some point time. But of late Iv been watching many of the past games he's played and he's one of the best we have ever had our club. His last 3 seasons though have been cursed by injuries, as a result we got to see the team without our captain and we have been just as good. Above MARTIN mentions one of his last games was against the Mancs when we thrashed them 3-1 .. Mate Iv watched that game like atleast 10 and he was the worst LFC player on the pitch his touch and passing was awful most game, except for some late long range shots which were close. Anyways we can't sell him and nor would I want to...I believe this season if injury free will be one of his best... If not the best for the club :)
As a season ticket holder for many, many years, I would agree his status as one of the best is certainly deserved. That said, in recent times, I think the team generally play better as a whole without SG. I have had this debate with mates and fellow fans lots of times, and most of us agree now. Whilst he is a great player, he's not really a team player, or, in my opinion, a great captain. He seems to criticise others rather than motivate them. His sense of position is the weakest part of his game, and when playing centrally in a 4-4-2, it can create lots of problems for us. He's done so many great individual things (and no doubt still will) that have helped win trophies, that I can understand why some disagree, but if you actually go to the game and analyse what he does for 90 mins, and how much more of a unit the team is when he isnt playing, I think others would come round to this opinion. If we can get him back fit, and back to the level of a couple of seasons ago playing on the right or off the striker, I would change my mind. And to be fair, Kenny hasnt had the chnace to get the best out of him. Fingers crossed he can.
Very valid point, and from what we saw last season you have a very just argument that a lot of the players seem to be more unified when Steven isn't there, but thats certainly not Stevens fault and I don't think its because players are trying to impress him. I think Spearing and Gerrard have played very well together but last season didnt really get an oppertunity. Kenny didnt even get a lot of Gerrard playing time so it all remains to be seen. WE've got about twenty CMs for next season so who knows, maybe he'll be sqeezed out the first team........Bazinga
stevie g is going no place,
It's all good then. Gerrard in or out. And before they said it is a two-man team. Then again it is better to complain about positive stuff than say the previous owners.
Heeeey heeey hey firs at all before the shared something think and then published that please the second one that is wrong that's it.....!
you re a disgrace to football u fuckin prick.wat do u mean everyone tries to impress him?is he d club owner or some good chick to impress?utter crap. ps:pls lay off stevie g,cos he is a living legend!!!!
U forget that football is more than the play u see on the pitch all you suckers,Gerrard had injury issues last season n all the fake kops conclude shit on him,real cunts...liverpool midfield remained the same without Gerrard,you forget that the results came because of two main swords,kk n suarez...it had nothing to do with the absence or presence of Gerrard...
Gerrard plays the position he's put in, we'll have to see how he does under Kenny since he didn't get much chance last season before the injury. But i do think that sometimes players can think "if i get the ball to Gerrard i'll be out of danger" whereas if he's not playing they step up a bit and take more responsibility for thier own actions
Well, the last time Stevie played LFC beat Man United 3-1...that fact is a bigger argument than such a big post!
If (and I'm not saying they do) they play better without him, I would say its more because the others get lazy when he's there. Watch the team when he's on, and when he's off.. Generally, they seem more static when he's on, but when he's off there's more movement. It's exactly the same with the national team - they expect him to do all the work. For me, its more about getting the team to keep playing like they do without him, with him - and if anyone can get them to its Kenny. Next season is ours! YNWA
What a idiotic thread!
You are absolutely right, and was of the same opinion at the end of the season after reflecting on our performance. If only other's would at least listen.
With King Kenny around with or without Stevie is not important anymore.
Not a bad article, but I'd like to see some figures to back up the assertion...
Poked the hornet's there OB. Reminds me of the time I shouted "Bull, you're fucking shite," from the middle of the North Bank. Apparently he was above criticism.
i think you hit the nail on the head when you said "They focus more on their jobs and less on trying to get in the captain’s good books" in relation to the other players like lucus etc trying to impress him. If thats one of your theorys then surely its not gerrard thats at fault but the other players mentality. 'Give me the ball and ill do the rest' this is the stevie mee we see sometimes. I found him most effective on the wing crossig in the ball. I dont think there is any defender who can keep him quite in that position. Stopping his swashbuckling runs verged on impossible. Take you best left back from the Uk, ash cole, against him, thats a dreaam clash. I have a feeling kenny will try him out there like rafa did. To summerise, he should be the first player picked on the team sheet, but perhaps his position may have to change. wasting balls has been very common for him the last two years, i think thats more form he is in than ability.
Although I don't go as far as agreeing with the overall sentiment of the article, it is true that the rest of the midfield breathes a sigh of relief when he doesn't play and play with a lot more expression. That said, a fully fit Gerrard should always be the first name on the teamsheet.
He`s been hurt for sometime so it would be nice to see him fit. He is 31 so obviously he is not going to be the same as 26\2. two years ago they relied on Gerrard and torres even when injured possibly to the detriemnt of their futures it seems. I didn`t realise players were scared of him,pro`s huh. his role will have to change but he still extremely valuable
I actually have been thinking about these over the past recent years and I absolutely agree with the author. in my opinion, the reason Liverpool is a better team withou Gerrard is that he is not the best man in tactics and sometimes he just wanders off his position so the other players mst cope with him, that is, because he is the captain and no one will dare to argue with him. although I wouldn't go as far as saying that we don't need Gerrard. he is still a very valuable player and youngsters should look up to him definitely. *sorry for the bad English
Good Article, valid arguments. IMHO the point is not that we are, or, are not better without SG. The point is, he is not the be all and end all. We DO NOT struggle without him. The stats show we are unbeaten in about 77% of games we've played without him. Thats pretty good. All you fools who have blasted the author, called him names, take the blinkers off, do some research and get a life you idiots.
On the evidence of last season you would be right in saying liverpool are better without him, but that goes for most players constantly carrying an injury (Stevie would make light of that cos he usually has to carry the team as well) Lets see when he is fully fit and hungry for silverware in a team capable of delivering.
i always wanted to say this but feared that i'd be thrown to the sharks, any good football analyst will agree that most of the games won LAST season ,in particular were without stevie ...our midfielders panicked too much with him around, but the games without him ,mostly felt like "hey raul,stevie is not around lets see who completes most passes or holds the midfield better,....ok Lucas",.....YNWA
f.ck off gerald the best
what the hell m8,, Just accept that right now we do have players who have been very consistent in the latter part of last season, when Stevie was injured, Players like Suarez and Caroll have just come into the team during that period and Lucas has improved hell of a lot as a defensive midfielder, which he wasnt in the first place. It doesnt mean that they started showing their talents when stevie wasnt around, instaed it means that they have stepped up a level and with stevie back in the team we can only look forward for a fantastic season and in no means I'd agree that, it would make others to perform under pressure, but will only mean that, Liverpool will get even better with him and others,,, YNWA
Any self-claimed Liverpool fans on here should take a long hard look at themselves for saying anything negative about Gerrard. He has been a great servant and a fantastic player and he's still only 31. He has loads to offer and is still one of if not our best player!
Sorry to be pedantic but he didn't score the winner in the 2006 FA Cup Final.
Andy, if he hadnt scored that screamer we probably wouldnt have won that trophy, same goes for the screamer against Olympiacos which sent us to the last 16 and eventually gave us the IStanbul Final and rest as we all knw is history...YNWA "At the end of the storm,is a golden sky"
you guys should appreciate the good thing this talented man has done for his team. he is the best of all, i love him and will always love him..
Lee. Any Liverpool fans who have anything negative to say should have a look at themselves?! Give me a break. My opinion is just as valid as yours. I dont know if you go to the match, but you'd find an awful lot of regulars who dont think he is the messiah. Yes he's been a great, and as I said will rightly be remembered that way. But you also have to look at the whole picture instead of only seeing positives about him. In certain games, we are better off without him.
Definitely not. Liverpool are a better side with Suarez, and Kenny in charge. Even Better with Gerrard in there too. Since Kenny's arrival Liverpool have won 4 out of 5 with Gerrard, including wins over United and Chelsea. Won 6, Lost 4 and drawn 3 without. Over the past 3 seasons averaged 1.87 points/game with Steven Gerrard starting & 1.69 points/game without him.
gerrard behind carrol lucas and mireles or henderson in midfield kuyt on right suarez on left liverpool will be kicking any team with this ..and theres in only 1 person who will step up in big match when his team needs him the most gerrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaaaddddddddd..............nothing can replicate that so take your bullshit and keep it with u ...this all coming from a chelsea fan gerrard is 1 of a kind player he can attack dribble shoot tackle only complete midfielder is essien other than steve g!>......
I didnt even read this article as I knew exactly what it would say. Nonsense. Hatrick against napoli, two against man united... hes still got it!
What the hell are you talking about mate? Grab yourself a couple of beers and think it over!
People who don't agree with this premise clearly haven't been watching the team over the last few seasons. I saw every game last season and they're better without Gerrard. They play as a team rather than giving it to him to hit another long pass into touch.
Amazing article. And yes being a proud red even I am desperate to find what the next season would bring to LFC. ynwa
These replies in a nutshell represent Liverpool fans absolute stubborness in having their heroes doubted. When Torres was abysmal you wanted him, when Gerrard fucked up your system/rythm you still want him. Compare to United, who knew Gary Neville, Roy Keane and Ruud Van Nistelrooy's times were up as they were half the players they were before (although the latter enjoyed a late rennaisance). Liverpool have a great system as it is, with Spearing pressing high up the pitch, giving room to Lucas Leiva to dictate the play from deep. It was proven to work well in the those away games were you brushed the opposition aside (Fulham, sunderland etc.). Gerrard is not a methodical passer like Lucas (always goes for the Hollywood long ball), nor does he have the energy of Spearing to hassle around anymore. Note that Spearing also keep it short and simple, helping keep possesion. Stevie's key attributes have always been physical, his ability to power his way through. with age and injuries he is now a shadow of the player he was. But of course the Scouse will gloss over it because of what he has done before. He was already on the wane when you guys finished 7th for fucks sake. Get with the times, fucking pricks.
@Yassin, thats the thing that separates the LFC from those lousy clubs like manure. We dont throw away people when we dont need them anymore. We dont forget what people have done for us in the past. We try to keep the people who think good for us with us. Which is why, like the great man said, "WE ARE LIVERPOOL"
Yassin, you are the unwiped inner anus of Satans rectum if you think anyone on here gives a crap what Man U did. We like most fans of all clubs hate your club and manager. The sad thing is ye think its success, lads ye were hated EVEN when ye were relegated. Something about your club makes people vomit. please don't tell us what ye did because we will do the exact opposite just to not be like ye. wages decide titles, ye pay the biggest wages, ye get the titles...keep buying the silver ware. by the way Brian Robson was held on by your club long after he could kick a ball straight. interestingly - ye got yer first title when ye got rid of him. so you may have a small point..., very obscure one, but Steven G ISN'T FOR THE GLUE FACTORY by a long shot
Gerrard is a hero for past glory's we have watch, others have highlighted these and goose bumps have rose plenty of times when watching some of these moments, the future though is what really matters and KK has created a system that benefited the club, new additions will aid this system and continue to create a balanced and effective team,, and that's the point, Gerrard will now have to fit to the system or variation of this system, the debate on if he is the first name on the team sheet is valid and an interested choice for KK, i would go as far as saying actually KK has helped Gerrard and the team by taking the pressure off, after all instead of people focusing on the negatives of a bad game, by proclaiming Steve G had a bad game and this is why LFC was not successful. Or Gerrard's out and because of this LFC will struggle - now its Kenny's LFC, its this shifting of pressure that has helped the players when Gerrard is out and it will be the difference when he is back in. Personally Gerrard come off the bench will scare the shit out of some teams + Gerrard as part of an attacking midfield or front 3 will equally scare others - KK will take his pick
its interesting how so many Kopites will scream heresy when such a suggestion is made, yet there are plenty of facts to support the theory such as the number of times, both last season and many time under Rafa, when LFC preformed much better without SG. I, for one would not like to seem SG out of the team, I just feel that his status needs bringing down to earth to allow him to contribute in a truly effective way as he is not the best central midfielder we have had in the last few years, he has been one of the most flexible midfielders, and under Rafa, he was at his best playing on the right or just behind Torres. I hope his head is no too big to allow him to see the truth of himself. good, well reasoned article.
YOU CAN'T GET RID OF STEVEN GERRARD HE IS A LEDGEND.AND HIS INJURY IS NOT GOOD FOR THE TEAM
i agree. we have scored on average a goal a game more WITHOUT gerrard in the team since he exploded on. we try and put everything through him in the last few years which he cant do every week can he. he is not contrary to popular belief superman. of course i would rather have him in the 1st 11 but hopefully now with more options around him he will get better and better
Time will tell wheather Stevie G is capable of performing again like he did a couple of years ago. Saying that am a massive fan of Stevie G is an understatement. He needs an opportunity to shine again, and i think he will. YNWA. COME ON YOU REDS.......
Mummy, I can't think of anything original to write! Never mind dear, just churn out some shite that will annoy one set of fans and give other fans the opportunity to take the piss, that's the ticket. Next week you can do why Barca should drop Messi, Man Utd should sack Ferguson and Brazil should adopt the long ball game......idiot.
@ Chris Morris, explain this "we have scored on average a goal a game more WITHOUT gerrard in the team" I'm guessing that statement is based on last season? With the second half of the season being such an improvement on the first? And the fact that this improvement coincided with Gerrard's injury? Must be true then, after all, there were no other changes that could possibly account for the club's change of fortune is there? Obviously your statistical analysis from last year proved your point, no need to incorporate any data from the previous ten years that may cloud the issue is there?
Ste Gerrard Gerrard he passes from 40 yards, he's big and he's fu**ikng hard Ste Gerrard Gerrard, 2005 and 2006 would of been dissapointing times without Gerrard
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