Benitez bashers would have Liverpool chasing fool's gold

[Shaggy]

anyone who puts store on anything Andy 'the Bitterest Tossbag in Football' Gray says needs to up their dose for sure.
Great post. Sometimes there is good perspective from the irish papers sadly lacking in the UK tabs.

ps Hi everyone. Nice to be here. I am another refugee from KT after 5 years. Breath of fresh air.

Welcome.

Occasionally I dost 'venture south' on the wife. It's like a breath of fresh air.

[redpablo]

aha!

one of the best Partridge eps ever!

Well lets hope a cash injection from our oil rich chums means that selling Stevie is never needed for financial reasons. Still get the feeling that Rafa and Gerrard are far from easy with one another..

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

Well I thought the article was a crock of ****e to be honest.

I must watch different games to the media because this idea that SG goes missing against the big clubs is plain nonsense. And whats with this nonsense about Benitez should sell SG. I know how to bridge the gap between us & Man U, sell our best player. Crap, pure crap.

Completely agree.

At least the author had a pop at Andy Gray. Who seems to carry himself with a gregariously misplaced hubris, and it's getting worse every week. It's almost as if he considers his own opinions to be the gospel truth. Arse.

[blacky]

Well I thought the article was a crock of ****e to be honest.

I must watch different games to the media because this idea that SG goes missing against the big clubs is plain nonsense. And whats with this nonsense about Benitez should sell SG. I know how to bridge the gap between us & Man U, sell our best player. Crap, pure crap.

In the last 3 seasons name a premiership game against Chelsea, United or Arsenal where SG has commanded the centre of the park?

[Jack D Rips]

In the last 3 seasons name a premiership game against Chelsea, United or Arsenal where SG has commanded the centre of the park?

I agree. Anyone who cant see that SG goes missing against the big clubs must be ****ing blind. However I dont believe the author IS suggesting that we should sell him. What he is saying is that SG is not bigger than the club or the manager for that matter

[Jazzmaster]

I agree. Anyone who cant see that SG goes missing against the big clubs must be ****ing blind. However I dont believe the author IS suggesting that we should sell him. What he is saying is that SG is not bigger than the club or the manager for that matter

Dont think he goes missing either - but is too often exposed in midfield by the bigger clubs.

Apart from that, the article is spot on.

[Neil Young]

I'd be interested to know what exactly constitutes "going missing" because to me it's such a loaded, imprecise term. How is it different from more neutral terms like "not playing well" or "ineffective" which are less hostile in tone?

[Charlie_B]

Gerrard will never be as good as Keane in that respect; it's rare he runs the midfield against the bigger sides; he DOESN'T take the game by the scruff of the neck and drag the team playing better. He DOES raise his own game and pull us out of sticky situations individually, but the two things are different IMO

[Rich]

That comes down to personality in my opinion.

Keane would charge around the pitch, but he'd kick and scream at his team mates if things weren't going to plan. That coupled with other local 'leaders' on the pitch Schmeichel for example. Meant that they could rally the trouble and drag the team up a level.

Stevie isn't like that. Naturally he's quiet, looks sullen even when feeling ok. And certainly isn't a shouter and screamer. Therefore he can pull games out of the hat, but that's through his own brilliance rather than motivating others.

[Mattshark]

That comes down to personality in my opinion.

Keane would charge around the pitch, but he'd kick and scream at his team mates if things weren't going to plan. That coupled with other local 'leaders' on the pitch Schmeichel for example. Meant that they could rally the trouble and drag the team up a level.

Stevie isn't like that. Naturally he's quiet, looks sullen even when feeling ok. And certainly isn't a shouter and screamer. Therefore he can pull games out of the hat, but that's through his own brilliance rather than motivating others.

I think it is also that Gerrard has the ability to play defensively, but he has the wrong mindset, he likes to challenge in midfield yes, but he would rather be attacking, where as Keane was never the attacking threat Gerrard is.