rafa versus stevie g...

[badpiggy]

does anyone else here share my suspicion that rafa would have preferred to have sold sg when those two opportunities presented themselves a couple of years back? i can't shake the feeling that sg is not a rafa type player - he's a loose cannon and flair player who just doesn't fit with rafa's mentality. he's too egotistical and too much of a big name.

i think rafa has been pragmatic enough to see and respect the place that sg occupies in the minds of the fans - "talismanic" local lad - but can anyone else see the argument? or is rafa so detached that he just isn't given to any sentimentality when it comes to players ****ing off because they aren't being shown the love?

[fah-q]

In a word: No

[ningnangnong]

I disagree with you.

[RedMek]

Flair player? What are you on my friend? The only player we currently have that I would describe as "flair" is Luis Garcia. Gerrard on the other hand is more about pace and power. He is disciplined, VERY versatile, and provides us with lots of options. On that bases alone, I would definitely say he is a Rafa type player.

Without his goals, we would not have been in the CL final, let alone won it ... I'm sure Rafa regrets that (sorry for the sarcasm).

[fah-q]

I disagree with you.

With who?

[AFII]

No.

If Rafa feels that selling Stevie would strenghten the team then he would do it IMO.

[darkknight]

NO - ffs

[friedk]

What do you want me to do?



Win this;



and this;



then this again.



There's a good boy.

[desertscouser]

No.

Silly thread

[dww]

does anyone else here share my suspicion that rafa would have preferred to have sold sg when those two opportunities presented themselves a couple of years back? i can't shake the feeling that sg is not a rafa type player - he's a loose cannon and flair player who just doesn't fit with rafa's mentality. he's too egotistical and too much of a big name.

i think rafa has been pragmatic enough to see and respect the place that sg occupies in the minds of the fans - "talismanic" local lad - but can anyone else see the argument? or is rafa so detached that he just isn't given to any sentimentality when it comes to players ****ing off because they aren't being shown the love?

I think at the time of the first approach Rafa would have considered it. Since then he has worked on Stevie who is now a very Rafa type player in the middle. He isn't so good at keeping the width on the right anymore but I think Rafa accepts that.

I honestly think you are mad if you think Rafa doesn't appreciate the power that Gerrard can give to the midfield.

[kurtangle01]

If Rafa wanted to sell Stevie Gerrard he would been off to Chelsea 2 years ago.

[Pablo]

Im sure you must have guessed no one would agree with you. Very touchy subject this. Rafa knows a good player when he sees one and Stevie is the best. IM sure he wanted to keep him, but if ANY player shows even the slightest indication they dont want to play for Liverpool then Rafa quite rightly is not going to attempt to persuade them otherwise. He wants players who are desperate to pull on the red shirt, and for a few mad moments Gerrard wasnt one of those players. But all is well now and I bet if Gerrard is the first name on Rafas team sheet week in week out.

[philred10]

i think the originalpoint is too strong but used to have a degree of validity. clearly rafa appreciates what gerrard has to offer and we can all agree that the upsides outweigh the downsides.

for me gerrard still needs to improve his positional sense and remove some of the petulance that can creep into his game. the chelsea game at anfield was important in that it was the first game in a while that rafa trusted gerrard to play the disciplined central role.

[Pacman]

What do you want me to do?



Win this;



and this;



then this again.



There's a good boy.

Brilliant post

[mick the click]

What do you want me to do?



Win this;



and this;



then this again.



There's a good boy.

Spot on. Very classy!