Right, I will lay it on the line.... Rafa or Gerrard?

[Craig_H]

There does seem to be an uncomfortable relationship - I cannot put my finger on it but it just does not seem right.

It was a bizzarre decision by Rafa on Saturday. Ok, so we went on to win the game, but without Stevie we would not even have got back into it. And Rafas reasoning baffled me even more - were we not dominating the game at that stage?

There are many instances during Rafas reign when Stevie has almost single handedly pulled us out of the fire. I am not sure if Rafa truly values the input from our Captain.

The input from our captain has to include the ability to recognise where his own seniority ends and that of the manager starts.

Gerrard is world class and our best player, but if he isnt willing to read off the manager's hymn sheet, he cannot fulfil his own duties to the club.

[Yozza]

but for the record you NEVER let a player run the club
you must always put the manager above any player

Unless you're John Terry & Chelsea... ;-)

[tomasjj]

If the choice had to be made, I'd rather collect 30 millions from a Spanish or Italian club for SG.

[Tee]

As for the question...

Losing Rafa would set us back more years than losing Gerrard. The manager's inprint is a long term one and rebuilding those foundations is a tougher, more long term job than simply taking one player out of the equation.

If they have differences of opinion, Gerrard needs to grow up, remember what professionalism means and accept what the criteria of his job are - to act upon instructions given to him by his BOSS.

I honestly think Gerrard has shown professionalism and accepted whatever Rafa has asked him to do. He has played where he has been told and in all fairness his reaction on Saturday was not controversial - he accepted it and came off.

It would have been a good confidence boost to have played him for the whole game on Saturday - we would have gone on to win it I am sure, but equally importantly Gerrard seemed to be getting back to his old form.

[paulcooper4]

the
RCDNR
brigade are out today

Someone say my name?

[Tee]

Someone say my name?

What are you, RCDNR or RCDNW?

[KopSecret]

Bye bye Stevie Me ;-)

[Joe Le Toff]

Id keep Gerrard and lose Rafa if it came to the crunch.

We can win the league with Gerrard in the side, i dont think we'll win it with Rafa, for all his admirable qualities as a manager.

[Craig_H]

I honestly think Gerrard has shown professionalism and accepted whatever Rafa has asked him to do. He has played where he has been told and in all fairness his reaction on Saturday was not controversial - he accepted it and came off.

It would have been a good confidence boost to have played him for the whole game on Saturday - we would have gone on to win it I am sure, but equally importantly Gerrard seemed to be getting back to his old form.

I do agree, i think gerrard was surprised (as was everyone) and you cant have a go at him for just LOOKING surprised. But he didnt mouth off, didnt through a tantrum and at the final whistle, was delighted and celebrating with the other players.

My comments on what Gerrard needs to do, only apply IF there is indeed a problem between him and Rafa...which i dont think is the case.

[Craig_H]

Someone say my name?

No you plank, you're in the RCDNW brigade

[paulcooper4]

What are you, RCDNR or RCDNW?

Dunno, yers have all ****in lost me now with these initials thingys

Im in the RafaCanDoWrongHesHumanButImNotGonnaJumpOnHimForEve ryDecisionHeGetsWrongBecauseHeDoesntGetManyWrongSo meOfTheseNegative****sOnThisSiteMakeMeWantToPunchA HoleThroughMyMoniterAtThemBrigade

[Craig_H]

Dunno, yers have all ****in lost me now with these initials thingys

Im in the RafaCanDoWrongHesHumanButImNotGonnaJumpOnHimForEve ryDecisionHeGetsWrongBecauseHeDoesntGetManyWrongSo meOfTheseNegative****sOnThisSiteMakeMeWantToPunchA HoleThroughMyMoniterAtThemBrigade

[Tee]

I do agree, i think gerrard was surprised (as was everyone) and you cant have a go at him for just LOOKING surprised. But he didnt mouth off, didnt through a tantrum and at the final whistle, was delighted and celebrating with the other players.

My comments on what Gerrard needs to do, only apply IF there is indeed a problem between him and Rafa...which i dont think is the case.

Fair enough. I just feel a Manager and Captain, one who has been talked about as a future Manager, should be as one. Gerrard should be Rafa on the pitch if you know what I mean, but judging by Rafa's comments I am not sure he trusts Gerrard as much as I thought.

[Neil Young]

This forum is a pile of sh*t. The Kuyt thread, this one, stupid bitching like labelling people as being in the RCDNW brigade. It really is despicable.

Thank f*ck for Coops.

[Craig_H]

Fair enough. I just feel a Manager and Captain, one who has been talked about as a future Manager, should be as one. Gerrard should be Rafa on the pitch if you know what I mean, but judging by Rafa's comments I am not sure he trusts Gerrard as much as I thought.

Well given how Rafa's his own man and doesnt let anyone else influence his decisions, if he didnt trust Steven Gerrard, i very much doubt he'd send him on wearing the armband.