Gerrard

[Scratch]

I actually think Marky has a point...it doesn't matter if Gerrard is fully match fit, and can't perform to the same level as in previous months, these factors should not affect his captaincy. He should be leading, he should be rallying the troops, encouraging them, geeing them up, applauding the right pass, even if it's underhit or over hit...he doesn't do that...when is the last time you saw him turn round and applaud a player for playing the right pass, even if it didn't reach him...instead, he turns round and glares, or just mopes back to his spot. Carragher showed him how to be a captain, how to get the team playing for each other, to get the crowd roaring. That's what i want to see from Gerrard, commitment and team spirit, even when his own form has temporarily deserted him.

[Craig_H]

Wouldnt disagree with that, but then i dont think his character is particularly suited to the captaincy.

[Maxiedge]

I actually think Marky has a point...it doesn't matter if Gerrard is fully match fit, and can't perform to the same level as in previous months, these factors should not affect his captaincy. He should be leading, he should be rallying the troops, encouraging them, geeing them up, applauding the right pass, even if it's underhit or over hit...he doesn't do that...when is the last time you saw him turn round and applaud a player for playing the right pass, even if it didn't reach him...instead, he turns round and glares, or just mopes back to his spot. Carragher showed him how to be a captain, how to get the team playing for each other, to get the crowd roaring. That's what i want to see from Gerrard, commitment and team spirit, even when his own form has temporarily deserted him.

He did this at least twice on tuesday. I think he's more frustrated with his own form or lack of it than anything else. It's like the old cliche: if you don't love yourself you can't love anyone else

[Scratch]

He did this at least twice on tuesday. I think he's more frustrated with his own form or lack of it than anything else. It's like the old cliche: if you don't love yourself you can't love anyone else

I must admit i missed Tuesday's repeat...was going to watch the midnight showing on LFCTV, but then i caught sight of the score whilst flicking channels and once i know the score, i can't watch a match, especially a 0-0 draw.

However, i do think that, like Craig says, Gerrard general character just might not be suited to captaincy...wonder if releasing him of the burden and expectation might be of benefit to him, or would the loss of the captaincy make him sulk more than usual?

[Maxiedge]

Im not sure, depends on what sort of person he is. Recent events involving a music request would suggest he wouldn't take it too well.

[badpiggy]

i think the captaincy doesn't matter unless the wrong person has it. like SG.

[dww]

i think the captaincy doesn't matter unless the wrong person has it. like SG.

I can see that point of view. I kind of feel that any team who relies on a single leader and that he is the single obvious point of authority in a team has a problem. Last season we had a number of people in the team and squad who without any song or dance seemed to balance out the problems with Gerrard as a leader allowing his good points to be emphasised.

Xabi in particular seemed to help prevent Gerrards mood and form spreading to the tempo and style of the team.

[Maxiedge]

Good points.

[BillobShaisley]

You're asking for it on a permanent basis, with perfect, machine-like consistency and not a hint of wavering.

He's human. We all go through spells where we're not at our best. He's done more than enough to be entitled to get the benefit of the doubt when he slips below the mighty heights of perfection.

And then you're doing a 'handshake' smiley to someone who calls him a 'cunt'.

****ing pathetic.

Everyone has ups and downs of performance. But attitude is something you can control. Billy big bollox is no more imune to the poor performances this year than anyone else, especially when he's rarely been our best player. I think he's suffering from Robinho syndrome and the sooner it ends the better for all concerned.

I love this thread, Gerrard being **** is now not only Lucas' fault but Rafa's too. And some say there's no such thing as prejudice

[andyhanrahan]

I admit i probably shouldnt have called Gerrard a c**t but he is a disruptive influence in the team at the moment. A lot of people supporting him keep harking back to his glory days( which I'm afraid are past him at Liverpool). If we want to keep looking back at the past we are doomed to spend another 20 years without the league. Liverpool has to move forward and at the moment it looks like the best way is without Gerrard and Benitez ( I think he may have lost it in all honesty). I may be wrong I spent the early season giving out about Carragher but like the legend he is he has responded. Gerrard has too many flaws( I read his autobiography and he came across terribly) to ever admit to being ****e and instead looks like a man who wishes he was elsewhere.

[Scratch]

Everyone has ups and downs of performance. But attitude is something you can control.

And that's the crux of it for me...his poor form is probably only temporary, but he, for the sake of his team mates, needs to rise above it and show a drive and determination, a will to win that will spur his team on...perhaps it would just take one thunderbolt goal to turn it round for him, who knows?

[Craig_H]

I know what people are saying about attitude. Ideally, it should never waver, but as i said before, we're all human and when we're having a **** time of it, we CAN sometimes think '**** this ****' and that's when things slip. It shouldnt happen but it's unrealistic to think that it doesnt ever happen.

This is where you need someone 100% focused, totally mature and level-headed as skipper. That's Carra, not Gerrard. Gerrard's too emotion-driven IMO.

This is why i think Carra will make a top manager in future, but Gerrard wont.

[Scratch]

So basically we all agree then, a captain's attitude, even in the face of poor form, should be one of 100% commitment to the team and the cause?

[BillobShaisley]

Agree with all of that Craig, which begs the question of which came first? Stevie IMO has not been right all season.

[Craig_H]

So basically we all agree then, a captain's attitude, even in the face of poor form, should be one of 100% commitment to the team and the cause?

In an ideal world and if you have the right captain.