Steven Gerrard - Shy and Retiring....

[Darkon]

How do you think we would look to nuture him Darkon? Restrict his position, his number of performances or just ensure he continues his pilates?

Each case is different I guess, but I think Juve have done extremely well in keeping Del Piero fit, and that's been done with a mixture of playing fewer games over a season and easing his training a bit. The later part is due to him being very injury-prone not really something that have plagued Gerrard throughout his career.

For Gerrard I think that's the best way to go, just resting him in cup games and perhaps against some of the weaker league opponents.

But then again look at Scholes and Giggs, perhaps Gerrard can keep playing like them but shifting his game slightly?

[kev776]

What do people make of his last injury? Just an injury that he has now overcome, or an injury that has a timescale involved?

I honestly think it was old Ma nature telling him to slow down, have a smoke, chill out a tad and watch boats getting launched instead of launching them himself.

[Mostar]

It's a scary thought isn't it?

Who's our future captain?

If he is around by the time Stevie retires I'd consider Suarez

Suarez

[The Birdman]

What's Gerrard now, 31 years old?
IMO we've got another 6-7 years of him, another season like this one where he is attacking but not the dynamic force of old.
I then think he'll evolve into a sitting/holding midfielder, clearly not biting into tackles but keeping a shape, covering the full backs, keeping the ball moving with others around him for his legs.
A bit like the latter years of Robson and Keane at Utd.

[Darkon]

Suarez is not captain material, far to fiery tempered to be a good captain, he needs to control himself much better. And if he does, he will most likely loose another part of his game.

[The Birdman]

As for captain's take your pick out of Reina, Lucas, Agger or if he was a regular by then and you wanted to keep the captain scouse, Kelly.
Others have mentioned Suarez, I read somewhere his form and goal return went through the roof after Jol made him Ajax captain

[Fan65]

So very true, I wonder if we'll talk to our kids about the time we saw Gerrard ping one in from 30 yards in the last minute of the 2006 FA Cup Final, etc.

Or that brilliant winning goal he scored in the 2012 League Cup Final at Wembley

[lickedlollipop]

mother ****er

[wiw]

AMAZING GOAL,SUPER GOAL BY STEVEN GERRARD. - YouTube

I love how Lucas runs over and starts talking tactics with Gerrard Rafa taught him well

[Muddled]

Or that brilliant winning goal he scored in the 2012 League Cup Final at Wembley

Proper worldie that one!

[Mostar]

Suarez is not captain material, far to fiery tempered to be a good captain, he needs to control himself much better. And if he does, he will most likely loose another part of his game.

I disagree.

He was overwhelming chosen to the captain with Ajax and that to me is good enough indication that he is the captain's material.

He took that role very seriously and not only he elevated his game in the process but the game of his teammates as well, which clearly demonstrates leadership skills.

I did say that imo he should be considered in few year time and not now as his English is still not the best, which would make him less effective and he needs few more years to properly settles in PL "culture".

Personally only other player I'd considered is Lucas as he ticks all the boxes.

Reina wouldn't be my pick as I don't like goalkeepers to be involved with captaincy as they are so far out and cannot really get involved quickly with the ref due to their position on the pitch.

[Craig_H]

As for captain's take your pick out of Reina, Lucas, Agger or if he was a regular by then and you wanted to keep the captain scouse, Kelly.

Kelly's about as scouse as Fredo

[Slinky Skills]

I did start to panic when I saw the title.

It'll be a sad day when he does eventually retire. Of all the players we've had over the last 15 years and all the money we've spent, nobody comes close to Gerrard. ****ing incredible player. It's a shame that my (future) kids will never see the boy play live.

I think we need to move him forwards and not backwards over the next few years. Playing further up the field will save his legs, let him cause more damage and play to his strengths as I'm still not keen on seeing him in the centre.

Such a player.

I can understand your logic but it's in his nature to track back and get the foot in, he is dangerous playing in a more forward position but I can't see it happening fella as he will always come back into the centre and make challenges.

He's a wonderful player and it will be a sad day when he finishes, still think he will be playing for another 4 years though he's fit enough.

[Muddled]

Talk of Gerrard contemplating retiring from international football to prolong his club career due to his recent injuries, was the gist of something I caught on SSN from The People.

Go to Euro 2012 and retire perhaps?

[Corndog]

If Agger can stay fit, he should be the next captain. Already does the job at national level and you can see him organising the defence and ordering people about now carras fading. Reina also does this and has captained the team on loads of occasions but i'd prefer a centre back to be captain over a keeper. Not to say keepers can't make good captains though, Pepe has shown this and joe hart does a similar job for citeh even though he does not wear the armband.