Steven Gerrard

[Kenneth]

The disloyal cunt.

[ronanm]

Peach of a goal

[Fosterbloke]

I hope he has a great World Cup and promptly retires from international football.

[Vermilion]

Would be fantastic for the bloke to go off to the World Cup having won a title with us, the monkey well and truly off his and this clubs back, and to then go out and play in Brazil with no fear for the future regarding his body and injuries.

I can dream.

[Alex]

He seems to play in a totally different role for England. Much more licence to be Steven Gerrard the player, rather than a team player.

Maybe he is getting less time on the ball for us is because he is being told to work harder behind the attacking players in getting the ball back to them, and in turn is not allowed to get into goalscoring positions.

I must say though, the Steven Gerrard of last night is much more the one I prefer for Liverpool. But I dont think he can maintain that level of performance every week.

[SB]

Would be fantastic for the bloke to go off to the World Cup having won a title with us, the monkey well and truly off his and this clubs back, and to then go out and play in Brazil with no fear for the future regarding his body and injuries.

I can dream.

Let's dare to dream.

[dww]

He seems to play in a totally different role for England. Much more licence to be Steven Gerrard the player, rather than a team player.

Maybe he is getting less time on the ball for us is because he is being told to work harder behind the attacking players in getting the ball back to them, and in turn is not allowed to get into goalscoring positions.

I must say though, the Steven Gerrard of last night is much more the one I prefer for Liverpool. But I dont think he can maintain that level of performance every week.

Would it be worth in your opinion resting Gerrard some games (playing Henderson and Lucas in the middle) to allow us to get him playing like that at other times?

My inclination is to think that a better team player is better for the team but at the minute I think we could do with having a change of gear in the middle of the park when we let games drift.

[Alex]

Would it be worth in your opinion resting Gerrard some games (playing Henderson and Lucas in the middle) to allow us to get him playing like that at other times?

My inclination is to think that a better team player is better for the team but at the minute I think we could do with having a change of gear in the middle of the park when we let games drift.

Not resting/dropping Gerrard is something Rodgers frustrates me with. He didnt miss a game last year. I realise he is the Captain. But a chance to see a midfield of Lucas and Henderson would be nice. I think it would release him to be more mobile around the top of the pitch too, because he wont need to worry about conserving his energy.

You are right that a better team player is better for the team in most cases. But look at the example of James Milner. Managers seem to love him because he works his dick off for the team on the wing. But his attacking threat is usually quite insignificant. He essentially operates in order to let a right back get forward. Which is no good for me attacking wise, but to keep a team solid and not concede is perfect.

One thing Rodgers seems to have curbed is his 40 Yard smashes at goal. They rarely come off and usually end up losing us the ball. Maybe thats one of the things that makes me see him differently. He always used to do them and make me think of him as an attacking threat.

[dom9]

I reckon England is more important to Gerrard than Liverpool. I think he sees the WC as his last realistic chance to win a major trophy, so he gives that little bit more effort for England than LFC.

[Alex]

Is that post some sort of social experiment?

[Chazza]

I reckon England is more important to Gerrard than Liverpool. I think he sees the WC as his last realistic chance to win a major trophy, so he gives that little bit more effort for England than LFC.

I don't think he realistically thinks England can win the world cup.

As for his performances for England recently I think he is able to dictate a game easier at that level than in the league as he is coming up against players of a lesser standard.

[I, Ravel Morrison]

Gerrard definitely plays a different role for England. Under Hodgson, he's playing in his favored role, the archetypal blood and thunder English midfielder.

For Liverpool, it's a more controlled role, a more continental approach; he's playing now in Xabi's position. And with the balance of the midfield, of the team as it currently is, it really feels at times as though it's Gerrard doing an impression of Xabi rather than Gerrard stamping his own authority on the game.

[dom9]

Is that post some sort of social experiment?

Perhaps.

I didn't watch the England game so I actually have no idea.

[ronanm]

I reckon England is more important to Gerrard than Liverpool. I think he sees the WC as his last realistic chance to win a major trophy, so he gives that little bit more effort for England than LFC.

[red g]

I reckon England is more important to Gerrard than Liverpool. I think he sees the WC as his last realistic chance to win a major trophy, so he gives that little bit more effort for England than LFC.

The spirit of Arn lives on