Steven Gerrard

[Lecter]

A football chat show here in Mexico suggested that there is more to it than just game time.

They went on to suggest that he was not enamoured with the lack of world class arrivals.

Went on to say the signing policy of "potential" is risky as you need a balance and with Suarez gone and no sign of any world class replacements, it is no surprise that a supposed one club man in fact won't be.

IMO its far more than just game time its a whole host of things

Contract not forthcoming and him having to go public to get one

I am certain the lack of a coaching role is one

Maybe there is even some truth in the above

Its a tough call for FSG & Brendan his powers on the pitch have clearly diminished but IMO its about more than that

I really dont think they will know the influence he has until hes actually gone

[Lecter]

Then again......it was only a League 2 side.

People keep saying this but the fact is even against a League 2 side he was the only attacking player we had who stuck the ball in the net twice

Its alright to write off his performance if others had contributed as much

But they didnt

[darkstar]

When Gerrard leaves there is the potential for a rudderless ship in the next seasons. There is clearly no leadership on the pitch aside from Gerrard.

[kev776]

Just maybe it really is his call, he may have decided it is time to make a change in his life.

Rain, cold, constant pressure to deliver versus 2/3 years in the sun, much less pressure, a chance to do his badges in the sun. A chance to earn **** loads of extra money for less stress.

Comes back in 4-5 years fully qualified and batteries recharged.

Maybe his body and mental state are saying it is time to let go. He will want to protect his legacy and image.

[kev776]

When Gerrard leaves there is the potential for a rudderless ship in the next seasons. There is clearly no leadership on the pitch aside from Gerrard.

No there isn't, others will step forward, they always do.

[Buzzo]

One thing I hace been thinking today, which puts Gerrards contribution last night (2 goals) and Saturday (2 goals) in perspective is that if any other player in our squad had contributed 4 goals we would be absolutely purring. It wouldn't matter if they had not contributed much else we would be so happy with the goals, that the player had confidence and ability to ttake and score 2 penalties. That they had won us a tricky away cup tie.

With Gerrard we just come to expect it. His powers may be on the wane, and it may be proving tricky to find a way of fitting him in to the team, but how do you replace that?(Brendan?) How do you replace the experience and the ability to win matches? Its not going to be easy.

I expected Gerrards career end to be carefully managed and a transition to the coaching side carefully intigrated. He would still have a massive part to play on the pitch, without starting every game. I must say now the news has settled, I am quite surprised he is leaving us.

[Lecter]

One thing I hace been thinking today, which puts Gerrards contribution last night (2 goals) and Saturday (2 goals) in perspective is that if any other player in our squad had contributed 4 goals we would be absolutely purring. It wouldn't matter if they had not contributed much else we would be so happy with the goals, that the player had confidence and ability to ttake and score 2 penalties. That they had won us a tricky away cup tie.

With Gerrard we just come to expect it. His powers may be on the wane, and it may be proving tricky to find a way of fitting him in to the team, but how do you replace that?(Brendan?) How do you replace the experience and the ability to win matches? Its not going to be easy.

I expected Gerrards career end to be carefully managed and a transition to the coaching side carefully intigrated. He would still have a massive part to play on the pitch, without starting every game. I must say now the news has settled, I am quite surprised he is leaving us.

[Lecter]

No there isn't, others will step forward, they always do.

The concern for me is that we have lost a lot of strong characters / leaders from our squad over the last few years

Reina, Agger, Carragher, Suarez and now Gerrard

We havent replaced the first 4 with any leaders or anybody willing to step forward so there has to be concern about replacing Gerrard

[SK]

Others will step up, they always do when he's not in the team, as it gives them more freedom and less of an alibi. Plus he always has and always will try to be the main man through whom everything goes regardless of daily form and how that affects the other players.

It's time to move on, for him and for club, and who can blame the man for wanting a few years in sunny LA.

We'll be alright, if Brendan just stops with the silly line-ups

[dom9]

It's LA Galaxy

[Pablo]

Predictable.

[dom9]

Click Clunk

[DeanoUK]

How have we not been able to match at £76k a week salary? I can't believe it's simply because he wanted a change; I'm now believing there's much more deep-seated reasons.

[McDermotX]

I'd say there's a few reasons...limited playing time/game management among them.

Even Shearer, idiot that he is, made the point about him giving up the England game etc etc.........for what ? To extend his career in LA Galaxy ? I think not.

[The Birdman]

The concern for me is that we have lost a lot of strong characters / leaders from our squad over the last few years

Reina, Agger, Carragher, Suarez and now Gerrard

We havent replaced the first 4 with any leaders or anybody willing to step forward so there has to be concern about replacing Gerrard

Too much is made of this imo, what did we win between the Cup Final in 2006 and this year?
How many times did we finish in the top 4?

Obviously Suarez wasn't with us all that time but up until the start of last season Gerrard, Reina, Agger and Carragher were all Liverpool players.

We didn't achieve that much did we? Not criticising them just saying too much is made of the words 'character' and 'experience' words that are thrown around without really measuring who has it and what benefit it brings.