Steven Gerrard

[Darkon]

Gerrard was very solid today, and broke up a handfull of very dangerous situation. Also kept his cool to get us in front again and it's IMO ridiculous stating that he was the inhibiting factor today. It's hardly like we improved when he went off the field...

Really wonder why so many are so eager to have a pop at him these days just because he's gone from one of the worlds best midfielders to being a good squad player for us...

[danperkins]

I knew some would react like this, christ. Not having a pop at him but he's payed 3 tough games on the bounce ffs. He made two good headers out and made one good challenge in the box but in truth him and Hendo were cut open so many times through the middle. He just didn't have the legs & IMO very solid is a huge exaggerating.

I'm not saying shoot him, just that a few games off will be good for both parties.

[Darkon]

And he was subbed for it... My comment was in general I guess. Doesn't help that he's talked down on a night when he played well, nothing out of the ordinary, but he played well. He had many more important challenges than you mention. He broke up play in midfield ~5 times in the first half when it was getting very dangerous because we lost the ball upfield.

Perhaps a pop at him is the wrong expression, but it is very strange in my book that there is always someone eager to point at Gerrard these days when in fact he's contributed well to a close victory against our immediate rivals. Just look at the post match thread... Reads strange in my book.

Gerrard's already been rested a fair bit, and nothing points to him not being in the future.

[danperkins]

And he was subbed for it... My comment was in general I guess. Doesn't help that he's talked down on a night when he played well, nothing out of the ordinary, but he played well. He had many more important challenges than you mention. He broke up play in midfield ~5 times in the first half when it was getting very dangerous because we lost the ball upfield.

Perhaps a pop at him is the wrong expression, but it is very strange in my book that there is always someone eager to point at Gerrard these days when in fact he's contributed well to a close victory against our immediate rivals. Just look at the post match thread... Reads strange in my book.

Gerrard's already been rested a fair bit, and nothing points to him not being in the future.

I disagree and I thought he was poor in general. Not his fault as he was told to play in that position but it was numerous amounts of times we were cut open through the centre. Can & Skrtel saved Gerrard and Hendo's bacon so many times. A 34 year old playing in a notoriously taxing position, playing 3 really tough games in a week isn't smart IMO. Should be managed a bit better than that.

I wouldn't be surprised if he came off because of an injury, with the amount of work he has had to do in recent game & with those games being so condensed. I'm not bashing Gerrard the guy is my hero. People can't keep saying constructive or honest criticism is bashing.. that's just ridiculous it's reality. I just feel that he's been very poor in the last few games, doesn't work at DM & 3 games in a week is simply too much for his legs. I don't think there's anything wrong with anything i've said mate

[PTP]

I'll never slag gerrard off.....but he's struggling, we don't have a position for him imo. He still clearly has ability but his legs have gone....in a midfield two he's not in the game and then further forward in a front three he's not in the game.

Love him to death tho

[Shaggy]

I thought he struggled again. Henderson suffered having to babysit him and I thought his influence grew once Stevie had gone off.

But he scored another massive pen. Hard to believe he used to be **** at pens many years ago. A pen to us is a guaranteed goal and has been for years now and it'll be a huge miss when he's gone.

Sad to see him struggling but I think he'll leave us in pretty good shape in centre mid. Hello Emre.

[DannyMan2006]

Problem with Stevie is everyone's black and white on him.

There are those who treat him like he's still the best player in the league and those who treat him like he's a complete has been. I'm being exaggerated and extreme when I call it like that, but I think it helps get my point across.

My point is that if we had lost Gerrard last summer and signed an exact replica, that had nothing to do with this club prior to this seasons performances, there'd be much fairer assessments going on.
Upon signing that player we'd have said it's nice to sign someone of such big experience to help the younger lads along.

We'd have said it'd be nice to have someone like that in the squad, someone who can come in and do a decent job. Someone who gives their all and doesn't let anyone down. Someone who is great for the squad, gets on with everyone and takes people under their wing. Great in training and behind the scenes.

People should start seeing Gerrard with fresh eyes. He's not going to pile forward and score goals like he so often did - despite having ten goals (5 pens). He's not going to charge forward all energy and high action and steam into tackles. He's not going to run around all game. And he's not going to dominate a game from midfield.

What he'll do is a decent job wherever he's put. At times slightly better, at times slightly worse. But because it's him, that looks rubbish. Stop comparing him to the Gerrard of years gone by. He's become an average player almost. And I guess that's the most difficult part.

[Red_Polo]

Problem with Stevie is everyone's black and white on him.

There are those who treat him like he's still the best player in the league and those who treat him like he's a complete has been. I'm being exaggerated and extreme when I call it like that, but I think it helps get my point across.

Fancy reading that one back to yourself Danny?

[Tee]

Fancy reading that one back to yourself Danny?

[Darkon]

Problem with Stevie is everyone's black and white on him.

There are those who treat him like he's still the best player in the league and those who treat him like he's a complete has been. I'm being exaggerated and extreme when I call it like that, but I think it helps get my point across.

My point is that if we had lost Gerrard last summer and signed an exact replica, that had nothing to do with this club prior to this seasons performances, there'd be much fairer assessments going on.
Upon signing that player we'd have said it's nice to sign someone of such big experience to help the younger lads along.

We'd have said it'd be nice to have someone like that in the squad, someone who can come in and do a decent job. Someone who gives their all and doesn't let anyone down. Someone who is great for the squad, gets on with everyone and takes people under their wing. Great in training and behind the scenes.

People should start seeing Gerrard with fresh eyes. He's not going to pile forward and score goals like he so often did - despite having ten goals (5 pens). He's not going to charge forward all energy and high action and steam into tackles. He's not going to run around all game. And he's not going to dominate a game from midfield.

What he'll do is a decent job wherever he's put. At times slightly better, at times slightly worse. But because it's him, that looks rubbish. Stop comparing him to the Gerrard of years gone by. He's become an average player almost. And I guess that's the most difficult part.

Exactly my point as well, I don't understand why so many criticise Gerrard's performances week in week out instead of changing their perspective on him. He is a squad player now that comes in doing a good job in most games, but will of course have his off day like everyone else now and then. Last night is a perfect example of Gerrard doing a very decent job when asked to cover for Lucas. Still scored a vital penalty and helped break up a lot of Spurs break aways at crucial times, and yet he is judged on not dominating like in the past it seems. At least to me as well!

He still have a lot to offer us, just not the same he used to. Just like last night when he played his part in a crucial win.

[rodo]

I thought he struggled again. Henderson suffered having to babysit him and I thought his influence grew once Stevie had gone off.

But he scored another massive pen. Hard to believe he used to be **** at pens many years ago. A pen to us is a guaranteed goal and has been for years now and it'll be a huge miss when he's gone.

Sad to see him struggling but I think he'll leave us in pretty good shape in centre mid. Hello Emre.

[marcus50bucks]

Gerrard definitely struggled last night however he had some good moments especially the peno . The replay for Spurs's first goal doesn't look good for him though. I actually think Spurs dominated our midfield until Can was moved into the middle.

[rodo]

Gerrard definitely struggled last night however he had some good moments especially the peno . The replay for Spurs's first goal doesn't look good for him though. I actually think Spurs dominated our midfield until Can was moved into the middle.

dembele bossed everyone in midfield was made up they took him off

[The Birdman]

Brilliant that people justify picking someone/anyone for 90 minutes on the basis of 1 penalty kick.
We're not guaranteed to get a penalty, if we didn't it would have been just another game in which Gerrard was probably our worst player.

Seriously, who was worse? Not Mingolet, not the 3 lads at the back, not Ibe or Moreno, not Markovic and not Sturridge.
Hendo struggled but he has all season when paired with Gerrard and Coutinho was back to his frustrating best when his decision making and final pass were not quite good enough.

It's about judging players in the present, not based on what they have achieved (good or bad) in the past.
Spurs played through us time and time again.

Now everyone is back fit and available Gerrard doesn't deserve to play in this team in this system at this point of the season, we have better more disciplined defensive midfielders, we have better wide players and we have better players off the front.

Whoever posted about Gerard's interviews in the lead up to the Derby was spot on, all about him, his last derby etc....
It's very easy to say no thanks to the interview requests, I don't know if I'm playing yet and don't want anything to disrupt our build up, focusing on the team getting 3 points etc....

It's times like that derby build up when opposition fans call him Stevie Me

[Assassin]

He went off with a tight hamstring. He will not play in the next game. Fact