Steven Gerrard

[Mostar]

This! He was given a contract that reflected his abilities within the wider game. He used to be head and shoulders above most in the world, let alone the team, but as his powers wane so should his wages.

[dww]

I agree there's more than one way to look at it and it might indicate tactical indiscipline. All the same it totally disproves the seemingly popular contention that his legs have gone, albeit that he's probably lost some pace.

I think the point about pace is one of the things that people mean when they say 'his legs have gone' though. I guess it is as much a problem with an inexact expression as peoples perceptions of Gerrard - although I guess the discussion may well change some peoples ideas.

[Neil Young]

I take the point except I don't think the fundamental problem is inexactitude so much as hyperbole. Or at least what starts out as the former ends up as the latter.

You only have to look at the prophecies of doom before the QPR game to see how negatives are magnified and problems exaggerated. It operates the other way too of course.

[dww]

Agreed.

[BobTheCharmer]

he wouldn't get that type of wages anywhere else.

really? There would be any number of clubs queuing up to break their wage barriers to get someone like gerrard in. I'd be pissed off if someone proposed reducing my wage at the twilight of my career. Only offer a shorter contract by all means but it would be insulting to reduce his wage. As for the Carra thing you mentioned, do you reckon we'd be seeing different results had he only had a year deal on half the money? The saving would have been swallowed up and us at fan level would have noticed no difference. There are very few heros at clubs and it could be a while before we have another. Both Gerrard & Carra are special cases and as far as all footballers are over paid *******s, these two deserve the wages they are on.

[Neil Young]

Agreed.

really? There would be any number of clubs queuing up to break their wage barriers to get someone like gerrard in. I'd be pissed off if someone proposed reducing my wage at the twilight of my career. Only offer a shorter contract by all means but it would be insulting to reduce his wage. As for the Carra thing you mentioned, do you reckon we'd be seeing different results had he only had a year deal on half the money? The saving would have been swallowed up and us at fan level would have noticed no difference. There are very few heros at clubs and it could be a while before we have another. Both Gerrard & Carra are special cases and as far as all footballers are over paid *******s, these two deserve the wages they are on.

[BG1973]

Its down to the injuries he has had. He can't blast shots from distance anymore because he has lost power and damaged his knee. Plus he is scared to pull a muscle in his groin hence why he places all his shots with side foot now

Eh?? Kicking a ball hard does not damage knees or pull groins.

Certainly a lot less than other aspects of being a professional footballer.

I think he takes less shots because he seems to play more responsibly, with more patience.

Just a sign of maturity I think.

[saj]

Eh?? Kicking a ball hard does not damage knees or pull groins.

Certainly a lot less than other aspects of being a professional footballer.

I think he takes less shots because he seems to play more responsibly, with more patience.

Just a sign of maturity I think.

WTF, of course it does! The knee is pivotal to kicking. I got a serious knee injury last year from kicking a football. I've not recovered from it fully and I have lost the ability to kick a football the way I used to be able to. And the majority of groin injuries I've had have been down to kicking. A significant amount of power you generate from shots comes from your hips/groin area.

[Mostar]

really? There would be any number of clubs queuing up to break their wage barriers to get someone like gerrard in. I'd be pissed off if someone proposed reducing my wage at the twilight of my career. Only offer a shorter contract by all means but it would be insulting to reduce his wage. As for the Carra thing you mentioned, do you reckon we'd be seeing different results had he only had a year deal on half the money? The saving would have been swallowed up and us at fan level would have noticed no difference. There are very few heros at clubs and it could be a while before we have another. Both Gerrard & Carra are special cases and as far as all footballers are over paid *******s, these two deserve the wages they are on.

Insulting?

I cannot recall too many who agreed that paying Carra 90k per week was sensible decision so late in his career and even though I love Stevie and to me he is the best player who ever played for L4 I don't think he deserves to receive the same kind of compensation as he did when he was at the top of his game.

There are other ways to reward loyalty but overpaying players that don't possess skill set nor contribute in the similar way any longer imo is not prudent at all.

Paying players more than we should (due to past acheivements) imo is not smart business and can impact our other players decisions as money is finite resource.

In terms of other clubs being willing to pay Gerrard what he is earning now I cannot think of any in any decent league (unless you are referring to China clubs and/or MLS or Anzhi) as top clubs wouldn't hire 34 year old player (he will be that old at the end of his existing contract) at 100k per week wages.

[Tee]

WTF, of course it does! The knee is pivotal to kicking. I got a serious knee injury last year from kicking a football. I've not recovered from it fully and I have lost the ability to kick a football the way I used to be able to. And the majority of groin injuries I've had have been down to kicking. A significant amount of power you generate from shots comes from your hips/groin area.

Maybe Saj, but the key to Gerrard's shooting is not simply the power but the timing he has when striking the ball. In my own experience the best shots I have ever struck have not always been the ones I have struck the hardest but the ones I have timed perfectly.

[Gibbo]

I just think he prefers the round the foot curl when shooting.

There's no doubt in my mind he was going to blast the one Henderson took off his foot.

[saj]

Maybe Saj, but the key to Gerrard's shooting is not simply the power but the timing he has when striking the ball. In my own experience the best shots I have ever struck have not always been the ones I have struck the hardest but the ones I have timed perfectly.

You can time shots so that they are accurate but you still need the right amount of power in order to beat the keeper especially from distance. Practically every goal Gerrard has scored from outside the area, the ball has been struck with plenty of power and placement. He clearly is not striking the ball with the same power, placement, timing and confidence as he used to. And as someone has pointed out, it's most likely down to the knee injury. Who knows really, it could just be old age.

[BG1973]

WTF, of course it does! The knee is pivotal to kicking. I got a serious knee injury last year from kicking a football. I've not recovered from it fully and I have lost the ability to kick a football the way I used to be able to. And the majority of groin injuries I've had have been down to kicking. A significant amount of power you generate from shots comes from your hips/groin area.

As I said, there are many other aspects of the game more damaging to knees and groins than actually kicking the ball. Lots of weight transferring and stretching.

He's not stopped those so why stop shooting from distance if that's the reason?

Has it been claimed anywhere else injuries are the reason?

Put it this way has it been obvious at any point he has decided not to shoot when a great opportunity was available?

His long range shooting has not been what it was for a few years. I think he has lost a bit of confidence in it and is playing more percentages / adapting his game as he gets older.

[BobTheCharmer]

Insulting?

I cannot recall too many who agreed that paying Carra 90k per week was sensible decision so late in his career and even though I love Stevie and to me he is the best player who ever played for L4 I don't think he deserves to receive the same kind of compensation as he did when he was at the top of his game.

There are other ways to reward loyalty but overpaying players that don't possess skill set nor contribute in the similar way any longer imo is not prudent at all.

Paying players more than we should (due to past acheivements) imo is not smart business and can impact our other players decisions as money is finite resource.

In terms of other clubs being willing to pay Gerrard what he is earning now I cannot think of any in any decent league (unless you are referring to China clubs and/or MLS or Anzhi) as top clubs wouldn't hire 34 year old player (he will be that old at the end of his existing contract) at 100k per week wages.

Whats all this L4 bollocks? LFC or Liverpool will usually suffice.

QPR, West Ham are two that would pay the wages for a start. Not that I think he would ever go.

[Shaggy]

Really good to see him somewhere vaguely near his best. He'll never be what he was again, but if he can keep up that level he's still one of the best around. 8 assists now I think it is - highest in the league. Amazing really given we all know he's not been close to his legendary best.