Poetry In Motion: Profile Of Steven Gerrard
From goal.com
His influence in the Liverpool team increases by the match, so what makes Steven Gerrard tick? Sasha Darnell Olufunwa profiles this midfield thoroughbred who is constantly linked with other clubs…
Steven Gerrard was born in Liverpool on the 30 May 1980. No one could have imagined the impact he would have on his home-town club. Unlike Fowler, Owen and McManaman, Gerrard wasn’t highly bragged about as a player coming through the youth academy. In fact most Liverpool fans will confess that they hadn’t heard too much about him, at the time he made the big and not always successful jump from the reserves to the senior team. Gerrard though endeared himself to the Liverpool faithful in the 4-1 drubbing of Sheffield Wednesday on 5th Dec 1999, in which he scored a truly brilliant goal. This was a clear glimpse of what he had to offer.
Gerrard began to emerge as a key player as time passed but he was prone too often to reckless lunges, which were met by red cards. His temperament was often in question. It was clear that for all his ability he had still yet to mature. Gerrard’s steepest learning curve though was taught to him emphatically in the FA Cup final of 2001, in which his battle with Patrick Vieira was billed as the clash on which the result could rest. That day Patrick taught Gerrard a big lesson, it was almost like man against child the gulf in ability was huge. Though Liverpool won the Cup that day, Gerrard being the professional that he is would have gone to sleep wounded at his destruction by Vieira who at the time was regarded as the best in the business in his position. Gerrard knew the benchmark he had to reach to be the best - and he arguably has now surpassed it.
When Houllier gave Stevie G the armband, he seemed to become a footballer possessed, his performances on the pitch were like nothing else. He was everywhere seemingly doing everything. His long range passing ability which at times was often erratic became more penetrating and less frequently used. I do not think many Liverpool fans could ever have visualized such a huge transformation in him. Gerrard represented an LFC fan’s dream and an opposing fan’s nightmare.
Those of us “armchair critics” often forget about our own inabilities to be professional footballers and would scream out when we felt we could do better, when in reality we couldn’t. The captain represents our mentally visualised capabilities, running out on the pitch in that famous red jersey. Gerrard is not simply a hero but an icon : he represents so much to LFC fans, because he is a massive fan himself, he hurts just like we do; only he has the opportunity to do something about it. His rejection of “Chelski” was probably the greatest day of my life. For him to turn down that amount of money meant football and LFC to Gerrard meant simply more, the affiliation he had with his home club could clearly not be easily eroded even by, dare I say it, Abramovich.
Questions arose on who would fill Owen’s shoes as he flew off to Spain, Baros on the back of his exploits in the Euros was quick to sing his praises as the saviour and though he has done well it seems like it is Gerrard who has picked up the mantle. His goals this season have been invaluable. His value to Liverpool is indefinable. He kept LFC in the Champions League with his cracker of a goal, more or less single-handedly took Watford to the sword to helped LFC to the final of the Carling Cup. His goals in the league have also been imperative for that fight for 4th spot. An area where he has failed to impact and probably the most major criticism aimed at him is the fact that he has not completely transformed his club form to international level. He would have been disappointed by his overall performance in the Euros not because it was substandard but because he didn’t reach the high standards he set in the league.
But then this is a criticism that can be levied at Scholes and Lampard and a few others. Gerrard though is still only 24 but is regarded as the complete player, he has played in probably every position bar goalkeeper and excelled. He can though at times try and win the game by himself and by doing this he can still be overzealous in tackles and ping too many long passes which go astray, this is usually a result of frustration at the lack of creativity around him. Xabi Alonso though has definitely lifted a lot of the creative burden off of him as his passing range is arguably better.
Concerning though is the constant speculation surrounding his future; it has made it unbearable for us fans to read the papers as it seems whenever Liverpool lose he is subsequently off to Chelsea. Or that he has been seen house-hunting in London. Gerrard’s honesty at times is his biggest weakness; some might consider it an absolute disgrace that the captain, the man everyone is supposed to look up to, is sending out a message that playing for Liverpool Football Club isn’t good enough. When that message comes from someone like Steven Gerrard, it can only lower morale throughout Melwood and the Academy. It also leaves the manager with an impossible job when he has to encourage players to join the club when the captain is proving hard to keep at it.
Whether Gerrard stays or goes depends on the improvement in LFC this season. This is very hard to assess due to the terrible injury list suffered, but fourth place will not represent an improvement on last year. This though would seem the best obtainable league position this year and even this is by no means certain. Champions League progression and picking up the Carling Cup could make him stay; anything less may see the prodigal son leaving the Reds. This would be so absolutely devastating that I choose not to contemplate the idea fully. Losing Owen was upsetting but Gerrard leaving will be nothing short of catastrophic. It would be symbolic of Liverpool FC’s demise in the English game that it couldn’t keep probably one of the best players in its history because of a lack of ambition on and off the field. A ‘Sword of Damocles’ is no doubt subliminally hanging over the head of Rafael Benitez, he has to show he can transform Liverpool’s fortunes in maybe only one season.
Though he may not show his pressure by his demeanour he has often admitted to not being able to sleep and instead prefers to write down solutions to the problems circulating in his mind through the night, to the annoyance of his wife. This though is an illustration of his commitment and devotion to the cause. Benitez has the pedigree to achieve this aim, he wrestled the La Liga title back to the Mestalla after a longer absence than that of the title in England from Anfield. The lack of funds has not hindered Rafa in his outlook but it would be naïve for any of us to accept that without investment he can achieve this aim. Gerrard will not be favourable to seeing Liverpool struggle for funds as this is an indicator of ambition, this is why investment before the end of the season is essential if he is to stay and there is no shortlist of takers.
Morgan, L4 consortium and The Thais are all eager to invest or even take control, investment will not only facilitate transfer market expenditure but also see the pictures of the stadium realised in its construction. Success on the pitch can only be matched with success off it. This needs to be strived for, the board must share the same ambition as the Captain. Gerrard is without doubt one of the best in his position in Europe; in fact I would argue that he is the best. He is not only the captain of the club I love or even my hero; he is an “anomaly” on the football pitch in the modern day game. If he is to leave though, the initial hurt would be immense but true Liverpool fans would never boo the skipper that blessed the turf of Anfield.
The sight of Gerrard charging down the pitch is simply poetry in motion, he is a purpose-built machine; the word athlete is just too simple a depiction to give of him. So be it if he leaves; the money he would generate would be in the region of 30 million, so it seems, though I would think the 40 million mark is a more reasonable figure given that Drogba went for 24 million. The cash generated would go to improving the squad so maybe all may not be as bad as one might perceive but there is no doubt given the choice us fans would definitely not want to see him leave.
Gerrard began to emerge as a key player as time passed but he was prone too often to reckless lunges, which were met by red cards. His temperament was often in question. It was clear that for all his ability he had still yet to mature. Gerrard’s steepest learning curve though was taught to him emphatically in the FA Cup final of 2001, in which his battle with Patrick Vieira was billed as the clash on which the result could rest. That day Patrick taught Gerrard a big lesson, it was almost like man against child the gulf in ability was huge. Though Liverpool won the Cup that day, Gerrard being the professional that he is would have gone to sleep wounded at his destruction by Vieira who at the time was regarded as the best in the business in his position. Gerrard knew the benchmark he had to reach to be the best - and he arguably has now surpassed it.
When Houllier gave Stevie G the armband, he seemed to become a footballer possessed, his performances on the pitch were like nothing else. He was everywhere seemingly doing everything. His long range passing ability which at times was often erratic became more penetrating and less frequently used. I do not think many Liverpool fans could ever have visualized such a huge transformation in him. Gerrard represented an LFC fan’s dream and an opposing fan’s nightmare.
Those of us “armchair critics” often forget about our own inabilities to be professional footballers and would scream out when we felt we could do better, when in reality we couldn’t. The captain represents our mentally visualised capabilities, running out on the pitch in that famous red jersey. Gerrard is not simply a hero but an icon : he represents so much to LFC fans, because he is a massive fan himself, he hurts just like we do; only he has the opportunity to do something about it. His rejection of “Chelski” was probably the greatest day of my life. For him to turn down that amount of money meant football and LFC to Gerrard meant simply more, the affiliation he had with his home club could clearly not be easily eroded even by, dare I say it, Abramovich.
Questions arose on who would fill Owen’s shoes as he flew off to Spain, Baros on the back of his exploits in the Euros was quick to sing his praises as the saviour and though he has done well it seems like it is Gerrard who has picked up the mantle. His goals this season have been invaluable. His value to Liverpool is indefinable. He kept LFC in the Champions League with his cracker of a goal, more or less single-handedly took Watford to the sword to helped LFC to the final of the Carling Cup. His goals in the league have also been imperative for that fight for 4th spot. An area where he has failed to impact and probably the most major criticism aimed at him is the fact that he has not completely transformed his club form to international level. He would have been disappointed by his overall performance in the Euros not because it was substandard but because he didn’t reach the high standards he set in the league.
But then this is a criticism that can be levied at Scholes and Lampard and a few others. Gerrard though is still only 24 but is regarded as the complete player, he has played in probably every position bar goalkeeper and excelled. He can though at times try and win the game by himself and by doing this he can still be overzealous in tackles and ping too many long passes which go astray, this is usually a result of frustration at the lack of creativity around him. Xabi Alonso though has definitely lifted a lot of the creative burden off of him as his passing range is arguably better.
Concerning though is the constant speculation surrounding his future; it has made it unbearable for us fans to read the papers as it seems whenever Liverpool lose he is subsequently off to Chelsea. Or that he has been seen house-hunting in London. Gerrard’s honesty at times is his biggest weakness; some might consider it an absolute disgrace that the captain, the man everyone is supposed to look up to, is sending out a message that playing for Liverpool Football Club isn’t good enough. When that message comes from someone like Steven Gerrard, it can only lower morale throughout Melwood and the Academy. It also leaves the manager with an impossible job when he has to encourage players to join the club when the captain is proving hard to keep at it.
Whether Gerrard stays or goes depends on the improvement in LFC this season. This is very hard to assess due to the terrible injury list suffered, but fourth place will not represent an improvement on last year. This though would seem the best obtainable league position this year and even this is by no means certain. Champions League progression and picking up the Carling Cup could make him stay; anything less may see the prodigal son leaving the Reds. This would be so absolutely devastating that I choose not to contemplate the idea fully. Losing Owen was upsetting but Gerrard leaving will be nothing short of catastrophic. It would be symbolic of Liverpool FC’s demise in the English game that it couldn’t keep probably one of the best players in its history because of a lack of ambition on and off the field. A ‘Sword of Damocles’ is no doubt subliminally hanging over the head of Rafael Benitez, he has to show he can transform Liverpool’s fortunes in maybe only one season.
Though he may not show his pressure by his demeanour he has often admitted to not being able to sleep and instead prefers to write down solutions to the problems circulating in his mind through the night, to the annoyance of his wife. This though is an illustration of his commitment and devotion to the cause. Benitez has the pedigree to achieve this aim, he wrestled the La Liga title back to the Mestalla after a longer absence than that of the title in England from Anfield. The lack of funds has not hindered Rafa in his outlook but it would be naïve for any of us to accept that without investment he can achieve this aim. Gerrard will not be favourable to seeing Liverpool struggle for funds as this is an indicator of ambition, this is why investment before the end of the season is essential if he is to stay and there is no shortlist of takers.
Morgan, L4 consortium and The Thais are all eager to invest or even take control, investment will not only facilitate transfer market expenditure but also see the pictures of the stadium realised in its construction. Success on the pitch can only be matched with success off it. This needs to be strived for, the board must share the same ambition as the Captain. Gerrard is without doubt one of the best in his position in Europe; in fact I would argue that he is the best. He is not only the captain of the club I love or even my hero; he is an “anomaly” on the football pitch in the modern day game. If he is to leave though, the initial hurt would be immense but true Liverpool fans would never boo the skipper that blessed the turf of Anfield.
The sight of Gerrard charging down the pitch is simply poetry in motion, he is a purpose-built machine; the word athlete is just too simple a depiction to give of him. So be it if he leaves; the money he would generate would be in the region of 30 million, so it seems, though I would think the 40 million mark is a more reasonable figure given that Drogba went for 24 million. The cash generated would go to improving the squad so maybe all may not be as bad as one might perceive but there is no doubt given the choice us fans would definitely not want to see him leave.
posted by Old Blogger User @ 1:29 am
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