http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/150033-mignolet-stevie-can-go-on-for-years Simon Mignolet has marvelled at the longevity of Steven Gerrard's Anfield career - and backed the Reds' skipper to continue to be the heartbeat of the current Liverpool side Tomorrow marks 15 years to the day a young Gerrard made his first appearance for the club as a 90th minute substitute against Blackburn. Mignolet has had just five months of working alongside the England captain at Melwood, but insists he's seen enough to convince him that Gerrard has many years left at the top. "To spend 15 years playing for Liverpool Football Club is a remarkable achievement," Mignolet told the Liverpool Echo. "It's a great credit to Steven that he has remained at the highest level for so long and he's still such an important player for us. "The fact that he's still so fit and runs as many miles as he does during games shows you how well he has looked after himself. "It's not only what he does on the pitch but the way he is off it as well. He's a gentleman. He has achieved so much in his career and I wish him many more years at Liverpool. "Look at the quality he produced against Everton - he's been doing that for 15 years and I'm sure he will continue in that way for years to come." Mignolet got his first taste of the Merseyside derby at the weekend as the Reds played out a pulsating 3-3 draw against the Blues at Goodison Park. The Belgian turned in arguably his most impressive display since joining the club in the summer as he thwarted Everton time and again in a frenetic encounter. "So much happened in the derby," reflected Mignolet. "I'm pleased to have been part of one and I hope to be part of many more in the future. "I'm not the kind of player to get carried away by the occasion anyway but it's always nice to have that first one behind you so you know what's coming in the future. "It's not often as a keeper that you concede three goals and make nine saves in the same game. "I am happy I helped the team out - that's what I am there for. Hopefully I can keep doing that. "But more important than anything I did in the game was Daniel Sturridge's equaliser. If he hadn't scored that header, no-one would have been talking about the saves I made. "But we got a point and that has kept Everton away from us in the table. We need to make sure we build on that against Hull. If we win on Sunday then that result against Everton will look good for us."
maybe, think with him being so deep now days mainly to prolong his career, i think personally we have lost out on any short term benefit we would have had from him if we had used him as an attacking midfield player.
Stick Stevie on the right hand side of midfield and let him put in those evil balls. Pretty much every assist or chance he has created this season has come from set pieces. Has next to no impact on the game in open play. Hopefully this will spark up a nice debate
He's become what Beckham ended up as a few years back - a dead ball specialist. His delivery is still amongst the best around (**** ) but his legs have definitely gone.
**** he is Can't believe we're actually second in the table and with this fella playin in the middle with no legs
I really don't buy this. I am actually at the point where i am wondering how we accommodate him. Tobes is actually dead right here. I know i give tobes stick about being always right but i have to basically say yes on this one Gerrard's legs look spent. Beckham for england at the end but also for this clubs sides sat really really deep and just moved it about and really only took set pieces. Gerrard still hasn't got that he can't go chasing up the park, making runs in to the box and then fail to get back or look jaded doing so. sitting and holding means that. I am seeing so many gaps behind him as he does this. he even goes chasing up closing down when we don't have the ball then there's a huge gap lucas has to cover behind he never quite gets back to fill. It's like this; compare gerrard to scholes. what precisely did scholes do for the last 3-4 year of his career? He played less and less, 222 games in the league, then 17 then 16... some as sub. never played a league cup match in the last two years and even europe eased off. In short LFc need to yes realise we are not utd and don't have the players now to come in but we need to bite the f'n bullet and buy some. gerrard cannot expect to play all 90mins of every game then go to england duty etc etc and play. Ok we only have one match a week due to the no europe scenario our form rightly merits but the reality is its time. "greatest player" "world class" etc sentiments only mean he is playing too long for us and we are too reluctant to pull the captain off or bench him and use him for impact and big games. Bob paisley said let the age elsewhere... well this is a case of it.
Benitez said he saw Gerrard as moving to a striker when he got older. Moving him forward instead of backwards and removing the excessive miles from his game. Roy, Kenny and Rodgers have gone the other way and moved hi backwards. I'd be interested to hear what Rafa's opinion is now.
He is a very good finisher and a great header of the ball. Keep him at the top where he doesn't have many defensive duties.
He doesn't have the shooting boots anymore. Anyone else notice his shots nowadays don't seem to muster any power? Gerrard's trademark shots were always power and perfect placement. Now it seems a trade off of one or the other.
for me you would get more benefit out of it, trouble is what about his position as far as England goes as well. be a bit weird playing AM for your club then DM for the national side esp as you are captain of both as well.
it would be interesting. I mean lets look at sheringham. couldn't run and was dead slow but had attributes that suited him.... i guess it would be similar for bergkamp. that said what was gerrard's great asset, vision? positivity in looking for a forward pass or sprinting, pace as well. I am not sure where you'd put gerrard other than a no 10 role like coutinho. I dunno. I would agree he is a good finisher but i have long since given up on him form set peice with headers... first he insists on taking them so target amn? I dunno.. I look at pirlo and think.. yeah theres a role for gerrard but he's got to change to play it... you just can run forward and walk back slowly in the englsih league.
Gerrard shouldn't be playing the Pirlo/Alonso role. It's not his natural role and he's not in their class (in that position).
I just can't see the massive issue people are trying to make this in to - I firmly believe this is Gerrard's last season as a guaranteed starter on for 90 minutes every game. This all stops next year, BR did phase out Carra so he knows what he is doing. We are second in the table and Gerrard has the most assists in the league - not saying he is by any means perfect but to blame him for the gaps and goals we concede is far from fair imo. Let's look at players who are in their 'prime' and ****ing up week in week out such as Johnson first shall we?
Jimmy, we are going to fall out again! Firstly there is no such thing as the Pirlo/Alonso role. They are two completely different midfield styles. Secondly Gerrard is certainly not in their class as in his own evolving style he demonstrates a different skill set that neither of those 2 wonderful players could seek to aspire too. The box to box Gerrard is now a wonderful memory. His problem is that he was so good and so consistent at it that he appeared to make it appear everyday. However he has retained a wonderful range of passing skills the like of which is not replicated in the Premiership. His crossing skills, particularly from dead balls, is also second to none. He can read the game better than most and is aware of the people that are around him and their playing attributes. All in all he is still one the the most creative midfielders in the Premiership. He seriously does not have to replicate any other midfielder because he is the one and only StevieG!
Takes up the correct position instead of chasing the ball. My status may have to be changed to **** Stirrer General.
