His last good season was 08/09. From there, he's been in decline and we have performed better without him. I'm in a minority but I saw no difference between Gerrard this season and last season - he looked far better last season because his inabilities were masked by a world class attack which meant we didn't lose points that often.
The previous season he scored 13 goals and had 13 assists in the league, that's good by anyone's standards. Yes, his shift to the 'quarterback' position left your back line more exposed due to the fact he wasn't a DM, but he more than made up for that with his passing and vision that season, and he was a major part of what made that side tick. I'd been saying he was finished the season before, but I had to eat my words, as he was quality that season mate.
I remeber him getting a bit of stick early doors that season but he soon made a lot of people eat their words as he settled into that position, we pushed forward driven by Suarez enabling him to hit the passes and it worked brilliantly. Just because a player has to adapt because of age it doesn't mean he's poor.
I mentioned earlier that I kinda respect your opinion on footy although I often don't agree, the reason for that is I try to take on opinion and challenge my own views. On this I just feel you've made a statement and are sticking with it for no good reason, Gerrard has changed, he hasn't been the all action goal machine we were used to for a while but the terms "poor" and "mediocre" just don't fit for any of his career other than the last season which was clearly 1 too many.
And even me, a fully paid up member of the Tobes haters club, has to say.....I totally agree with you I have to add as well that his poorest seasons (of which he's had 2 or 3 in 17 fecking years) have been when he's played in a position that exposed every one of his weaknesses rather than playing in a position that would have suited his remaining strengths. Hard to believe he's getting grief for not being dedicated enough anymore ....after he's carried the rest of the ****e for nearly two decades as well....I remember the days when we were loyal to our own
Majority of his goals and assists from penalties and corners. Not saying they should be discounted but these situations would have occurred if Gerrard was on or off the pitch. I'm far more concerned with his contribution in open play and whilst he was alright offensively, he was abysmal defensively and it's why we lost the league because we conceded far too many goals. We would have scored loads of goals regardless of Gerrard's playmaking from deep. The attack carried the team last season.
He scored a load of free kicks and was putting in lethal crosses from free kicks as well. It's just absurd to say we would of done this, that and then some if he wasn't involved for the season. Ask Suarez if he would have been just as successful that season without playing a minute with Gerrard and he'll tell you - no.
I'm pretty confident that Suarez would have done just fine if Gerrard wasn't playing. If we had played with a proper DM in place of Gerrard, we would have won the league.
Lethal crosses from free kicks yes. Scoring direct from free kicks nope. If anything Gerrard was holding Liverpool back. When Suarez took over free kick duties he was banging them in all day long. Far more deadly direct free kick taker. And again Gerrards corners were abysmal
True although to use Suarez as an example is probably unfair on Gerrard too, Luis was a magician for us. Not many players are able to offer that high a standard on a consistent basis.
There is an unhealthy obsession with scoring goals - if Gerrard wasn't playing, would we have not been as good offensively? Personally we would have been bar maybe losing 10-15 goals. Now had we had a proper DM, we would have saved far more goals. We conceded 50 last season - save 10-15 goals in that respect and we win the league. Scoring 10-15 goals after having scored over 100 wouldn't have made a difference.
they have always been ****e, we have been saying for years why the **** is he taking the ruddy corners when he should be on the end of them, it was a celebration when he managed to beat the first man
I agree they've always been ****e but there is a second stage to this too. We can't defend at set-pieces, why? Because Gerrard is the one taking them in training so the defense look good when nothing materialises from them
