The England team had to accommodate Gerrard and his ego. If he's not good enough to play as the midfield engine then play someone who is. Not let him drop deeper and deeper as the game went on. Gerrard in goal for the Euros....?
I think everyone's being a bit mean. He's been Liverpool's best player for a decade as well as being England's best midfielder. So, he's past his best! If there is someone better, then its not his fault he was picked ahead of them. I've also never thought he had a massive ego, quite the opposite actually.
The best comments on England has come from Rohan Ricketts, to my mind. If you're interested, read his tweets to Stan Collymore... Click 'tweets and replies' and then read his replies to Collymore. https://twitter.com/RohanRicketts
This was nothing more than Gerrard international testimonial . If you're not good enough, you don't play,
Just tweeted him to say he's hit the nail on the head! Cheers for that DTLW, he is spot on to be fair.
Absolutely. It's the easiest thing in the world to take cheap shots when England have lost and Gerrard's played poorly. He was in everyone's team before the World Cup and though I think he should be left out of the game against Costa Rica if he's retiring, he's been the best midfield player we've had for years.
It's not that gerrard is ****, it's that managers need to recognise players strengths and weaknesses. Brendan Rodgers plays to gerrards strengths for Liverpool, whereas Hodgsons tactics at this World Cup seem to accentuate all of our players negative points.
I haven't been knocking Gerrard really here, however I have been saying for a long, long time, that I think he is overrated.
117 caps. Won nothing. Got close, never. Memorable moments? Few. Well done Stevie G. Now get back to getting in fights with a DJ not playing a record he likes.
And if you don't believe me, then Egil Ostenstad had something to say after the Uruguay game: Egil Johan Ãstenstad ‏@Egilostenstad The best striker in the world vs the most overrated captain in the world.
Gerrard has played well for England and Liverpool over the years...bit much to slate him now in his last major tournament (probably). You don't become a bad person just because you're nearing the end of your career. The important thing is for England to get a string of possible players to compete for places...that's the challenge.
Of course it is easy. People get a lot of practice. I have to say, that even when England win, when did anyone watch them and think unequivocally, that they'd played brilliantly..? The answer is... never, or more accurately, hardly ever. England haven't played brilliantly for a decade or more. It has led people to think that England players are no good. Well Costa Rica puts the lie to that. England players have a fine level of skill and technique. They just don't play well for England, because they are a collection of individuals and not a team. Costa Rica are a team and teams are more than the sum of their parts. England manage to be less. Solve that and England will do well.
I don't think that's true. Although struggling to dig out absolute examples - I've felt that he isn't up to it for a couple of years and have seen comments for others along similar lines. The thing with him is he is capable of a great pass, cross, shot but for a while this hasn't been enough to make up for his lack of dynamism and box to box qualities. Until recently He countered his technical shortcomings with this and as he has aged this, quite naturally has fallen away - and a very good player as he was is no longer able to cut it - and hasn't for a while.
Gerard's been a great player for England for a long time, and doesn't deserve slaughtering, but he's had two poor games in the world cup and isn't going to be capable of playing better in two years' time. I have a feeling he will realise this and retire from England duty after the world cup. It won't be easy to replace him, but it's necessary.
