One of Gerrards Faults is that he takes everything on his shoulders, he has to get the team going, he has to make all the runs, make all the tackles, all the hollywood passes, the pens, and the spectacular goals for distance, the freekicks and the corners. Now when Gerrard was in his prime this worked to a certain extent, but as he's aged this has presented a big problem for the team as Gerrard almost doesn't trust them to be as good as him, even if they are infact much better at that role (with possible exceptions of Torres/Suarez) A good captain needs to trust his team, he also needs to know where they are strong and weak and be able to organise the team to take advantage of those strengths and protect against their weaknesses. Today was a lesson, the lesson Gerrard took from it was never let anybody question you're the captain and the best at everything, but i'm hoping that perhaps Hendo learnt something different.
FinallyMario Thank you hendo for let me take the penalty.. Stop drama now. We won that's what it count. We are a… http://t.co/aUtsFglN6g 19/02/2015 22:49 FinallyMario And .. Thank all of you supporters . Thanks with all my heart. You are great. Now let's think about sunday match 19/02/2015 22:57 You heard him, he's our mod now #notspineless
Rafa was too then since he changed his penalty taker from game to game in his first two seasons at Liverpool.
I think he's brilliant - didn't like him at first but he does add something to this squad. Makes everything look effortless (cue smartarse comments!!) - but the way he can trap the ball mid air is incredible and his link up play is getting better all the time. More importantly - he attracts defenders and this will create space for Sterling and Sturridge. He won't be the guy who scores a lot of goals but he will create either directly or indirectly for others. And finally - he winds the opposition up. It's brilliant, and he's not afraid to get into an argument.
You could also say that Hendo showed a different sort of leadership by being diplomatic at the end. Gerrard should know better, imo - he's not an impartial pundit, he's the club captain, he should know that disciplinary issues need to be considered and dealt with in private and not blurted out in the heat of the moment in front of millions. What would people think if he'd been playing and came off at the end and slagged someone off in the post-match interview? I have been one of Stevie's supporters on here throughout a considerable amount of criticism, but I think this was poor, tbh.
Thoughts 1. Gerrard should shut up. He is club captain not a pundit unless he wants to give off now of course 2. I've had enough of a captain ego so henderson is certainly in my view an average free taker, not a pen taker and I don't want to swap one ego for another thanks 3. Balotelli is balotelli, didn't shock me.. If it shocked lfC manager or captain well they are worse! 5. Seriously.... If you had to put your house on a pen it'd be gerrard then balotelli at anfield no one else if rodgers wants to sort it to henderson more fool him
I'm averse to currently active players appearing as pundits full stop, especially for their own team's matches. It doesn't look good (e.g. why aren't they focusing on training/playing?? why has their head been turned by the cameras??) and could cause problems down the line if they say something daft about their own team. Gerrard shouldn't have been on there imo.
I thought his first retort was good. The interviewer asked "What would have happened if you'd been on the pitch?" and he answered "I'd have taken the penalty, that's what would have happened". Pity he didn't stop there.
Absolutely.... Perfect, laugh, turn to whomever nudge nudge wink wink and get everyone laughing It's like they just sucked more out of him
I would of said exactly the same as I did with Mirallas situation. Balo took the ball from Henderson, I would never want Henderson taking a penalty and I'm a massive fan of his. Everyone knows Balo can take a pen. If Gerrard is on the pitch he is the penalty taker but he wasn't so someone had to stand up and be counted for.
I think it is bad for team spirit that balotelli took the ball off Henderson. It would have been different if Henderson had openly given Mario the ball and asked him to take it. Rodgers should have sorted it beforehand. If Gerrard is not on the pitch, then penalties should be taken by balotelli. Instead we had this unsavoury argument between Sturridge and Henderson and balotelli. It undermines Henderson as a captain as well as showing Sturridge in a bad light. Yes he did score but that's beside the point. Balotelli has transgressed and I agree with Gerrard: Henderson should have stood his ground and taken the penalty.
I for one was very happy badontelly (who you all know I hate) took it. I was 100% sure he was going to score I could not believe henderson was even thinking of it It's all ego to me, delaying contract, taking all the frees etc... **** that malarchy
Rogers is indulging Henderson and Gerrard has been mouthing off since he decided to **** off and retire in hollywood
But Hendo would have got pilloried if had stood his ground and missed it, once Balo got the nod from Henderson the pressure was on Balo. The row has taken the shine off a well deserved victory, pity really.
Balotelli takes a penalty like it's nothing to him, but also like he's aware of every single movement It's a skill, and I think Balotelli is a better penalty taker than Gerrard Gerrard is a great penalty taker because he hits the ball so well but I don't think he gives himself any extra edge from being aware of the goalkeeper like Balotelli does
But Balo wasn't on the pitch to begin with. I'm guessing that before the game both Hendo and Sturridge asked to take the pens and the job was awarded to Hendo without anyone taking into account what would happen if Balotelli came on. This would explain why Sturridge was narked- because he'd had to defer to Hendo in the first place and now someone else was taking over. Whatever the explanation, I don't think Gerrard should have criticised his players openly. That is, in itself, worthy of censure, imo.
