Liverpool should take chance to cash in on Steven Gerrard

[Suedesi]

Liverpool should take chance to cash in on Steven Gerrard - Times Online


On Saturday morning I listened to Shankly and on Saturday night I heard Rafael Benítez, who has the job Shankly took half a century ago, respond to the 2-0 defeat away to Portsmouth with this gobbet of cheap sarcasm: “The referee was perfect.” Liverpool have become the opposite of Shankly’s raw material. They have got some players all right — some of the world’s best in their positions, in the cases of Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard and arguably Javier Mascherano and Pepe Reina — but a fading spirit.


To envisage their qualifying for next season’s Champions League now is difficult and, although the time has come for change, the obvious course of replacing Benítez as manager should be neglected, at least for the time being, in favour of imagining what a successor to him could be offered. The cupboard is bare. There is only what lies on the table. Or lies eighth in the table , a point above Fulham, who have a match in hand.


This is because the strategy of surrounding Gerrard with players he respects is failing and the Benítez regime is going down with it.

 

[mariachi-19]

Gerrard is no longer the best in his position, Torres is like Rooney with their spurts, Mascherano is equal to Essien, and Reina isn't even the best in England let alone Europe/World.

 

[Denis' cuff]

You'd have to say that Shankly was one of the great managers but sometimes it gets a bit OTT. Fair enough, he was a bit of a character but on the other hand, he could whinge with the best of em and was never out of the headlines with his rentaquotes and it was always somebody else's fault when they got beat. In 15 years he won a respectable 3 titles and some say laid the foundations for greatness that the club enjoyed after he left. But how much was HIS success down to Paisley who was always by his side? The author of this is Porridge Muncher Patrick Barclay who only last week betrayed his nationality with an indulgent piece on a different tack.

Having said all that, I do have a bit of a fond memory/soft spot for the old gobshite. If anyone reminds me of Shanks in the modern game, it's Mourinho. He had his charisma but oftem talked bollox.

As for Gerrard, if he leaves Anfailed, there'll be a horse's head at his Mam's feet when she wakes to the news. Won't happen.

 

[Name Changed]

How much do you reckon Liverpool would actually get for him considering he's just 30?

 

[FlawlessThaw]

How much do you reckon Liverpool would actually get for him considering he's just 30?

Similar amount Arsenal got for Henry.

 

[Red Pavan]

Who'd want him is the real question tbh.

Barcelona will surely pursue their intrest only in Fabregas and Madrid have done their super star spending that will last for a good few years. Chelsea wanted him a while ago but Lampard plays in the same role and is argubaly as good as him and then there is Citeh - whom i consider is the only club that might push for his signature if Liverpool fail to qualify for the CL.

 

[Rado_N]

I can't stand Patrick Barclay, he's such a cock.

 

[Interval]

They would get around 30 for him. It'll be daft to sell him. Its not like they have a bad team. Out of them, Spurs, City and Villa, I can easily say that they're favourites to make top 4 again. They'll go on a great run like they always do.

 

[buckooo1978]

Liverpool won't win the league with benitez....

given what he has spent if you had put someone like mourinho or hiddink in charge i think Liverpool might have done it in the last 5 years

still I don't see the logic in selling Gerrard - for the money they'd receive Benitez would most likely squander it

if I was a Liverpool fan i'd be outraged with his signings the last 18 months

after the disgrace of the robbie keane affair and the money wasted on dossena when you had warnock in the squad he outdoes himself yet again

he actually boasted about getting Aquilani on the cheap because of his injury - the player is due to be back in 6 weeks when liverpool sign him - so far in 2009 he has played less than 30 mins of league football

rafa is such a clown

 

[FlawlessThaw]

Madrid have done their super star spending that will last for a good few years.

Not sure if they have, in anycase Gerrard won't cost the super star amount like Kaka and Ronaldo have done. Reckon they could get him for £15m if Liverpool fail to qualify for the Champions League.

 

[Zen86]

He's on the decline, Gerrard. Unless some silly club like City came in he'd never go for as much as £30m. Like someone said, he'd go for similar to what Henry went for. I don't think he'd make it in another team anyway at this point, he's so accustomed to being the focal point by now that if the team wasn't built completely built around him he'd struggle. Not that Liverpool would ever sell him though, imagine the repercussions for the owners etc.

 

[Rado_N]

If they fail to qualify for next years CL (which I doubt will happen as funny as it would be) I can see citeh coming in with some ridiculous offer that the owners will find hard to turn down.

 

[mariachi-19]

He's on the decline, Gerrard. Unless some silly club like City came in he'd never go for as much as £30m. Like someone said, he'd go for similar to what Henry went for. I don't think he'd make it in another team anyway at this point, he's so accustomed to being the focal point by now that if the team wasn't built completely built around him he'd struggle. Not that Liverpool would ever sell him though, imagine the repercussions for the owners etc.

Rafa has full control over transfers

 

[Zen86]

Rafa has full control over transfers

Even if Benitez came out publicly and said he wants rid, scousers would still find a way to blame Hicks and Gillet

 

[Brwned]

Gerrard is no longer the best in his position, Torres is like Rooney with their spurts, Mascherano is equal to Essien, and Reina isn't even the best in England let alone Europe/World.

Who's better that plays in his position consistently?

Can't think of a better second striker over the past couple of years.

And I'd say Reina's the best in this league. He's certainly better than Cech.

 

[Crustanoid]

£1.4 million to Tranmere, everyone's happy

 

[Anderson Searl]

If they fail to qualify for next years CL (which I doubt will happen as funny as it would be) I can see citeh coming in with some ridiculous offer that the owners will find hard to turn down.

For more than Gerrard aswell, Torres, Maschacunt, hell, even the likes of Kuynt and Benayooooooun will maybe get an inflated price tah under City ownership.

 

[davisjw]

Even if Benitez came out publicly and said he wants rid, scousers would still find a way to blame Hicks and Gillet

Same goes for some United fans on here: We don't sign someone, we aren't paying over the odds for players, etc and it's the Glazers. Easy to blame your boss at work. Easy to blame your club's owners.

 

[davisjw]

To be fair we could use someone with his skill at the moment. He still drives players on and has a good shot, decent pass. Wouldn't want him near this club and he wouldn't step foot in our doors but he has another 3 years left in him before he starts looking toward MLS.

 

[MG]

How much do you reckon Liverpool would actually get for him considering he's just 30?

29, but players at that age these days can still be brilliant for a good few years. Especially very talented players, like Gerrard is. Players into their 30s are much more effective now because of the modern training techniques - look at Drogba, Lampard and Giggs. I know Giggs is something of a special case, but Drogba and Lampard are in their 30s and both are pretty lethal. I'd have Drogba at United in a second, he's a beast.

Admittedly it's not a great investment to sign Gerrard for loads of money because he won't last as long as a younger player - obviously - but he'd still be worth more than a player younger and approaching their prime but not as good as him, because he's still got a good few years of excellence left in him. And I mean excellence.

In modern football, I really do think there's still a lot to come from footballers after 30, if they're good enough.

 

[Zen86]

In modern football, I really do think there's still a lot to come from footballers after 30, if they're good enough.

Depends on what kind of player they are. The athletism involved in Gerrards play tells me he's not going to have the longest career at the top. No more running around like a headless chicken when he's into his mid 30s for st. stevie, and it's not like he's got the passing ability to sit back and spray balls about the pitch now is it.

 

[Cold_Boy]

Gerard is still their best player.

He is under rated here because he plays for Liverpool.

Why sell your best player?

 

[Red Pavan]

Gerard is still their best player.

He is under rated here because he plays for Liverpool.

Why sell your best player?

Gerrard is not their best player, Torres is. With the latest reports that there was a bust up between Rafa and him - it's more ought to be Gerrard as they can't afford to get rid of Benitez with their club in that state.

 

[Crumpsall Red]

Depends on what kind of player they are. The athletism involved in Gerrards play tells me he's not going to have the longest career at the top. No more running around like a headless chicken when he's into his mid 30s for st. stevie, and it's not like he's got the passing ability to sit back and spray balls about the pitch now is it.

However his starfish ability will be outstanding in his mid thirty's. He will have perfected it by then!

Barclay does make the point that Gerrard may be stifling the development of talent at the club (if they had any) and I think he may have a point there.

 

[Cold_Boy]

Gerrard is not their best player, Torres is. With the latest reports that there was a bust up between Rafa and him - it's more ought to be Gerrard as they can't afford to get rid of Benitez with their club in that state.

Gerrard is their most important player considering everything.

 

[Crumpsall Red]

Gerrard is their most important player considering everything.

Considering everything like what?

I think their stats without him are no worse that their stats with him in terms of wins/losses.

 

[AttackingFlair]

Torres >>> Gerrard

Xabi Alonso was more important in their best season in however many years.

 

[Dumbstar]

At 30 you have to start thinking when offers like 30-40 million come along. If we could get a younger, talented player to fill his void with a bit of extra cash (Aguero?) then it would probably be the best for the whole club all round. Would Aguero want to come, probably not, but the case still stands. Arsenal are moving on without Henry.

 

[gaffs]

If he went, then it would be £30mil+. Hes still a great player, hes just not found any form since his injury.

Barca, Real and City would be first in line.

It wont happen though, unless he puts in another transfer request.

The board wouldn’t sell him as they know Rafa would just waste the money.

 

[Cling Bak]

Gerrard is no longer the best in his position, Torres is like Rooney with their spurts, Mascherano is equal to Essien, and Reina isn't even the best in England let alone Europe/World.

But it's difficult to argue that is isn't a very strong backbone. Add Agger as well, they should be doing better.

Who'd want him is the real question tbh.

Loads of teams. City would dive in, Chelsea might even show an interest. Abroad, the list would be endless. All the top clubs in Italy and Spain would love him.

 

[VoetbalWizard]

If he went, then it would be £30mil+. Hes still a great player, hes just not found any form since his injury.

Barca, Real and City would be first in line.

It wont happen though, unless he puts in another transfer request.

The board wouldn’t sell him as they know Rafa would just waste the money.

imo barca wouldn't touch him.

madrid or inter IMO would be all over gerrard, however city would table the biggest bid if he were on the market this summer. definately agree in this market he'd still fetch over 30 million.

 

[gaffs]

imo barca wouldn't touch him.

madrid or inter IMO would be all over gerrard, however city would table the biggest bid if he were on the market this summer. definately agree in this market he'd still fetch over 30 million.

If he has a good World Cup at left mid they may. They could play him on the left of their front three.

 

[AttackingFlair]

What would City do with Gerrard? They already fecked up moving Ireland out of the off striker position for Tevez but now Gerrard? Unless he's going to play on the wing or something...

Don't think Madrid need him either, they've got Kaka and they'd be better off signing Ribery for the wing than Gerrard.

Barca, don't need him either, Pedro is turning into a star.

Inter Milan? They'd probably have to drop one of Milito or Eto'o which would be crazy.

 

[Merman]

City want him to prove that they can sign big name players too. Right now, they are a team for top team's rejects, but if they sign a superstar like Gerrard, they can attract more top players.

 

[Sarni]

They'd be perfectly mid-table without him.

Not like they're much better while he's there though but adding to their problems by offloading team captain and arguably the best player there would be insane.

 

[VeevaVee]

I think it's safe to say without Gerrard Liverpool would lose Torres, and also lose any of the little allure they have for bringing other players in.

 

[Pscholes18]

I think it's safe to say without Gerrard Liverpool would lose Torres, and also lose any of the little allure they have for bringing other players in.

Yep and after Rafa sells Gerrard, surely he will be gullible enough to take Berba and 20 mil for Torres.

 

[Anderson Searl]

Xabi Alonso was more important in their best season in however many years.

Which is why this sudden fall from title contention doesn't shock me, I said when the move happened it would be Rafa's biggest error.

 

[Berlinknives]

29, but players at that age these days can still be brilliant for a good few years. Especially very talented players, like Gerrard is. Players into their 30s are much more effective now because of the modern training techniques - look at Drogba, Lampard and Giggs. I know Giggs is something of a special case, but Drogba and Lampard are in their 30s and both are pretty lethal. I'd have Drogba at United in a second, he's a beast.

Admittedly it's not a great investment to sign Gerrard for loads of money because he won't last as long as a younger player - obviously - but he'd still be worth more than a player younger and approaching their prime but not as good as him, because he's still got a good few years of excellence left in him. And I mean excellence.

In modern football, I really do think there's still a lot to come from footballers after 30, if they're good enough.

He's young by Chelsea and AC Milan standards.

 

[Berlinknives]

City want him to prove that they can sign big name players too. Right now, they are a team for top team's rejects, but if they sign a superstar like Gerrard, they can attract more top players.

Schmeichel and Weah didn't attract any.