Liverpool FC Forum

[Fernando Morientes > 19 <]

Source: Liverpoolfc.tv


Rafael Benitez today insisted he wants Steven Gerrard to remain a Liverpool player for the rest of his career. 
Speaking at a news conference at Melwood, the Reds manager quashed speculation that he wants his captain to leave the club by insisting Gerrard has a major role to play in his Anfield future.
 
He said: "I can assure our fans that we want Steven Gerrard to stay with us for the rest of his career.
 
"I renew my deal with Liverpool in four or five years and when I do I would like Stevie to be my next coach, assistant manager and maybe even the next manager after me. He can even have the chief scout position if he wants it.
 
"I want him to stay with the club. We are trying to build a better team and a better squad and I want Stevie to be a major part of that.
 
"Last season I tried to get Stevie to sign a new deal three times. On each occasion he said wait, so we waited.
 
"This year we want to win more trophies and that is why we are improving our squad with new signings."

[dawson99]

rafa is a star!

[JBG]

Has anyone considered that this might all be sabre rattling by SFX?

It happens the whole time, the difference here is the huge media focus on the negotations.

If it is, I say bad form on behalf of Steven Gerrard, as he surely must understand how much upset it will cause fans.

The other alternative is that its not sabre rattling and the statement is genuine.

I'm not as upset as last year, we'll get over it. In some ways it will be a relief if he does go. In all my time as a Liverpool supporter I have never seen such a big time charlie in our colours as Steven Gerrard.

[LFC #1]

that Rafa article smacks of a last minute cry to try and get Stevie to re-think his decision if you ask me, will it be successful? Time will tell.

[drummerphil]

its not an article.i have just seen him say it on sky sports news

[stmichael]

I'm not as upset as last year, we'll get over it. In some ways it will be a relief if he does go. In all my time as a Liverpool supporter I have never seen such a big time charlie in our colours as Steven Gerrard.

I agree with you JBG.

This chip he's got on his shoulder seems to have grown so large that it's enveloped his whole brain. Gerrard lives and breathes Gerrard...and that's not a good thing.

I think what's WORSE is the fact that everybody is pandering his every whim, pussyfooting around him, placing so much emphasis on him that he's starting to BELIEVE his own hype even more.

The way I see it, these threads in the past such as "Oh God, that result was ****** - Gerrard's NEVER going to stay" is pretty much the epitome of what is going wrong with this club. These threads, these comments imply that Gerrard IS the team, that every last thing we do is for his benefit, that every bad result is going to bear down badly on HIS reason for staying.

It shouldn't BE like that. If he doesn't want to stay then he should go. We shouldn't allow him to grind us down to this - this utter terror at the idea that he might leave. We shouldn't play every game for him, hope for good results just to make him stay.

He's NOT the club. He's NOT bigger than the club and if he thinks that he is then he should be allowed to leave. This club has lost great players in the past such as Keegan, Dalglish, Rush, Owen, but has rebuilt and moved on. Should Gerrard go then we'll use the money to reshape the side.

[Spionian]

RAFA: I WANT STEVIE TO STAY
Paul Eaton 04 July 2005 
  Rafael Benitez today insisted he wants Steven Gerrard to remain a Liverpool player. 
Speaking at a news conference at Melwood, the Reds manager quashed speculation that he wants his captain to leave the club by insisting Gerrard has a major role to play in his Anfield future.
 
He said: "I can assure our fans that we want Steven Gerrard to stay with us.
 
"I renew my deal with Liverpool in four or five years and when I do I would like Stevie to be my next coach, assistant manager and maybe even the next manager after me. He can even have the chief scout position if he wants it.
 
"I want him to stay with the club. We are trying to build a better team and a better squad and I want Stevie to be a major part of that.
 
"Last season I tried to get Stevie to sign a new deal three times. On each occasion he said wait, so we waited.
 
"This year we want to win more trophies and that is why we are improving our squad with new signings."

Rafa wants him to stay. So this nonsense of RB wanting to push him out can be dispelled. "I tried to get him to sign 3 times last year and each time he said wait"

Well Stevie we have waited long enough. If Rafa wants him to stay what's the problem?

Do we need the money? of course we do, but given the way Parry talks about him, he is not for sale.

Come on Stevie sign the fu@king contract and lead the European Champions out at Anfield on the 13th.

[addicted norwegian]

Christ ! all change , Rafa has just been quoted as saying (today) I want Steven to stay for the rest of his career , he could even be my assisant and the next Liverpool mgr . .

This story justs gets more bizarre .

Agreed. Gerrard loves Liverpool, Rafa and Parry both insists they want him to stay - and yet it`s unlikely to reopen talks over a new contract. What a mess

[mistyred]

Three offers last season and each time stevie said wait IF he really loved LFC would he even need three chances to sign a deal? 

[tubby]

They just showed RB in the press conference.

Zendens signed
Reinas Signed
Barragans signed
Gonzalez signed

"All highly rated players"

Benitez said he considered Reina to be the best keeper in Spain, Gonzalez who is only 20 to be the best player in Chile"

He also said he asked SG last season to sign a new deal 3 times but on all occassions SG said wait wait. The SG deal is about mony now.

Its about wages for him, and its about making money to line the pockets of his agents.

Its discusting but who cares, the future if only going to get better for

[LFC #1]

I just don't understand Stevie's motives now. How can you possibly leave your boyhood club, with your manager supporting you like that? maybe this mess can still be sorted out

[7_Kewell]

i can see why Rafa has got the , he offers 3 opportunities to sort out a contract and Gerrard says "wait".....we win the European cup and now, because it suits him, Gerrard wants to stay.  Problem is, this is the busiest time for Rafa and he's been made to wait ages, whilst Gerrard demands an instant response!

FFS stevie wake up

[laza]

Has anyone considered that this might all be sabre rattling by SFX?

It happens the whole time, the difference here is the huge media focus on the negotations.

If it is, I say bad form on behalf of Steven Gerrard, as he surely must understand how much upset it will cause fans.

The other alternative is that its not sabre rattling and the statement is genuine.

I'm not as upset as last year, we'll get over it. In some ways it will be a relief if he does go. In all my time as a Liverpool supporter I have never seen such a big time charlie in our colours as Steven Gerrard.

Couldnt agree more, i getting jacked off enough with all this transfer hype last season. I really rather naively as it turns out thought after winning the biggest competition in Europe this sort of would be behind us but no the rock show fueled by parasites agents and journalists just stopped for a few weeks
If he goes he goes, i get over it just like i got over Terry Mac, King Kenny, the Big Dane, John Barnes, Beardley , Robbie....oh god wheres the tissues 
Players come and players go but the club always remains

[mistyred]

Is it a case of "I love u" but i'm not "In love with u" who knows?.

[woof woof !]

Well when all's said and done Rafa's public statement about wanting Gerrard to stay forever and possibly become his assistant and the maybe Liverpools mgr certainly puts the ball firmly back in Gerrards court and would appear to bury the reports that Rafa doesn't want him.

C'mon Stevie ,tell yer agents to fk off and sort it out yerself.