LFC2007 wrote:We don't know for certain, but I think out of the two, Gerrard was more likely to leave, (he said considered "another option" while on holiday) presumably to Madrid. If he had his heart set on going there then I suspect a fee would have been agreed and he would have gone. But on balance he concluded that his future lies with Liverpool, and Roy may well have been a factor in that. Certainly, if he had as much faith in Roy as some of the people on here - i.e. that we are destined for mid-table mediocrity - he probably would have handed in a transfer request. But, because there are things happening at the club, and more importanly I think, because he's committed so much to the club over the years, it would overly simplistic and downright silly to make out that he was dying to leave the club, and is ONLY here because no club matched the asking price. Everything from Roy, to the signing of Joe Cole and the commitment of Torres, to the increasing possibility of new ownership all point to a change in the future direction of the club. It's just that Madrid are a Real attraction too, and so is Mourinho. It was probably last chance saloon for a big move so he was bound to give it serious thought. I've no doubt we'll see a revitalised Gerrard this season and the early signs are looking good.
Sums up my thoughts. No doubt we were a bit lucky on the Torres front, he wouldn't have gone to Madrid (I don't believe), the Italian sides can't afford him, and I don't think he would play for another side in England (or at least not this season) therefore Barca probably was the only realistic destination. Gerrard is more complex I think. I was convinced he'd want out based on him turning 30, a lousy World Cup with England and no Champs League football at Anfield this season BUT he didn't take much time coming to a decision to commit did he? Too cut and dry to say Madrid wouldn't pay the money and that was that, if he'd expressed a wish to leave I suspect that price would have come down the closer we got to the transfer window and a deal would have eventually have been done. In short, he could have forced the club's hand. Also, we're overlooking the ownership situation here, i'm sure most of the players (like us) hope and expect there to be viable custodians in place in time for the next transfer window and for things to improve on the financial front. I also wonder if the likes of Gerrard and Carra quite like the idea of playing for an English manager for a change as well. It's not something either player has experienced with the exception of Evans last couple of seasons and a couple of brief stints playing for Keegan/Mclaren in the England set-up.
who don't seem to have an opinion of their own and are just here it seems to wind people up and deride then for having the cheek to have an original thought .
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