Liverpool FC Forum

by **alessandromagno** » Thu May 18, 2006 2:27 pm

Well, he has praised SG a lot this season: so many times I lost count. On the other hand, it's probably true that, like most coaches, he prefers to believe that it is his own contribution that is most fundamental to the team's success. Maybe he's right.

by **account deleted by request** » Thu May 18, 2006 2:38 pm

I was probably wrong with my original post (maybe?) BUT it would have been nice if he had mentioned Stevies tap in at Cardiff. I understand that he doesnt want Liverpool beeing seen as a one man team but to say we would still have won cup without Stevie seems a bit hard.

by **73-1141222089** » Thu May 18, 2006 2:38 pm

alessandromagno wrote:Well, he has praised SG a lot this season: so many times I lost count. On the other hand, it's probably true that, like most coaches, he prefers to believe that it is his own contribution that is most fundamental to the team's success. Maybe he's right.

Doubt it...... bit of a strange thread IMO....

We don't really expect Rafa to plant one on Gerrard's kisser do we? :;):

by **stmichael** » Thu May 18, 2006 2:40 pm

Getting pretty tired of this, really. I think Benitez was right when he spoke of how we could have still won the cup without him: "Maybe we would have needed to have done different things". We'd have gone about the game in a completely different way.

This one man thing really gets my goat. true Gerrard was the man in the final, but if we're talking about the FA this season, then I think it was only in the final that he played his best game. He was very anonymous against chelsea in the semi, didn't really stand out against Man U. So I guess he owed the rest of the team a good performance in the final.

by **alessandromagno** » Thu May 18, 2006 2:43 pm

Gerrard wants the PL medal to complete his Liverpool collection. If he gets it in the next year or two, then he may go abroad for the last part of his career.

by **The Ace1983** » Thu May 18, 2006 2:45 pm

Ridiculous thread. I can see why you'd have doubts, but you have to think about the team as a whole. Everyone knows that Stevie G is one of the best players in the world, but Rafa's got to make sure that the rest of the squad feel appreciated as well. This is already being dubbed "The Gerrard Final", but players like Pepe, Momo, Riise, Cisse and the rest need some credit to keep their confidence up and ensure they don't start relying on him. Besides, Rafa likes spending money and imagine how much he would have got for Gerrard last summer. If he didn't want him, why was it so important to keep him. Rafa loves Stevie, but the rest of the squad needs love too.

by **account deleted by request** » Thu May 18, 2006 2:45 pm

[quote]This one man thing really gets my goat. true Gerrard was the man in the final, but if we're talking about the FA this season, then I think it was only in the final that he played his best game. He was very anonymous against chelsea in the semi, didn't really stand out against Man U. So I guess he owed the rest of the team a good performance in the final.

Totaly agree with this comment I wasn't saying we are a one man team I was saying i understood Benitez reasons.

by **account deleted by request** » Thu May 18, 2006 2:55 pm

I want Steven Gerrard to have my babies!

its not that I like Stevie so much I just hate my kids

by **Red @ Heart** » Thu May 18, 2006 3:06 pm

s@int wrote:I want Steven Gerrard to have my babies!

its not that I like Stevie so much I just hate my kids

by **alessandromagno** » Thu May 18, 2006 3:11 pm

He pulls out the performance when it counts most.

by **Bad Bob** » Thu May 18, 2006 3:18 pm

s@int wrote:It might be better if I just played it safe for a while or all this encouragement might just go to my head. Not bad for a first effort though..... worst post ever! I can only get better?

Chin up, Saint, lad...you're just raising a touchy subject is all. The whole Gerrard to Chelsea sagas (especially last summer) were a kick in the teeth to a lot of fans and I think, deep down, we dread any whiff of a repeat, although I, for one, am confident that's all behind us (I think most others on here are too).

FWIW, I agree with others that Rafa likely does most of his talking in private as far as Stevie's concerned. No need to proclaim the lad's greatness from the rooftops when he's already a media icon. Rafa tends to publicly praise unsung heroes whom the press has overlooked (e.g. Sissoko after the final).

As for fancy "quotation boxes" in your posts just put "quote" in square brackets at the start of the phrase and "/quote" in square brackets at the end of the phrase to get this effect...

Rafa and Stevie are the bossomest of buddies and will remain so for the duration of Liverpool Football Club

See? Easy! :cool:

by **account deleted by request** » Thu May 18, 2006 3:26 pm

Rafa and Stevie are the bossomest of buddies and will remain so for the duration of Liverpool Football Club

Thanks Bad Bob was driving me round the twist not being able to do quotes

by **stmichael** » Thu May 18, 2006 3:30 pm

I've been critical of Gerrard in the past (last season i thought he was average for the majority of games) but I'm delighted with how much he's matured as a player. If Rafa didn't get on with Gerrard or didn't trust him, he wouldn't be captain, simple as that.

The lad has become an even better player for adjusting himself to be an integral part of a well oiled machine, rather than trying to do everything in the machine himself.

When you have his ability which is undoubted, it's easier to shine out when your not trying too hard and are just playing properly. It's when he used to panic about what was going on around him that he would hit allelujah balls non-stop or run around like a lunatic.

What Rafa told him after Man City at home about 2 games into his first season was so true. "You need to conserve energy and play within yourself and TRUST your team-mates." At the time you felt the penny didn't drop but as time's gone on you feel like Gerrard would walk through a wall for Rafa if he told him it was the best way to win a game.

Stevie's comments about Rafa's tactics after the Chelsea semi were brilliant and showed just how much faith he has in him now.

by **account deleted by request** » Thu May 18, 2006 3:38 pm

You are slowly winning me over but your not there yet! I want to see an engagement ring before I really believe BENITEZ loves Stevie.

by **007** » Thu May 18, 2006 4:08 pm

Of course Benitez like him. Every manager loves top players. But one thing i know for sure is that they both love LIVERPOOL.. :laugh:

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