David Hodgson

I take your point, inasmuch as, IF Gerrard's career sharply declined from here, and he became the new Billy Kenny, it would take the shine off his achievements to date. Having said that, I think his achievements to date, are sufficient, for us (me) to be using so much hyperbole when talking about him. He is a European Cup wining captain in the fullest sense, and also has a bagful of other trophies, and has been playing at the highest level since he was 18. Of those you mention, Neal, Hughes, Toshack, Whelan weren't in Gerrards class as footballers. Robbie can't count because he did not 'do it' at the level (Europe wise) Gerrard has, and at any rate he was declining by the time he was 23. Keegan was a helluva player, but no 'natural' talent, the way Gerrard is. Hansen and Beardsley I'll give you. Yep, and given that he has a European Cup under our belt, I think that makes him worthy of their company, in every sense.

Exactly. It's 90% about what we become as a team, not what the others do.

That's absolutely correct. It took people quite a while to wake up to just what an impact Souness was having on the team. In fact I'd say before 1982 (by which time he'd been at the club 4 years) he wasn't commanding any more attention (possibly less than) Kennedy, Case or McDermott. By 1984 I remember journalists and 'experts' begining to acknowledge that he'd become one of Europe's best midfielders, but at no stage was he talked about as being one of the top 3 players in the world, the way Gerrard has been.

OK Scotty, who he is defintiely better than Gerrard from that era (Barnes and Dalglish aside) ? You can 'make a case' for Hansen, Souness, Beardsley and Rush, but none of them are clearly better footballers than Gerrard. IMHO he is already better than all of them, and he's only halfway there (in terms of his career). Captaincy-wise, it's only between Gerrard and Souness, isn't it ?

I don't see us making the quantum leap to being a team that will get over 80 points, and dominate and beat the other big sides, without 3 major signings. That doesn't mean mega-money signings necessarily (though it helps), but they will have to be of players that can have Xabi level dramatic instant impact. I ideally we'll get some investment in and we'll use it to add to Gonzalez with another top rank wide-man, forward (or two) and a top drawer attacking full-back.

I've regularly watched us since 1977, and with the exceptions of Kenny Dalglish and John Barnes I can safely say that Steven Gerrard is the best player I've seen in a Liverpool shirt. There is absolutely no hypothetical scenario where the club or team should be without a player who is already an all-time Liverpool great, and possibly the best captain the club has ever had.

Given that Xabi souonds like 'baby', I think we've got plenty of material to work with... I'll start us off.... 'Xabi love, my Xabi love, oh how I....etc '

We'll be like kids in a sweet shop. I wonder if they'll frisk us for magic markers on the way in.

Succinctly and perfectly summed up.

Rafa has been vindicated for his team selections all season. That's not debateable. But...you can't say Cisse wouldn't have scored more goals if he'd had more games. He's got a good goals to games average and logic says that would probably continue.

Very surprised to see no thread in honour of Djibril's MOM performance. Or not, actually. Credit, where's it's due I think. He may be sh*t, fairly frequently, but he has banged in a bout 20 goals, all comps, this season. Maybe with a bit more love.....

If we'd beaten Chelsea at home and away, instead of losing both, we'd currently be level with them. Makes ya think don't it ? Maybe I should have just read this post first.

Wayney ! Go to your room ! NOW !

Please make this stop. Are senses of humour on this forum at such a low level, that joy can be gleaned from April fool's day 'gags'?

Yeah, linked to Spain.

Yep.

I know for a fact that Rafa has Riquelem as a seriosu priority for this summer, but expects to face competition from Man utd for his signature.

What kind of nomark would do that ? Surely someone like that has no right taking up a season ticket when the queue to get them is so long. I think people should be stripped of their tickets if they can't prove attendance.

That'll be why they celebrated his departure as if they'd won the Champions league.

If we have to have 'fly' economy as opposed to fist class, in the transfer market this summer, then Stelios would easily jet straight onto my wish list.

Here goes : ------------------------------Abramovich Morgan-------------Gaddafi's lad..............Thaksin...........Mittal Villa wonga.............Bob Kraft................L4 guy..............Davey Moores ----------------------------Bill Gates.........Sultan of Brunei Sub : Parry

The Spanish Eamon Holmes. I wondered where that rather specific figure had come from. So, in conclusion, do you think this is all cobblers ?

Hope you're not getting testy with me....

That'll be why we'ved knocked in 18 goals in our last 4 games, then.

It's a manly, British, ballsy kinda thing, eh Stubbsy. Yeah, I know, it's wrong, but hey.....