Daily Manc

[floyd]

GERRARD'S RAFARIFT

WORLD EXCLUSIVE Skipper's future in the balance

By Simon Mullock

 

STEVEN GERRARD'S future at Liverpool is hanging in the balance, with the Anfield captain growing increasingly unhappy with life under Rafa Benitez.

 

Sunday Mirror Sport can reveal the strained relationship between Gerrard and Benitez is now close to breaking point.

 

Gerrard publicly insists that he is happy to play anywhere in Benitez's tactical system.

 

But privately, he feels his poor form this season is down to the Spaniard's insistence that he plays wide on the right of midfield, while Xabi Alonso and Momo Sissoko play in his favourite central position. Gerrard is prepared to put his preference to one side for England - but feels his talent is going to waste at Anfield.

 

Benitez, who has insisted he will not quit Liverpool, now faces a third fight to keep the £30m-rated midfielder at his home-town club. Gerrard looked destined for Chelsea after Euro 2004, but was persuaded by Benitez when the Spaniard arrived at Anfield from Valencia.

 

Twelve months later he asked for a transfer after becoming frustrated by the lack of progress regarding new contract talks - but changed he mind again.

 

Sunday Mirror

[M4TTA]

GERRARD'S RAFARIFT

WORLD EXCLUSIVE Skipper's future in the balance

By Simon Mullock

 

STEVEN GERRARD'S future at Liverpool is hanging in the balance, with the Anfield captain growing increasingly unhappy with life under Rafa Benitez.

 

Sunday Mirror Sport can reveal the strained relationship between Gerrard and Benitez is now close to breaking point.

 

Gerrard publicly insists that he is happy to play anywhere in Benitez's tactical system.

 

But privately, he feels his poor form this season is down to the Spaniard's insistence that he plays wide on the right of midfield, while Xabi Alonso and Momo Sissoko play in his favourite central position. Gerrard is prepared to put his preference to one side for England - but feels his talent is going to waste at Anfield.

 

Benitez, who has insisted he will not quit Liverpool, now faces a third fight to keep the £30m-rated midfielder at his home-town club. Gerrard looked destined for Chelsea after Euro 2004, but was persuaded by Benitez when the Spaniard arrived at Anfield from Valencia.

 

Twelve months later he asked for a transfer after becoming frustrated by the lack of progress regarding new contract talks - but changed he mind again.

 

Sunday Mirror

 

 

Dont see anywhere in that article where it says there is a problem other than stevie doesn't like playing on the right.

 

How many times does he have to say it? and when will these f***s:

 

a) get it

b) f*** off

c) leave him alone

d) just f*** off

[Chili Palmer]

He didn't look frustrated yesterday, I wish they would leave the lad alone, I know he doesn't help himself with his unhappy face all the time but thats just him, brilliant footballer, grumpy git! live with it.

[Benitez]

"But privately, he feels his poor form this season is down to the Spaniard's insistence that he plays wide on the right of midfield"

 

 

"And equally as privately, he feels his good form last season was down to the Spaniard's insistence that he plays wided on the ride of midfield, and now unable to fathom why he's been so poor this season, his head exploded and made a right mess in the dressing room"

 

 

[Earl Hafler]

I'm really disappointed in that article. No mention of " a source said " or " one witrness remarked " .

How can i possibly believe that ?

[M4TTA]

I'm really disappointed in that article. No mention of " a source said " or " one witrness remarked " .

How can i possibly believe that ?

 

it really is just a load of f***ing bulls***, this stuff makes me more angry the more they write this drivel

[Ste M]

Probably something they've picked up from the c*** that's on the board.

 

And why would a newspaper let facts get in the way of a good story?

[floyd]

It is also written by a Manc. Put's it now into prospective.

[Sion]

Rafael Benitez has laughed off the latest bout of speculation regarding Steven Gerrard's future at the club and insisted once again: "I'm not prepared to sell my captain."

Responding to more tiresome rumours in a national Sunday newspaper that the Liverpool skipper could be on his way out of Anfield when the transfer window reopens in January, the Reds boss smiled, shrugged his shoulders and described them as pure fabrication.

 

"It's not a surprise to read stories like this," he said. "The newspapers never rest; they are always trying to find something to write about. Obviously they had nothing to write this week so they make up more rumours.

 

"We are experienced in these matters now and all we can do is remain focussed on the playing matches. Anyone who thinks Stevie is not committed to this club only has to look at his performance yesterday. It was clear to see he was really happy, before, during and after the game."

 

Benitez also vehemently denied there was any rift between the pair, adding: "We are constantly talking. He is the captain and so we always have a lot of conversations. These rumours are crazy. I'm not prepared to sell my captain."

[Andy @ Allerton]

I wonder if the papers realise how much they and their 'journalists' are despised by fans?

[Swipe]

I wonder if the papers realise how much they and their 'journalists' are despised by fans?

 

I often wonder that. Scum like Paul McCarthy seem to think they speak on our behalfs. See themselves as some sort of "man of the people".

 

c****.

 

Great response by Rafa. It's good that a response has been made so quick.

 

Agree with him regarding Stevie yesterday - thought he played well.

[Nerik]

Stevie was excellent yesterday. He was putting in some great tackles and some lovely passes. Once he scores there will be no stopping him.

[Cunny]

really worried about Gerrard now and not about were he plays in the team.

the rumours have now escalated to the point that photos/videos were being circulated at the match yesterday

true or not, his head must be a mess and I can see him wanting to get out of Liverpool (the place) and escape all this nonsense

at worst the rumours have some element of truth about them and he'll want to get away from it all

at best there is no truth but he'll want to escape a community that relishes in spreading such malicous stories

 

I will not be surprised if Gerrard is playing in Spain next season

[Hightown Phil]

I often wonder that. Scum like Paul McCarthy seem to think they speak on our behalfs. See themselves as some sort of "man of the people".

 

c****.

 

Great response by Rafa. It's good that a response has been made so quick.

 

Agree with him regarding Stevie yesterday - thought he played well.

 

Technically though, Paul McCarthy is a Man of the People. Albeit, technically.

[Swipe]

really worried about Gerrard now and not about were he plays in the team.

the rumours have now escalated to the point that photos/videos were being circulated at the match yesterday

true or not, his head must be a mess and I can see him wanting to get out of Liverpool (the place) and escape all this nonsense

at worst the rumours have some element of truth about them and he'll want to get away from it all

at best there is no truth but he'll want to escape a community that relishes in spreading such malicous stories

 

I will not be surprised if Gerrard is playing in Spain next season

 

What kind of photos?

[Cunny]

What kind of photos?

 

 

photos/videos of Alex Curran is compromising situations.

 

I think whether they are real or not does not matter anymore.

The lad must be a mess right now.

[Swipe]

photos/videos of Alex Curran is compromising situations.

 

I think whether they are real or not does not matter anymore.

The lad must be a mess right now.

 

People who do that are scum.

 

I think Stevie knows 99% of his fans are repulsed by it.

[liverbird04]

Being famous in Liverpool must be an unbelievably Claustrophobic experience at times ,its a small village mentality , the gossip and tittle tattle is neverending .Feel sorry for anyone constantly on the end of it.

[McBain]

Same paper, same author. An article that was obviously written well before that shows Rafa totallly debunking any idea of selling him

 

Cracking journalism. I dont know why anyone ever gets worked up about it

[Earl Hafler]

I keep hearing the rumours - Bootle etc - but have yet to see anything and the net is usually pretty quick with things like this.

 

Sounds like total loblocks to me

[Swipe]

these paper stories aren't even based on this gossip anyway.

[fred milne]

Gerrard is prepared to put his preference to one side for England - but feels his talent is going to waste at Anfield.

Laughable.

 

In other words, the writer is happy to use this "issue" to try to destabilise LFC but not England.

[Swipe]

Laughable.

 

In other words, the writer is happy to use this "issue" to try to destabilise LFC but not England.

 

The story is pathetic.

 

As Rafa said, they always make stuff up and any excuse to tear intol Liverpool is gladly lapped up

[Guest Strictly Commercial]

If he refuses to play on the right then i say sell him for £40million. If however like he said yesterday and what Rafa has suggested that he will do it then keep him. In saying that, I have seen nothing to suggest he hates playing on the right bar the horrible rumours that have been spread around recently. Sure HE may not like it as much as playing in the centre, but i think he plays for Liverpool rather than himself and we are just so much better with Alonso and Sissoko in the centre. Most defenders probably would like to be strikers because of the attention they get in comparison.

 

You know, i'd love to see the statisics of wins where Gerrard has started and remained at centre verses the games he has played on the right over the past 2 years.Overall the balance of the of the team is much better whenever he is on the right, whatever that know-nothing Andy Gray has to say about it!

 

But i think in reality its just the yearly Gerrard media rubbish that always seems to come up around this time.

[Lou]

Being famous in Liverpool must be an unbelievably Claustrophobic experience at times ,its a small village mentality , the gossip and tittle tattle is neverending .Feel sorry for anyone constantly on the end of it.

I was told the 'rumours' by several people yesterday. It's amazing how ALL of the conversations started with 'My mate who's an Evertonian told me etc etc'.

Robbie was our best player by a country mile for a while and the 'rumours' doing the rounds in the city while he was at the top of his game were never ending and generally without any foundation whatsoever. Now Stevie faces the same situation and the best thing we can do is to laugh them off and stop them spreading because, even if there were the remotest truth in any of them, he should be left alone to deal with them privately.

Meanwhile it would be really nice if the Bluenoses stopped obsessing about our players and got themselves a life.