Its all Stevies fault

[Montse]

I cant think of a better captain/vice captain partnership than in Stevie and Carra but this guy seems to know better - as James May would say, what a c**k

 

Why Liverpool must get rid of Steven Gerrard as captain

Orion Assante

 

He may be a great player, but he's simply not a leader in the Roy Keane or John Terry mould.

Steven Gerrard: he's not a leader (gettyimages.com)Since the turn of the century, Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea have been at or near the top of the Premier League. Oops?correction. Only three of them have been there. Conspicuously missing are Liverpool.

 

Admittedly, the Anfield side have had cup successes the likes of which anyone outside the current top four would kill for. But as has been pointed out by Reds fans themselves, cups are secondary to the big one. Nothing matters more than domestic domination - and in the 1970s and 1980s it was Liverpool who invented the term.

 

However, with Sir Alex Ferguson blazing a trail of success at Manchester United, Liverpool haven?t had a sniff. Since 2000, Gerard Houllier and now Rafa Benitez have tried and failed. This despite a turnover of players that resembles the London Underground during peak hours.

 

The five-year Houllier era saw nearly 40 players brought into Anfield. That?s an average of eight a year! Those seasons have almost passed into folk law as the "buy-anyone-try-anyone" method of managing transfers. And before anyone can blink an eye, in comes the Rafa-lution, with about 30 players drafted in to the cause so far. Thirty players - and still Benitez complains that he needs more!

 

Let?s do a simple comparison. Sir Alex brought in close to 30 players before landing his first title - one-third of whom formed the lynchpin of the Manchester United domination. Arsene Wenger, tasked with replacing an aging Arsenal team, has brought in about 70 players in 10 years - a lot of them kids. Today, he boasts a team of near acne-age and three titles to boot. Jose Mourinho?s count at Chelsea is about 15 players in three years. As the Special One would say: "Two titles. QED".

 

Of all of Houllier?s transfers, only Sami Hyypia and John Arne Riise are around today. Of Rafa's revolution, only Xavi Alonso and (maybe) Dirk Kuyt seem to be the real deal. The rest - even Peter Crouch - seem to be temporary measures to patch things up until something better comes along.

 

There is no doubting the credentials of either Houllier or Benitez. Yet their transfer strategy seems to hint at desperation. The crux of the problem is that neither of them had or has the ability to identify and mould an inspirational leader on the pitch the way their rivals have. Do I have to mention the names? Eric Cantona, Roy Keane, Patrick Vieira and John Terry are already etched in all our the minds.

 

Sir Alex, Wenger and the Special One knew the importance of properly identifying and grooming a natural leader. Sure, Arsene already had one in Tony Adams. But his ability to replace that Gooner legend with a Vieira speaks volumes for the canniness of the man as a manager. And whereas the Tinkerman didn?t know how to get the best from his raw material, Jose knew better and cultivated Terry and his spine of Lampard, Cole and Drogba.

 

Who did Houllier and Benitez choose to cultivate? Who is the leader at Liverpool?

 

I know every Liverpool fan is now screaming the name of Steven Gerrard. But let's face it, Stevie G is great in patches. He's also great at cup finals when the game is on the line. And he is the go-to guy at crunch-time. But he is not a leader.

 

I say that because he lacks that one special quality all his other rivals had, and that is the ability to ?bring it? day in, day out. Game in, game out. Season in and season out. Gerrard drifts in and out of games (much like current Arsenal captain Thiery Henry does, but that is for discussion in another article). And when Gerrard is on song, Liverpool buzz. But the problem is that Gerrard is not always on song. Keano was. Terry is.

 

And in the absence of Gerrard? Hands up those who think Jamie Carragher deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as the other captains?

 

Until this deficiency is addressed, Liverpool will never mount a proper challenge on the league title. This remedy must be effected today. Benitez has to recognise that, no matter how much Gerrard wants it, he cannot be captain of the club. He must recognise that in so many games this season (the ones against Arsenal come readily to mind), Gerrard has looked hopelessly lost as a leader.

 

Benitez needs to identify and draft in a real leader and start grooming him the way Sir Alex did when he saw Keano at Nottingham Forest. But of all of Rafa?s transfers since he arrived at Anfield, not one of them has the inspirational leadership qualities of a champion. And worse, not one of the Liverpool players seems capable of replacing Gerrard as skipper with any conviction. Not one. How worrying is that?

 

Of Sir Alex's current squad, it's not difficult to see Wayne Rooney as the future Mr Man United. At Arsenal, some commentators think Gilberto is a better captain than Henry. After Gilberto, I can see Kolo Toure or even Cesc Fabregas leading the Gunners. At Chelsea I see Michael Essien as the next Blue-eyed skipper.

 

At Liverpool ??

 

ere

[psl]

What a loag of absolute w***.

 

Gerrard and Carra aren't captain material but Fabregas and Rooney are? Waste of time to read, let alone write.

[Paul B]

Orion Assante! Made up name, made up cack.

[Rimbeux]

 

Benitez needs to identify and draft in a real leader and start grooming him the way Sir Alex did when he saw Keano at Nottingham Forest. But of all of Rafa?s transfers since he arrived at Anfield, not one of them has the inspirational leadership qualities of a champion. And worse, not one of the Liverpool players seems capable of replacing Gerrard as skipper with any conviction. Not one. How worrying is that?

ere

 

There could be the start of an argument in there

 

 

 

Of Sir Alex's current squad, it's not difficult to see Wayne Rooney as the future Mr Man United. At Arsenal, some commentators think Gilberto is a better captain than Henry. After Gilberto, I can see Kolo Toure or even Cesc Fabregas leading the Gunners. At Chelsea I see Michael Essien as the next Blue-eyed skipper.

 

At Liverpool ??

 

ere

 

 

But this blows any thought of that out of the water, hot air nonsense

 

 

Still I've read plenty of that opinion on here

[L19red]

Opinions are like a******s. Everybody has got one.

[Gomez]

I stopped reading here!

 

Of all of Houllier?s transfers, only Sami Hyypia and John Arne Riise are around today. Of Rafa's revolution, only Xavi Alonso and (maybe) Dirk Kuyt seem to be the real deal. The rest - even Peter Crouch - seem to be temporary measures to patch things up until something better comes along.

 

On the first Point: Finnan? Kewell?

 

On the Second: Reina? Momo? Agger? Garcia?

[muleskinner]

Links to that site pop up on NewNow all the time. Sensationalist s**** is an understatement.

[Benitez]

the fact he refers to Roy Keane as 'Keano' tells you everything you need to know.

 

Really no need to bother yerselves over a MancUtd fan 'writings' is there.

[Guest Yozza]

Is there really any point to posting this article other than to try and wind people up?

 

That is the aim of this sh*te so just ignore it.

[jon_hall]

When did we sign Xavi Alonso?

[Gerrardrules]

Top contender for most s***ty article ever!

[Guest ritchie_50]

Article:

He may be a great player, but he's simply not a leader in the Roy Keane or John Terry mould.

Steven Gerrard: he's not a leader. Since the turn of the century, Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea have been at or near the top of the Premier League. Oops?correction. Only three of them have been there. Conspicuously missing are Liverpool.

 

He has got a point. Gerrard leads by example with his own performances, rather than as an organiser like a John Terry or Tony Adams, or a kick you up the backside if your not putting it in, like a Roy Keane. Sometimes its Gerrard that needs that kick up the a***.

[Guest Budo]

Keano? F****n Inbred, Peg-Selling, b*****d!

 

Rooney? F****n Inbred, Manc-Loving, b*****d!

 

 

 

There... I feel better now.

[Guest Linton]

Read his other article about the chic and cool Mr Mourinho and you'll realise that this is just a reader like you and me. He's not a< journo.

[Ronnie Whelan]

Admittedly, the Anfield side have had cup successes the likes of which anyone outside the current top four would kill for.

 

Only teams outside the top 4? Winning every cup competition available bar the WCC. This guy is a s****house of the highest order.

[Cam]

it's not difficult to see Wayne Rooney as the future Mr Man United

Hmmm, the last Mr Man United was a fat [removed for legal reasons] c*** as well.

[MikeK88]

Admittedly, the Anfield side have had cup successes the likes of which anyone outside the current top four would kill for.

 

I don't get that bit (not that I actually get the rest of the article, with all its relevance ), but is he saying that the clubs in the top 4 dont care about the champions league? Because last time I checked, I'm pretty sure they do.

[Guest Ant]

I hate to say it but I partly agree

[ChrisC]

I cant think of a better captain/vice captain partnership than in Stevie and Carra but this guy seems to know better - as James May would say, what a c**k

 

Why Liverpool must get rid of Steven Gerrard as captain

Orion Assante

 

He may be a great player, but he's simply not a leader in the Roy Keane or John Terry mould.

Steven Gerrard: he's not a leader (gettyimages.com)Since the turn of the century, Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea have been at or near the top of the Premier League. Oops?correction. Only three of them have been there. Conspicuously missing are Liverpool.

Admittedly, the Anfield side have had cup successes the likes of which anyone outside the current top four would kill for.

 

ere

 

 

Didnt feel any need to read on after here, you just know what sort of s**** is coming.

[Billy Dane]

If the writer needs to compare Gerrard's captaincy skills to a Utd captain, he should use Bryan Robson who also lead by example. I don't think Steve is like Keane but I can see similarities with Robson.

[Guest]

Can't be arsed to read the article - but I do think the quicker Gerrard admits to himself that he's a far more effective player on the right than in the centre and listens to Rafa the sooner he'll get back to his best form - events off the pitch permitting