5 Apr 2013

Rodgers insists: 'Phenomenal' LFC star can be like Pirlo and Zanetti. Deluded...?

Earlier this week, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers' fawned like a lascivious lapdog over Reds captain Steven Gerrard, gushing that it's a 'privilege' to work with someone so 'remarkable', 'phenomenal', and inspirational'. Rodgers rather sickening deification of Gerrard continued today during his pre-West Ham press conference, where the superlatives flew as the LFC boss tipped him to play on for another '3-5 years'.

When asked if Liverpool were set to hand Gerrard a new contract, Rodgers made it clear that he wants the 32-year old to stay, and predicted that he could play on until the age of 37. He enthused:

"He [Gerrard] is a brilliant professional, and he’s had a fantastic season.

"He’s 32 and superfit, and I still think there’s 3-5 years left in him yet.

"You look at the likes of Zanetti and Pirlo – they’re still talked about as top European players, and I can see him being like that over the next number of years".


Rodgers is clearly a fantasist. In my view, there's no way Gerrard will still be playing at the top level in five years, or even three years. His body has held up this season, but not of it's own accord. Indeed, Gerrard needs regular pain-killing injections to make it through games these days, and Rodgers admitted as much after the Aston Villa game on Sunday:

“He had a bit of pain in his heel and was struggling to get his boot on. For him, it was just a case of whatever it takes to play. He had to get an injection in his heel"

Rodgers claims that Gerrard playing through the pain barrier shows the strength of his 'mentality and mind-set', and proves that Gerrard is 'just a real inspirational man', but I submit it's (arguably) irresponsible management, along the same lines as Rodgers' negligent handling of Joe Allen, who he played against Southampton despite his shoulder being a 'thumb away' from breaking.

It's great that Gerrard is playing every minute of every league game this season, but at what cost? What's the point if his long-term fitness is damaged as a result. Pain-killing injections don't solve the problem; they're just a quick and easy shortcut, and whilst the pain is masked, the injury/niggle gets worse.

Does Gerrard even need to play every minute of every game? What does that achieve? Surely it would be more prudent to take him off when Liverpool are comfortably winning (as has been the case several times this season), and/or rest him a bit more often?

Let's just hope that Rodgers' shortcuts don't come back to haunt the club - and Gerrard - in the future.



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36 comments:

  1. It's horribly irresponsible to be playing him through every match. Each injection just masks health issues that could get progressively worse. Gerrard should be on hand for the matches where he is most needed. If we can't win without him that speaks volumes about our lack of foresight/mismanagement of the squad. Gerrard "should" be enjoying the prospect of playing for 3-4 more years, but instead we're insisting on trolling him out to get kicked around away at Stoke. Of course there's "only one Steven Gerrard" but the club owes it to him, the fans, and to their own success to find someone who can fill in. As of right now Allen has disappointed (perhaps through no fault of his own given the injury) and Shelvey has proven to be too erratic.

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  2. rogers has massive flaws in his judgement and personality.....he acts in ways at times that makes me think maybe he knows his stuff then he blows it by saying or doing something crazy ...the way he bums up Gerrard suggests a manager who cant handle top players correct....i get the impression he was unpopular as a child ( part of the uncool gang ) and he sees being friends with Gerrard as his way of burying his childhood demons and becoming part of the cool gang albeit 30 years late...thats why he likes to bully some of the less senior players ( his way of payback ) for all the schoolyard taunts...and this is the man to lead liverpool IRWT

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  3. theres only one person important in rodgers world and thats him he kisses the senior players arse in the hope that they say something nice about him i hope theres never a fire at his house because the rest of the occupents would have to save themselves rodgers would be to busy saving him self and his portrait

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  4. I personally don't have a problem with Rodgers pouring praise over Gerrard. Stevie is on of the top players of the last 20 years and Has achieved a lot more than Br has and Rodgers should be privileged to work with him. As long as he doesn't slip up and give the media animals something to feed on I don't really care what he says.
    I agree that he may be mismanaging him somewhat though. If he is to have this long career he won't do it by playing every match. It would also be beneficial to start trying out other options for when the day comes that his performances slip.

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  5. I think Rodgers is right in praising Gerrard. He has been phenominal over the years.

    Gerrard's game has been changed this season with him playing in a deeper Alonso role and it has suited him down to the ground, he has been doing great bar a rough early start to the campaign. Gerrard has been spraying some amazing balls all over the park. In this new role I can see him going on for atleast 2 more years. If Rodgers and the medical sports science team say 3-5 then I'll go with them, they clearly know ALOT more than any of us!!

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  6. I think a lot of this is political.


    Nothing would get the fans to turn on him quicker than if the most influential player of the last twenty years were to turn on him.


    He stays in Stevie's good graces and hopes that it will translate into others following Stevie's thinking.

    But if he crosses Stevie, then others will follow suit.

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  7. hes giving to much kudos to gerrard...who actually is running the team...can he or dare drop gerrard if his form dips.....its unhealthy are players playing within themselves on the pitch for fear of upsetting him ....this isnt praise its placing gerrad on a pedestal that other players cant attain unless they perform miracles....id love stevie to come out and say he thinks hes a pr*ck

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  8. is this the same team that let allen play with a near broken shoulder..they sound like f*cking geniuses

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  9. i think suhin said it but is command of english meant it was misinterperated

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  10. so hes not a manager hes a what? if gerrard runs the team what the f"ck are we paying rodgers for its hardly is talent spotting

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  11. Your disdain for Rodgers has caused you to miss my point.


    I'm not agreeing with Rodgers. I'm merely offering my opinion as to why he's showering Stevie with this praise.


    Simply put, it's political. He'd be stupid not to try to win Stevie's support.


    Brendan Rodgers' job is manager is easier with Stevie on board. That's the bottom line.


    The alternative is that Stevie would not be in support of Rodgers, and anyone who thinks that would help BR be more successful would need to stop doing drugs.

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  12. I don't see anything wrong with what Rodgers has said about Gerrard. He has played every single minute of every Premier League games a remarkable statistic when you consider the past few seasons and the injuries. I am suprised that the author has used one example of the "injection" for Gerrard to get through the Villa game as the his general premise that Gerrard will not be around in 3 years time. I mean why not? Why can't he play the deeper play making role effectively? You don't need pace that's for sure. Keep possession, start moves and shift the ball around, something which Gerrard a quality player has been doing all his life. Giggs has played on for years, Pirlo et al will also do so, so why not Gerrard?!

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  13. i think what jase is getting at is rogers is paid to manage a team not a player ...is what we see on the pitch Gerrards or rogers style... i say this because surely Gerrard must have a massive say in selection and tactics if rogers rates him so much, if Gerrard doesnt have a say then all the praise he is lavishing is false.....you would surely utilize this god like persons talents .....ergo sack rogers make gerrad player manager

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  14. The only limitts are the one's which you set yourself, If Stevie G plays every game this season it would be good for his mindset. If Stevie was told he had to be protected every other game, he'd get injured, i have no problem him playing every game so far this season.

    I just don't buy into, if you are a certain age your over the hill rubbish. If Stevie G is fit and well enougth to play, let him play.
    BR is the one who see's him in training every day, if he was playing him whilst unfit then i would be really p###d off, but the latter doesn't seem to be the case.
    I understand the concern, but at the moment everythings cool....!!!
    #YNWA

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  15. The truth is you never know when their legs are gonna go. Ive seen it happen in little more than an instant.

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  16. I seem to remember Benitez getting slaughtered for not showing emotion,and definitely for not praising players (even from several players).Rodgers praises players and gets slaughtered .....f*ck its never endin, moan moan moan.

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  17. Part of the uncool gang,burying childhood demons,part of the cool gang 30 years late...... are you for real? Yeah for some he may go overboard with his praise stuff,but you better believe these players love getting praised, as Gerrard said Rafa never showed them any praise. You're reading to deep into all this stuff.None of us know how players train or their attitude etc all week when the squad is together,yet everyone thinks they know the whole ins and outs of Rodgers,Gerrard,Allen,LFC etc etc etc.

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  18. His portrait! Hahaha I just remembered about that...hahahaha

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  19. the truth will come out one day in his book,,,ps have you noticed he has a napolean complex ...he only buys players smaller than him ...the guy is a walking psychiatrists dream...

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  20. So Gerrard get's one injection that we know of and you are proclaiming He is getting it constantly??? Wow!!! So Giggs can but Gerrard can't?? Interesting!! In five years you will be showering Rogers praises for keeping Gerrard for so long! Kinda like when LFC beat Spurs and all of the sudden you were a fan! Amazing Grace indeed! Am sure this personal opinion shall be deleted!

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  21. I am a football player in some super league but far far away from England premier League and i am a big fan of LIVERPOOLFC and 'd like to say something about this . About our Stevie , in some games he's playing that well that u think that there is no better player in the world in that position but, in another game he is making so much mistakes that's making u think he's done, but anyway he's a great player and as footballer I think he can play for at least for two seasons ;great season ,not for 90 minutes , but he can make an impact for nothing more then 45 mins . What I want to say is that Stevie . G can help L.Pool to again became top world club , and maybe in two or three seasons L.Pool become a premier league champions .

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  22. Like most people who get older, you realise you can only play a level for so long, Gerrard is willing to have an injection to play, it comes from a desire to play. How do you know how his body held up this season? Could be to do with injuries last season, meaning greater rest periods so he had time to fully recover.

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  23. no hes kissed everyones ass expect the ones he thought he could make scapegoats i will tell you one thing about rodgers his ego will be his downfall if sturridge is fit on sunday someone will be dropped to accomadate rodgers signing should they be after our last league game ,imo no first time we have gone behind and gone on to win all season but rodgers will not see it by bets downing or hendo or enrigue 3 scapegoats for rodgers

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  24. Really stretching on this one JK. The only contrary information you supplied about Gerrard's fitness is a statement from Rodgers himself. I somehow doubt the manager has forgotten that SG had to have an injection, he's not a complete idiot. He sees Gerrard every day during the season and we have a team of fitness professionals exacting sports science that has come a long way in the past 10 years. And you think it's all bogus because .... Rodgers said he had to have some pain management? That's it? A player with a career history of groin and hamstring issues has avoided those major issues all season but has a bit of tendonitis for ONE game and you're second guessing the manager on how fit he is? Pure speculation of a part time blogger with no actual new information vs the professional opinion of the man in charge ... I know which side of the argument I'm going with.

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  25. The whole portrait thing is hilarious. I'd happily see the kop pass a massive portrait around if we win the league ;)

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  26. if we win the league while rodgers is in charge i will carry the fucker to anfield myself i will need a hand thou as the portrait is massive or we could always hire a wide load lorry ;-)

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  27. And who the hell are you to make a statement like that ? listen if steve keeps himself injury free and fit and brendan( if still manager ) uses him like ferguson uses giggs then why cant he play on for a number of years listen players of the caliber of Steven Gerrard come along once a generation so LFC should get as much out of Steve to learn up and comming players at the club and one last thing carra has been lambasted saying he is finished well with out him in the starting line up we look poor at the back and he is two years older than Steve Gerrard and could easily play on a further few years

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  28. I don't think the players are really playing within themselves, not because of fear of Gerrard anyway. I remember one funny incident where Henderson robbed the ball from Gerrard's feet and he swung his arms in disappointment.
    I have been very impressed with how Stevie has matured mentally as a player this season it's like he's 5 years wiser than he was and perhaps with that he's learning to take better care of himself. I would imagine when the time comes for Stevie to not be in the first team he will retire himself.

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  29. With respect, Adam, Gerrard has a history of needing injections for various injuries. Do a google search using the search term 'Gerrard injections', and you will find countless examples of him needing injections to keep going. Back in 2011, he was already having them:

    “I was missing training sessions and coming in the day before a game trying to get that last session in or having injections to play the next day.

    Rodgers has also stated a couple of times in press conferences this season that SG had an injection before a game; this is just the latest example.

    SG needed injections under Benitez; whilst playing for England etc. With a history of needing painkilling relief, why is it so hard to believe he still needs them now when he's older, and has just come off two years of regular injury.

    The overall point still remains: why play someone who needs an injection to play? How does this help heal the actual issue?

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  30. I would think that Stevie has some say in the progress of the team because he is such a talented player, has been at Liverpool for so long, and is the captain.


    That's not to say that Brendan is always going to do what Stevie wants, but I wouldn't have an issue if Rodgers asked him for his opinion. If anything, I would think that it would be to everyone's advantage to have Stevie's opinion heard with regard to game planning and strategy. He's the one on the field (and he's literally been on the field for every minute in the league).


    If you were manager and had a player like Stevie on your team, there's nothing wrong with asking for his input.


    It doesn't make BR any less of a manager because he's asking his captain for advice.

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  31. I do think there's an element of a bully factor. He picks on the scapegoats that people aren't going to rush to defend.


    And he praises the people that others are going to rush to praise.


    Again, a lot of it seems to be political.


    And I wouldn't necessarily have an issue with him playing Sturridge because Danny has by and large played well since the transfer here.


    I know that you are a major supporter of Kenny (as am I, and as all LFC fans should be), but last season it was ridiculous how much he was sticking with Charlie Adam, Downing, and Henderson when they were not producing.


    Sturridge has produced since coming here, so to put him out there is not a big deal to me if it happens, regardless of last week's result.

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  32. sturrridge as been poor for weeks why should anyone get dropped to accomadate him he should come on as sub and earn his place like ever player should not just get a place because rodgers bought him,its the same thing thats been happening with allen for months drop players because on paper its a easy game makes rodgers look good ,except he,s ended up with no points instead

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  33. Seriously, you need to think before you post this stuff. To sit there and think Gerrard doesnt want to play every minute of every game and he is only doing it because of a injection is ridiculous. These players have more ambition desire and competitiveness than every person who posts on here combined. Its easy to sit on the sidelines and act like you know its best to rest him cause he is older. I bet he is younger than all of you and fitter than you have ever been in your whole life. Get off your little perch and realize this players and managers know mors about football than you could ever know. They spent their lives making this their profession. You all talk on a blog comment section and act like you put in effort. You know it alls know nothing. The saying goes those who cant teach. Way to many teachers here

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  34. Christian Eriksen will replace him soon.LFC must work hard and seriuosly want to sign him next season.S.Gerrard stars and legend forever.LFC need to keep him for a longer years.

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  35. The reason why it's OK is if it's actually just pain and not under threat of getting worse. Pain doesn't always mean long term injury risk. So if the unquestionably qualified medical staff have said it's OK for him to play, and Rodgers has then come out to suggest he thinks Gerrard has a long term playing future then I'd absolutely argue that they know what they are doing. Why would Rodgers come up with this "fantasy" of Gerrard playing for many years if he already knows the player is injury prone and struggling just to get on the pitch? He really would have to be a complete nonce. So the two alternatives in my mind are:


    1. Rodgers is delusional and has randomly come up with this odd idea that SG will play on for many more years. In truth, Rodgers knows very well that SG is injury prone and has already been struggling to get on the pitch this season. Rodgers has either forgotten about this or is willfully making up nonsense about his players and feeding it to the press. Or ...


    2. Rodgers is making an assessment of a player in his team that he has known and worked with for about 9 months. He does this with full knowledge of the player's fitness and injury history. He has the backing of the team medical staff and is, in fact, making an accurate and astute judgement. SG occasionally plays through pain but, as an experienced sportsman, knows where his limits are and what his body is capable of.


    It's sports science, and no top flight team exists today without some serious medical knowledge as a prime resource. Look at how well we've done with injuries this season, it's been brilliant, and that's not just down to luck. Young players need to be guided and sometimes wrapped in cotton wool because young bodies are most at risk. We've having this same kind of argument around the Australian cricket team right now trying to manage their young pace bowlers and people just seem unable to understand it. Doctors can actually now predict when players will get injuries, it's serious stuff, and they have my utmost confidence.

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  36. This has nothing to do with the article but is very important to me. I recently came across some old action photos from sixties matches on a site called Red and White Kop. It was very entertaining for me as many of those games I attended with my father and the memories came flooding back. Does anyone know of any other sites where they might have similar pics? I'm interested in the sixties, the seventies and the very early eighties only.

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