In the wake of England's latest World Cup humiliation, England legend Peter Shilton has launched a withering attack on Liverpool star Steven Gerrard, who is increasingly under fire after failing to make any real positive impact on the tournament.
In his weekend column for the Daily Star, Shilton:
* Slammed Gerrard for making 'silly mistakes' against Uruguay
* Claimed that Gerrard's form is a 'major worry'.
* Criticised the quality of Gerrard's passing.
Shilton added:
"I always thought he [Gerrard] wasn’t a natural defensive midfielder and that has been proven on the biggest stage. I’d love him to pass me [125 caps] if he was still playing at the top of his game – but he’s not".
It's hard to argue with any of that. Gerrard is a fantastic player, but he has never realised his potential on the international stage, and now, it's too late for him to make the difference.
In my view, Gerrard should retire immediately. Like the rest of the failed 'golden generation', he is a symbol of England's abject failure on the international stage. It's time to give others the opportunity to make an impact, and keeping Gerrard on will stunt the progress of the team, for the following reasons:
* Gerrard is a crutch for the other players to lean on. Whilst he remains the in the team, it's impossible for a new leader to emerge.
* Younger players will not start taking real responsibility in the squad until the likes of Gerrard, Johnson etc are no longer in the squad.
* England's 'style' of play needs a complete overhaul, and that can't happen with Gerrard pulling the strings in midfield.
* Hodgson needs to spend the next two years building a new team for Euro 2016, and there's no point keeping Gerrard on for, say, the next year, and then jettisoning him before the next international tournament. The younger players need to grow together, and that means playing together as much as possible.
The (predictable) argument for keeping Gerrard (and the rest of the England old guard) is that the team allegedly can't afford to lose all that 'experience', but for me, that's just a massive cop-out. What use is that experience when it's tainted with consistent failure? No one expects England to win Euro 2016, so why is that experience even necessary? Just let the new generation accrue their own experience over the next two years.
Shilton also suggested a possible replacement for Gerrard in the holding role::
"I would consider playing only Jordan Henderson in that holding role as he is a more naturally defensive midfielder".
That's a horrible idea, IMO. Like Gerrard, Henderson is not really a dedicated defensive-midfielder; he can do the job, but his real strength is pulling the strings in the deep-lying playmaker role.
Unfortunately, quality defensive midfield options are thin on the ground for England, so it seems likely that Henderson will be shoehorned into the role. In fact, Henderson/Wilshere could be Gerrard/Lampard all over again.
Author: Jaimie K
In his weekend column for the Daily Star, Shilton:
* Slammed Gerrard for making 'silly mistakes' against Uruguay
* Claimed that Gerrard's form is a 'major worry'.
* Criticised the quality of Gerrard's passing.
Shilton added:
"I always thought he [Gerrard] wasn’t a natural defensive midfielder and that has been proven on the biggest stage. I’d love him to pass me [125 caps] if he was still playing at the top of his game – but he’s not".
It's hard to argue with any of that. Gerrard is a fantastic player, but he has never realised his potential on the international stage, and now, it's too late for him to make the difference.
In my view, Gerrard should retire immediately. Like the rest of the failed 'golden generation', he is a symbol of England's abject failure on the international stage. It's time to give others the opportunity to make an impact, and keeping Gerrard on will stunt the progress of the team, for the following reasons:
* Gerrard is a crutch for the other players to lean on. Whilst he remains the in the team, it's impossible for a new leader to emerge.
* Younger players will not start taking real responsibility in the squad until the likes of Gerrard, Johnson etc are no longer in the squad.
* England's 'style' of play needs a complete overhaul, and that can't happen with Gerrard pulling the strings in midfield.
* Hodgson needs to spend the next two years building a new team for Euro 2016, and there's no point keeping Gerrard on for, say, the next year, and then jettisoning him before the next international tournament. The younger players need to grow together, and that means playing together as much as possible.
The (predictable) argument for keeping Gerrard (and the rest of the England old guard) is that the team allegedly can't afford to lose all that 'experience', but for me, that's just a massive cop-out. What use is that experience when it's tainted with consistent failure? No one expects England to win Euro 2016, so why is that experience even necessary? Just let the new generation accrue their own experience over the next two years.
Shilton also suggested a possible replacement for Gerrard in the holding role::
"I would consider playing only Jordan Henderson in that holding role as he is a more naturally defensive midfielder".
That's a horrible idea, IMO. Like Gerrard, Henderson is not really a dedicated defensive-midfielder; he can do the job, but his real strength is pulling the strings in the deep-lying playmaker role.
Unfortunately, quality defensive midfield options are thin on the ground for England, so it seems likely that Henderson will be shoehorned into the role. In fact, Henderson/Wilshere could be Gerrard/Lampard all over again.
Author: Jaimie K
If it was not for Hodgson's ancient tactics and first choice of Welbeck then maybe England would still be in with a chance to qualify for the next round.
ReplyDeleteI'm not having that Gerrard has never played well for England, wasn't he the only English player to make the team of the tournament at the last Euros? He's scored at the previous two world cups and has mostly played well. Yes he may of been at fault for the first Uraguay goal the other night but not the second, for me that was Jageilka's error which was so schoolboy it was unreal. The fact is we always need a scapegoat when things go wrong and it seems we are rounding on Gerrard to be it this time. It's also laughable that Shilton is suggesting that Gerrard should retire because he's not on top of his game when Shilton himself played far longer than he should of done, his legs had clearly gone at the 90 world cup and if we'd had an agile keeper he may well have got closer to that deflected Brehme free kick or somewhere near any of the five German penalties that night. What a hypocrite.
ReplyDeleteI agree... playing Welbeck was a serious mistake. He's fast, but his end product is lacking and he simply doesn't add enough to warrant a regular spot over the likes of several other attacking players on the team (Barkley, Lallana, Wilshere, etc.)
ReplyDeleteGerrard did not only make mistakes against Uruguay. He also denied Liverpool their Premier League title this year with his horrible sip. I agree that he is tired and should retire.
ReplyDeleteJK - you are jumpng in the bandwagon and ignoring obvious facts. ere are a few. No team wins anything without a holding midfielder. Gerrard is all England have got - in the WC squad his understudy is Frank Lampard (who is also not a DMF by trade). Re Liverpool, Sterling, Coutinho, Henderson - I could argue that others similarly take responsibiliy which helps Gerrard not to find himself isolated as he was in Brazil. Shilton has stated the obvious - that Gerrard is not a natural defensive midfielder. The Masch is not a natural center back either, but it didn't stop him winning Champions League.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I think you write this stuff, jus to get 'hits' and to get rich. You're no true fan.
well said fella
ReplyDeletegerrard made some mistake but shilton made some too
ReplyDeleteIt comes as no surprise to me that Hodgson escapes the blame, even though he has under-achieved against the historically, ridiculously low expectations he set. That leaves the captain as scapegoat, and let's face it he wasn't great either (hurts to admit it). it probably is time for him to take a step back...
ReplyDeleteThe second goal for me is a failing of the back 4. There's one player to mark and you know he's a tricky beggar, so why is Phil Jagielka so out of position? Why haven't the fullbacks tucked in to cut off Suarez' escape and give Cahill time to get across?
ReplyDeleteBut for me Jagielka is the biggest culprit and the same with the first goal, you can see he's ball watching and got wrong side of Suarez.
Another player at fault for the first goal is Johnson, he shouldn't be leaving to Henderson (who also could have done better) to stop the cross, that's the fullback's primary job.
In both goals Gerrard is at fault to some degree but he's by no means the only one at fault, both goals were collective failings and both goals could have and should have been stopped by better positioning and awareness from the back four, though also both could have been dealt with better by Gerrard and the rest of the midfield.
It's true he did slip, but there were plenty of reasons that Liverpool didn't win the title. Draws that should have been wins at Villa and West Brom, losses to Chelsea and MCFC that should have at least been draws.
ReplyDeleteWe can't just blame one player, what about Toure? What about Skrtel's own goals? What about Henderson getting banned for key games? What about Roy forcing Sturridge to play when not fully fit?
How Welbeck got ahead of Lallana, Barkley, Lambert and even Milner is beyond me.
ReplyDeleteI am not an England fan but I think it is fair to say that as long as Hodgson is in charge then England will be going nowhere slowly.
Liverpool didn't win the Premiership last season and you lay the blame solely on Gerrard's 'horrible slip'???? What an incredibly narrow-minded statement.
ReplyDeleteTalking of legs, shilton couldn't even out jump maradona four years before he retired from international football.
ReplyDeleteI've never understood why England managers don't tell all older players not to worry about the pointless friendlies and qualifications against San Marino etc and just look after themselves and if you're playing well a few months before the world cup or Euro I'll consider you. Maybe then fergie couldn't have talked so many players into retiring so young.
I really think only disappointed and dejected England fans could honestly call either of Gerrard's errant touches "mistakes" and somehow blame him for either goal. The first was a point blank block that was lucky to fall into the path of the attacker, and the second glancing header was only an issue because it played Suarez onside. It was a great long ball to a player in an advanced position, to somehow expect Gerrard to get a clean clearance header on the ball is absurd. The centre backs should have that covered, not the defensive midfield. England fans and commentators are predictably upset by the loss and that's fair enough, but those final touches are just part of the game, things that could happen to any player, and certainly nothing that was under anyone's control. It seems to me a typically English response, picking apart the team and the various individual players. As a neutral I saw England play a good game, undone by two moments of brilliance. The result is hard to take but people are obviously letting their disappointment taint their view of the team performance.
ReplyDeleteAs for moving on ... I think the manager and captain need to sit down and work out for themselves what they think is best for the future of the national team. Maybe it would help some younger players to keep Gerrard around, or maybe it will be a block. The manager and the player himself can work that out, perhaps together with some other senior team members and coaches. I don't think it's as simple as Gerrard needing to move on because he won't be there for the next major tournament. Yes, other players need to be guided into the team but there are many different ways to do that and these decisions need to be made carefully, considering all the factors, not just a vague cliche.
As many posters on here have pointed out there were many other errors and players and the manager underperforming and it seems unfair to single out Gerrard.
ReplyDeleteHowever, to address the main point, it is time for a change and to go forward with new younger players and a new younger manager. But of course that won't happen and England will stumble on as before.
The reasons u mentioned are common to all clubs. Liverpool only needed a point at home against Chelsea to fully remain in the title. His slip gave away the opportunity to claim that point because Demba Ba scored and put Chelsea ahead. That made the players to come all out and play to rescue the situation before they then conceded a second. The loss meant that ManC needed to win their remaining games and claim the title which they did. Im not saying that Gerrard is not a good player but he is old and tired. He should give the younger ones opportunity to prove themselves. He is very replaceable. So pls dont be sentimental.
ReplyDeleteBS that read was, why is it Gerrard mistake! what we're the defense doing letting Suarez roam, and why did they not shut of the through ball off Gerrard head, then there is the first goal in the game, again bad defending! then let's go to the Italy game two awful defensive display for the goals, but wait, stop! is that Gerrard fault, NO! then look at the attack Rooney not being able to score from an inch out, that's Gerrard fault yeah, and the fact welbeck can't play and should not have been picked that's Gerrard fault yeah, wow some people don't have a clue
ReplyDeletenobody is saying Liverpool won it. I mean that his mistake gave Chelsea a win over Liverpool and ultimately gave ManC the advantage to win the league. Dont be sentimental please.
ReplyDeleteIf the ref doesn't rob Sterling of a goal on Boxing Day then we at least ties Man City and win the PL 85-84. Just admit you have no real point and move along.
ReplyDeletethe players are fine,the problem is the ol dog unable to respond tactically to new challenges.he picked the right people but failed to have them play in a way that used their strengths, both defensively and in attack.that squad with a quality strategist at the helm could have gone far in this wc.change rh before euros or youre likely to be seeing the same problem again.
ReplyDeleteAh yes, how could I have forgotten about Milner!
ReplyDeleteI thought he was one of the better players on Man City this year. One of the reasons they were Champs.
Gerrard lacks the concentration for the position for Liverpool and england....without being harsh he has messed up when it matters and its cost us dear
ReplyDeleteits the business end mistakes which count when the trophies are handed out its unfair but thats the way it is
ReplyDeletehe has a valid point pandle in the big games gerrard has fluffed ...im his biggest fan but the fact is he messed up when it mattered
ReplyDeletewhen they made mistakes there where still plenty of points available ...the key is not making mistakes when there are not
ReplyDelete...hodgson said before the game Suarez is not world class and he still has to prove himself " i liked when Luis said after the game "what do you think of me now".......
ReplyDeleteI have to admit, I will be very surprised if we do not sell Saurez. My hope is that once either Barc or RM put a bid in the other team will follow suit and bidding war happens.
ReplyDeleteIF we get 80 - 100mil for and IF all that money is re-invested in a couple of world class players then I can live with it.
In this day and age it is very very rare for a player to spend their entire career with one club and its even rarely that a player turns down an opportunity to joining either Barc or RM.
well I don't mind if it all goes the same as last time......he didn't leave and played better than ever with no controversies, had a shed load of goals and assists, and showed real emotion for not winning the league......hope you are right Jamie
ReplyDeleteThere was plenty of time in the Chelsea match for others to stepp and cover his mistake as he has done in the past many times for others. They did not.
ReplyDeleteNot often he hasn't which is why it's news when he does and I can remember countless times he has won matches virtually on his own
ReplyDeleteHe is though coming to the end of a great career. .I think he should step down from international football to make way for younger players and should be used more sparingly for Liverpool next year.
No it's perfectly fair but sometimes others do better than you and Man City had a tremendous run in
ReplyDeletefor Gerrard to play that role all the planets have to line up its not about being skilful or hollywood balls its about spotting danger before it happens makele was a master in his pomp
ReplyDeleteThe Daily Post has suggested Liverpool are not expecting any bids from Real Madrid or Barcelona for striker Luis Suarez, but spanish paper AS are saying Liverpool are lining up players to replace him.....
ReplyDelete60M +Sanchez imo is worth it, 85M Buyout clause with a decrease of 20M if Barca or Real come in, Sanchez could be a real gem, also as mentioned before by Deepak, maybe BR could turn Balotelli into a gem, he was undoubted amounts of raw talent, but he is erratic, BUT wasn't Sterling facing charges at one point? Didn't Sturridge have attitude problems? Look at them now, potential world beaters, i have no doubt that if Balotelli gets his act together he could be one if not the best striker in the world one day, another player i would like to see us sign in Hulk, i think he would be perfect for the Prem and Liverpool.
ReplyDeletei think we have arguably the best player in the world right now in our team.. i think it would be almost impossible to replace him with a few players or one big player .. id just love him to stay with us along with a few major additions for another go at the league and champions league , i just hate the way madrid and barca feel their club is so much better than all the rest , and they can lure who they want ,
ReplyDeleteJust because you write "without being harsh" doesn't mean that you aren't being harsh.
ReplyDeleteIf he wants to go again - let him go to the highest bidder - watching Sanchez in the World Cup, he is very similar to Suarez and I think he is only 24 - he scores a lot of goals - bring him in and another £35m. I do want Suarez to stay though #YNWA
ReplyDeleteGerrard has been a great servant for England in that he's given his heart for the cause! He has made mistakes the back pass vs France two WCs ago etc
ReplyDeletePart if it is due to fitting square pegs into round holes, Gerrard has never been disciplined in holding position or ball possession. Never been his strengths! As time as taken his pace away, we've all of a sudden forgotten those weaknesses & shoe horned him into a holding midfielder. To be fair Gerrard has just played where he's been asked to, as we (national & club) don't have specialists in this position.
PS it really gets on my nerves when ex-internationals go overboard in their criticism (some of it is justified) as if we were world beaters during their era???!!!
He didn't really play a lot though did he? Largely used as a sub I think. He was very good against Munich.
ReplyDeleteHarsh having a go about the slip. For me that wasn't the problem Gerrards problem in that game was that the slip meant his head went. He was trying loads of long ranges (something he had not done much of the rest of the season and has not been scoring for a while anyway). It meant that we were losing the initiative and giving Chelsea the ball back and lots of opportunities to waste time. He had a great season but that game he has to take a lot of blame as a captain all he really does is lead by example and that example was very wrong.
ReplyDeleteEverybody has a price
ReplyDeleteNever...not now...not ever. I could never enjoy watching Liverpool with that human hand grenade playing for us.
ReplyDeleteB Rodgers should say he wants two players and 50M off Barcelona before he will let L Suarez(27) leave the club. The two players needed are: Pedro(26) and Sanchez(25) in the deal.
ReplyDeleteWe would then have two world class wingers at club and also 50M to spend on bringing in some more class quality players.
And then the remaining 50M should go on these class Hungry quality players:
1: FD: L Muriel(24) Of Udinese for 8-15M
2: CM: J De Guzman(26) Of Villareal for 5-7M
3: CM: A Herrera(24) Of A Bilbao for 20-27M
I'm not surprised he wants to leave Liverpool. The FA and Football League have carried out a witch-hunt against Luis for a harmless altercation with Evra and that love-bite on that soft lad of Chelsea. Furthermore, he will be victimised by the English officials next season for his audacious two goals against the national team.
ReplyDeleteI will sorry to see him go - the best player in the Premiership - but he's putting his welfare first. YNWA Luis.
1. I think Rogers is entitled to a holiday
ReplyDelete2. Yes... Selling players provides money....
3.Real play with 3 upfront. Suárez would play the lone striker role in between Bale and Ronaldo as Benzema has.
4. Barca play a 433 similar to ours and have seen how Suárez can operate within the system. It seems odd that they'd buy a false nine with Messi there but perhaps see how Suárez has played coming in from the wing with Sturridge in the middle and one real winger in sterling on the other side and think they can emulate that with Suárez, Messi and Neymar
5. FFP has been a joke. I reckon points deductions and competition disqualification are empty threats. They'd get a fine and a smaller UCL squad limit. He's worth it for 30 goals a season.
I remember when Torres was sold , everybody thought that no one would replace him but lfc have bought one flop and another top
ReplyDeletesome stories say falcao said no to liverpool
ReplyDeleteWe would absolutely be nuts to even consider trading Suarez. He REALLY is irreplaceable unlike some of the 'fabulous', irreplaceable', 'unstoppable' we are rumored to be 'in the pole position' for. His quality, cunning, creativity and increased team play has been just fantastic. He and Sturridge are a great team and we MUST keep them together and build around them and Sterling. Look what 55m got us for Torres. Yes he ended up as crap, but he was on the downside when left and Suarez is very much on the upside. He is also durable unlike many other sissy-boy strikers.
ReplyDeleteWhy don't we show support for our best player? He made big changes in his life and behavior. Led the league in scoring. What else do you want him to do, cure Cancer and world hunger too????
EXACTLY!!! A DUMB-ASS IDEA.......
ReplyDeleteVery very well put. Took the words right out of my mouth and formulated them in a better way.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I've seen at the world cup, Nick Barmby could upstage Ronaldo right about now
ReplyDeleteWhat no one seems to have noticed is that Sterling has also been linked with a bid from Real. So why is there no article and major outrage about that?
ReplyDeleteHow dare Rodgers go on holiday!
ReplyDeleteExcept those games against City, Chelsea where he didn't turn up.
ReplyDeleteCosta would not fit in with the way we play.
ReplyDeleteHulk is pants. For too long he chased the money in Euro backwaters (footballing and nothing else), dulling his once massive promise. Now he looks like he spends all day in the gym.
ReplyDeleteHe made no changes, just behaved like a normal person and not a rabid child. He doesn't deserve a reward or even praise for it as it should be the norm.
ReplyDeleteIf he goes, he goes, I'm just bored of it now and couldn't really care.
You mean fat ronaldo right.
ReplyDeleteIs it clear there is a buy out clause? And if there is one, does anyone know what it really is? Arsenal thought last year there was a clause for offers over £40m. But in the end it was merely a trigger to inform him of a bid, which led to that embarrassing £40m+1 comic episode. As you say, of there is a clause then that's all that will be paid. But no one outside three few who dealt with Suarez's new contact knows for sure. Let's wait and see. But if he goes then it should overall at least match what RM paid for Bale, 20m more really. I'd be content with 50+Sanchez, more would be a welcome bonus.
ReplyDeleteNot sure I agree with that, but if anything it just furthers the point of why he wouldn't come here. If he's not on a high base wage, and he doesn't fit in, then he's not going to attain the performance-based pay.
ReplyDeleteHaha, excatly...
ReplyDeleteNo present Ronaldo. We dont want another attitude diva to beautiful to make runs and pressure opponents..
ReplyDeleteSuarez is no more irreplaceable than Dalglish, Barnes, Rush, Souness, Hansen, Fowler, Alonso, and all the great players who gave everything for our club. No man is bigger than any club and certainly not Suarez. If he wants to go, get the money, get the players in and get on with it! I bet you felt exactly the same when Torres left and who did we replace him with?
ReplyDeleteI think we are at our best when we have a striker who likes to run in behind defences, causing teams to drop off and allow us to build up attacks through SG . A striker like Costa would allow defences to push up and an opposing midfield to press us as we attempt to play out through our defenders due to the fact that he cannot run in behind them. Much like Lambert, who will offer us that option to change things in game, but Costa at 30 mill is a guaranteed starter and as such would require us to change our game. ??
ReplyDeleteYou're right about the wages although I also feel that FSG are not that naive to think that they can offer established world class players (which Costa is NOT) small wages and massive bonuses. That will work with young players which is why they went with that that model.
Oops!
ReplyDeleteand now?
ReplyDeleteGot any mustard? This foot's a bit dry...
ReplyDeleteI blame you
ReplyDeleteFalcao would break the bank and prevent us from filling out the defense. If we get Sanchez, defense is next, big time.....
ReplyDelete