After announcing his Anfield departure yesterday, Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard refused to divulge where he'll be playing next season, but in an interview today, Gerrard has confirmed that he'll be moving to America for the 2015-16 season.
When asked today about his next club, Gerrard told the official Liverpool website:
"It will be America. I'll be going to play in America. But I'm not over the line with any team just yet. I'm close and as soon as I know, I'll make the announcement"
According to ESPN, LA Galaxy is Gerrard's next club:
Most fans probably expected Gerrard to move to America, and I'm sure it'll be a great experience for him, but I can't help feeling that he's making the move too early.
Gerrard will be 35 in May, and in the right role, he can still play at the top level for another 1-2 years. Look at Andrea Pirlo, for example. He is 36 this year, and he's still doing the business for Juventus.
In my view, Gerrard should test himself in La Liga or Serie A, and I'm sure there are a whole host of top clubs who'd love to have him for a year or two.
The MLS is a great league, but at the current time, it just seems like a waste of Gerrard's talent.
Re the move to America, there are a few things to consider. The MLS season runs from March-October, and with that in mind, will Gerrard:
* Join up with his new club as soon as the Premier League season finishes?
* Wait until next March for the brand-new season?
* Go on-loan to different clubs in the off-season (likes Beckham, Henry etc)
There's obviously a strong possibility that Gerrard will come back to Liverpool on loan at some point, and that would be amazing.
Thierry Henry's first goal for Arsenal upon his return (whilst on loan from the MLS) was an emotional moment, even for a non-Arsenal fan, and in October 2015, I'm sure LFC fans will be clambering for Gerrard to return to Anfield on-loan.
Author: Jaimie K
When asked today about his next club, Gerrard told the official Liverpool website:
"It will be America. I'll be going to play in America. But I'm not over the line with any team just yet. I'm close and as soon as I know, I'll make the announcement"
According to ESPN, LA Galaxy is Gerrard's next club:
BREAKING via @JeffreyCarlisle: Steven Gerrard to join LA Galaxy (18-month pro-rated deal, $6m per year). More soon on http://t.co/bCtGb5fcSR
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 3, 2015
Most fans probably expected Gerrard to move to America, and I'm sure it'll be a great experience for him, but I can't help feeling that he's making the move too early.
Gerrard will be 35 in May, and in the right role, he can still play at the top level for another 1-2 years. Look at Andrea Pirlo, for example. He is 36 this year, and he's still doing the business for Juventus.
In my view, Gerrard should test himself in La Liga or Serie A, and I'm sure there are a whole host of top clubs who'd love to have him for a year or two.
The MLS is a great league, but at the current time, it just seems like a waste of Gerrard's talent.
Re the move to America, there are a few things to consider. The MLS season runs from March-October, and with that in mind, will Gerrard:
* Join up with his new club as soon as the Premier League season finishes?
* Wait until next March for the brand-new season?
* Go on-loan to different clubs in the off-season (likes Beckham, Henry etc)
There's obviously a strong possibility that Gerrard will come back to Liverpool on loan at some point, and that would be amazing.
Thierry Henry's first goal for Arsenal upon his return (whilst on loan from the MLS) was an emotional moment, even for a non-Arsenal fan, and in October 2015, I'm sure LFC fans will be clambering for Gerrard to return to Anfield on-loan.
Author: Jaimie K
The language barrier in Italy and Spain, coupled with the familiar faces he'll see in the US may have been factors. His kids are the major consideration and would not need to learn a new language either. California sunshine wouldn't hurt either compared to the gloomier English climate.
ReplyDeletePirlo wouldn't be as successful at 36 in the EPL, but he can still play In the mild Serie A. Gerrard could go there too and be successful but he wanted to make sure he didn't come into contact with Liverpool in any fixture. So to say Gerrard could play another 1-2 years in the EPL because Pirlo is 36 and still playing well in the Serie A is not as straight-forward as you make it look, Jamie. Pirlo would find it difficult to deal with the rigors of the EPL at that age, like others before him have found out.
ReplyDeleteWhat does playing in the Premier League have to do with anything? Gerrard is leaving the Prem - my argument is that he could still play in Serie A or La Liga for another year. If he went to Juve, for example, the chances of LFC playing them are slim. Ditto if he went to Atletico Madrid, or even PSG for a year.
ReplyDeleteThe language barrier in the States is going to be difficult for a scouser, they struggle with english at the best of times, but a scouser! shit man, they already got the translator lined up....
ReplyDeleteGood luck to him though....Hollywood movie in the making anyone.
Nah! he's going to LA because they have his script written ready for his mega movie...
ReplyDeletewatching gerrards interview made me cry. It was like something in me was dying.
ReplyDeletehowever, to be honest i don't want gerrard to return to the club (as a player). He decided to leave the club because of his role and i doubt very much he would be a regular if we sign him on loan in a year.
I don't quite understand this idea that Gerrard could return to us on loan. If Rodgers feels at this point in time that he can't play every game and Gerrard's not happy with that despite playing most games, then in several months time when his abilities have waned even further, I don't see how this loan thing will work. There would obviously have to be a need from Liverpool's side and Gerrard would have to have something meaningful to offer. Either way, he would have to accept reduced playing time.
ReplyDeleteI could see him playing in Italy for a few months just like Beckham did. Yesterday showed how much of a superstar he is around the globe so there will be many suitors wanting his services during those mid season breaks. I do feel the MLS is perfect for him this guy has carried so much weight over the past 11 years as Liverpool captain, so I see this move as more as a personal experience for him and his family more than a move to test himself against the best. If he had wanted that he would of left in 2005 -09.
ReplyDeletesentiment clouds logic it always has and always will
ReplyDeletewhat evidence are you using to say he could play in seria a or la liga apart from an opinion ...what if he flopped have you factored that in to the equation...going to america is best all round for his legacy and wallet
ReplyDeleteAgree with Sherief
ReplyDeleteGerrard has always put his family first , learning Italian or French will be a struggle for them it will take them a year at least to learn language in which time maybe Gerrard will leave so it would be pointless .
the universal language of money can usually overcome problems like this and Gerard has plenty...hes not going club
ReplyDeleteYou cant deny that English players move abroad less because they are so comfortable in their surroundings
ReplyDeleteRooney,Ashley Cole,Gerrard,Ferdinand,Terry ,
all ahd chances to move abroad in the past but whats the point of learning a new language settling in when you can play for a top team here , earn simmilar money
the top players go where the money is and if your not at real or barca or psg thats here.....granted they do not travel well but for me that's a cultural thing for which i havny one answer ..but i can have a stab at tempo and technical ability the prem is a different animal to other leagues
ReplyDeleteRead this you utterly fake plastic liverpool fans, it's made me sick reading some of the pathetic abuse Rodgers has had over the last few months, you don't deserve to support this great club, get behind the man that represents the club with complete class and dignity, ok so it's not going great at the moment, deal with it, that's football, we've brought in young talented players who will thrive once they've settled in, I'm a glass half full kind of guy,, you scumbags were the same people who wrote off hendo when the lad was finding his feet at the club, some of the shit I've read I feel like we've been taken over by chelski fans, be ashamed, you know nothing about football, you know who you are, probably revelling in last season and raving about Rodgers now because it's gone a little downhill you jump on his back, plastic fans, I have faith in our talented young manager, YNWA Brendan, the loyal fans are still with you
ReplyDeleteMoyes said he'd have him- fat chance
ReplyDeletewell said brendans brother
ReplyDeleteused right gerrad could still be effective but reading between the lines he sees himself still as a 90min player
ReplyDeleteused as a number 10 he could still do a job
ReplyDeleteI think you're right. If he does ever return as a player, I hope it's right for both him and the club.
ReplyDeleteits part of the human healing process for detatchment to an object
ReplyDeleteLmao cracker!
ReplyDeleteOn bbc saw statement by him saying main reason for leaving was being told he'd start fewer games
ReplyDeleteI can finally watch him play in my back yard. Welcome to LA mr. Liverpool :-)
ReplyDeleteif thats the case its better he goes now because in a rational universe rodgers will ease him out so logicaly he will play less games which as an intelligent person he must realise, so why stay its secular reasoning
ReplyDeleteLook up Rooney duet with Ed Sheeran that will take your mind off things
ReplyDeleteBarkley is up for sale for 45m
ReplyDeleteCouldnt agree more Rodgers given time will prove himself he is a young manager still learning, he has made mistakes but i am confident he will learn from them.
ReplyDeletegreat player would love him
ReplyDeleteIn countries such as America and Australia high profile names are a massive boost to the game it does add interest.
ReplyDeleteThese countries struggle to beat other codes of sport where most other places football is dominant i firmly believe it will be not only great for S.G but for football in general.
The problem with some Europeans is they think its a right for them to have all the worlds best footballers.
Reports that Sterling to sign 5 yr deal 100 grand a week by end of month
ReplyDeleteHe's still our best player. When he leaves, there won't be much left ..
ReplyDeleteMaybe Serie A would be the way to go but it's up to Stevie himself and I'm sure there is more to it than just playing time. He would have thought about the idea of coming up against Liverpool in the champions league and it wouldn't have sat right with him. After all the times he turned down other clubs through his career, to now decide differently is probably something he can't do. When you commit yourself to a club like that, ignoring the possibility of personal glory and trophies, refusing the chance to do something else because you want to stick with the club you grew up with, once you make that decision a few times it gets locked in your mind as a certainty. I think Gerrard has unquestionably made himself a Liverpool man through and through and I suppose part of what he's thinking is that it's simply too late now to go back on that, it would perhaps make him look foolish for not doing it earlier, or tarnish what he did at Liverpool in some way. This is all very vague and speculative and some of it doesn't make total sense but I think it's formed a part of his thinking. He committed himself to Liverpool time and time again and now that he is going to move away from that he has to make it a clean break.
ReplyDeleteI think that's kind of obvious. Gerrard has spent the past 10+ years as an all-action box to box midfielder, dominating opposition in every part of the ground and playing right until the last minute. That's just who he is and he clearly doesn't feel comfortable becoming a player who can't do that. He said it was the conversation with Rodgers where they talked about "managing his games" that turned his mind. He just can't be OK with not being the same Steven Gerrard that we've always known. So maybe playing in Italy would be a goer but I still think he'd be used infrequently and he runs the risk of not fitting in and not being an important member of the team. Imagine Stevie G going to Milan and ending up as a bit-part bench player. That's a genuine risk and he's not interested in it. He'll be a bonafide star in MLS.
ReplyDeleteI honestly think I'll shed a tear after Gerrard's last game. The man's been an absolute behemoth of a player for Liverpool. Thanks for the memories Stevie. Legend
ReplyDelete