As Gerrard's #1 fan, it's about time I made a thread about the man. Gerrard's peak is a period basically everybody is familiar with, and likewise his injury-riddled past seasons had made him a shadow of the Superman he was, and people were aware of that too. But since certain parts of Kenny's tenure and for most of Rodgers', he has reinvented himself.
If my love for Gerrard as a footballer was because of the fact that he did everything on the pitch you wanted, to an incredible standard, in multiple positions; the one lingering doubt that remained was his adeptness at playing the regista role - the deep lying midfield playmaker.
He was a brilliant box-to-box midfielder who had it all, and displayed a brilliance behind the forward in terms of vision but he'd always gotten stick for moving around too much when he was a pure central midfielder. To many, this meant that Steven Gerrard was a headless chicken who didn't have the nous of a Pirlo or a Scholes or a Xavi.
To me and many others, these people simply hadn't watched Gerrard, or Liverpool, enough. They argued he didn't have patience; that he went for too many low-risk balls; that he left his position too much. All these things happened but because of one thing: if he didn't make something or score himself; Liverpool didn't have anybody else. In the best years we had as a club we had a full compliment of world class players - the 08-09 season a perfect example - and Gerrard had some of his best seasons. In those years, he could defer...to Alonso, to Mascherano, to Torres, to Hamann, to Murphy, etc.
He's never had the luxury of a the aforementioned registas, who are considered brains of the game, because they could defer to players around them. Scholes, Xavi, Pirlo...all had great players surrounding them wherever they went/almost every year. If he kept the ball, passed it 100 times, but did not much else; Liverpool would get nowhere. If he simply just played further up the pitch and attacked; no one could bring the ball out or start play properly for the team. He's always had to do the job of two world-class players to keep us competitive.
Gerrard stayed and faced the cost of being stretched like this - he also won everything bar the league title and has incredible performances players themselves dream about. But, let's move on. That's history. Gerrard is the best regista in England and it's not even close. In fact, he's probably the best in the world or on par with anyone right now. His injuries coupled with Rodgers' deployment of him in that role has forced him to hold more but he is still as effective as ever.
This year, it is clear that Liverpool are reaping the rewards. Last year, it was less obvious. It was around Dec-Jan that it finally clicked properly for Gerrard and since then Liverpool have been on top 4 form, counting the calendar year. It has been in large part because Gerrard has managed to combine all his talents, but forgo those 20 goal season targets. In a way, he doesn't need to do that anymore - we have more than enough firepower up front now.
To put it into stats: Gerrard was the 5th best passer in the league in terms of volume and accuracy (he averages around 70 passes @ 87%) - and Liverpool were the 5th best in Europe - but he was also in the top 5 for chances created as well as passes into the opposition third. What does this mean? It means Gerrard controlled the ball from the back like a Scholes, yet made more chances than guys like Mata last year, despite playing just in front of the centrebacks. As I talked about it last year in another thread; the only player who really combined both facets to such a high level was Pirlo. And although Pirlo is also close in terms of contributing goals (assists + goals scored); Gerrard also puts in a defensive shift that even a younger Yaya Toure doesn't match. It isn't his main role in the team, but he more than does enough on that end. And that just shows what an incredible force he is.
Ferguson came out with a statement designed to sell books - that Gerrard wasn't a 'top, top' player. Zidane came out ridiculing that notion. As did basically everyone else. Gerrard on the pitch was incredible, but off the pitch he is also a great guy. A loyal guy, a humble guy, and a natural born leader. The players in the club, past and present, are in awe of him. Even last year Bayern came to get him, he said no - imagine what more he could have won. And that is precisely why he may never get the praise he deserves. Swap any player in the world for Gerrard in the Liverpool side of the past 10-15 years; and we don't win half of what we won. Put Gerrard in any of the great sides in the same era; and they win even more. For me, this illustrates his value beyond a doubt.
If there are footballing gods out there, I just hope they grant me one wish: that he wins the World Cup, raising it above his head. His legacy deserves it. And knowing him, it would be an incredible final where he scores some last minute screamer.
I gave you stats, I gave you my opinion; now I'll let you enjoy one of the finest compilations of long-range passing you will ever see...and this was just from last year - the reason why he can make so many chances despite playing deep. Enjoy.
[video=youtube;4_lR-jT6Im0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_lR-jT6Im0[/video]
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