Gerrard's statement on leaving - Rubbish!

"The last six weeks have been the toughest of my life & it is the hardest decision I have ever had to make. I fully intended to sign a new contract after the Champions League final but the events of the past 5 or 6 weeks have changed all that. I have too much respect for the club and the people at it to get involved in a slagging match."

My esteemed colleague, TS, who is an avid Arsenal fan, equated the Gerrard situation to that of Patrick Vieira and Real Madrid, and stated so in a reply to a blog on this site:


'As an Arsenal fan I've seen this all before with Vieira. Pat is a top player, and was tempted by the challenge, opportunities, and change in lifestyle of playing for a team with the history of Madrid. However, when push came to shove, Pat realised what he was leaving behind and could not take the plunge. When Stevie looks back at what he will be leaving will he feel the same way? He has been playing in a Liverpool team that has only once genuinely challenged for the league title in his time at the club.

He has particlularly been frustrated that in the last three seasons his team has been way of the pace in the title race. Its not about money for Stevie because he has millions in the bank. It is about guaranteed genuine championship challenging opportunites every year. He is after medals. We all know that Stevie doubted Liverpool's chances to win in Europe by his remarks before the Leverkusen game. This displayed a lack of faith in his team. Despite winning the champs league these doubts may not have left him. In the cold light of day he might see Istanbul as a one time wonder.

His agent has a financial interest in Stevie moving. SFX will stress the advantages of a move for Stevie's career opportunities. With all this on his mind, Stevie is confused. There are advantages in staying, and advantages in leaving. It will all come down to the moment when push comes to shove. At this moment it will dawn on Stevie what he will be leaving behind if he leaves. He is the main man at Liverpool. He will just be another player elsewhere.....'

In conversation with TS yesterday, I stated that I had had enough and now wished for Gerrard himself to speak tomorrow (today) and finally say with utter conviction whether he will stay or go. If it were not to happen tomorrow (today), then deadline, for me , would be Thursday morning. Seems that I spoke very soon but at least we have an official guidance on Gerrard's intentions.

Bearing that in mind, Gerrard has been contemplating how successful will Liverpool be, say, in the next five years? Then compared that to Chelsea, Man Utd, and Arsenal, Real Madrid. These teams are regularly in the running for their respective titles. Two of them have registered their interests publicly, one has already submitted a bid. The lure is too much, a bigger wage and realistic chase for more honours.

Gerrard fully intended to sign after the Champs League. He said he is 100% committed to signing for the club. He said he is ready to sign for Liverpool on camera twice. Yet between the final and now he states that something has happened that changed his mind. What was it? No clue. Nothing in the statement, perhaps he'll wait until he moves and tell all to the News of the World when he gets there, out of Merseyside. What could have happened to have deterred Gerrard from signing for the club he wants to sign for and who wants him to sign? It cannot have been Rafael's intended signings, since Gerrard was prepared to sign after the final.


"....too much respect for the club and the people at it to get involved in a slagging match."


No, that is not Liverpool Football Club, not Rick Parry, not David Moores, not Rafael Benitez. The club does not air dirty linen in public. The reactions by Gerrard and that of SFX have blown the situation completely like an atomic bomb. Where and how did the rumours of Gerrard going to Spain start? Certainly not from LFC. Someone wishes to make Liverpool the scapegoat for Gerrard's departure, and their attempt is very hollow. First, releasing that the club wish to force him out and now that something has happened in the past 6 weeks that has put him off signing. Indicating that he wishes not to get involved in a slagging match implicates that the 'events' had something to do with the club.

Gerrard has made a mockery of my prediction yesterday. He's allowed the mockery of our club. He was an idol at Anfield and the fans will not accept the club were negative to him. We wanted him to stay, he wanted to stay, the club wanted him to stay. What event could be that drastic to have changed his mind? Saying he has respect for the club and the people there has made no sympathy for him. Why did he bite the badge when he scored that time? It meant nothing. Frank Lampard kisses the badge when he scores. Let's see if he does that at Upton Park.

Gerrard said he wanted to sign, made it sound so definite, and now he has taken the decision to leave. He shouldn't have said yes in the first place. As for his destination, anywhere but Chelsea. After Mourinho's 'sssshhhhshh', that would be rubbing it in our faces.


RedsMan.