This is a good point, every time Gerrard does something right, his fan boys paint him as Pele. It becomes so tiresome that he's put on such a high pedestal by so many Liverpool fans. Compare it to Rooney or Giggs, two undoubtably fantastic players, but both get **** from large sections of the Utd fans at times too - something many Liverpool fans refuse to do when Gerrard deserves it.
Ikki just made a good example of it - I think I made a reasonable point to say although Utd wanted Gerrard, and I'd have taken him to Old Trafford, our midfield system was not designed around the style of player Gerrard is. He'd have had to reign in his style of play to suit one mould (and that'd probably had been the defensive side of his play, because we wouldn't just dump Scholes) and his marauding wouldn't have made Fergie a big fan - He had enough spats with Rooney about wanting to be everywhere, Beckham about not sticking to the right etc, Fergie liked his teams to play to his way.
However Ikki then ignored that and states we'd have been as good as Barca just by adding Gerrard. How can you take that argument seriously. Barca beat us in 2 finals because their attack dominated our defence, they were more than one player better than us.
I didn't say United would be as good as Barca with Gerrard, I said United would have won more in Europe and they would have had the kind of dynastic success in the tournament that would have their names brought up more. I think whatever role Ferguson gave him, he'd do it as he always did - to a Player of the Year standard - and moreover wouldn't be shunted around every season to get the best out of others.
You're wrong about Gerrard not getting **** though, really wrong. All you have to do is go in a Liverpool forum and look at the threads regarding him. A lot of the fans **** on him at the drop of a hat. It's ridiculous that if he simply plays a very normal game - passes it, keeps it tight, doesn't do anything fancy but plays his role well - that the criticisms start. Whenever a player got past him, that was a signal his legs were gone. If he misplaced a ball on the edge of the opponent's box; if the counter results in a chance, let alone goal, despite their being plenty of defenders... it's Gerrard's fault. A lot of fans have agendas, just to give you examples:
- fans of Dalglish, Souness or older players in general think their generation's player was better
- fans of guys like Lucas who think he should be playing instead
- fans who hate that Gerrard got so much credit - even if they still think he was a great player
- fans who still haven't forgiven him for even flirting to leave
- fans who think he and Carra had something behind Rafa leaving
- fans who think Hodgson didn't get enough time and Gerrard missed the penalty on purpose
- fans who think Gerrard's agents (and his buddys' agents) have poisoned the wells around the club
I can go on and on. Giggs was never judged by the same standard as Gerrard; was never on his level where he was expected to regularly be the match-winner for his team. Great player but not those expectations - just playing really well for his age got him the PFA POTY award. Gerrard's not a protected species at all. Which I, ironically, find weird - I expect them to worship him much like you do. But a lot of fans turn and it's been easy to turn them because now that he's older all the "he's past it" folks are finally right.
It's amazing how this thread has turned me around from hating Ikki to generally always backing him. I mean, he's obviously biased and exaggerating a touch but my word is the negging in here sad. His favourite player is basically retiring. He played for his club for his whole career. He won them games. he was their captain and leader. Why can't you at least let him have his moment? Sad ****s.
I'm happy. Gives me the chance to swoon over him a few more times. I'm gonna miss this **** so much; my childhood innocence about the game will forever be gone. I can't muster up the romanticism anymore to pretend that these guys are anything other than overpaid humans.
