“Cut my veins open and I bleed
Liverpool red. I love Liverpool with a burning passion. Me and Liverpool
Football Club are a love affair that will never, ever end.” - Steven Gerrard,
My Autobiography
I see life as collection of moments;
moments we soon forget and moments which linger and take our breaths away. In
the confines of those moments that take our breaths away are the people whose
presence defines them, be it joy or pain; hope or desperation. Their pain is
our pain. Their joy is our joy. These are the heroes of our lives, past and
present.
Whenever I look back through the
years, I can only remember vaguely the 1998/1999 season. It was one of the
seasons when I followed football mostly by reading the scores and match reports
on the internet. If I did watch a Liverpool game, it was to see Macca and
Jamie. I was always in awe whenever Macca had the ball on his feet. It felt
like watching those Kung Fu movies where the hero ran so quickly and lightly it
seemed his feet never touched the ground. These days, watching Thierry Henry
gives me similar sensations. And there was Jamie. For us Liverpudlian girls,
GOD created all the beautiful things in the world: diamonds, cute kittens, and
Jamie Redknapp. He was a good footballer but I have to say his good looks made
female fans forget to really appreciate his footballing qualities.
But it was an important season for
someone, that 1998/1999 season. He was then an eighteen-year old, tall and
skinny, with a crew cut hairstyle. Those days the one name of an eighteen-year
old that meant anything in football, to me, was Michael Owen. So, when this kid
made his debut in the Premiership, I knew nothing about it. Yet, as he was gradually
making an impact on the team year after year until the Treble Season, I finally
did catch his name. People had dubbed him: Stevie G.
It took me one special game though,
to realize how brilliant this skinny kid really was. The day was September 1,
2001. Every football fan was waiting for one exciting World Cup qualifier
fixture: Germany vs England. Fans of either team were definitely emotionally
involved. Being a Netherlands fan, I wasn’t really into it; I just wanted to
see the Liverpool boys. England had previously been beaten at home by Germany.
Now, could Michael avenge that defeat? Well, it didn’t look like it when
Germany scored first. O, wait! He equalized! Nice! Then, came a thunderous
strike from 25 yards and Oliver Kahn could do nothing to stop it. I was
awestruck. It was a revelation to me. I knew the moment I saw Steven Gerrard’s
strike that night in Munich that he was no ordinary footballer who had his
moments, but that he was much more than that. So, when he was made captain in
2003, it came as no surprise to me. I knew all along he was an heir to the
throne of Liverpool Football Club.
Recently, as I gathered clips of
great goals of footballers that I admire, I realized what the difference
between very good players and great players is. So long as the pressure is
normal, both groups of players should be able to score some great goals. But,
put them on the team under pressure and we will see that only great players can
make the most of their chances. A wonder strike when your team is leading 2-0
is not the same as one when your team is trailing 2-3 and time is running out.
The beauty of the goals is magnified by their significance.
In the case of Steven Gerrard, it is
amazing just how many of his goals were decisive for the outcome of the games.
When I watched one clip containing his top 10 goals, I kept hearing similar
commentaries said in different words. Apart from what Andy Gray screamed out
when Stevie hit that ‘beauty’ goal against Olympiakos, my favorites are
commentaries for his goal against Charlton in the 2002/2003 season and his
second against West Ham in the 2006 FA Cup Final. The first goes like this:
“Steven Gerrard! Final minutes! The final act of the drama is provided by
Steven Gerrard. Victory snatched from the misery of defeat.” The second was:
“Gerrard! Oh! Oh! Stunning! When you need someone to stand up and be counted;
to pull an absolute rabbit from a hat; Steven Gerrard has done just that. We
know your name, son!” He made spectacular, rescue-act goals look easy.
But that’s not all he’s got. During
the most emotionally draining UEFA Champions League ever staged in history, I
was again awestruck by this man. In the second half, he started high up the
pitch scoring a goal and breaking up defenses and then ended up back at the
defense frustrating Serginho. His world-class tackle prompted my Chelsea-fan
friend to send me a SMS saying: “Your man is the world’s best right back.”
Steven Gerrard is such a multi-talented footballer that he can play well in
many different positions. In a way, it comes as a bit of a problem for him
because he will be shifted all over the pitch time and again. He will not
always get the central stage the way he wants it. I have to say I’m dead
curious about what Rafa will do once he has fully-fit well-playing wingers on
the flanks plus Alonso, Sisoko, Bellamy, and Kuyt in his disposal.
Yet, for all his technical abilities,
I think his strength lies in his passionate and competitive nature. Alan Hansen
once said of him, “Gerrard is a man who doesn’t know when he’s beaten.” It’s
never over ‘till it’s over and he will fight right into the final second.
Liverpool is blessed to have a player and a leader like him because his passion
and fighting spirit is contagious. The British media said it best: He drags his
team mates by the bootlaces. He just won’t let them yield without a fight. I am
not trying to undermine the others in the current team; but I think we can
agree that not everybody have the same power of inspiration.
And all that he does for the love of
Liverpool Football Club. What makes him different from the past Liverpool
greats is he is a local boy, born to love the club with a burning passion. I
always feel he fights so hard because he is not just a player or a Liverpool
Football Club employee. He is one of us. He is a fan like me and no fan wants
to see his team lose. For that, I admire him. I adore him with a platonic
adulation I have never given any other football heroes before him.
It’s never easy being a football fan
when you’re a girl. You put Steven-Gerrard wallpaper on your desktop and you’ll
end up with a silly conversation about handsome footballers. It’s different
when you’re a man. People pass your desk and they immediately ask, “Are you a
Liverpool fan?” Me? I got this instead: “You like Stevie G, huh? My sister also
thinks he’s handsome; but she loves Kaka.” Sheesh. What do I care about his
sister? Let me tell you: I saved a picture of Stevie when he was twenty or
twenty-one. His left jaw seemed to be bigger than his right and I already liked
him then. But, it took ages for my male friends to see that I don’t admire him
for his looks and that I genuinely love football, particularly when it’s
Liverpool playing.
Not that any girl can be blamed for
falling head over feet for Steven Gerrard though. I read his book and watched
the clip of ‘A Year in My Life’ aired by Skysports. Off the pitch, he is a
family man; one who hates races and bets and claimed that the only racing he
does is back home to his daughters and fiancé. He has a very close bond with
his parents and older brother too. In fact, I learned that he played badly
during the 2002/2003 season because his parents split. Family love is that
important to him. Now, how can any girl not love a Steven Gerrard?
Just the other day, I found a clip of
a Tribute to Liverpool by Skysports after Liverpool won their fifth Champions
League Cup. The song and narration were The Beatles’ In My Life. It hit me how
perfectly the song expressed what I feel about the current Liverpool captain
and hero. There are the past greats of football that I have admired: Kenny
Dalglish, John Barnes, Ian Rush, Alan Hansen and more. I’ll never lose
affection for those heroes before Stevie G. I just love him more.
I'm particularly concerned about the last sentence..
Care to enlighten me what's it all about?
I do know that it's been discussed to
death in this forum on how we should play or accommodate Stevie G with regards
to his magnificent ability in filling every position imaginable on the pitch (I
believe he would fit the "attacking wide left playmaking sweeper"
superbly, if such position exists in the first place).
What I understand is that this man is
every manager's dream player, in a sense that you could play him anywhere
across the park and still you get a top level performance. And he rarely
complains. For me, he’s not a second choice for everybody. Not at all. In fact,
he is what you called a jack of all trades. And even if everybody’s fit and
available, he will always find a space in the starting line up at the expense
of someone, such is his importance to the team.
My opinion is, no matter where he
plays, be it at Liverpool, England, Barcelona or even Chelsea, every manager
will always have the same way of thinking when they have Stevie G at their
disposal, and that is to play him at any position in which they think needs
reinforcement.
Of course we all know that his best
(and preferred) position is at the centre of midfield, but if you already have
balance in that area (in the case of LFC with Xabi and Momo around) or you have
some weaknesses in the wide area (as is the case with Ingerlund in the absence
of Becks and Lennon on the right), then as a Manager, you will know that the
best solution to the problem is to put Gerrard in to reinforce your weaker
link. That’s what makes him special as opposed to one trick pony like Lampard.
Just look at Ronaldinho, he often plays at left wing for Barca, is it his
'best' position? I doubt it. And that doesn’t stop him to pick the accolade of
World’s Best Player. The same goes with Stevie, he spent most of last season
playing on the right side of midfield, and who was selected as the PFA Player
of The Year? Coincidence? I don’t think so. Great players will always find a
way to shine.
I just don't think that we should
feel sorry for him (for being played “out of position”), or even feel that he
should have left for Chelsea for that matter. Because it will be the same for
him if (God forbid) he plays for the Blues. Mourinho would probably play him
wide if Cole and Robben were injured, or at right back when Ferreira and
Boulahrouz were out for certain reasons. He would even play Stevie at centre
back when Terry got injured considering that Gallas and Huth were sold already.
So, I don’t think the situation would definitely be better for our Stevie
(perhaps even worse).
The main thing is, in Liverpool, he
plays for the team he loves, and that is what matters the most.
Actually, what I wrote in the diary
thread stemmed from my personal experience. In a way, I am played in a position
which I think is not my best position. But managers have to make the most of
his resources, I agree. Still, accepting that needs an effort. One needs to get
used to the idea of being the Jack of All Trades; because you always get that
odd feeling that the people who take your craved positions are considered
better than you are.
Now that I'm starting to feel better
about my own experience, in this thread, I said I'm dead curious about where
Rafa will play Stevie once, say, Kewel is match fit, Pennant is match fit,
Alonso, Sisoko, Bellamy, Kuyt...what system will he use? That is something
which is not clear to me yet. But, I do agree with you, considering how
ambitious and hungry a player Stevie is, he will only improve even better and
someone just has to wait in line.
and another extraordinary story about
great player from great writer.
It took a deep breath reading your story and only a few people who
can express him/herself by writing it.
I was totally has nothing but
admiration for you and your man off course.
I list below another facts of Stevie G Force taken from Maxim, July
edition
1. Liverpool Idols : John Barnes and Peter Beardsley but he used
to think that he was John Barnes when he played onto the street.
2. Whose boots he cleaned : Jamie Redknapp and Dominic Matteo from
16-18 years old. Four pairs each. Get paid 45 pounds a week.
3. First time at Anfield was about nine. 3-3 againts Coventry. Jan
Molby scored three penalties.
4. He came from similar back grounds with Carra. Played on the
streets and that made them tough.
5. Being skinned and nutmegged on the pitch ? Rooney has given him
a few hard times.
6. When he was 12, his father walked off and went home when he saw
Stevie wore a gloves.
7. He's not scared on playing against Ronaldinho or Henry but
admitted that they are different because they are world class and can change a
game. You've just got to hope that thay have an off day.
8. He feels lucky that he played only two or three times playing
in the reserve games before going into the first team.
9. When he won CL trophy, he took it to his room.
10. When he scores, he doesn't know what he is doing. When he
watches the celebration, he can barely look and trying to calm them down.
11. Favorite Liverpool Chant : YNWA
12. He feels strange when they meet up in the England squad with
Rooney or Lampard if they have beaten LFC recently.
13. He's got a room to put all the memorabilia and shirts.
14. The last amazing game he saw was the Merseyside derby where he
was sent off but LFC won.
15. He thinks Carra will make a brilliant coach as he is obsessed
with football.
16. He thinks that Dany Murphy will make a good TV pundit as he
has got all the big words and swallowed a dictionary but he's got no hair so
it'd look funny.
17. He identifies Cisse's white Hummer as ice cream can. Cisse is
definitely a flash but in a nice way. He's not big headed but he's just
different.
We love him, don't we ?
*taken from BigReds forum
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