Steven Gerrard.
He's more than a player. He's more than a local lad playing for his home club. He's more than a captain. He's more than anything I can write about. He's just... Steven Gerrard.
In this modern football era, where money, titles, fifa rankings, cars, hot women and of course, skills come to define how good a footballer is, Steven Gerrard remains an enigma. Of course, he has all of the above, but he could have had so much more. Real Madrid, Chelsea, Bayern Munich in their prime came calling for him. But this man... This legend, he remains at Liverpool. Despite the club failing him, they really have. Despite the club not being in Champions League for 7 seasons out of his 15 seasons at the club. Despite the club putting up a real fight for the EPL title in just 1 out of his 15 seasons at the club. Despite him having to play with players like Konchesky, Poulsen and Abel Xavier. Despite him having to be managed by the likes of Hodgson. Despite him having to suffer the immense defaming of his club by a certain Uruguayan.
Why though? Seriously... Why they fuck did he remain at Liverpool? I mean sure, it's his hometown club and everything.. But surely he would know that in his limited career, he should maximise his talent and get as many trophies as he can? That's how everyone thinks? Zidane? When he left Cannes and Bordeaux for Juventus, it was natural progression. No one held it against him. When Christiano Ronaldo left Sporting, it was the next step. So why was it different for Gerrard? Of course, Liverpool is a much bigger club than those above, but the question remains. Why did he not leave?
For me, the answer is simple. He felt the responsibility of bringing the club back to the 'fuckin perch' that they had been knocked off from. And he had the belief that he could do it. For a while, it seemed like it was going to happen. Under Benitez's early years at Liverpool, they looked a force. But than the god damn fuckin Yanks got greedy and refused to spend any more money.
But i digress. Steven Gerrard, for me, is Steven Gerrard, because Steven Gerrard doesn't stop believing that Liverpool is bigger than him and any other player. And he believes that it's his calling to restore the past glory and leave Liverpool with a bright future.
Liverpool has failed Steven Gerrard immensely. As a big Liverpool fan, it hurts me to say this, but it's true. Steven Gerrard deserves to go down as one of the best every players in the world, but he won't, in the eyes of anyone other than Liverpool fans. Liverpool and England have just not given Steven Gerrard enough big games to display that. Sure, he was voted as the best ever Liverpool player recently. But that's peanuts, compared to his talent. I don't need to talk about his all rounded action, but if you are curious, just Google or YouTube it and you will see what I see.
So what else can Steven Gerrard do before he retires? Not much, really. I think he knows that his EPL title dream is now gone. What he can do though, is leave his footprint on the way players should act. It's fucking disgraceful how Suarez is acting when he has Steven Gerrard next to him, but for the younger players, he's a shining light in a stalled ship.
For me, I will have to check an item of my bucket list of seeing Steven Gerrard play live at Anfield before he calls it a day. Maybe he will score another one of those last minute scorchers to win the game for Liverpool.
