Burning Question: "Should Gerrard have pulled out of the England squad?

[Jairzinho]

I can see both sides, the timing is shitty.  Personally though all I care about is Liverpool and I think ultimately that's where his loyalties should lie in this situation.  On the other hand he worked really hard to become England captain and won't want to lose the armband, and he is racking up caps, overtaking legends etc.  So there's a lot to consider but at the weekend we have a derby to win, and a few more tricky games after that.  These shitty shit friendlies are shit. 

 

He's not going to lose the armband though is he?

 

He'll be captain of England for the three games of their World Cup regardless of what happens between now and then.

 

Its a friendly, against Germany's B team.

[Pureblood]

He's not going to lose the armband though is he?

 

He'll be captain of England for the three games of their World Cup regardless of what happens between now and then.

 

Its a friendly, against Germany's B team.

 

That's a fair point it's probably the caps he wants.  But you never know..  Say he sits this one out, Fat Frank or someone gets the armband and scores a hat-trick, Gerrard then gets injured, can't get the armband back because Frank is ace again..  Stranger things have happened.  

[Skidfingers McGonical]

Late arriving to this debate. So apologies if I repeat anything anybody has already said.

 

It's hard not to feel a little aggrieved with Gerrard for not pulling out tje Germany game but I believe he will call it quits after the World Cup and it's all about matching footballing legends achievements. He matches Bobby Moore's number of caps and this is one hell of an achievement. To be put in the same bracket as England's greatest iconic captain is something that any of us would take if it were offered to us.

 

On the flip side first and foremost he is a Liverpool player and it's hard for me to comprehend putting the national side before his club in years gone by. But now I think he is taking every opportunity he can to achieve whatever he can while he is winding down his international career.

 

He's a player who deserves a Premier Leahue title and a player who deserves a World Cup or European Championship. Alas he wont ever achieve the latter two and maybe he won't get that Premier League title.

 

So why should we dismiss his desires to get whatever he can from his international career?

[fowler9]

apart from to Germany this is just any other game and the match is only given any significance as the few people who do give a flying fuck about England like to pretend any other national teams give a shit about them

[SCOUSE TAPAS]

Late arriving to this debate. So apologies if I repeat anything anybody has already said.

 

It's hard not to feel a little aggrieved with Gerrard for not pulling out tje Germany game but I believe he will call it quits after the World Cup and it's all about matching footballing legends achievements. He matches Bobby Moore's number of caps and this is one hell of an achievement. To be put in the same bracket as England's greatest iconic captain is something that any of us would take if it were offered to us.

 

On the flip side first and foremost he is a Liverpool player and it's hard for me to comprehend putting the national side before his club in years gone by. But now I think he is taking every opportunity he can to achieve whatever he can while he is winding down his international career.

 

He's a player who deserves a Premier Leahue title and a player who deserves a World Cup or European Championship. Alas he wont ever achieve the latter two and maybe he won't get that Premier League title.

 

So why should we dismiss his desires to get whatever he can from his international career?

To draw level on caps with Moore is a incredible feat to achieve. I would think Stevie would want to play tomorrow if he a chance to.

Imagine how much it would haunt him if decide not to play and then gets injured ruling him out for a season or half a season.If that was the case he is unlikely to get that 108th cap.

[kalasoma]

Doesn't it depend on how Rodgers reacts?  I'd like to know his views on this.

 

Rodgers won't criticise an England manager in public, and he won't do that to Gerrard either. But, if we don't do well against Everton, he's got a built in excuse for players being unfit/overplayed and we'll all blame Hodgson for it anyway.

[kalasoma]

No-one appreciates the significance of the Merseyside Derby more than Gerrard, a fixture he has graced on many occasions.

 

But this fixture is being played for the 200th time this weekend, and hundreds have played in it.The rarity value of the Germany fixture and its history makes it special for any player.More or less special? just different I would say.

 

Not seeing the rationale in this at all. Is playing against Germany in a friendly (or any international friendly) really that valuable an experience to a player? Special for an English player to play against a German B team? I can see maybe for a player wanting to make an impression for a World Cup place - Gerrard's seat on the plane is all but booked.  The rarity of the fixture doesn't really come into it, I don't think. It's a friendly. Different yes, but in terms of value? The Derby is much valuable as a competitive fixture, be it the 200th or 300th meeting of the two teams, particularly where one of those players is Liverpool born and bread, and a captain. Gerrard knows what this derby means.

[kalasoma]

Late arriving to this debate. So apologies if I repeat anything anybody has already said.

 

It's hard not to feel a little aggrieved with Gerrard for not pulling out tje Germany game but I believe he will call it quits after the World Cup and it's all about matching footballing legends achievements. He matches Bobby Moore's number of caps and this is one hell of an achievement. To be put in the same bracket as England's greatest iconic captain is something that any of us would take if it were offered to us.

 

On the flip side first and foremost he is a Liverpool player and it's hard for me to comprehend putting the national side before his club in years gone by. But now I think he is taking every opportunity he can to achieve whatever he can while he is winding down his international career.

 

He's a player who deserves a Premier Leahue title and a player who deserves a World Cup or European Championship. Alas he wont ever achieve the latter two and maybe he won't get that Premier League title.

 

So why should we dismiss his desires to get whatever he can from his international career?

 

I get all that and I don't begrudge him his 108th cap. No-one in their right mind would. He's on a par with one of England's greatest captains now (without the trophy). But at the same time, he could have won that cap when England plays more meaningless friendlies next year in the run up to the WC.

 

Maybe to us fans, the derby is more important than Gerrard wanting to achieve something commendable with the national team. But Gerrard is not going to win anything with England, so he might as well play as many matches as he can and reach his milestones now before he calls time on his international career. For us, beating Everton this weekend at theirs, is more important than matching your wits against Wiedenfelder in goal for Germany or whatever his name is.

[Jose Jones]

That England team is utterly shit as well.  Sharing a midfield with Cleverly, Lallana and Townsend, in front of a back four containing Kyle Walker and Chris Smalling.

They are going to get thrashed.

[Anubis]

It seems to me that the main problem with the Germany fixture is that for the English, having fallen into international footballing mediocrity post 1966, it has somehow become a jingoistic extension of World War II and assumed an importance beyond reason.

[Jairzinho]

Germany's biggest game is against Holland.

[redfromtubebar]

Disgraceful that England are risking two players carrying knocks for a friendly game.

 

Have a bad feeling that Sturridge is going to get crocked and miss the derby.

[Tony Moanero]

Moan, moan, fucking moan.

 

Steven Gerrard, Liverpool & England captain, wins another international cap. He is now level on caps with the late, great Bobby Moore, which is a fantastic achievement.

 

Well in, Steven.

 

Stop shitting yourself about the derby, you miserable buggars, we will be o.k.

[Stickman]

Not an England fan by any stretch but if Gerrard wants to play for them who are we to argue I think the guy has built enough brownie points up in carrying our team for the last 10 years to choose if he plays a match or not.

[Batigol]

It's less than a fortnight ago that quite a few thought he should be dropped for Allen anyway, I hope none of those have been complaining in this thread....

[Anubis]

It's less than a fortnight ago that quite a few thought he should be dropped for Allen anyway, I hope none of those have been complaining in this thread....

 

 

Or you'll......?

[Section_31]

I'd hate to be a home grown player at Liverpool, you might as well be called Spartacus. "One of the lads" of course until the day you're not, either because of age or fitness, or because you decide to do something for yourself, then god help you - forever.

[Batigol]

Or you'll......?

Shake a fist in outrage at it all grrrr or something like that.

[magicrat]

86,000 at Wembley mugged to watch this  fucking bore-fest .

Other than Townsends excellent effort which hit the post have England actually had a meaningful attempt ? Germans never been out of second gear.

No doubt it will all be dressed up as a creditable performance where we were unlucky and matched the Germans. What the fuck is Sturridge doing still on the pitch. Obviously not fully fit , had a crap game and the hapless cunt Hodgson won't sub him

[magicrat]

86,000 at Wembley mugged to watch this  fucking bore-fest .

Other than Townsends excellent effort which hit the post have England actually had a meaningful attempt ? Germans never been out of second gear.

No doubt it will all be dressed up as a creditable performance where we were unlucky and matched the Germans. What the fuck is Sturridge doing still on the pitch. Obviously not fully fit , had a crap game and the hapless cunt Hodgson won't sub him

ranting on the wrong thread apologies

[Tony Moanero]

I didn't watch the game, but thought I'd pop in to say Roy Hodgson's cock and balls dangle from his forehead.

[Tony Moanero]

Oh, Steven Gerrard's is fucking boss.

[Captain]

Well, at least Gerrard only played for an hour.

[Dr. J]

I owe the face-wanking old cunt an apology as I was sure he'd run Gerrard into the ground before taking him off.

 

Sturridge looked as if he came out clean, too.