Posted in World Cup Blog | 17 Comments
Steven Gerrard’s time is up
Welcome to thetalkofsport.com’s World Cup 2010 blog. With the tournament in South Africa now well and truly underway, during the next month we’ll be bringing you all the news, views and opinion from the biggest sporting event on the planet.
It’s been nearly a week since England’s World Cup exit, and we’ve all had time to reflect on what went wrong.
Unsurprisingly the press have had a field day, calling for Capello’s head, retiring half the current squad before printing photos of them all on holiday seemingly unrepentant about what happened in South Africa.
A lot of this was born out of frustration at what was a poor showing by the national team and that’s understandable, but the players know how disappointed we are, after all they’re England fans as well.
Constant abuse from the media isn’t going to make any of them want to try harder in an England shirt, and laying the blame at the feet of ‘unpopular’ members of side smacks of childishness.
The perfect example of this is Ashley Cole. Now, despite being in a side that underachieved hugely, Cole still managed to look arguably the most solid left back in the tournament. Against Slovenia he was exceptional, and he had Philip Lahm going the wrong way for 60 minutes in Bloemfontein.
So when the post mortem of the Germany game suggested Cole only played because of a lack of other options, you have to wonder if we’re the ones who have it wrong, not the manager.
England fans have worn rose-tinted glasses for years, but to start rapping players purely because they don’t seem a nice person is ridiculous.
The likes of Cole, Ferdinand, Terry and Rooney form the spine of the England side, and they’ve all got previous, but it shouldn’t mean they be made scapegoats.
Personally, I don’t understand this country’s obsession with Steven Gerrard. Of the four midfielders who started against Germany Gerrard had had by far the worst season, and yet the others have to play around him. This blunted Lampard’s attacking play, and left Milner and Barry hopelessly confused as to where they should be covering. This meant Ozil and co had free reign on the back four, and we know what happened from there. Germany were able to draw Terry out of position and whilst Upson is a decent defender in the Premier League, he would always be found out at this level.
Gerrard failed to lead the team, and didn’t inspire the way he’s supposed to. I think many of the players need a shouter to get them going before and during a game. We saw the likes of Terry and Rooney doing so throughout, and the two organised a huddle after the Slovenia game. This apparently upset Gerrard, but in truth they were doing his job for him so he can have no complaints if they feel he’s not doing it properly.
So, for me Gerrard is the one to go from England’s midfield, he shackles the rest of the side and forces us to play only one way.
There is young talent out there to fill the other holes that will inevitably appear throughout the side, it up to the likes of Milner, Agbonlahor, Wilshire and co to fill them in the future.
Martyn Landi
“This blunted Lampard’s attacking play, and left Milner and Barry hopelessly confused as to where they should be covering”
Perhaps because Gerrard was forced to play on the left to accomodate Barry and Lampard? A position he has never played in for Liverpool. Could that possibly be the reason he didn’t perform so well?
Dude, Stevie G was the only one who looked like he was willing to do something. He was honestly working hard unlike the rest of the team. And you can’t call him a bad leader. Leadership is in his blood. He simply cannot be singled out. And also,Stevie was being played in the wrong position. In my opinion, it’s Capello and Mr Rooney who should be blamed. And definitely NOT Stevie. He did nothing wrong in this World Cup.
Steven Gerrard was put left mid through out the world cup so there’s no excuses for Lampard not playin well in the center and unlike Lampard, Milner and Rooney Stevie actually got a goal. What your saying is if Terry or Rooney wore the armband and Gerrard didnt play the team would of played better? bull**** Rooney didnt play bad EVERY game because of Gerrard, he played bad because the media big him and the team up too much, just let them be and they might be able to think of the games and not the media.
Steven Gerrard’s performance is good.
I totally agree with Martin Landi. I think Gerrard is one of the most over rated players in the world. He can only play football if the game is going at about 100 mph. In the algerian game Gerrard made approx 14 misplaced passes in the first half. There was no sign of leadership when Gerrard was on the pitch there never has been since he was made captain. You can’t possibly play Gerrard behind rooney as they have tried this before and it failed. I have to agree with others saying that other members of the team played well because they didn’t. I think Capello should ditch half the squad and bring in some youngsters like Germany did
gerrard was the only one who produced a half decent performance in that campaign for england. you probably haven’t been listening to the analysts who said the same thing. but then again, they are probably wrong since they’ve done it for years and you have more expertise and are probably getting paid more for your post-game analytic talents. wait…who are you again?
what a rediculous article. the team was anything but built around gerrard!!! he was played in left mid-field when he’s a once in generation footballer! after one brilliant game against usa in central midfield he was put out on the left again! what an insult to the team captain and to any1 who has just had a good performance!
when beckham was captain the team was built around him i.e. he was played in his strongest position and every1 else suffered. this was the opposite… gerrard, our best midfielder and arguably our best player (him or rooney) was put out on left midfield when he’s widely regarded as probably the med central midfielder in the world!! lampard and barry especially did nothing and these are the kind of players he was replaced with!
he also scored our only decent goal!
where this article has come from is bemusing!!
That person must no more than you mate if you think Gerrard produced a half decent performance. May want to think that through again ???
What a load of crap!!!!
Gerrard should be 1st on Englands team sheet, Its not his fault they got a stuburn manager who wont change his tactics to suit a game. I agree no one player is bigger that any team.. not even ronaldo for man utd. Gerrard as any good professional did what he was told and gave 110% more than any other player. Where was Rooney, Lampard?. Capello said along time ago he would only pick players who are playing often & well for thier club and not injured – wasn’t Barry? he aint that special to risk. Rooney clearly wanted Gerrard up with him through the middle where he is best.. Capello might as well of played gerrard at CB he is better than upson! I admit barry should play as holding midfielder, lampard as centre mid and gerrard attaking mid playing off rooney. My other biggest gripe is dont be affraid to drop a big name, rooney had a bad world cup he played crap so drop him and make him realise he is not always going to start and that goes for any player inc Gerrard. Anyway im a liverpool fan and i want him to leave… yes cos until liverpool get sold they are going to get worse and worse and gerrard after about 11 years as a first team regular deserves that off his fans
Gerrard the only one who was playing well, he was the one who scored, and if you watch some of his goals, and how hes played over the years, hes one the best in the world, and he is a captain, against instanbull he lead his team he wanted win it and after his goal he got the team going and they won
i think the teams formation was a result to them playing so poorly. rooney is a player who needs to be a lone striker which is what he done for man utd last season and he scored 32 goals last season and if he has a player like steven gerrard behind him then he cant go wrong. but playing gerrard on the left is just pathetic someone like lennon or wright phillips should play in this position and playing rooney with heskey is just pathetic when is the last time he,s even scored a goal ??? try and remember off the top of your head im sure you wont remember.
What in the blue hell are you saying???? STEVE G is the best midfield player in our Globe. He is too important for England, he is THE Captain of the Nation.
He is the One and Only.
TOM,
poor grammar?????????????,
then the use of the word “gonna” is a let down.
Martyn Landi obviously has little analytical skills when it comes to football. Writing’s pretty sloppy too.
Look over all the German goals again and you will see how cowardly JT is. First goal, he let the ball bounce-school boy error, second goal, he watched the the forward for 3 seconds without putting a foot in. Third and fourth goals were conceded because he (and the defence) was caught way in the opponent’s box – dont think a great player makes these mistakes.
Gerrard mishits many passes because he takes responsibility for the final ball. Any player who does that often will end up with a lower pass rate. Lampard cant even get the ball out of the midfield properly. He could hardly even manage short passes.
Martin, watch the match again, and comment with your head.
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