A Legend of the modern game (Steven Gerrard)

Member Name: paulie1975

Product:	Steven Gerrard
Date:	06/04/09 (5 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Dynamic, influential, the teams heart beat

Disadvantages: Sometimes over does the simple things, can be tactically naive

Stevie G is an incredible footballer, a player with a fantastic sense of timing, a player with the ability to change a match on any level through the sheer force of his personality.

Born in 1980, he has made such an impact as a one club player he already has an MBE to his name and is regarded worldwide as one of the best midfielders on the planet.

A player who has spent his entire career as a Liverpool footballer, from the early days in the Liverpool youth team, through to being one of the greatest players in the world and of his generation. Gerrard can play anywhere in a team from Right back through any position in midfield to playing up front. Gerrard has played 328 games and scored 68 goals for the club, he is rightly held up as their talisman, a player who comes alive in the big games and can pull the team up sometimes, almost single handedly to a higher level.

Gerrard made his first team debut in 1998 during the spice boy era at Liverpool when style seemed to come above substance, he was a ball winner who could run all day, put in tackles until his legs stood still and seemed to get injured an awful lot. Looking back he was a young athletic kid who was probably still developing physically and you can get injuries waiting for your body to match your aerobic capacity, he does not get so many injuries now and is the heartbeat of the Liverpool team.

Gerrard has a few medals to his name, he has two FA Cup winners medals, including the 2005-06 final which has become known as 'the Gerrard final' for the way he brought Liverpool back against West Ham from a losing position with an exceptional goal allowing them to win the match.

He has no league champions medals but does have two league cup winners medals, a UEFA cup winners medal and most tellingly a Champions League winners medal, again Gerrard will always be remembered for the Champions League final, when losing 3-0 at Half Time, Gerrard was pushed further forward and sparked the recovery which destroyed AC Milan, he even found time to play Right Back in extra time to cover one of Milan's most dangerous and fresh substitutes. This game in many ways made Gerrard a hero around the world and he is an example to any young player of combining athleticism, ability and desire to win.

A few years ago prior to the Champions League win, Gerrard was touted as going to Chelsea, he did seriously think about it for his own development under Mourinho but stuck with Liverpool and got his rewards, with Liverpool fighting for the league and developing into a decent team who will challenge for years to come this looks to have been the right choice for a home town boy made good.

Gerrard's England career has not had the same effect as his club career thus far, surrounded by Beckham, Lampard and Scholes he has never been allowed to play his club position as it is blocked by others, he has had to adapt and finally under Capello it appears there may be a way he and Lampard can play together and hopefully provide an influential, goal scoring impetus to the England team for the World Cup in 2010.

My one criticism of the player is that for England he sometimes appears to be playing his own way rather than for the team and can unwittingly block other players runs, or enter their territory, his passing is good but occasionally the long crossfield hollywood passes are embarassing.

Gerrard has 72 appearances and has scored 14 goals for his country, so is not too far from catching David Beckham should he stay fit and in form for the next 5 years.

Summary: A Legend of the modern game