Tony Evans on Steven Gerrard (The Times)

[meredithmathieson]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle5753802.ece

 

Why Steven Gerrard struggles to have the complete love of the Kop

Tony Evans

 

Those who don’t go to Anfield on a regular basis are often surprised to see the matchgoing Liverpool fans’ attitude to Steven Gerrard. They expect admiration, love, a fawning devotion to the Liverpool captain. Instead, there is an unsettling undercurrent of antagonism towards Gerrard, one that is fading as the years go by but can still rise up into hostility at the slightest excuse.

 

When they come across it, outsiders attribute the griping to Gerrard’s double flirtation with Chelsea - but the doubts in the Kopites’ minds go back farther.

 

Almost from the beginning, more than ten years back now, there were those who found Gerrard’s demeanour irritating. As soon as it became clear that here was a prodigious talent, the critics in the stands saw room for complaint. At times, the youngster appeared to be looking for the flashy ‘Hollywood’ pass when an easy ball was the preferred option.

 

It got worse after he was part of England’s 5-1 victory over Germany. Suddenly he was a national hero. Scouse supremacists are always naturally suspicious of English heroes.

 

Gerrard was earning the nickname ‘Stevie Me’. When he scored, he pointed to his chest frantically. When he was used on the right of midfield - which the Kop, almost to a man considered his best position - he seemed to sulk, yearning for the central role the media demanded. And, in the big games, the alehouse tittle-tattle said, he disappeared. That meant, in simplest terms, he'd never destroyed Manchester United single-handedly. Yet, by the time Benitez arrived, he seemed to feel he was the dominant power at the club.

 

The perfect example of ambivalence to Gerrard came in Istanbul. After he scored Liverpool’s opening goal, he turned to rouse the crowd, gesturing with his arms for fans to turn up the volume. The volume rose, for sure, but there was an irritated growl behind it: we didn’t need lesson in support from him. Afterwards, he hogged the cup, with only Jamie Carragher wresting it away for any length of time. Not the Liverpool way. Not the work of a captain, either.

 

Then there was the flirtation with Chelsea. It was almost too much to bear to see a Scouser apparently determined to take Roman’s roubles. But he stayed. And since then, things have got better.

 

He’s matured. The arrival of Fernando Torres has removed some of the expectation and burden from him. He’s had more bounce about him on the pitch. Plus, his recent arrest has made this aloof and seemingly troubled lad from Huyton simpatico at last.

 

All things considered, he deserves the place at No 2 in the list of Liverpool’s greatest players - if you need a goal with the time running out, where else would you want to see the ball but at Gerrard’s feet. But he also deserves the acclaim and adoration of the Kop. It’s coming, it’s coming...

 

[Tony Evans is the author of Far Foreign Land: Pride and Passion the Liverpool way ].

 

I've heard him mention this before about Gerrard gesturing to the crowd in Istanbul. FWIW, I don't know anybody else who thinks/thought that. A classic piece of improvised captaincy in my book - conveyed that it wasn't just a consolation goal.

[Sion]

I think there's not as much love towards Gerrard from matchgoers as there should be because of the Chelsea business and perceived sulkiness

But tony evans has overstated it massively there

[Marvin]

I never thought he was gesturing to the crowd at all - I saw it as directed to his team mates

[Swipe]

I think there's not as much love towards Gerrard from matchgoers as there should be because of the Chelsea business and perceived sulkiness

But tony evans has overstated it massively there

 

Completely.

[Swipe]

I never thought he was gesturing to the crowd at all - I saw it as directed to his team mates

 

In Istanbul? Nah, he was defo doing it to the crowd.

 

Nowt wrong with it either. Was more of a "come on, believe" than a "make more noise" IMO.

[Bailo]

I look forward to his piece on how Utd fans don't really love Ronaldo because of his continued flirting with Real.

[Billy Dane]

Unnecessary Gerrard bashing, well over egged. A slow news week.

 

He did go through a Stevie Me phase but seems to have come out of it. I can understand the comments about the arm waving in Istanbul, but he's being a bit churlish about it IMO, and I'm not sure it has taken Steve being arrested for the Kop to take him to their hearts.

[Stevie H]

I look forward to his piece on how Utd fans don't really love Ronaldo because of his continued flirting with Real.

never seen him write about the mancs.

[smithdown]

Most of those criticisms are the kinds of things levelled at him by other team's supporters, imo. I've never heard anyone have a pop at him over the Germany game, only heard evertonians call him Stevie Me, he has gone all hollywood ball at times, and the reaction in Istanbul was growling at him and everyone on the pitch - we were 3-1 down in the European Cup Final. Think I was shouting "no, you feckin get going you nob'ed" - what were we supposed to do, blow him kisses? He was winding himself up as much as anyone else. Great captaincy, as MM says.

 

I think most understood his Chelsea dilemma, every player going was dancing all the way to west London at the first sniff of interest. He nearly went, but he never. I don't think I've ever heard a Red saying we should sell him.

[The Hitman]

Completely over-the-top.

I'd say most people are over the Chelsea thing by now,at least I am.

He's our skipper,he's scouse and he's f*cking brilliant.

Nothing else comes into it.

[Kvarme Ate My Food]

I don't think I've ever heard a Red saying we should sell him.

 

I've read it on here.

[Knox_Harrington]

He's been f***ing great recently, especially in his best position off the front. I've not liked him that much as a lad from some of what's gone on, some of what he's said but f***ing hell, since balls have been required this season he's had them in spades and has demonstrated great leadership. Made up for him and made up for us and long may it continue. Love him to pieces currently.

[CarraLegend]

Tony Evans is usually good but thats awful, some fair points but also some ridiculously overplayed stuff.

[Stevie H]

I've read it on here.

A@A?

[Skillz]

His comments on Instanbul are f***ing laughable in the extreme. This guy is supposed to be a red (apparantly) and writes that crap. Any decent red knows what Gerrard was doing when he summoned the supporters after he scored.

 

He rallyed the troops and supporters as any good captain would. He believed and the rest followed.

[smithdown]

I've read it on here.

 

Everyone on here is a crank, though.

[Spike]

what a c*** of an article

[Tones]

I read on another Liverpool forum a post from one of our supporters saying when Gerrards career is over, all he will remember him for is the flirting with Chelsea. I was annoyed about it at the time myself but i think he has done more than enough to be forgiven for that. Certainly isnt what i will remember him for.

Edited February 18, 2009 by t1971

[Frosty Jack]

There was no negative reaction to his gesture in Istanbul. It's just not true, it ignited the crowd and made us all believe. Nobody wanted to think that it was impossible, 2 minutes later we knew it wasn't

 

Really pointless article, and with the big games coming up and everything else going on. Nice one mate.

[matty]

Mainly the Chelsea thing that made the distance between us.

 

That sentence about 'in big games...he disappeared' must have come from some right nobber. The 35 screamer against the mancs at Anfield? Forgotten that one??

[_00_deathscar]

Wow, that was one strange article.

 

FWIW I thought the Istanbul thing was one of the best things I've ever seen in football.

[Kvarme Ate My Food]

Everyone on here is a crank, though.

 

word.

[Flasher]

Very strange article that. Wonder what the motivation was? Maybe Rafa planted it

[stressederic]

That article is daft.

 

The reason everyone was so hurt by the Chelsea thing was because everyone loved Gerrard!

[johngibo YPC]

There was no negative reaction to his gesture in Istanbul. It's just not true, it ignited the crowd and made us all believe.

 

my mate absolutely screamed at him

'don't worry about us, worry about those f*****s' (meaning the players)

Not sure how many felt the same though

 

In my opinion there are some decent points in there but some terrible ones

Its true that there generally isn't the love on the Kop for Gerrard that perhaps there should be. Generally i think because he is seen as a bit of an a******.

 

But the hollywood ball thing went ages ago, and the 5-1 Germany thing is b******s.