Topic: Liverpool in talks with Steven Gerrard over return to Anfield

[redforlife]

Really wish he wouldn't release any books until he's well retired

No good can come from it, he really is an enigma though Gerrard.  For someone who claims to be a Liverpool fan he has far too much respect for Hodgson and doesn't really seem to think the cancers were worth taking on.

And does he seriously expect us all to believe Alonso would still be here now if Rafa hadn't decided to sell him?  Maybe if we didn't have to sell to buy Stevie...

[gregorio]

Will be interesting to hear his views on Dalglish period of management . I'm guessing it will be a little more circumspect .

[HarryLabrador]

 'Steven Gerrard is wrong to say I never liked him at Liverpool. Out of the respect that I have for Stevie and for the value and appreciation I have for him, and for Liverpool and the supporters, I think it's best to just let it pass. I have read the quotes and I believe he is wrong,' Benitez told Spanish television.

'He has brought out a book and now I'm the Real Madrid manager, that sells.'

[gregorio]

Source?

[HarryLabrador]

Source?

http://wixsports.com/rafa-benitez-steven-gerrard-is-wrong-to-say-i-never-liked-him-at-liverpool/

[please, I have my reasons for it but...]

'Steven Gerrard is wrong to say I never liked him at Liverpool. Out of the respect that I have for Stevie and for the value and appreciation I have for him, and for Liverpool and the supporters, I think it's best to just let it pass. I have read the quotes and I believe he is wrong,' Benitez told Spanish television.

'He has brought out a book and now I'm the Real Madrid manager, that sells.'

That man just oozes class.

It is a crime that he is no longer a Liverpool manager

[Anywhichwayicant]

http://wixsports.com/rafa-benitez-steven-gerrard-is-wrong-to-say-i-never-liked-him-at-liverpool/

What, you mean Rafa didn't sell his quote to the Daily Mail?

[RK7]

That man just oozes class.

It is a crime that he is no longer a Liverpool manager

I was one of those that thought it was time for Rafa to move on at the time. I've since accepted it was the worst possible thing that could have happened.

That will live with me forever, disgusted with myself.

[conman]

Really wish he wouldn't release any books until he's well retired

No good can come from it, he really is an enigma though Gerrard.  For someone who claims to be a Liverpool fan he has far too much respect for Hodgson and doesn't really seem to think the cancers were worth taking on.

And does he seriously expect us all to believe Alonso would still be here now if Rafa hadn't decided to sell him?  Maybe if we didn't have to sell to buy Stevie...

and Maureen and Purple Nose

[Kopenhagen]

Really wish he wouldn't release any books until he's well retired

No good can come from it, he really is an enigma though Gerrard.  For someone who claims to be a Liverpool fan he has far too much respect for Hodgson and doesn't really seem to think the cancers were worth taking on.

And does he seriously expect us all to believe Alonso would still be here now if Rafa hadn't decided to sell him?  Maybe if we didn't have to sell to buy Stevie...

Media lapdog. It really is sad to read.

[Anywhichwayicant]

You see average players like Jason McAteer and Phil Babb representing the club better in public than Gerrard.

[thejbs]

"Rafa made a lot of decisions with himself in mind. He wanted power and control. I didn't like it. Fighting with the board, other managers and the press..."

Yet...

"For me, the ideal situation would obviously have been for Mourinho to have managed Liverpool."

[Fiasco]

"Rafa made a lot of decisions with himself in mind. He wanted power and control. I didn't like it. Fighting with the board, other managers and the press..."

Yet...

"For me, the ideal situation would obviously have been for Mourinho to have managed Liverpool."

I'm pretty sure the use of 'for me' means in his opinion, not 'for me' as in what would have been best for Gerrard himself.

[GreatEx]

"Rafa made a lot of decisions with himself in mind. He wanted power and control. I didn't like it. Fighting with the board, other managers and the press..."

Yet...

"For me, the ideal situation would obviously have been for Mourinho to have managed Liverpool."

Some of the words that come out of Stevie's mouth just beggar belief. What can you say... professional footballers, eh? At least he did mention his regrets over not having a proper education - could use it right now (although common sense isn't found in a classroom).

I'm going to resist the urge to purchase this tome of salacious gossip and instead watch old LFC footage where Stevie can rightly claim authority.

[Keith Lard]

Steven Gerrard has some extremely shit opinions it seems. Rafa always understood the heartbeat of the Liverpool fans and that's why he is so loved. Stevie would be well served shutting up with all this crap or he is going to damage his legacy.

[GreatEx]

By the way, I don't see Gerrard's texting of potential targets as a big deal of all, at least he's not appealing to the UN for crimes against humanity like that fucking lot at Barca do.

[zabadoh]

I appreciate that he's put his thoughts on the page while they're more or less fresh in his memory and without concern for whether he's upsetting the fans.

At least it sounds like he's being honest, instead of being controversial for the sake of sensationalism.

[Met]

The book snippets seem excellent. I am seriously considering getting it.

Will RAWK go in civil war now? The most beloved Liverpool player since Dalglish against the most beloved Liverpool manager since Paisley.

I'll get behind Rafa any day. If Gerrard can't see that Rafa was fighting for the survival of the club and not just fighting for fun's sake, then it's Gerrards fucking problem.

[RedKenWah]

I think where as we as fans all loved Rafa for what he did, the players who had to work for him hated it because of his way of working with players etc... We'd love to hear things like "Rafa was the best manager to work under" and in cases he was but because he was a top professional manager who had such a love for this club and us as supporters that the way to repay our support was to bring in the trophies, which he did in the bucket load.

However the fact is, players are very fickle creatures, they want success all the time but they also want the laughs and giggles to go with it. Well the best way to have a laugh and a giggle is with a European Cup and a premiership trophy in each hand come May and you'll have the best type of laugh that way.

I think Gerrard's empathy for Rafa is two fold, he's a manager who worked him solid whilst he was here and i think he was possibly the only manager during Gerrard's high time that had the balls to sub him off against Everton or not start him in matches... sometimes it paid off, and sometimes it didn't, but the manager did things his way.

[Met]

'Steven Gerrard is wrong to say I never liked him at Liverpool. Out of the respect that I have for Stevie and for the value and appreciation I have for him, and for Liverpool and the supporters, I think it's best to just let it pass. I have read the quotes and I believe he is wrong,' Benitez told Spanish television.

'He has brought out a book and now I'm the Real Madrid manager, that sells.'

Class answer, I fucking love you Rafa.

[b_joseph]

When Sterling and BR/ the club were having their communication issues..it seemed weird that they couldnt just have a sit down and hash out all their problems with each other.

Its the same here. Stevie surely has a way to get hold of Rafa...why not have a sit down with him and hash these things out? Its amazing how you can work with someone every day and yet can come across like you were never in the same room as them.

[L666KOP]

The book snippets seem excellent. I am seriously considering getting it.

Will RAWK go in civil war now? The most beloved Liverpool player since Dalglish against the most beloved Liverpool manager since Paisley.

With all due respect, I reckon most on here would get behind Rafa.

I certainly would.

Something not quite right about disrespecting the guy that put a European Cup medal on your mantelpiece. Always irked me when Carra has his digs.

And as much as it's been a stick to beat Brendan with, the revelations regarding his time in charge, whilst he's still in charge are more than a little bit shitty.

Keep it buttoned Steven, you're doing more harm than good.

[thejbs]

I'm pretty sure the use of 'for me' means in his opinion, not 'for me' as in what would have been best for Gerrard himself.

You missed my point.  He dismissed Rafa for fighting with board, other managers and the press... then posited that his ideal choice would've been Mourinho, a man who is world renowned for his fighting with the board, managers and the press.

[mikeb58]

With all due respect, could we not keep this thread as a tribute of sorts to Stevie, and leave all the slagging off of true local hero in the various Rafa threads, cos lots of very upset people are just going to repeat their thoughts in here.

Without Gerrard this club would have probably won fuck all in recent history...'fact'

I'll be buying the book, be nice to read the thoughts of a man who thought better of joining Chelsea for a start

[Istanbul, 2005]

Haha the reaction by some is hilarious, whats the big deal? Has he said anything that damage or club? Him not getting on with Rafa of the field was almost ten years ago, it is not controversial or will damage us in any way, whats the fucking deal? They performed great together and they both admit that.

Him blaming Rafa for Alonso leaving, whats the problem? 99% screamed Xabis name when we were trying to sell him in 2008, Gerrard was hardly alone in thinking Rafa was wrong in trying to sell him, but so what if you don´t agree with that?

He admires Rodgers hugely and always talk good about him, has he said anything that damages Rodgers position at LFC? Ok he asked stevie to help him with singings, so what? Gerrard also felt a but mistreated about his departure by Ayre and Rodgers, ok, the pressed have already talked about that for a year. 


Same old people coming in here having a go at Gerrard even after he has left, pathetic.

[McrRed]

http://basstunedtored.com/2011/05/29/rafas-rant-the-facts/

For clarity purposes.

Thanks for that.
Lest we forget... there was some interesting debate in one of the political threads about Keir Hardy going up against Parliament as a lone voice to establish Labour principles. Ferguson was untouchable at that time and nobody dared to say anything against him. If they did he could launch broadsides himself or get one of his cronies to do it. He had banned the fucking BBC for chrissakes! Rafa stood up to him and his undue influence, calmly - not ranting (though anyone could have been forgiven for getting angry in the circumstances). He'll always have my respect for that and we should never buy into the cronyism and revisionism that was used to try and put down the real threat that was Liverpool under Rafa Benitez.

[Met]

With all due respect, could we not keep this thread as a tribute of sorts to Stevie, and leave all the slagging off of true local hero in the various Rafa threads, cos lots of very upset people are just going to repeat their thoughts in here.

Without Gerrard this club would have probably won fuck all in recent history...'fact'

I'll be buying the book, be nice to read the thoughts of a man who thought better of joining Chelsea for a start

What the fuck is that?  "Let's all be nice and not say anything bad because fee fees"

He's a legend alright but acting like a arsehole with these snippets. Incredible, really and people should be able to hear and read about criticism based on what he writes and says

[Pradan]

Classy response by Rafa. You can bet he's hurt by the comments, so he's done well to let it pass.

[TSC]

Haha the reaction by some is hilarious, whats the big deal? Has he said anything that damage or club? Him not getting on with Rafa of the field was almost ten years ago, it is not controversial or will damage us in any way, whats the fucking deal? They performed great together and they both admit that.

Him blaming Rafa for Alonso leaving, whats the problem? 99% screamed Xabis name when we were trying to sell him in 2008, Gerrard was hardly alone in thinking Rafa was wrong in trying to sell him, but so what if you don´t agree with that?

He admires Rodgers hugely and always talk good about him, has he said anything that damages Rodgers position at LFC? Ok he asked stevie to help him with singings, so what? Gerrard also felt a but mistreated about his departure by Ayre and Rodgers, ok, the pressed have already taöled about that for a year. 


Same old people coming in here having a go at Gerrard even after he has left, pathetic.

No problem with anything he said.  Some of it may be a tad embarrassing especially reference to having to text potential big signings.  But unfortunately that's the sort of club we've slowly evolved into over the last 4/5 years.

It was no secret he and Rafa never got along, and Gerrard wasn't the only one.  That's not a slight on Rafa, just a personality thing, which happens in the workplace.  As long as you remain professional and successful then who cares.

You'll always have a core on here who'll over-react to anything which is in any way critical of Rafa or shows him in anything other than a positive light.  They're probably the same who've been in the Rafa threads ever since he left, unable to move on.

[rob1408]

Classy response by Rafa. You can bet he's hurt by the comments, so he's done well to let it pass.

Either that or he's aware it's just one man's opinion and realises it's not worth the time and effort.

I have the utmost respect for both Gerrard and Rafa, one's opinion of the other isn't going to change that. 

[marto]

I'm pretty sure the use of 'for me' means in his opinion, not 'for me' as in what would have been best for Gerrard himself.

No, he meant that Stevie didn't like Rafa fighting with the board, other managers and the press, yet wanted Mourinho who is famous for doing just that.

[Zoomers]

'Steven Gerrard is wrong to say I never liked him at Liverpool. Out of the respect that I have for Stevie and for the value and appreciation I have for him, and for Liverpool and the supporters, I think it's best to just let it pass. I have read the quotes and I believe he is wrong,' Benitez told Spanish television.

As classy as ever Rafa!!

Just stop for a moment and imagine that same scenario happening between Terry and Mourinho, no fucking way would Mourinho keep his mouth shut.

[thisyearisouryear]

I have the utmost respect for both Gerrard and Rafa, one's opinion of the other isn't going to change that.

This!

[Fiasco]

You missed my point.  He dismissed Rafa for fighting with board, other managers and the press... then posited that his ideal choice would've been Mourinho, a man who is world renowned for his fighting with the board, managers and the press.

Ah right, it was in the wee hours so forgive me

[MNAA]

Keep it buttoned Steven, you're doing more harm than good.

And stop embarassing yourself. You don't need the money and we are interested in your opinions/version of things. What if all your former team mates, managers, etc write about you that you don't fancy?

[Cattive Maniere]

no surprise hes acting like a bell, look at his company

[Hazell]

Harsh on James Richardson. Let's hope that company doesn't rub off on him.

[Redman0151]

[img width=600 height=600]https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xfa1/t51.2885-15/s640x640/sh0.08/e35/11950610_815066725277401_1075540296_n.jpg


no surprise hes acting like a bell, look at his company

James Richardson is a top bloke!

[RedRush]

That man just oozes class.

It is a crime that he is no longer a Liverpool manager

Echo this.

[chanti]

His first autobiography came over as someone who had a big ego

Fook me not gonna bother with the shite in this book

Just gonna remember the throphies he won for us. 

Gonna play it like Rafa.