Just let him go, the man has done enough.
Steven Gerrard has only just left Liverpool, and is currently taking a break before joining up with new side LA Galaxy. However, that hasn’t stopped him from still providing an old service for his former club; talking up the club’s new, seemingly underwhelming signings.
In fairness, Liverpool fans are always going to be interested in the views of the club’s former captain, but, after years of loyal service, which included having to big up the various ‘final pieces in the jigsaw, maybe give him a break for a while.
In fact you’d think that one of the main benefits of leaving the club he’d served for 17 years would be not having to give the hard sell to their latest free transfer signing.
But it seems not.
Earlier this week Gerrard bigged up new Liverpool James Milner, saying:
“I know James very well and he’ll be very eager to come and prove to Liverpool fans that he’s good enough to be in the XI. So that made sense – we got him on a free transfer as well, so really happy with that one. I can picture him now with Lucas [Leiva], Joe Allen and [Jordan] Henderson and I can see them doing a good job.”
And then gave Danny Ings’ move to Anfield the Gerrard seal of approval.
“The Ings one I’m really excited about because he can be what he wants to be — I know the talent’s there, he’s very young, he’s fresh.” I think if he carries on learning and developing he can become a top striker and we love top strikers, so the stage is there and I wish [him] the best of luck and I’m looking forward to watching [him] play.”
Gerrard has previously talked up signings such as Mario Balotelli, Joe Allen, Stewart Downing and Joe Cole. All of whom had varying degrees of success at Anfield, from okay to pretty awful.
“He is only small but he passes the ball well, he’s safe in possession, he works really hard for the team. If he can keep performing to the level he is then I think we’ve found ourselves a player.” – Gerrard on Joe Allen.
“I think at the age he’s at it was perfect for him to sign for us. I felt he was a player we needed and that we were a club he needed to be at.” – Gerrard on Stewart Downing.
“If we get the best out of him [Balotelli], we have got him. If people want to write stories about him and say that he is crazy or he is a nutter, let them. But he is one of us now.” – Gerrard on Balotelli.
“I knew he was a good player. Having worked with him on a regular basis I think he has the potential to be one of the best in the world.” – Gerrard on Luis Suarez.
Gerrard was proved correct on the last quote from 2011, but his attempts to big up Joe Cole in 2010 went above and beyond the call of duty for a club legend.
“Messi can do some amazing things, but anything he can do Joe can do as well, if not better. He used to shock us in training by doing footy tricks with a golf ball that most players can’t even do with a football. I really fancy Joe for the [player of the year] award this season.”
No wonder Liverpool fans love Gerrard so much, loyal to the core.
