Q - "What do you make of the Stevie G saga? "
A-
Lastest pooeWell it would appear that the same sources feeding the media have again been busy on Monday evening as the majority of Tuesday's newspapers will again report that Steven Gerrard is still on his way...
"I am not a Liverpool fan."
"From what I have read, this has largely been a stitch-up by SFX (although some of the stuff I have read suggests Gerrard's actual agent himself was not involved). They want the money they'd kind of expected last summer when he was supposed to move.
Guillem Balague, who certainly knows his onions, says he detects the hand of Real Madrid in all of this, and I have to say it is their style. Other stuff suggests, unsurprisingly, Chelsea are also involved. Much of what has been printed appears to be either greatly exaggerated or outright fabrication. What does matter is that Gerrard has been fed disinformation about Liverpool's intent by his agents to try to get him to move.
SFXs problem is that this time last year, they held all the aces. Houllier was still in place, Liverpool were also-rans in the eyes of many (also rans who had recently won a truck load of trophies, but there you go), and they could engineer a move for their client whilst making it look like a reasonable move on his part. Now, with Liverpool champions of Europe, Gerrard one of the most successful 25-year old footballers on the planet (name a player his age with his medal haul? I'll make it easy - I think Casillas is the ONLY ONE) and Benitez quite rightly unbuttailable, if he doesn't move now they'll have to fund their luxury sports car purchases from someone else, or they'll look like cunts. Chelsea-Madrid want the player cheap, partly because they don't want to spend too much, and partly because Benitez with 30m to spend becomes a very formidable rival, and so they want him unhappy at Anfield. Steven Gerrard as captain of the European Champions is a very long way from their ideal scenario.
Don't need the money apparentlyRafael Benitez last night insisted there is no problem in his relationship with Steven Gerrard as he vowed to "try to the end" to keep his captain at...
Unfortunately, Benitez's ace comments in this afternoon's press conference means they look like cunts anyway. Ooops.
FWIW, I think that as long as Liverpool get 25-30m they're as well selling. I know I've said it before, but I think long-term Alonso will be as good. I also think Carragher would be a better captain. They could get 2 absolutely top-drawer players for that cash (lets put it this way - would you want Gerrard, or 2 more Alonsos?), as well, which would improve the team greatly. Finally, they'd put this media circus to bed and it can go and bother another club. As long as Gerrard stays at Anfield, SFX will be trying to engineer a move IMHO."
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