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Gerrard: I need title to be a legend
Steven Gerrard knows he cannot be considered a Liverpool legend without lifting the Premier League title - and he fears that may never happen.

Liverpool are currently languishing in seventh spot and an unbelievable 12 points behind leaders Chelsea after an indifferent campaign to date.

The Reds now face a battle to even finish in the top four and Gerrard, with his 30th birthday coming up in May, admits "time is running out" for him to claim his first league winners medal.

"I've been around for 11 years and I'm getting towards the 30 years of age mark now, so I'm running out of time," he said.

"I want to make the most of the next four or five years.

"I've still got many more ambitions and dreams that I want to fulfil before I finish."

Gerrard has performed heroics in both the Champions League and FA Cup finals previously, but admits he cannot be considered a legend until he has lifted the big prize.

"I don't think I'm a Liverpool legend," he said. "You can only call players legends when they've finished and you look back on their careers and they have been successful or a top player throughout.

"A lot of people give the legendary status out too early for my liking. I don't see myself as a legend - I see the likes of Dalglish, Hansen and Rush as legends.

"They have been there and done it. Hopefully one day I can look back on what I've achieved and can say I'm a part of the legends at this club, but I certainly wouldn't put myself in that bracket now."

What's your take on this, just a passionate player/supporter saying he's desperate to win the league for Liverpool or a professional footballer making the slightless of waves to test the water for next summer if they fail to qualify for Champions League. He was, after all, very very close to signing for Chelsea.

There was a discussion on the radio about this.
He has been awesome for L'Pool but as he gets older, he must see that his hopes of winning something major are diminishing fast.
I can see him being ready to jump ship to chase glory if the present scouse situation doesn't improve.
Would we be interested?
Personally, I'd like to see Johnno develop with Ireland Barry and De Jong. I don't think we need him.

He'd be decent enough back up thou John

he'd be at chelsea now if it wasnt for the death threats he got.

The article is about being a Liverpool legend, and I don't think he will ever be a Liverpool legend if he leaves and wins the champions league with another club.

Chinners wrote:He'd be decent enough back up thou John

I can't see him leaving L'Pool in search of glory, to sit on a bench somewhere else.
I think he's too old for us. He would only block a younger players development.

john68 wrote:

Chinners wrote:He'd be decent enough back up thou John

I can't see him leaving L'Pool in search of glory, to sit on a bench somewhere else.
I think he's too old for us. He would only block a younger players development.

If we got him in January or this summer I'd say yes, any later than that it isn't worth it. He's still a fantastic player and still better than Ireland / Jonno / Barry could ever dream of being.

Oh come on! Are people really saying no to Gerrard? He's one of the best midfielders the Premiership has ever seen. I'd have him at whatever Liverpool asked for. He'd be first name on the teamsheet too. Not that he'd ever come.

Unbelievable Jeff.

I'd definitely say yes to him but I think he's just venting his frustration at Liverpool's bad season and possibly upcoming other bad seasons if their financial situation doesn't improve and they can't improve their team this summer.

TBH I read the whole thing and he basically says he'll still be at liverpool when hes 35 and not captain and still wants to win it with them.

He's going nowhere imo. He's a diehard scouse and he'll end his career with them. I just cannot see any other club getting out of him what he puts into football wearing the red of Liverpool. If he hadn't won anything at all throughout his career then maybe he'd leave but he's won FA Cups and the CL. He'd love to complete the set with a title but his ambition to win that will not drive him away from Liverpool.

Even if he wanted to leave Liverpool he never will imho. The Scouse scum would probably attack him and his family if he did.

I think he's going to miss bigger chunks of every season from now until he retires, so I'm not that fussed on getting him. It may sound on the surface like I'm saying no to Gerrard but its based on hindering the growth of the likes of Ireland and Johno... last season Ireland had a far more productive season for us than Gerrard had at 22 for Liverpool, so I'd have to disagree when folk say they definitely know Ireland couldn't ever "dream" of being as good a player as Gerrard... there's no reason to think he can't develop further and at the rate Gerrard began to in his mid twenties.

Even if he becomes 90% of the player Gerrard was for the dippers, I'd be fine with that, but putting him on the bench for the next 3 seasons while Gerrard plays won't get Ireland to that level... and IF he does get to that level, we have a cracking midfielder for the next TEN years.

All that aside, Gerrard would be open to a move if Liverpool don't get into the champs league this season, no doubt about it. He wants the title before he retires and either they will have to be taken over by someone as rich as the good sheikh or they will not afford the investment needed to mount a title challenge from 5th in the league... should they finish there as I expect they will.

Them things he said there are EXACTLY why Barry joined us. So I can't see him staying there for more than a year and a half longer if they don't get taken over by a billionaire or something.

Scatman wrote:The article is about being a Liverpool legend, and I don't think he will ever be a Liverpool legend if he leaves and wins the champions league with another club.

Good point.

Can't see his tendency to pick up knocks lessening with age either. They're welcome to him.

Rapidly approaching his Best Before Date so no thank you, even if he'd leave them.

john68 wrote:There was a discussion on the radio about this.
He has been awesome for L'Pool but as he gets older, he must see that his hopes of winning something major are diminishing fast.
I can see him being ready to jump ship to chase glory if the present scouse situation doesn't improve.
Would we be interested?
Personally, I'd like to see Johnno develop with Ireland Barry and De Jong. I don't think we need him.

none of those players are really in 'World class' bracket like Gerrard. Good players all three of them, especially Stevie, but some way behind. Johnson's development is more of a wishfull thinking right now so I wouldn't bet our future on it.

Niall Quinns Discopants wrote:

john68 wrote:There was a discussion on the radio about this.
He has been awesome for L'Pool but as he gets older, he must see that his hopes of winning something major are diminishing fast.
I can see him being ready to jump ship to chase glory if the present scouse situation doesn't improve.
Would we be interested?
Personally, I'd like to see Johnno develop with Ireland Barry and De Jong. I don't think we need him.

none of those players are really in 'World class' bracket like Gerrard. Good players all three of them, especially Stevie, but some way behind. Johnson's development is more of a wishfull thinking right now so I wouldn't bet our future on it.

We don't need to bet our future on Johnson, if he doesn't come through then we can buy someone else but we certainly couldn't bet our future on Gerrard either! World Class maybe but about to become ex-World Class very very soon.

theres no way he'll leave liverpool. he got death threats to his family when he tried to sign for chelsea. but with gerrard anyway he could never play for another team the way he plays for liverpool. its in his blood. i wouldn't say no obviously but i doubt he'd hit late winners in the champions league for us.

as a side note i can't believe that rafa doesn't play him in the middle of the park anymore, i know he played in the hole last season and scored loads but thats only because defenders are split between marking him or torres. now its him or n'gog its all too easy for the opposition. to think they have one of the all time great midfielders and they aren't utilising him when the chips are down. gotta question the manager.

Can't see him leaving the scousers, mind you, he is supposed to be big mates with Gareth Barry.

If he did join us he wouldn't have to carry the team in the way he has to at the mo.