http://www.redandwhitekop.com/forum/index.php?topic=124323.0
When your team is down and seemingly out, theres one man that any team on the planet would simply do anything to have on their books. Steven Gerrard. Last Saturdays epic FA Cup Final was the icing on the cake on what has been arguably Gerrards best season for the former European Champions.
Its almost a year since the Liverpool captain performed the most dramatic of U-turns and resisted the financial lure of English champions Chelsea, in favour of staying at the club which flows through his veins.
It seems almost impossible to think of how Liverpool would have reacted if the imperious heartbeat had left. Of course, Rafael Benitez would have spent the £30m+ wisely in the transfer market, possibly procuring Chelseas latest sign of intent, Michael Ballack. But no matter who Gerrard was replaced by, it is certain that Liverpool would be half the side; not in talent as replacements can be found with utmost skill, but in drive, honour and energy the Reds would be severely weakened.
Thankfully for both Liverpool fans and the rest of the Premiership (barring the London billionaires), Gerrard stayed.
It is also nearly a year to the week that Gerrard inspired one of the most stunning and unparalleled comebacks of all time on the biggest stage. Previously, there had been the occasional whisper that Gerrard went missing in the big games; it could not have been more emphatically proved wrong. On the 25th May 2005, Gerrard pulled his team up by the scruff of the neck and said this isnt over yet to his weary and beaten colleagues, before inspiring the three goals in seven minutes that changed the complexion of world football for ever. It seems increasingly obvious that teams do not just lie down and die. Middlesbrough have twice came back from the oblivion, and Liverpool themselves repeated the trick in the showpiece of the season.
The events in Istanbul seem no fewer than a few days ago to many Liverpudlians, indeed this year has flown by. Liverpool have played in 63 competitive games since starting off at Anfield against T.N.S. yet the events from the greatest FA Cup Final in living memory forcefully ask; was this really possible. Steven Gerrard looked down and out. Suffering from cramp in his right calf, he produced a simply exquisite equalising goal that broke the hearts of Alan Pardews men whilst sending the stunning Kop fans into utter delirium. Only masters of the game can produce such pieces of outstanding skill, power and quality, but when the stadium announcer has just added on four minutes stoppage time in your 63rd match of the season, when youve given everything humanly possible, it makes his net-crashing strike seem almost divine intervention.
Many of the Liverpool team did not perform to their usual very high standards, Xabi Alonso and Jamie Carragher having particularly surprising off days, left West Ham in a position they could barely allow themselves to dream of during the build up to the match. Two nil up after half an hour against an off colour and seemingly powerless Liverpool was indeed the thing of dreams for the Hammers. Gerrard waltzed in from the right by-line before clipping a sublime ball in to Djibril Cisses path that saw the much maligned striker stylishly lash Liverpool back into the game after 31 minutes. A lifeline had, again, been thrown to Englands most decorated club much as it was 12 months ago in Istanbul. Jon Arne Riises pinpoint cross was expertly directed into the corner of the net by his captain, providing Liverpool with a much needed foothold in both Istanbul and Cardiff.
Gerrards next master trick was to run on to a knock down from Peter Crouch, before unleashing a rocket of a shot into Shaka Hislops net. The celebration of pumping his fist against the Liverpool crest showed to the on-watching millions how important this was to the boy. Gerrard was literally the pumping heart of the Liverpool side. Shortly after, an exemplary piece of control saw Gerrard land the ball at his feet, after resembling a scorpion ready to pounce with the huge back lift of his right boot. Gerrard was in the mood.
As time dwindled away, it seemed no matter how well he played, it was going to be a first FA Cup triumph for West Ham since 1980, as their fantastic fans continued to be blowing bubbles throughout the game. Just as it seemed like fate was on West Hams side after Paul Koncheskys wayward cross made in three, the Liverpool captain stood up and refused to accept the apparent destiny that had been set so similarly to how it was back in Istanbul.
Shortly after the match Gerrard commented on his dream goal, with memories fresh in the mind of the almost slow motion path the ball took in to the net. Struck from 35 yards, the world seemed to stop until it smashed into Hislops bottom right corner on the full. It was almost as if a tracer bullet had been shot from the right foot of Steven Gerrard sent millions watching at home and around 30,000 fans inside the stadium in to an almost shocked wave of delirium.
It truly was The Gerrard Final which will be remembered forever as has the Villa Final. Yet it is important to acknowledge the part West Ham had to play in the match, a side of plucky underdogs, they fought to the end and were denied in the most painful of fashions but my God they gave it a good go. A special mention must also go to Momo Sissoko who, albeit was not the only player to be suffering from severe cramp during extra time, was a colossus in the engine room of Liverpools midfield. It was arguably his finest performance in a red shirt with his passing exemplary, and his tackling hard, but fair. For a man who feared for his sight earlier this year, it fulfilled a truly wonderful dream that the Malian aimed for since that painful day in Lisbon.
With domestic matters now on the backburner for the summer, all eyes turn to Germany and the World Cup. After a season where Gerrard has scored 23 goals from midfield, Sven-Goran Eriksson must make a decision where to play one of the worlds premier performers. With Wayne Rooney a doubt, the situation is crying out for Gerrard to play in an advanced role where he can have much more influence on the game. Benitez commented on how Gerrard needs to be a little bit free to reach his massive potential on the international scene. In past England games, Gerrard has been forced to adopt the more defensive role in the midfield; such is his incredible wide range of talents, to allow Frank Lampard to suit his more one dimensional game in the attacking role. It is time for Eriksson to play Gerrard where he is at his most influential if England are to stand any chance in the World Cup. It is vital the Liverpool Captain is utilised in a position where he can exert his influence to the full.
Is there a player in the world who exerts such a strong influence so regularly?
I dont think so.
