Do we have a great captain?

Gerrard has proven an inspirational footballer for the reds at times. 

Whether that is the overriding qualification to be a captain I don't know.  Anyway, Reina apart (and I know some don't like keepers as captain) I don't see anybody prepared to step up to the plate and take the role.  Gerrard probably is the most senior figure in the dressing room, and from what I hear, he is very good with the new players and does get involved with his team-mates.

I don't think it's a major issue for us at the present.

Out of interest, and I'm sure someone will correct me - isn't he our longest serving captain?

Rowdy Yeats was Liverpool's captain for 10 years, from seasons 1961/62 to 1969/70, the longest serving captain in the history of the club.
http://www.lfchistory.net/Players/Player/Profile/450

I had to look it up though mate

we have lost a lot of leaders in recent seasons, Sami, Alonso, Masch, Didi, Alonso. Really we only have Carra, Pepe and Stevie left. Reina is the real leader off the pitch I reckon, with Carra on it. No disrepect to Stevie tho.

If you really want to know about the art of captaincy (and it IS an art) look no further than Mike Brearely - a different sport, but the principles remain the same.

Gerrard can be an inspirational player, but if things aren't going well for him he has a habit of dragging the rest of the team down, with hisposturing, sulking and shouting at others to cover his own mistakes.

Great player?
Yes.

great captain?
Never in a million years.

I think I'll quietly step away from this thread before I upset some people.

I appreciate that forums such as this are all about opinion but I can't believe the question has even been asked.

Gerrard is our captain, our talisman, he is Liverpool FC.

This is my last post in here, I'll leave you to it.

As far as modern day captains go then yes Gerrard is a great captain , he leads by inspiration and not by berating players on the field ,having said that not that many players in or team have the confrontational temperament do they ? he wouldn't be a great captain in the same era and team as Emlyn Hughes for example ...just my opinion though

 If the job of the captain ISN'T to smash in the winner against Olympiacos from 25 yards when we are within 90 seconds or something of going out of the Champions League, then Gerrard is no good at it. If it ISN'T to score the goal that gave us belief in the final when we were 3-0 down, before then winning the penalty which brought us back to 2-3 and single handedly turning the game on its head, then Gerrard isn't very good at it either. If it ISN'T to score a fantastic volley when we are 2-0 down in the Cup final, before scoring one of the best goals ever seen in the showpiece in the same match when we are 2-3 down with 15 seconds left, smashing it in from 35 yards out (before like in the Champions League final scoring from the spot too), then Gerrard isn't a good captain no.

 If the captains job ISN'T to drag us out of the s*** singlehandedly time after time after time after time, then Gerrard is useless at it. Some of our fans will never appreciate him until he doesn't play for us any more. When he doesn't, if they've got a clue they'll realise he is one of the best players to ever pulkl on the shirt, even quite possibly THE best.

 Put it this way, if Gerrard didn't play for us and hadn't put in captains displays, this would be season number eight and counting since we had won a trophy.

I think I'll quietly step away from this thread before I upset some people.

I appreciate that forums such as this are all about opinion but I can't believe the question has even been asked.

Gerrard is our captain, our talisman, he is Liverpool FC.

This is my last post in here, I'll leave you to it.

I actually second that. Before I made my first post in here, I was like 'I can't believe Stevie's captain role is being questioned.'

Time and time again he has pulled us out of the jaws of defeat, even in the biggest of occassions. He scored the decisive 3rd goal against Olympiakos. He scored the first goal in the Istanbul come back, he made an assist and even hit a brace in fashion in the FA Cup Final.

After all his 10 seasons of commitment and dedication, we take him for granted and start jumping on his back when he's performing below par.

He may not shout and people and stuff unless needed to but he talks to referees and leads by example. I remember watching back in 2007/2008 when Mascherano got a second yellow from Steve Bennett (I think) for asking a question and was reluctant to leave the field, it was Gerrard who grabbed Masch by the neck and told him to get off!

Put it this way, if Gerrard didn't play for us and hadn't put in captains displays, this would be season number eight and counting since we had won a trophy.

You could also say that if Gerrard hadn't been so defensively indisciplned, leaving huge gaping holes for Milan to exploit, we wouldn't have gone in 3-0 down at half time.

It took Didi to steady the centre, and Gerrard moving into a role where he had freedom to roam, to get us back in that game.

And just who was responsible for those changes?

Oh yeah, he who must not be named.

You could also say that if Gerrard hadn't been so defensively indisciplned, leaving huge gaping holes for Milan to exploit, we wouldn't have gone in 3-0 down at half time.

It took Didi to steady the centre, and Gerrard moving into a role where he had freedom to roam, to get us back in that game.

And just who was responsible for those changes?

Oh yeah, he who must not be named.

 And you accuse ME of having an agenda


 Rafa picked the wrong team in the first place I'll give you that, I'll name him for you fella no problem. And, it wasn't "indiscipline" on Gerrards part which caused us to be 3-0 down in the first place, it was a combination of factors. Gerrard got us back into the match single handed, just like he won us the FA Cup final single handed, but unfortunately some people are unable to accept it as they feel it dininishes the contribution of the manager. Sad but true.

And you accuse ME of having an agenda


 Rafa picked the wrong team in the first place I'll give you that, I'll name him for you fella no problem. And, it wasn't "indiscipline" on Gerrards part which caused us to be 3-0 down in the first place, it was a combination of factors. Gerrard got us back into the match single handed,

Wrong, very big wrong, it was a F***ing team effort led by Hamann shackling Kaka, Gerrard scored one goal! How about Riise for providing the cross? How about the clever pass by Hamann that allowed Smicer to score the second? Milan with the little flick for Gerrard to run on and win the penalty for Alonso to equalise. How about Dudek saving the pens?

And let's not forget Pepe's big involvement in the 2006 Fa Cup Final as well!

Team F***ing Effort.

can I name him?

Wrong, very big wrong, it was a f**king team effort led by Hamann shackling Kaka, Gerrard scored one goal! How about Riise for providing the cross? How about the clever pass by Hamann that allowed Smicer to score the second? Milan with the little flick for Gerrard to run on and win the penalty for Alonso to equalise. How about Dudek saving the pens?

And let's not forget Pepe's big involvement in the 2006 Fa Cup Final as well!

Team F***ing Effort.

Kaka is to be blamed for the second goal because he was adjusting his shin pad or something when Smicer received the ball! 

can I name him?

It's Voldemort

At least that's how some see him

Seems some people have very short memories. Gerrard is an excellent captain and you'll see him driving us forward again when he returns.

Spot on.  A top top player and captain.

Spot on.  A top top player and captain.

It really is as simple as that. Even though they claim as much on SkySports, it doesn't necessarily follow as a given that they are wrong. Not always, but they are right sometimes.

Spot on.  A top top player and captain.

Are you Paul Merson per chance?

If the job of the captain ISN'T to smash in the winner against Olympiacos from 25 yards when we are within 90 seconds or something of going out of the Champions League, then Gerrard is no good at it. If it ISN'T to score the goal that gave us belief in the final when we were 3-0 down, before then winning the penalty which brought us back to 2-3 and single handedly turning the game on its head, then Gerrard isn't very good at it either. If it ISN'T to score a fantastic volley when we are 2-0 down in the Cup final, before scoring one of the best goals ever seen in the showpiece in the same match when we are 2-3 down with 15 seconds left, smashing it in from 35 yards out (before like in the Champions League final scoring from the spot too), then Gerrard isn't a good captain no.

 If the captains job ISN'T to drag us out of the s*** singlehandedly time after time after time after time, then Gerrard is useless at it. Some of our fans will never appreciate him until he doesn't play for us any more. When he doesn't, if they've got a clue they'll realise he is one of the best players to ever pulkl on the shirt, even quite possibly THE best.

THIS  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 Top post Mick sums it up perfectly

Gerrard - Outstanding captain when he is playing well but goes missing when he isnt playing well - he uses his own actions and play when captaining the team so what do the team see when he is playing poorly - their captain with his head down - if he used his voice as well he would be an outstanding captain in all situations.

Dare I ask another question..... I started this thread not to start an argument but to debate Stevie G's captain responsibilities which some people cannot grasp. You don't just give the best player the armband you need leaders. Personally I think it was given him at a Time he may have gone off the rails and it did calm him down both on and off the pitch but sometimes we need that bit more with regards authority and leadership.

Listen there is no doubting his football ability but that is not what this thread is about. Please give your reasons as why you think he is a great leader but saying he's a Great captain because he knocked one in against Olympiakos isn't really an argument. A captain is a managers extension on the pitch, maybe voldermort didn't allow it and Roy hadn't a clue but he doesnt show it when things going bad. Maybe he will blossom under Kenny who knows.

He's more then great.

If the job of the captain ISN'T to smash in the winner against Olympiacos from 25 yards when we are within 90 seconds or something of going out of the Champions League, then Gerrard is no good at it. If it ISN'T to score the goal that gave us belief in the final when we were 3-0 down, before then winning the penalty which brought us back to 2-3 and single handedly turning the game on its head, then Gerrard isn't very good at it either. If it ISN'T to score a fantastic volley when we are 2-0 down in the Cup final, before scoring one of the best goals ever seen in the showpiece in the same match when we are 2-3 down with 15 seconds left, smashing it in from 35 yards out (before like in the Champions League final scoring from the spot too), then Gerrard isn't a good captain no.

 If the captains job ISN'T to drag us out of the s*** singlehandedly time after time after time after time, then Gerrard is useless at it. Some of our fans will never appreciate him until he doesn't play for us any more. When he doesn't, if they've got a clue they'll realise he is one of the best players to ever pulkl on the shirt, even quite possibly THE best.

well said.

perhaps we just don't see everything he does.