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How one local restaurant is making their outdoor space mobile, giving you plenty of sunshine and social distance for a stress free meal. It's all part of restaurant revitalization, tonight at six on NBC4, working for you. [Music] Goodbye, my friend. It's a Stevie Special on the Day Trippers. [Music] You knew it was coming, the end. You hoped it would be in a more glorious context that would have been fitting, you thought. Let him have just one league tightly depleted to your chosen deity, but nobody was listening. And now, Stephen Gerard, the man that money have elevated to estate is alongside even ahead of King Dalglish, as the club's greatest, is taking the dollar string part of the MLS. His last season will have no fairytale triumph in either of the two biggest competitions. And the best he can hope for is a comparatively prosaic success of helping his beloved club secure qualification for a Champions League tournament, which he will watch from his Salubris new American home. I'm Trev Dany, and I'm joining the bunker to reflect on all things Jared by Neil Gray and Phil Casey, and I'm delighted by Gunnar Ragnerson. But before we talk amongst yourselves here, we've got Neil Poole, Jay Royley, Mark Simpson, and Sachin Nakrani, who are all going to make contributions of their memories of Stephen Gerard. Right, first up to have a little bit of a reflection on all things Jared is Neil Poole. Neil's been on the show before plenty of times, and we have a very, very good working relationship with this chap. Neil, I'm going to ask you, I'm going to ask everybody else to recollect for us your most memorable Jared moment, then your favorite goal, and if you have any funny moment that stands out for you as well. Yeah, no worries, mate. So as a British person, it's by God given rights to enjoy watching sports, people cry. So with that in mind, probably an unusual choice, but by genuine what is the tears of Jared at the end of the Man City game last season when it looked like we were going to win the league. Yeah, it might seem a little bit strange because obviously we went on to not win the league. But I think what was really good about that is in this day and age and football so gentrified and it becomes so cynical, and even though we love the game, we sort of like hate the players. Yeah, it was just great to see that Steve with Jared was a lad who went to the same school. This means two years below, he grew up in the same area. So to actually see someone from the same background as you still being, you know, being like one of the best footballers in the world, and when it comes down to it, he's just still the same as all of us. And it mattered that much too, and he wanted to win the league that much. I'm playing for Liverpool. This is a mean so much too. It was just great to see, you know, what, some of these footballers still are like us. So even though it was a bittersweet moment, I think it was one of those things that stripped away. Those sorts of all the cynicism out of football and those sort of shows that are local scouts, like to become the best player in the world. The figure cares about most still is Liverpool and Toronto, so I'll go for that for the most memorable moments. I wouldn't be fair to say, Neil, that despite the whole British stiff upper lifting, there was an L.T. on your own eye as you were watching that. Oh yeah, I mean, I pretty much spend my life crying when it comes to watching Liverpool. I was terrible. I mean, I go to the game. I go to every single matter. I still fill up every time you never walk along. Comes on. I'm ridiculously assertive, romantic and mentally weak. So yeah, that was a great moment. Fantastic. What about the goal that stands out for you? Well, the goal again, it's probably not one of his most significant goals, but I truly believe it's his best goal. And it was the goal against Middlesbrough in 2005. It was the one he was at Anfield. It dropped on the half volley as well, 30 yards out. So it was just to the right of the 18 yard box. And he just hits it as clearly as you can hit the ball, hits the goals on the outside of his right foot. And it just goes to the top left-hand corner. And it's absolutely perfect. And I wasn't actually at that game. I was away that year. And it's one of those where I really wish I'd been there. And I would imagine watching that in the cup from behind. It would have looked even more spectacular. But I think that was an absolute exceptional goal. I think an awful lot of people who agree with that one the way he hits across it is just beautiful, all right? What about then to wrap it up, Neil? What about, I think it stands out for you in terms of maybe something more humorous that you associate with Jared? I think the best way, I mean, the weird thing is I'd be interested in it. What other people say about this? Because with Jared, he's not really synonymous with laughter and humor and things. I mean, I wasn't laughing at it at the time, but in hindsight, back in, I think it was two fires at the time. We played Birmingham, and it was one all. And then Rafa took Torres off. And there was that picture of the local absolute disbelief. Yeah, Rafa was caught, since the way he was just looking and he was thinking exactly what every single fan was. I don't know, I think maybe that's what brings back to the best point again. Because the funniness of it was at that moment in time for a lad, you sort of very much, you know, keeps you stiff up a lip and tries to keep things at bay. Those times where there's a lot of things between him and there, where he was just like, what on earth are you doing? It's hard as often. Remember, correctly, it was and got gone, didn't it? And it was shed loads of chances in the end of the world. So, I think that was in hindsight, for the thought that it was, it was. But just get me over the years, the quiet attempt to attack Jared is out. And the sort of, just the general pass of the aggression on the pictures, he just looks at a load of shit around him. There's abuse, we quite spoke a lot. Just, can we save the assumed, Neil, to wrap it up, can we save the assumed? We'll see Stephen undercover everywhere, Liverpool, to Leandia. Yeah, yeah, I'll make it easier for me. He's told me a favor, don't have to think that. Good luck. Oh, and you don't have to think it's the best way to be. That's the best way to be. It's how we operate here at the day trip, as you know. Not a big believer in thinking, it's over. No, it's completely over. Thanks a lot, man. Really appreciate your thoughts. Okay, we have Mark Simpson up next, the market veteran of the show. It's great to have your back, Mark. Wondering if you might give us a few of your thoughts on Jared, what start maybe what you think is your most memorable Stephen Jared moment? Yeah, most memorable, and I'm sure quite a few other people will go for this one. It has to be the Olympiarchos game, purely for the simple fact that it was such an important game. It is obviously come out in the press, in the build up to the game, saying if we're not in the Champions League, it would be considered in his future. And just to how it all sort of transpired, where we went, you know, we went behind and had to score those three goals, and it came to last sort of 10 minutes, and it was him who actually scored the goal that put us through. It was sort of, it gave that season the kickstart that it needed, and just the whole sort of factors and the narrative around that season. I keep coming back to it, I think that's the most defined and Stephen Jared moment that I keep coming back to personally. And obviously that's a goal in itself, but was there any other memorable goal that stands out for you? Yeah, well, I was thinking about this, and as far as the most memorable goal, it's the one that I actually saw live, and it was in the same season, and it was at home against Middlesbrough. I managed to get a tick, I didn't get to many games that season, but I actually got to that one, and I was sat in the coffin. And I remember the ball coming over from Defence, and he's controlled it, and he's hit it on the half, Ollie. And I don't know if anybody remembers it, you can definitely find it on YouTube. But basically, he hits it on the half, Ollie, and the swerve on it is unreal, and I'm literally sat right behind the line in the ball. And the way he strikes it, it's going away from the goal, and it just comes back and it nestles in the top corner. And it was one one at the time, and there wasn't long left, and that goal for me, my most memorable Stephen Jarred goal, because the one that I saw live. Yeah, well, that's pretty special, though, seeing that. What about over the years, I think kind of humours are funny that you still see it. The funniest ones, I've got two. The first one's quite a recent one, and it was in the pre-season friendly, and it was when Javier Savioli did a dive in the friendly and the camera cuts to Jarred, and he just goes, "Have you?" And he just goes, "Fucking shit out." And he goes, "It's on vine, you'll easily be able to find it." I remember it was tweeted out consistently for the next 24 hours, so that's like the most recent one. Yeah. And I love that. And then the second one, it was quite a few years ago, I think it was after an FA Cup game. And this one has always stuck with me. It's him and Zabi Alonso doing a post-match interview, I think, in the dugout. And Jarred's talking, and he's talking away to the camera, and all of a sudden his foot slips and he slips on his ass and he goes off camera. As cool as you like, gets up and goes, "I hope that's not on camera." Yeah. Yeah, I actually remember that. He failed to remember that it's live TV, as he's saying. And Zabi, as cool as you like, looks down at him, and he just keeps on going with his interview. Those are the two moments for me. Put funny ones that stand out. Yeah, class. Two gems. Thanks a lot, man. Appreciate the talking. Okay, we're delighted to be joined by Jay Riley, now of AI, and the Red Room. Jay, I want to ask you the same questions that we're asking a few people here to get your opinions on them. What would be your most memorable Steven Jarred month? I think you've got to look back to the Olympia course game, because it was our very own modern Jay shape-30M moment, wasn't it? Yeah. He was struggling, he was a goal down the last time, and came back, and we still needed another goal towards the end of the game. And obviously, the moment, yeah, I just took it, and it went in. It was just, you know, it was greenwell, wasn't even a little bit struggling that season. And, you know, we needed to get through by scoring two clear goals. You know, win the game by two clear goals, and that's exactly what happened. It was very reminiscent, so I think that's the end. And, you know, that's always one that's going to be very memorable, because, obviously, we knew what led from that. We went on to a knee or a pain after a knee or a pain in touch. So, that's always going to stick in the memory for me. Yeah, I think it's hard to argue with that one. What about, apart from that, any other goal that stands out for you, that's particularly memorable? I think a lot of people will say, DFA called final against Westam in 2006. Well, because, you know, obviously, it was going into injury time. I live up here with the two Zans for the fantastic goal from 30 yards. But the one that sticks in my mind, that was a fantastic goal, was in 2009, Liverpool played Real Madrid. I don't know if Real Madrid at the time went to team that they are now, and it's been in the past. But, you know, Liverpool, it's 1-1 there in the Bay and a bow through Ben IU. And then, again, but I'm still just blew them away. You know, we won 4-7. It's a total out of a member from Gera. It's a half-folly into the cup against that away. It's almost like a year after they had some fun. Fantastic win played by him, Babble, both came over in Gera, just from the half-folly. But then, absolutely fantastic goal. And that's one that sticks in my mind. Yeah, that was an absolute gem. Wasn't it? And a fantastic night as well, which helped. What about to wrap it up then? Anything humorous or funny moments you associate with Jared over the years? Well, obviously, these are local lads. This is show the Derby Games are vitally important. So many means so much to him as you do with fans. There's one occasion in his early run in his career. I think it was 2001 when he scored the goals of him. And he basically cut the ZF. And he stuck his tongue out and he ran down the length of the ball and goes. And it's a place of being told. He has a toniums. I thought it was a fantastic moment for maybe in hindsight, probably thought, you know, that's a lot of stake over the years off of a toniums. And a lot of it stands for Jared. He's probably been a fantastic portfolio. He's achieved quite a lot with Liverpool and, you know, just being quite poisonous at times, you know, both his family and all other family life and his children. And it may be a hit. A lot of extent from that celebration of competition back in the day. Yeah, very good, very good. I think a lot of us enjoyed that one. That's fantastic. Jay, thanks a million, mate. And we're delighted to be joined there by Sasha Nakrani of The Guardian. Sasha's going to talk to us about a few of the same topics that we've been speaking to other people about. Sasha, could I start by asking you what your favorite or most memorable Stephen Jared moment is over the years? Yeah, fine. Maybe slightly strange one. But it was actually not a goal or a tackle. It's actually a sound that Stephen made. And it was when he lifted the European Cup in Istanbul. If you thought on this and back to it, if you watch back the clip, it was a very moment he lifted the trophy. He actually kind of screams as he lifted the trophy. It's kind of a very excitable scream that sort of a six-year-old would make. You know, having been top up there and then he came to Disneyland or something. And for me, it's just a beautiful, beautiful little moment. It's a kind of sound having any of us would make if we were in that moment, if we were lifting the European Cup for our boyhood club. And what a sound of a fan. And I think that was the most beautiful thing. And that's the thing. I'm sure hundreds and thousands of people said about Stephen Jared. You know, he was a red who played for Liverpool and did all these amazing things. And that's what made him particularly special. And that sound, that excitable, yelping sound he made when he lifted the trophy. You know, this great moment for his, you know, that he's in chief with boy club. That really sort of touched me, the time and touched me sort of looking back on it since he made his announcement at the end of last week. Yeah, that's actually lovely. We specialize in those kind of on-guarded squeals in here. Listen, listen, this particular room. What about goal-wise, actually, over the course of his career, any goal in particular stand-out? Obviously, there are a lot to choose from, but which one did you go for? Yeah, there's obviously all the obvious ones. I was trying, I was trying to be a bit clever and find something a bit obscure. But ultimately, I came back to what is my favor. And that was his guy against United in September 2000. Sorry, March 2001, that when he smashed it past Bartels. Yes. The various people, basically. First, all the opponents. Obviously, all the players scored against them. I think, secondly, because it was just that team was just coming to the boil. That was the treble winners. And then a month away from winning everything. And they were just playing such good for all of that time. Also, if you look at the build-up for that goal, Robbie Fowler and Danny Murphy are both involved, who obviously also sort of scourge United as well. You know, Robbie went on and scored also. And that game, Danny, got all those winners that all drafted as well. So there's three great sort of, you know, some of you know, I couldn't see three great Liverpool villains involved in that goal. And then the finish is just absolutely, you know, fantastic as well. So I'll probably pick that goal, yeah. Yeah, that's a gem. That's a gem. And shared by a lot of people, I think. Aside to Jared that we don't really, we're just talking about here most yourselves, you don't see a whole lot of humor from Stephen over the years. But if you were to pick something that you found sort of humorous or enjoyable or funny over the years with Stephen, is there anything that sticks in your head? Yeah, I was trying to think about it in terms of sort of funny moments, funny anecdotes. I mean, there are a couple of little on pitch teams, like a starey day, feeling it begging and doing a game against Arsenal a few years ago and things. And I was really shocked by anything sort of thing, sort of anecdotal stuff. I think it's hard to kind of find anything, but rather people know better than me about off field stuff. But just one thing that always stands out in terms of showing this kind of like devilish cheeky side was a little disintegration when he's calling his everything in September 2001. No, a great goal where he sort of cuffed in and flushed it. And then he's running past the Billings Road end, you know, with his sort of cupping his ear and his tongue sort of hanging out and stuff. And I just thought that was brilliant because again, going back to what I said about that moment in Istanbul, it's again showing loud and proud that he supports Liverpool. And he's kind of giving it to the Everton fans as he ran past them. I mean, why regret that? We've never seen that celebration from behind, if you like, never seen Everton fans reactions as he's doing that in front of them. I mean, that's the great thing about Gerard is the great talent and everything he did on the pitch. He was a Liverpool fan doing all that stuff for Liverpool. And for me, that's the most kind of beautifully beautiful, sort of romantic element of his entire career. He was a genuine fan on the pitch. And Sachin, do you think with that in mind and just go on our script a little bit, do you think it is the right time for him to draw his career to an end? And how do you feel about the whole thing in terms of the way it's been handled and approached? Yeah, it's very sad, obviously. We've all been in a sort of Sunday morning last few days. I think it's very complex. I think there's been a few people saying this has been badly handled by Liverpool recorders. They should have given the contract earlier, they should have done more for him to say. My personal take on it is that's all true. But I think it comes down to the fact that Gerard wants to play regularly, wants to still be a major element in a football team. And he just can't be that for Liverpool anymore. I think the two games we've just had demonstrate that brilliantly. Again, this one is a high tempo football. The midfield is functioning really well. He comes back into the team against Leicester. And it's not just his fault, just putting on him. But the team suddenly slows down and it all breaks down a bit. And I think Liverpool need to move on from Gerard. I would love to have seen Gerard as an impact for the last two years. For the next two years, if you like. But I don't think he wants that. He wants to play every week. Can he feel he can do that in America? I don't think he wants to be a lamparder, a gigs or a skull. So he just comes off the bench for 20 minutes here or there. So in that sense, I think a clean break possibly is needed. And I think it's important Liverpool to move on from Steve and Gerard a bit as well. It's just this incredible kind of personality and character. And I think the club is slightly way down by that. And I think they need to move on. But my big fear is how we replace him. The recruitment policy over the last few years has been shambolic, in my opinion. Very, very poor. And I see Liverpool in their attempts to get midfielder to the practice. Obviously, when we're taking directly, even some of the similar qualities, they're going to do a poor job with it. That's my fear. Hopefully not, though. Yeah. I really, really appreciate the insight, Sachin. Thanks very much for your time, mate. OK. Let's start our chat here amongst those of us who we've got in the bunker. We've got Neil and Phil and we've got going around the line there and myself. And we're going to just maybe try to approach this from more of a celebrated review point than a lot of the dour, gloomy sort of take that's been in the media in terms of Steven being... Well, to be fair, the way it's being presented, I don't know what you think, Phil. But you'd nearly think the fellow was passing away or something. I mean, it's just a... Yeah. The guy I think for me is he's still got the best part to six months playing time with us as well. So I think we should be celebrating everything he's done in his career for a Liverpool football club. We should be thinking back like it shouldn't be a sad time. Even the interview, I can understand him being choked up in the hole. I gave him it because it's such a big decision. It's his moment that he's leaving. But I didn't get everyone being so upset about the actual interview itself. And you could feel compassion for him while I was there. But I wasn't breaking down crying over it. I mean, it's just a bizarre reaction in many ways. You understand people being emotional at the end of that great relationship. But like it's been common for so long, it's been flagged for so long. And it's like, I can understand people being emotional for the last and fear match. You know what I mean, that he plays against himself. Yeah. And I can imagine, and fear itself will be emotional because it's like seeing off when Kenny decided to retire. You know, when Robbie came back for that short stint with Benitez, you know, we saw him back in such a strong emotions that go on. Or even characters last game against QPR when he cracked one against the crossbar. You know, you can feel a palpable emotion then because everyone knows this is the last time they're going to see him in a competitive match for Liverpool in Anfield. And that's an emotional staple. When you make the announcement, I can get him being emotional. I don't get the fans being as emotional as they actually are. It's called compassion, Philip. You don't seem to happen. That's pretty fair. Being a sociopath, isn't it? As a sociopath. I'm going to start the ball rolling. We've been asking a few people we've had on the line a few questions. And we might sort of throw them out here amongst ourselves as well. If you were to pick a particular moment from Stephen's career, that's your outstanding Jarrad moment, what would it be? It's so cheesy to say Istanbul. When he had to do the goal in, I'm not going to do that. My favourite moment was in the Jedi final, as we call it, I guess West Ham. Because me grandads had just died. And he was a mad football man like me. He was an ass and a supporter. But he recently died. And I went towards the game. He went two-nil down. And then got back in it. Stevie levelled with a fucking worldview, two-two. And then fucking pulled by Joyce Konseski. Pretty old with Papparena in the far corner. Two. He was pulled by Joyce. We swapped players for him. Yeah. Well, my black hole went in. I was at the pub. I wasn't drinking. I was so nervous. And just went in my car, tried the outside of town, went to the grandad's grave. And I just went talking to him and said, "Grandad, speak to a man up there. Get me the goal." (laughter) Because in my hometown, you always used to go behind the goal and said, "Well, no, I'm going to get us a goal." He always did that. So it was emotional for me. So I went to the cemetery, spoke to him, like, for five minutes. And I drove home. And I was, when I was opening the door at my house, the meet-art was screaming out of his lungs. Stevie Gera just left one in the 40 yard. Shaka, he stopped, he didn't have a chance. So I always remember that moment. Well, it's got to know the reason why he died out of that. (laughter) Because we've all wondered over the years. Can you do that a bit more often during the game? (laughter) You could maybe have a regular chat, that'll be. (laughter) Mr. Grandad only knew football things, man. (laughter) He could do it a few quits. (laughter) And all of them opened and went, "He played child." I think it was 2002, 2003. It was the entire ball, the whole fucking game. Nothing was going on. Stevie got the ball, played right in the corner, went past one, passed another, passed three, put it in the park corner, and left his shirt over his head. He won one-wheel. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Things like that really do stick in the head. What about in the room here? Anyone have a particular Jared moment, Neil? Yeah, the most memorable one for me, it's a funny use to say, people are talking lately about the goals he scored and how important they were in the times he was scoring. The one that just keeps popping into my head is his very forced goal. Again, it was a Sheffield Wednesday. I suppose he broke through and went by two, one or two players. I kind of slotted away with a plum. A plum. A plum. No, but just then you got a real sense, right? We have something here. They had been talking about them, talking them up for a long time before that we've really got something coming through. And when you see it coming to fruition like that, I started to believe it then as well. Because you hear a lot of hype about young lads coming through and nothing ever materializes about it. You could just see that he had absolutely everything. I mean, he was getting slotted in at right fall, and he was kind of just getting him into the team to get a little bit of experience. But when he got through in the middle, and he forced through like that, I mean, he had pace, control. And then the finish was just brilliant. It was, yeah, that's what's the tell for me. The lalana goal the other day was sort of the same thing. Don't meet two players and then slotted me in the corner. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It brought back memories a lot. What about yourself and only particular Jared memory? Yeah, look at, you know, I've criticized him plenty across the part over the last two, year and a half or so. But for me, I always go back to the Illinois season when I think about him because he was just, you know, he was just an unstoppable force at that stage. His partnership with Torres, like as a team, that's one of the most memorable spells of Liverpool's history over the last couple of years. Yeah. And even looking back at some of the goals and stuff like that when we talked about doing this as opposed to doing the normal part, you know, the amount of bots that it was so telekinetic in terms of the way they played, he just knew, Torres knew the run to make. He knew the exact ball to play. The amount of times he played, the outside, the boot pass, which would go just around the back of the center back, and Torres would just paraboy with pace. And, you know, there's just so many times to that. Oh, wait, oh, nine seasons, you know. And, you know, Torres was missing for a lot of that as well, and he missed a lot of games, but when he played together, it was just, like, it literally was poetry motion. I know, like, you know, the song we were seeing in our last year, it was just incredible to see two players on this exact same wavelength. We hadn't seen that in such a long, long time. And, you know, a real partnership, a real, real partnership. World-class duo. Yeah, a world-class duo at the peak of their powers, you know, just taking teams apart brilliantly. You know, the FA Cup final, '06, you know, that was magical. You know, it really was. We talked about Cup finals over the years, and, you know, we've got the own Cup final as well in the early '90s. But that was his FA Cup final. It was his define a moment. I remember McManum had one as well back in the mid '90s, and that was everything about Steven Dredge. And I mean, don't even cramp on the pitch. You know, he's holding his legs on a few minutes beforehand, barely able to move, and the ball breaks, and he just, to put, get the power and the accuracy, and, you know, if you're putting your house on any player at that stage, it was him to smack one in from 20-25 yards. The lads had mentioned earlier when we were talking, that there was that man, you know, little girl as well. He pinged, you know. He gets past this. Yeah, yeah. Bart has a dodgy kick, and the whole way it just broke, because his head fell on a morphe, and then just lands in Girard, and he takes one touch, he's got 24 yards out, and he just pings an unstoppable drive. You've got the Middlesbrough goal. You know, these are all... It's a bit of a goal, a bit of a burrow goal. Yeah. Like, that is some strike, but there was the header from outside the box as well. I think it was against West Brom. I can't remember the year it was. Like, he scored a header from outside the box. Yeah. You know, he had such a range. The reason that I've probably been, you know, disappointed about the way things have gone over the last couple of years is because I remember how brilliant he was for how long, for so long. And he's, you know, it's... As I said, when you sit down and you look back at all the things, all the goals he did, he was in the midst of it. And when he was freed up, when he had good enough players around him, to just let him wander and go wherever he wanted to go, and it was mainly around the Benita's area where he had that freedom, you know, he was just an unstoppable force on the pitch. And he was at his absolute peak then. And it was tremendous to watch. One of them were watching him in the Burnaby. I remember watching him when I failed after. And I remember just saying to him, "Who can stop this fellow from, you know, from winning anything at this stage?" And it's such a pity that he won't win a league title medal, Liverpool, because he had three occasions where it was close. So two, there was the '08 or '09, and then of course last season as well. And that would have been the icing on the cake in terms of what it was. You've got the ethical point, you've also got the Istanbul moments. They're just phenomenal moments in the course. But he's a player who produces moments. Like nobody else, I think, ever really. A player who creates moments, you know. I actually be contrary about it and go only recently that little spell at the end, towards the end of last season before the disaster struck where it looked like Jesus were going to do this. And, you know, he had raised his game to such an extent. They're granted, there are things you can say about why that was and how that happened to be. But it was just lovely to see him captaining, like a real captain shot and playing at very, very, very important parts, slot and pens away at Fulham. And for me, that will actually probably remain with me, you know. To see... I'll follow him with the Fulham game and the win and go. That's, you know, that's a quintessential Stephen Gerard moment. You know what I mean? We win the penalty. It's in the dying moments. You know, we're on this ridiculous run, but we need to keep it going. This is the sticky point in it. And he steps up, slotted away, and he, you know, the celebration out, whipping the jersey off, spinning around his head. You know, they're quint... Like, we're talking about your most memorable moment. The most recent ones are always the clearance because they're the easiest to remember. But, you know, there is all the derbies. He's been the scourge of Everton for fucking the best part of 20 years at this stage. Yeah, yeah. I suppose the main thing to stick out for me when I was, I suppose, you touched on the thing I really felt. The fact that he named the other great players, I suppose, back through the years, they all had great players around them. I mean, he done those fantastic things when nobody else was capable, forcedly, of the owner. So it was left entirely up to him. You know, people say, "Caddy, the club on his back." I mean, that's a little bit of an overstatement. But at the same time, the fact that the goals you're mentioning, there was nobody else on the pitch playing for Liverpool, the time that was capable of doing those things. And he was... And at the same time, he was the only one that could do it. But the fact is that he did it. I mean, and you always... Even the club final against West Ham, you always felt that Stephen Gerard could possibly get us a goal here. I mean, that's why it was so special because it wasn't completely out in the blue. He was just, "I don't want to get a goal, it's going to be him." And he probably is going to get a chance, and chances are, if he gets a chance, he'll take. Yeah. And he kind of never let us down, really, in that respect, did he? I know he can say, "There's no answers, I can think of one in particular." Yeah. I'm not going to mention the slippery. No, that's not. No, but at the same time, you see where I'm coming from, the fact that you could rely on him, and he very rarely, if ever, let us down. Yeah. Well, he is a tragic figure. Because of the fact that he's come so close on so many occasions, that's a hard sell. Every year he needs a tragedy, Phil? No, but do you know what I mean? I mean, the whole thing was, he will go personally unfulfilled, and that he didn't get the league winners medal that he should have deserved. He could see that in a minute, even in the interview, yes. He could see it in him. There's a level of sadness that's there. It's a bit like Janini when he was at Roman, Roman never managed to win. Oh, just Prince Janini. Yeah, yeah. And you know, he never managed to win the league when he was at Roman. You know, he was held on the same regard as Gerard was, to Worslach, you know what I mean? And there's just that element of it, and probably in the longer term, that would be almost like the part of the movie that he got so close and so many times, but never managed to get over the line. But, you know, that shouldn't be held against him when people are talking about where he rates in terms of the actual, you know, the great players avoided the premiership or Liverpool football. Well, that's actually, I thought it was pretty classy stuff from Kenny, where he wrote in his article about it. Trying to deflect away from all this talk about, oh, you never won the title. And Kenny says, like, in time you come to understand that the most important thing is the trophies you've won. You're defined by them and not the trophies you didn't win. And Steven won the Champions League. He lifted his team to the most prestigious title in the game. He led the club to that astonishing victory in 2005. At that stadium in the outskirts of the city, he wrote his name even larger in the history of the club. And I thought from the man himself, that's a pretty classy thing to say. And again, to focus as opposed to what he didn't win, to what he did win, and the moments that he created for it. Exactly. Let's be honest about this, right? That old 4.05 team was a terrible squad, right? Yeah, average at best. You know, you know what I mean? And it's not, this isn't the peak beneath his era. This isn't the one that had my Scran on the line, so, you know, allowing him to have the freedom. It wasn't the one that had Torres. It didn't have the madness of count on the right hand side. Oh, that madness of Igor in the center. Yeah, or the defense that Rafa built around, you know, that team in OA, which was just a powerhouse team. This was the remnants of the Huliai-Gon Badra era, right? And it got to that final because of the Olympiacus moment. So when you look at the whole run-up to that, there's these moments, these constant moments that Gerard is integral in to get us to the final. And for every parlor, the fourth half is probably, you know, an example of where he wasn't strong in terms of playing sentiment field, whereas the second half was everything that was brilliant about Stephen Gerard. Once freed from having to lock down and be tactically aware of our students and what's going on, he then just goes and destroys Asemanan. And for him to lift that trophy with that team, with that squad of players, that's as big an accomplishment as anyone who's done in this club. Because if you look at all our European coping insights, they were all brilliant teams. There wasn't a team that you wouldn't have said wasn't there about being the best team in Europe. There was no way that O4 O5 team was in the top ten squads in Europe. Don't mind the best team in Europe. Yeah, they weren't even the best team in the final. No, sure, we didn't have a proper cent to follow with that season. Look, we used three goalkeepers in the Champions League one. Look, Chris Kork got much back team in the '07 final. Absolutely. We even played better in the '07. Yeah. You're a better meal in the '07. That was kind of a reversal, wasn't it? Yeah, we probably deserved to win that one. Yeah, I suppose. Look, speaking and trying to keep on this kind of more idea of a celebration rather than anything else. Gunners are anything that makes you smile when you think about Stephen's career. I think you think it even makes you laugh. Humours are kind of anecdotal that you associate with them. There's so many cases. I love when he's got a good gym pack. Run down the whole, down the long pitch with his tongue out. Yeah. I love when I think he was alone at the Koopia. I think the last season he took Sterling down and Steve had just a couple of minutes later. Just looked at Fabio, who was, I think, alone from United's. Just collected him off the pill. Yeah. Yeah, I think that got a lot of smiles all right. Yeah. Those are the likes of Retribution. He really took them on over the last couple of years, isn't he? Yeah, he's just, I'm born in 86. So when he's coming to the line like this, I'm like 11. So first it was Michael Owen and it was him and Fowler and it's kind of like the monks who talk about, "Ah, now we have to watch United's without Ferguson." Yeah. For me, C.B. Girat has always been there. The first one on the pitch, captains are banned and all that. So it's going to be tough, but I agree. You should celebrate, well, it's done. He's the only player who's scored in the Africa finals, League Cup finals, Youth Cup finals and the Champions League finals. Yeah, that's actually remarkable stuff, yeah. Yeah. He rejected Alex Simpson. He's he danced at yesterday. Real Madrid, at two occasions. He rejected by a million two or three seasons ago and he rejected the youth concert at United's. And I still remember the day when he held the fucking press conference. So he was going to Chelsea. Probably hard. I saw people wearing his shirt. I agreed with it. It all moved to Chelsea. It just fucking wrong. Yeah. And when I went, I went working building with me that and what was building. And I got something in my face. So I couldn't stop thinking about Girat. And I saw that he's just bailed out going to Chelsea. I remember that moment. It felt like we signed a top player because he wasn't going. And Steve was staying. Yeah. Yeah. That's going to bring us more of Daniel's face. It's speaking of that exact thing. Neil, I know what you said earlier on. It's not a guy you readily associate with humor. But it's right. Anything that sticks out. It's kind of stoic type of character, isn't it? Yeah. He's not like that. After camera. Yeah. I don't know about that because I've never met him. Yeah. I'd love to though. I'd give him a big hug after that. Would you? Would you? Yeah. I'd say we'd have a good crush. I'd give him a big hug and a good crush. Let's just get it on. Hello, Steve. Let's get it out. Were you one of the people who was tearing up? I was closely, closely, closely to tears. Yeah. I like what I was saying anyway. It's like watching the champ. Yeah. Yeah. Right. I was trying to hold the tears. I'm not crying here, but I really am. I'm dying inside. So go on. Tell us something. That you associate. Well, something that made you smile over the years with... Well, it's like kissing the camera and I'll try for it. It's just the best thing ever, wasn't it? Yeah. You know what I mean? Like, it didn't make me smile. It made me laugh out loud and kind of... Kind of bitter laugh, yeah. Yeah. But the best bit is that... He didn't just do it once. He's got to do it repeated twice. He had his own celebration against him. It's just so fantastic, wasn't it? Yeah. And they loved it. They loved it. They did it. They loved it. And when he did it the second, they were really thrilled. They were really thrilled. Yeah, that made me laugh and kind of that's real, yeah. Yeah, that's huge stuff, isn't it? That's a gem. What about you feeling any laughs over the years with... Yeah, I told you, that stuck up my mind when we were thinking about it was... When Torres scored a hat trick against West Ham in a four-nail win, I don't know whether it was '06 or '07 or '07 or '07 or '08, because it was the jersey with the colours. Right? And the ref picks up the ball at the end of the game. And Jared just says, "Give us the ball for a second." So he picks the ball up, right? Because he wanted to give it to Torres. The ref was there. And he puts his hand out to get the ball back and drag. I was to give it back. I was to take a drive. Once it back goes now. Yeah, yeah, yeah. He was walking. And the ref comes back. He looks back and just laughs at him and walks off and gives the ball to Torres. Like that was like one of the few sort of humorous moments that I couldn't... You don't see that playful thing from him much. Now, although, do you remember that he was laughing his head off when Suarez did the big dive and going to some park? Oh, it was fun. Yeah, yeah. Like Kings... He did... I told him last off came out last season, everyone. Like, I told you he looked so much more comfortable in front of the camera. Do you remember the whole, you know, if you're going to take on Daniel Sturgeon, Louis Suarez, best of luck in the little sniff, a little Harley sniff? I love that. That actually made me smile and laugh more than anything else last year to do with Jared. He did seem to come into his own a bit. I suppose that's why... See, players are so guarded and they're so media trained. And he would have been, you know, in the force wave of real media trained players that, you know, that would have been part of what they were doing. You don't see those flickers of character. And they're so rare when they do, they start sticking their mind in terms of what it is. You know, but, like, you were saying humorous moments. Like, can you imagine how happy he is inside every time he plays into Derby and scores a fucking shitload of gold? Even the season, the second half of the season when Kenny was there, and he wasn't having a great, great half season, but his own standards. He still managed to pull me fucking to everything and I feel like, you know what I mean? Like, of all the players, you can imagine how broken, riled up your beat for an Everton Van Gogh. Did he score a hatchet against everyone? Yeah, he did, yeah. He loved him. But then, like, the hatchet penalties and all the traffic, like, that's just, you know, those things. I'd say he's breaking a shot laugh when he goes back into the dressing room, and he's just, you know, like, imagine now what's going on, like, you know what I mean? You know, there's all those moments that tally open, even in the recent past, but you go back to his initial games, and you can see the joy in his face as a kid when he was wearing the number 17 in Jersey, and he was breaking into that side, and he was scoring goals for his hometown club, you know. And it's only when you look back that far, and you see, you know, what's going on since, you know, all the variations he's been through as a player in the hole are. But you see the embroidered joy of a kid making his name for his hometown club, and I suppose even for us, not being from Liverpool or not being from around where he lives, we can even boy into it, because you can see how much that means. And I cannot understand how, you know, when I was saying about the mourning part, I can understand how the lads from Liverpool, who've grown up in the areas who know him, like when Neil Pillow was talking to us sometimes, like, he went to the same school now, I can understand how they can be genuinely upset, because they're losing one of their own from the actual team. Or lads, like Gunnar, who's saying, he's always been there in journeys, he's watching careers. It was like, we were talking about it. I didn't see Kenny, I'm too young, so... Yeah, yeah, so he's lots of people's Kenny, you know. I'll try to view someone Billy Little bit packed, and they're like, "You were really awesome." Oh, that's good. Elijah Scott hit me harder. But Billy Little was still with us there. No, but like, Jack, I remember when Felner was sold. I remember how guttly felt when Felner was sold. I think that's the lowest I was ever. That was a low point. That was a low point. Oh, yeah. But the difference is, we're not selling them. He's said a couple days ago, "I find that emily admirable in him, that he wants to play 90 minutes." And Sash touched on that earlier as well. He won by 90 minutes, week in, week out, right? Yeah. He's been told, he's been told, and he said it himself, that the club has said that you won't be able to play 90 minutes, week in, week out, any more for us, right? And instead of being a weight hanging around the manager's neck, he's decided, "Okay, look, the contractor's up. I'm going to go somewhere where I continue to play 90 minutes." Can I also be construed as him being forced out as well? I mean, if you wanted to look at it from that point of view, I don't necessarily believe that now, but I'm just saying it's an answer. I'm not saying that. If you wanted to twist it that way, you could. But I don't see it. I see he's taken a brave decision to say, "Well, if I'm not going to get 90 minutes... No, I fully agree. He could go to City. He could go to anywhere if he's prepared to sit in the bench. He's not prepared to sit in the bench. He could stay at Liverpool and sit in the bench. He doesn't want to sit in the bench. He still feels that he can give something 90 minutes. And you can see why he's going to the MLS. He will still have a massive influence on that league in terms of what he is. He's going to have less. There's going to be the pace. Isn't as quick as the way the premiership has played. And he's going to have more space to operate. Robbie King, a player here. Well, you know, Henri has done very well for... Henri has done very well as well when he was there. And he's only finished. And I could see Gerard being, you know, the standout name in the MLS next season. Did you see Henri's last press conference, did you? Yeah. That was fantastic. That was the best thing ever. He just basically, they all gathered right. Did he mention the car? No. No, he didn't. They all gathered around and he said one line and he just walked off and the cameras all followed him. And watched his back leaving the room and was like, "I hear you can't do that." He did. What's it called? It was quite cool. It was quite cool. Just... Seltic he. Yeah, speaking of the city. Actually, a member of a moment. Remember the dive against Sheffield tonight at the opening season and Neil Warnock went fucking batshit mental over the dive. We got the... Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I think... Oh, let's go. Furlough school. Furlough school. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. There's knowledge. Do you remember? Do you remember? Warnock was going fucking mental over... Oh, he hated Rafa so many... Oh, he hated Rafa. He... I was so happy. Actually, that's one of a big smile on me if I remember that one. Yeah, I think it's upsetting Neil Warnock. It's a good day. It's a good day. Going around that, we're talking about the nature of the ending of this relationship and Phil touched on his decision that he's made to go to MLS and there's nothing more specific just yet. What do you think of that as a career choice and that was the takeaway from me from that interview yesterday was, you know, I want to play. That's what he's saying and that's why he's gone there, right? That's what he's saying for me. He's done everything with his club. And when people say overstatement that he carried this on his back, I... And I said to him, "Have you looked at the site of players he's played with over this?" Yeah. I told him, "The only reason is that they're so fucking crazy." He said, "I'm not going to be cringing." He said, "He is flavorful." But if he decides, "I want to play 90 minutes, I don't want to do a lamb part but lamb part is done at Chelsea last couple of seasons." The player played to him. He is his choice. So imagine the pressure on Brenda Rogers having to say to Stephen Gereld, "I'm going to manage your game." It's not the same with the grandclamp part because he's a Vashtam lot. Stephen Gereld, everyone from Liverpool, are taught Stephen Gereld. He's the number one player. So it's a good look to him. Yeah. I just... In our best team scenario right now, I... I was mad that Stephen Gereld came into the team against the last game. Yeah. That's kind of where we're at though, isn't it? That's where we're at in the stage of his career. And as Phil says, you just end up maybe feeling a little bit more admiration that this guy, he maybe knows it too. And he can see the writing on the wall. That's what he touches on. The decision was made because the manager says you're not going to play 90. Yeah. Me bird said to me, "Why are you sad? You're always complaining when he's playing." She's got you there, mate. She's got you there. Explain that one. But what's him, what's Liverpool, what's everything? His peak was from like 04 or 05 till maybe 10. Yeah. And he's in gradually getting a little bit slow, a little bit big. He's had loads of operations on his thigh and strain and everything. He takes his toe. He can't shoot anymore like he did. I'm still, I know you guys are being off beach, you know, but I'm going to miss him like crazy. And I just hope I never wanted more than we were in the fucking Mickey Mouse Cup now. One of them. Just something, yeah. Who fucked up Africa? Just something. I just want to see him live one more time. I want to see him in Europe. Yeah, absolutely. I think because we can't win the Champions League and it's unlikely we can win the league. Yeah. No, it's not. But like because he would, he would then have won a fair trial of European medals at that stage, which would be like, you know, when we're talking about, if you're going to miss out in the league, at least, you know, always be the one that's emblazoned in Europe. You know what I mean? He'll always be synonymous with Istanbul. We remember him from the other UEFA Cup final. We remember him then. If he wins the Europa League, regardless of what happens in the league, he will have cemented him. Is the Europa League final after the season finishes? I think it's the domestic season. It's 27th of May. It's two days after the Istanbul 10th anniversary. Oh, it is too. It is 27th, right? And if, you know, what a fitting way for him to finish up with Liverpool to win the Europa League, secure Liverpool at Champions League position, regardless of where they finish in the league, win the Europa League. There are so many good teams left in that competition. I don't care, but it's not such a big carrot, though, for the top of the team. They say, look, we will start out our league form and we're going to fucking grab the Europa League now with the balls and give him, if it can't be the Champions League final, we'll give him the second best European competition and let him go out with the European trophy to his name. He was very professional in talking about, you know, what, top four is the main thing. But you could see his heart wasn't it? Whereas I think, as you say, that would be a spectacular way to secure the Champions League football to win that trophy. It's probably a big ass first, but it would be something else. Well, I'd rather secure the top four and win the Europa League. But what a fit and way from fail. Yeah, sorry. The most crucial thing about getting top four now, because last season we lost Luis Juarez. Now we lost GBDR. These players are interactions for other players. So if we managed to get top four, I would personally take finishing seven teams and winning the fucking Europa Cup. So, having the Champions League can at least help us sign lampards and blower and all of them again. And there's the first day of the day, the first Brendan day of the day. Genuinely, right? We're talking about tributes, the best way, and everyone can be emotional then, if you know what I mean. At least then you can say, it goes out the best way. It doesn't go out on a whimper, it goes out on the best banging of us we go out on. Because that's the way you want to go out on. And I suppose we move on to it now. If you take, we're talking here, we're moving where we are at this moment in time in terms of what's going on. Because I think it's fair, because to talk about it the way we are talking about him is to remember the best way he's affected the club. As Goner said, if you go back to the Leicester game and then Sash even touched on it. The tempo slowed down and it's not his fault, it's a factor of age. But you know, the other thing that's there is that we had a way of playing last year. And it was the first time since Torres was there that was giving him a route for those true balls, which is what he's best for. You know what I mean, in times of what he is. And with the way the team is set up in the hole, we don't have that for him at the moment. So he's become a bit marginal in terms of what he's been providing to the team at this stage. And I think all the criticism that's been going towards in this season is fair. You can separate your feelings for him in terms of what he's done and what he's achieved at the club to what he's providing at this moment in time. And is it the right time? It is the right time. Now, would you have liked to see it go a different way? I would have liked to see him being managed better over the last three years. It's not just over the last season, it's over the last three years. We've been trying to get tortilla games out of a fellow who's moving towards his mid-torties for the last three years. He's for him himself and has just admitted that he doesn't want to be a bit power player. He wants to play 90 minutes out of the game. You look at the managers who have been there, Hodgson was never going to do it, right? Well, he's mental. Well, but he was never going to do it because he doesn't have the backbone to do it, right? Kenny, you may have said, yes, he would have, but I don't think Kenny was going to, because I think Kenny has a deep admiration and a belief in what your air can do for the team, right? So I think he thoroughly believed in whether it was right or not. That's what I think. And Brendan has been the biggest contradiction for me because of all the managers, I would have fancied him to do it. And he's talked about doing a talk about doing it. If you look at it, George played in 17 of our 20 league games and he played five or six of the Champions League games. The only games he's really missed out on have been the League Cup games. Yeah, and it's like it's only now that this conversation's been had very recently and it's becoming real to Stevie. Well, okay, I better sling me, hope that. Yeah, so as most as being talked about, the actions don't match with the actual awards that have gone on. And, you know, potentially, had he been managed better in terms of that type of thing, stronger manager in terms of dealing with it. There is saying, I'm not, this is not, I want Rafa back or anything like that. But you would have imagined Rafa would have started the game management a lot earlier in terms of two or two years back if he was still there. He would have managed the time because Rafa was dropping him back in '08 and '09. He was resting him at that point in time. You know, he was resting him in '06 or '07. I remember times when, you know, Gerard didn't start and everyone was going, "Jesus, what's he doing putting him on the bench?" I remember there was a time when Tara was in, Gerard were both on the bench in '10. And people were going, "What the fuck's going on here?" If you recall as well, the way that that particular manager saw Stephen developing was to move him forward rather than backwards. And saw him as a, you know, supplementary or secondary striker eventually. Yeah. You know, it's interesting to think about that. Yeah, and that's just, I think because it must be so hard for him to be the 90-minute player, the game in-game out once I was fifth player. All of a sudden someone dropping an axe and saying, "No, that's it. You're only going to be a bit per player from the end of the season on." Because the feeling I'm getting is that I think it'll be even harder now for Rogers to drop him over the next couple of months because everyone knows it's his last five, six months with the player. And I think it's going to be more difficult to leave him out of games. He's not going to leave him out of the arse match. He's not going to leave him out of the dairy match. He's not going to leave him out of the man you know at the home games. And if we want to get the best out of one of those games, you need to manage him in around the other games. That's my opinion of it. So it means that he will have to leave him out of certain games. Now, I don't think Stephen will want that because, you know, he wants to play. So I think there's a bit more pressure on Brendan now to stand up and make that decision for him and say, "I have to do what's the best for Liverpool football club and I have to get this team to be able to play without Stephen Gerard so that we're ready for next year when you're not here." And that's the argument he has to put to him and say, "You are going to still be in the big matches. I am going to manage your time so as you can give me 90 minutes in those big matches." Otherwise, it could be difficult for the team. But, you know, again, I want to see the Stephen Gerard that played against Basil, that noise, because that was almost a step back. We're talking about the free kick in the last minute of the game that almost goes in. You know what I mean? That was the one time I can think of this season that we've seen Gerard be the Stephen Gerard that we've all known and we've grown up with. And what's lyrical that we have to say? Well, what about that, Neil? Phil posted it one way there, talking about how it's going to be more difficult for him to be dropped. But what about the counter theory that now that it's been pulled out there in the open... It's kind of preemptive. You know, it makes it actually a little bit easier, perhaps. Could you look at it from that perspective? Yeah, I think, I admire it. I admire it. I'd mainly leanings to be more that way. It's kind of a little bit preemptive. A preemptive stroke, if you will, from Roger's dad. He's already laid out as plans that your game time is going to be reduced. Because, I mean, in the interview yesterday, what he admitted himself to the reason he's leaving is because his game time is going to be reduced. So, he's already known that's going to happen. So, listen, it's a fact that if we're going to play Europa League towards a nice and then play Sunday or whatever, and the whole dynamic of it is going to change when all the travelling that's involved as well, it does no possible way he can play every single game or a similar percentage of the game. So, he has played up to this point this season. So, yeah, I can see him. I can see Roger's dropping him on a more regular basis. I want to say dropping up, maybe resting him is the more politically-correcting to say. Yeah, Gunnar, something we need to look at, and I'm particularly curious about your opinion, because you've defined yourself as a supporter who's basically had Gerard there almost all of his supporting life. How do you see the future shaping up without this incredibly dominant present study he's been? What does the future of Europa look like without Stephen Gerard? Do you think there's going to be kind of a very, very palpable effect on the club? It's figureheads and leadership and all that would be missed in the dressing room and all that, but when you think about it, if you look at it from another perspective, if you look at Stevie Gerard in like all nine, all ten, and the play today, it's black and white. We have to make that, but we need to get a top midfielder in there, but today, we're going to take a turn and an end of our two best centre midfielders. In all of our big games, they should be nailed on starters, and when we were talking about the other day, managing Jared, picking him in the right positions and all that. Last, I don't see a lot of difference between Stevie Gerard this season and last season, regarding pace and all, because last season, when we played the Diamond, we had two pacey factors up front, just off them, hand-toeing and all-in-pressing. So he was just a quarterback all the time in the world on the ball, but now, he's just playing midfield two with Lucas, midfield two with hand-toe. It's just, he's been managed very poorly. So about the future, all the hype is about Jordan Rosseter, so they say, everyone is asked at the club, who's the next, who's the next DVD, who's the next newcomer, Carla, Stevie, all say Jordan Rosseter, and he watched him play with the on the turn to on centre, he's boss, but he's still three, four years ago, proplaying regular Liverpool football club. If he makes that step, he could do a, he could do about taste sparing, taste sparing was boss, a research team. So, we need to figure out how to make fields. Hand-toeing, he's a good captain, I think he can take a job, but someone like Pogba, someone like that, can be good. Yeah, yeah. What about that, Phil, looking to the future, is it, like Gunnar says, is it going to require someone being dropped in there with an established reputation to help us over this period? Well, my opinion is slightly different, I don't think you go for a like for a placement for them. I think the most important thing for us now is to make sure that we sign the right players for the system or formations that we plan to use. So, if Stevie goes, then the opportunity there is to say, okay, look, I bring in an incredible number ten. You know, I know we've got a lot of attack on midfielders, and I bring in a phenomenal sentiment fielder to play as part of a two that's there. I'm not just trying to find a player that's very similar to Stephen Gerard, so that we have a Stephen Gerard lawyer or a similar player to him. You build your team to suit what you have, that's the key to this. Up until now, Stephen Gerard exploded onto Liverpool because he came through the academy, because he was a brilliant footballer, and all the managers who have been there since have had to use Stephen Gerard to get the best out of him. Now you're in a situation that if you're going to replace him, it's not that you have a player sitting there that you have to fit in or build a system around. You now are going to replace him or his position on the team with somebody that should fit automatically into what you want there. So, if you're saying, well, actually we've got enough attack in midfielders, I don't need attack in midfielders, so you're not looking for an attack in midfielder, so you're not looking for the young, explosive, ohh, ohh, ohh, ohh, if you're going to move to O9 or O1 to O9, Stephen Gerard, you're looking to find the next Javier Mascarano in real terms, because that's what you want in your centre midfield to lock down that defence that's actually there. Or if you're saying, I want a world-class, a fucking ready-built world-class superstar number 10, it's because you're going to move Sterling, or you know, as part of a tube front, you're going to do something different with Sterling, so he's not in that 10 position or at the tip for Daimler. Or if you want the best box to box, what Gunner said, you look for Pogba because he's going to just dominate your midfield, would he be more of a error than he will be Gerard? He's not going to be your all-action 20-olds-a-season-sentiment-filler. He's going to be your part of the era, just dominating everything that goes on in the actual pitch. So you don't look to replace Stephen Gerard with Stephen Gerard. What you do is you look to replace him with the best player for the position that you feel that you would have used Stephen Gerard in. And that's a different sort of argument that goes on there. Because we still have to replace... We haven't successfully replaced Louis Suarez. So not only do we have to replace Stephen Gerard at the end of the season in terms of what we need in the midfield, we also need to get another centre forward in that's going to add 20-25 goals a season because our signants haven't worked with that regard. So, you know, there's a big ask now on the club. Regardless of who's there, who's managing whatever. There's a big ask on the club now to go out and sign those players. And I've seen Brendan now today saying, you know, I need to sign some ready-made superstars. Well, we've tried that and it hasn't worked. So we need to make sure that our target identification is better than what we've done so far and that we do drop the money that we need to drop. And it's not a case of going at 1.6 or 7 players to keep our squad going. It's about so in 1-2-3 players. If we sign three players into some of our max and they're the three Roy players, we will get more of a torn out of them than so in five or six players because they're in around the seven to eight million mark. You know, it has to be the Roy players at this stage. Neil, what about that? It could be very freeing for Brendan or perhaps somebody else going forward. To not have the Jared Factor when they're thinking about shaping their team and thinking about who they're bringing in. Would you be inclined to agree with the direction Phil was going there? Yeah, well, it's because I think it's an obvious direction to go in. In fact, first thing to force things up for is trying to replace Steve and Gerard. It's never going to happen. He just plays like him coming around once in a generation. I mean, that's obvious to everybody, isn't it? And it's not just his footballing ability. It's the whole collective package with him a local lad and everything. So it's impossible to replace him. So basically what you're replacing is there's a gap in your first team and you need to bring, like Phil said, someone in who's gone to... He's gone to fit into the tactical formation of the managers, the coaching staff have in mind. And you're expecting other players to step up as well. And Jordan Henderson seems to do that when Gerard is out of the team anyway, naturally so. I mean, the level of his game does seem to step up by going mainly seven out of ten every time, isn't he? And the body seems to step up to an eight and a half when Gerard isn't playing. I think he likes... I think he enjoys... - I think he looks at responsibility. - Yeah, he does enjoy the responsibility. And I think he's going to be club captain next, isn't he, I suppose? - It will be true. - It's going to pass on to him. His game will step up and then we have to bring somebody... We have to do... Obviously, we have to recruit. But I think the thing that stands out for me is now... When major players have left in the past, I mean, you think Phil, or obviously someone comes to everybody's mind, Torres even. There was always one or two other superstars in the squad... - Around the place. - Yeah. - Now there's not... Like, Stephen Gerard, regardless what Annie was saying, - is a superstar. - Yeah, but I would say, Neil, when I look at the squad, I don't think... I don't think the dirt is there that everyone thinks it is. I think there's just a natural fear because of what's going on in terms of places. - No, I... - As far as I think... I'd say... - The talent is there, Phil. I do accept that. But at the point I'm trying to make, as I'm talking about, World renowned superstars that other players are going to see, well, he's playing for Liverpool, I'm going to go there. That's what I'm talking about. I mean, Stephen Gerard was a draw, regardless what Annie was saying. Probably a bigger draw than Brendan Rodgers, players want to go and play with Stephen Gerard. I'm not disagreeing with that point, but, you know, if you do look at it, there is that emerging draw now of Raheem Stern. He's the golden boy winner for this year. People are looking to see the likes of Cutenio. - Cutenio, yeah. - Starting to develop as a player. I just think of any more if you want to hear that golden boy. But then you look at Emery Chan, and you look at his skill set, and you say, "These players are the players that you build, "that the team should be built around for the next five years." You know what I mean? Emery, you know, all these young kids that they've brought in potential, but the gap now that we have is that how quickly can we convert their potential to actual, you know, mainstays and players that can deliver a top four challenge? And there is a point. We've lost more experience, you know what I mean? My only regret is that he didn't stay on and become, you know, to pass on his knowledge, his experience of the whole lot. And accept in a big part role. And accept in a big part role. And being a player that, you know, when is needed is there and pass on. And what I'd like to hope, and I don't really want to go massively into it myself, but for me, when you say, "What's the future after Gerard?" I would like to think, and tweet the same last night, that the club at this moment in time are developing a structure with him that says, "Right, look, when you're finished playing and you've caught days, we want to bring you in, in some type of role into the club." Where, boy, like they deal with Samara, like they don't room an eager in the boy unit. They sit down even later. And they sit down in the room. They don't necessarily have to know the job. They can be brought in anyway, doesn't it? They can be brought into shadow somebody to play. Yeah, but that's what they say. They learn the job as they go along. And they become intrinsic figureheads in the club. They're like Kenny, you know, in there and having an active part in the run on the club. And like that attract them players back to the club, attract them new players inside. Well, Stephen Gerard is there as a sport director, as some part of the technical culture staff. Well, he doesn't actually have to be doing the coaching, but he's there as being, you know, not so, I hate you as an award ambassador, but he's there as part of the fabric of the actual club. Yeah, and I take advantage of that as well. It's not a shadow hanging over the manager either. Like Kenny uses, it does cast a bit of a shadow. I know just as an ambassadorial robust. Gerard or Zydan, Ray Amajid, for example, they don't really do that because they know their job isn't under threat from them. They don't always follow them around. I think, yeah, that's it. Well, it seems to be the current trend and I'd be very surprised if we didn't follow. I'd love to see it. It would have been nice maybe had there been, and I think John Henry and Tom Wernher did hint at it. They said there will always be a role from the club when he decides that his playing time is finished. And, you know, that's a very positive statement to put out there. And I hope they follow Trion up because, you know, like a bit like the character thing and the whole lot, you know, if you bring them in in some type of capacity into the club and make them part of the actual fabric of the club, the club will just benefit from it because it retains that local touch, the presence, you know, that feeling that the club still has its roots in ground. If people do have a history on that as well and fairness, they don't. They mean that the legends, I do have that little thing with my fingers again. They always seem to be around the place, don't they? So I suppose there's a history that they had a boot room and all that carry on. When you're talking about replacing Stevie Jarrad, when you, if you replaced him in '09, he was not talking with you down number 10. Now if you're replacing, he's probably at more of a 10-minute field, there are TM. So, but the club seems to be moving ahead in an hour to get Shaqidi in now. Like Jay said to me, a load of us, they've tabled a bit, and they're trying to get him. And you just broke now that Oriti is coming back this journey. And it's everywhere in Twitter now. He's coming back with Suica. Yeah. Alone. So they're bringing in that number 10 and it's like... The big Oriti in Oriti? Yeah. Oriti's coming in. Is this hot off the press corner, isn't it? Yeah. This is great. You're actually breaking stuff. New flash. Just off the wires. Just off the wires. Oriti is coming back. Tripp, quick. Rewrite the agenda. Rewrite the agenda. Yeah. That's exciting. He scored three goals this season. Let's start this again. The Oriti special. Yeah. So, yeah. So, what about, though, just to touch on what the other two lads were talking about with yourself, what do you envisage Gunnar as Jarrod's role? He's mentioned himself several times and as Phil says, the owners that you've mentioned. What do you reckon is the future for Jarrod when he does come back? What kind of role? He should be, like, the shed, bring two birds, ambushes or something like that to begin with. But we all know, maybe it won't be a good thing. It would end like Kenny did, being sacked and all that. But Stevie Jarrod or Jamie Carrega, one of them or both of them, will manage the Liverpool one day. It's just written in the stars, right? More so, maybe Carrega. I think it's more of a captain manager type, but Stevie Jarrod will be back in the club in five years' months. He'll be back. Yeah. He's just, I think it's going to hit him hard when he's watching Liverpool play next season. I don't know if he may be enjoying his time in the sun with Alex and the girls and all that. But one thing that has to throw is in it. One thing bugs me, because equipped England's just focused on Liverpool, to prolong his seat. Jamie Carrega touched on this also. It's like we're not being told absolutely everything, because I think somewhere in there there was a contract argument or something, because equipped England, so he can focus on Liverpool and prolong his career two to three years. And then suddenly when he gets hinted at this kind of matches his time, it's going to bow out. But I think that's something, I don't think that we're getting told everything that's going on behind the scenes. Yeah, well, we rarely do, I guess we rarely do. I don't think that's, for me, my reading of the whole thing was that, you know, you can't foretell how you're going to see a player in China and if you can keep up the same levels or standards where you expect the team is going to be. And things can change quite quickly in football. Look at Roger, for example. Do you know what I mean? Last year, everyone has talked about him being there for ten years, and now we're all talking about his position being in doubt. So things change quickly in football. For me, when looking at your ad this year, he hasn't been anywhere near the level that we're talking last year. Now, there's part in this that's poor management in terms of the tactics and stuff that's been employed and where he's been using it. But there's also the natural fact that he's going to be 25 at the end of this season. There's an age thing here as well. You think this just basically was happening. It was just something that was going to happen, despite all the arrangements. I think Andy's touching it as well in the past on this. You know, for the first time this season, I've seen Gerard not being able to give. And you can see, even in himself, he's looked down the pitch. He hasn't been, you know, when things have been happening, whereas it would have gotten to him before. It was almost a resignation that he couldn't do those type of things anymore. No, just no. Yeah. You know what I mean? We're talking recently. That even wasn't there last year. Like when the slip happened against Chelsea, if you remember the whole second half, he went back to being the Stephen Gerard of old where he was trying to make up for his mistake. Right? The whole year. This year, he hasn't been able to make up for those mistakes. He hasn't had, I haven't seen the energy levels then. I don't know whether there's a combination of a World Cup, but maybe it was a World Cup too far from in terms of what it was done. A short and pre-season and then going in and playing nearly every single game. It comes back again to the management of his time on the actual pitch, but it just doesn't look like he has the same energy levels to do what he used to do. And if he takes himself out of the Liverpool team and puts him into a different side where he doesn't have the same level of expectations internally himself and expectations himself for what he wants to do for the city and the club and the whole lot. It probably frees him up to just enjoy his football over the last two years. I think everyone would like to see him having that chance in the state. I suppose we should get to the contributions that were made by our last year as well as to whether if you want to. Yeah, I suppose we last year, just so normally we do triple shots on the whole lot. But it's just hard to be nice to get people to listen to it, to get their memories of the brilliant things that happened with him over the season. And it's an easier way because we're not going to cover everything. Well, of course, enough, a lot of these we will have touched on. So I'll just go down through the amount of people want to comment on that as we go. They're kind of in reverse or they came in, so the most recent one I had there was from Terry Klag. And Terry says the most outstanding moment for him was the goal and the celebration against the ranks in 2001. And we've pretty much covered that one off. Dean talks about the old Trafford celebrations and the camera kiss. He's joined by Cody, and Cody talks about, I think Neil mentioned it. Basically, the idea of having a signature celebration on a Trafford. I mean, as he says, who else could ever have that? It's only Danny Morphe and Robbie Felder. Yeah, they didn't even do that. You know what I mean? Like, it's peculiar to him. It could only be a player of his status that could, you know, know they're going to do it again, you know? Yeah, you need a big pair of balls to do it, don't you? They have the nerve to do it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But you also have to know from the fact that you're probably going to do it. This is probably going to happen again. I'm going to do this the next time I scored as well. Yeah. In our efforts to not go on about the more predictable things, we've kind of given Istanbul a bit of a short shrift. One that's coming here from David, he talks about it. It's not the goal. It's not lifting the trophy. He talks about the half-hour that he put in at right back in Istanbul and the effect of that on the team in terms of just literally you could see them all being lifted. Obviously, there was a tactical change as well, but really the driving power of that. But you know, he was an accomplished right back. When you think back when you made it. He really, really got it right. Yeah, when he came into the team, he came in as a right back. Yeah. And he had all that. We talk about it. You know what I mean? I can't remember, you know, I've given him a bit of a lesson one time though. Yeah, and that was the last time. Yeah. He didn't happen again. No. You know, it just shows the level. This fellow could have played literally any position, right back, right wing. We haven't talked about the right wing when Rafa played him on the right wing and he scored 20 goals on the right wing. Are you going to like to talk about that? I know. He just got us back on the crossing of all. I know. And everybody was back and back and back. But he was quicker than Beckham. Yeah. He had more pace than Beckham. And he had more power. No, but look, do you know what I mean? He had more power and he had more pace than Beckham. That would have been a phenomenal right winger at the time as well. So look, it stands to measure that all these positions that he excelled in, the spoils, you know, wanted to play sentiment field. I suppose it's interesting what you hear about it. I know he's crazy, but he says he was as effective as peer law, but in a completely different way. And the peer law control the game with passing and control and controlled the pace of the game. Jurassic, he controlled the game in a completely different way. It was just forced, so, isn't it? And leading by attitude as much as anything else and then sheer ability as well. And he was going to get to the goal. That's all you want to hear. And that's what happened in Istanbul. That's what I'm getting to about the Istanbul team. I mean, that's how he got us back into it. It wasn't by, as you know, the old algae, put your foot in the bottom spread around. It wasn't at a tall. It was just pure leadership. And this is, I'm going to, I'm going to, I'm going to do a forced. I'm going to get the goal and then we'll go. And he was the only person that was going to get it. Wasn't it? Think of the header. That header, when you look back at it, it's immense. Yeah. The actual ability to hit it was in Russian in terms of, you know, it was almost behind him and he's arching his neck and he's torn around me. Under exit. It's beautiful. It's a phenomenal header. And the madness was, as soon as that goes in, every single one of us, tah, hang on a second, you know, it was that moment, it's that moment that suddenly all of a sudden, and we should have no right. It's tree one against A.C. but now we've just been played off the pack. I'd left the room. I was crying and crying. I was on the 97th. Yeah. I have to go with a, I have to compare something. Go, we love a confession. Were you at the grave again? No, no, no, no. He wasn't sad, yeah. You were digging it, were you? That match killed him. I missed the game. Oh, no way. That's a book game. Jesus. I had booked a flight with me, my girlfriend and her family, to cost her the show. No five. So you just couldn't get out of it? The 20th. The 25th of May. We came out and I was always ringing on my phone. How was the score and everything? And me, but me, Dad, thank me. We were on the bus coming from the airport, said, "One little Asian Milan." Yeah, fuck's sake. Came into the hotel, just checking in, waiting for the guy to come check his in. Then he had celebrations at the bar at the hotel. I just ran in there, got the second one. And then soon, the third one, out there. I'm not watching that. Yeah. I was just two or three hours later, I get a phone call. I was just moodiest, fuck. We went to vacation for my girlfriend at least. I was like, "Why is your moody?" Neil produced loads of fucking European Cup finals. I just, I made a phone call for me, Ma. What's the game? No, I didn't. What's the fucking game? Just the one. And I just, I dropped my phone. I'm speechless. I just, I get hurt on my neck, just saying that right now, that moment. Yeah. You just won in a penalty shoot, it was amazing. Yeah, it's true, it certainly was. And one about, one about, another one that's been touched on there. John talks about John Swain on Twitter. Also, Kev Kelly, and we've got Sibley and En White. All these guys mentioning this running to the end of the season. One thing that keeps coming up here is the whole, we go again, speech. Now, it's been done to that and an awful lot of people, more cynical types like ourselves. Perhaps. They're cringy in it, yeah. But, but it's coming up here. So many people have suggested as a thing. So, so recent. It's, it's because- Back to my thing about recent, you know, so many of our memories that we, that, that stand out for us will be in the recent passes, opposed to going back to say a 102, 104. You know what I mean? And that, if you think about it, how many times, you don't really hear the players on the pitch? Yeah. So it's like, it's a real sort of rare thing to happen that you hear the huddle and you hear what's being said in the actual huddle, because it's just not, it's not normally done. I don't remember another time. You can see it. They really did believe you were going to win the league then, didn't they? Yeah. It was probably, this is going to happen when you lead out. And it kind of, and the fact that you're I feel that it got into the public domain and we got a little, I suppose, a little sneaky peek at what's going on inside. Yeah. That usually happens in the dressing room. It probably would have been better if they had it left until the dressing room really because it didn't really pan out. Well, the whole slip line in the middle of it was on stage. There you go again, that's the toward time. I didn't think we were talking. We weren't going to mention it. Yeah. If you look tragedy, it's the tragedy. It is the tragedy. It is the tragedy. Yeah. Actually, there are Greg mountains there. The Slippy says that, you know, you've got embrace the tragedy as part of the story as well. That was a Hoxie six months for him, wasn't it? Oh, what? A run. What a run for the team. I think that had a massive factor in his decision this season as well. Yeah. And I wonder, I suppose, you say he has to have the, he has to have a strength, a character and all that, but it has to affect him. The grief he's been getting from the parents, his home, I know. I mean, I'm not saying from Liverpool fans, but away fans in. I mean, do you think? I don't know. It's hard for me to say, I don't know the chap, but it must get to him. And he must have a pain. It does not all listen to him. I think, I said it to you. I don't think the songs get to him. I think the commencement of groans when he gets on the board on outfield will have a bigger effect on him than say the actual songs that have been sang against them. Because, you know, it's the thing now. It's not uncharacteristic, Stray Longbaw from Stephen Dred, well, it's not uncharacteristic anymore. You know what I mean? There's so many times that it's an overplayed or a misplaced past now at this stage. So that type of thing sort of, you know, I think that will get to him more than he sounds. It's been singing songs about him for fucking years. We've talked about the manny, manny, manny football moments. I was particularly amused by the ones that came in, but some of the ones that came in here. Carl, for example, talks about one of his outstanding Jared memories is watching him pick a baby puke and pull, which on that documentary. What documentary is that? The Vama documentary? No, no. It's just behind the scenes. It's behind the scenes. It's behind the scenes in the old.com. I haven't seen it. Another one as well that was mentioned was, it says Stevie so clearly admitted his love for Phil Collins publicly and nearly did time for it. Which of course goes back to a certain story that we almost, some of the details. That's a misnomer. Yeah, yeah. Cool and Collins. Quick hits. Napoli the Napoli matchman under house. He comes on and he changes the whole course of the game. I think that that came in from Josie. We didn't mention it, but yes, that was, and that to me I was, I was backed up material. You know, he would have been perfect for being used sparingly in terms of managing his game time because the impact he had in the game over 45 minutes was phenomenal that day. Right? There was one goal against everything that always stands out for me and it's not in, it was in Enfield. The ball is played out. He wins the header which flicks on to Torres. Torres flicks on to his knee and his chest. And there's a reverse back heel pass around the corner which Gerard has started his run from the halfway line. Gets on to the end of a destroys pass Laskart and sluttling to the bottom corner of Enfield. That was like, for me, that was incredible. That's the summation of that thing you were talking about earlier on. Those two in tandem, that one-class pair. That just, they were just electric together, electric. You know, and whenever I think back, nearly every time I think back to the moment, there's so many times I think of the two in tandem or the two. I was always, when I think of Torres, I think of him and Torres Celebrate. When I think of Gerard at his peak, I think of him and Torres Celebrate. They are always, always, always, it always comes back to that memory. One that's almost like the direct opposite of what we're talking about now, and the reason that this part of the card is also coming from Gareth. Gareth talks about how his one of his outstanding memories is Stevia Reigen to Melwood in that shitty pink shirt of his, with his toilet bag on his arm. The date that he decided to stay after the whole Chelsea flirtation thing. And that was quite a significant thing for a lot of people. But it did feel like a new sign on him. It was like, "I'll have some cheeses." But you know what's really interesting is that an awful lot of these, they're people sharing memories that like, you know, having posters on the wall or I think it was Sam mentioned meeting Stevie when he was nine, or something like that. I think that's definitely, definitely worked. You know, mentioned like Sam Aguirre, wasn't he? Yeah. Melwood. Yeah. And basically, Stevie lets him score a penalty. So he couldn't play and go, "Oh, honey, what is going on?" You know, I think he brings home the same football. Like, an awful lot of the people who contact us, you know, Stephen's massive. He's the key part of our football lives. Probably the reason an awful lot of people started supporting Liverpool. You know, I just ran completely out of something to say to him. I think that is the fourth time ever. It is the fourth time ever, yeah. That's because it's not down-brand board. It's probably not. Probably. Go fuck yourself, San Diego. Go fuck yourself, San Diego. Yeah, just gone blank there. Just gone blank. Just gone blank. Yeah. Right. Well, look, I suppose we'd wrap it up at that stage then with the usual downy humiliation. It's like, I used to have a weekly one of those. Yeah, it is. And look, I suppose, I'm glad we did this because it was nice to reminisce about the times that he's given us over the last time. It's massively a character for you as well. I know you struggle through it. And normally I'm a cynical fucker. You know what I mean? When you sit down and you watch the highlight reel, it's a phenomenal highlight reel to watch. And it's, you know, it's a reminder of how good he was. Yeah. You know? Yeah. And as I said, I definitely feel that he should be kept. He should be paired to the fabric of a globe when he just wants to retire from football. A realm is among the weeds. Beautiful. Oh, no. All right, let's finish this. So, let's say you're in Tioga or Pilates. Or maybe you dabble in gymnastics like me. Either way, you know, being flexible is key to doing what you love. That's why Smoothie King created this stretch and flex smoothie for people like us. With whole fruits and organic veggies plus type 2 collagen, make it part of your daily fitness routine to support flexibility and joint health. So try this stretch and flex smoothie in Tarte Cherry or Pineapple Kale. Order online today for pickup or delivery. Smoothie King, rule the day. Time to fire up the grill. 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This weeks pod is a celebration of Stevie G as he announces his intention to leave the club at the end of the season. We asked Neil Poole, creator of LFC fanzine weareliverpoolfanzine.com , Jay Riley of the Anfield Index Red Room, Serial Pod contributor Mark Simpson and Guardian sports journalist Sachin Nakrani for their memories of Stevie. After that Trev and Phil are joined by site writer Neil Gray and our favourite Icelandic Scouser Gunnar Ragnarsson to discuss their memories, their current feelings and what they would like to see happen with Stevie in the future. Slightly less slaggy than normal and a chance to celebrate a career which has dominated our football landscape for nearly 20 years.
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