Liverpool FC Forum

by **LiverpoolUSA** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 8:39 am

Rafael Benitez last night insisted there is no problem in his relationship with Steven Gerrard as he vowed to "try to the end" to keep his captain at the club.
Benitez and chief executive Rick Parry yesterday reiterated their desire to keep Gerrard on Merseyside as speculation intensified that his Liverpool days could be coming to an end.

But Benitez has insisted he will do everything he can to persuade his skipper to sign a new deal and has hit back at those who have mischievously suggested the two don't see eye to eye.

He said: "Has anyone seen a problem between me and Steven? Answer that. I have spoken to him about future roles at the club. I asked him what he wanted to do in the future and he gave me an idea - but that will remain private because it was a private conversation.

"For the moment we will try to do things properly. We are doing things properly. He is the first player with two years left on his contract who we are talking with. The players we have spoken to so far only had one year left on their deals.

"We recognise that Steven is a key player for us. He is a special player, a match-winner, and there are very few of those around."

Benitez also insisted he didn't want to cash in on Gerrard and then use the money to rebuild his team for next season.

"We don't need more money - we don't need to sell Stevie," he added. "We have a clear idea of who we want and the players want to come here and play for the European champions. Maybe we need a little but not too much... we don't need a lot more money. The fans need to understand that.

"My idea is that we want him to stay - that's what the chief executive and the board all want. We will talk with the player, the agent and we will try to find a solution. We will try right until the end."

by **Ola Mr Benitez** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 8:41 am

I love Rafa... the man is already a legend.. c'mon Stevie.. put pen to paper...

by **ian_gow** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 8:56 am

the speculations are making me sick ... he might well end up in chelsea ..

by **LFCNUTTER** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 9:13 am

agents scum of football

by **ALONSO_14** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 9:39 am

The more the days and seasons roll on with the story of gerrard leaving anfield, the more i start to feel pity for the supporters of all football clubs, especially now we sit and go through this turbulence in getting stevie G to sign a new contract.

For the past 5 years (maybe more) talk in close seasons ALWAYS refers to where the season's superstars and constant performers are going to be playing. The biggest influence on these stories are the agents that "represent" a footballer trying to get himself (the agent) his big pay day. Agents get a larger fee for a transfer (reportedly 5% depending on negotiations) than they do for the percentage of a players wage.

Gerrads agent, Struan Marshall works for SFX, the same people behind most of englands top players. Reportedly it is SFX who played a major part in the fall out between Beckham and Manchester United when negotiations began over a new contract for the England Captain. Also represented by SFX is Michael Owen, with the same situation being apparent as we face now. Owens agent "advised" the player to draw out his contract talks in the view of a better pay deal. Of course we know the story behind Owen, Benitez made his mark on the player after growing frustrated that his contract was still not signed before the start of our Glorious Champions League campaign, and decided it better to cash in on a player in the last season of his contract.

Arsenal have gone through it for 3 years nearly with Viera, every season he gets linked with going of to become a galactico or to join the top echelon of Serie A. And on top of this Henry, Ljunberg, Pires and Co all get dragged into to apparent training ground bust ups with Wenger in press spin to try and sell papers with the transfer rumours of a clubs big names.

Tampa Bay United had it with Giggs

Lyon are going through it with Essien

Basically any player showing a smidgen of talent gets hyped up by agents and press alike into being sought after for the big move to heighten that individuals profile in the hope of a big move or a higher pay day every Friday.

The problem you have is star players will always attract massive amounts of press speculation over their future, with media spin being fueled by an Agents Desire to get his big pay day in advising his "client" to go where the money is. Look at our situation with Kewell. When you think of how Leeds only got £3 mil for a £5 mil transfer fee is beyond me. The problem we face is that now we are seeing the negative side of an Agents influence over Transfer/contract proceedings. One thing we have to remember is that if one thing can be taken from the latest media circus surrounding the situation with Gerrard is that the player himself had not had any involvement with the talks for them to break down

I would personally like to see Gerrards comments on the affair, as noteably the guy has just professionally gone about his business to reach this point, for it to be seemingly ruined by agents. i do however think the time is now right for Gerrard to break his silence over the matter as its not right that for the second pre-season the fans get dragged through this for Our club, and also i believe that FIFA should bring in sanctions on agents to stop this entire situation football finds itself from spiralling out of control.

With the Ashley Cole saga to name but one situation where an agent has basically touted around to put his players name about to unsettle the club/player relationship, the worlds governing body HAS to step in an sanction the movements an agent can make to stop what is now quite obviously happening at our club.

I sat last season and watched a player at a press conference commit his future to a club so long as its ambition matched that of his own. I wondered how the situation ever came about, the previous season, our biggest home grown talent was made captain of his boyhood hero club. How that soured in that season i couldn't understand, but now things become clearer and clearer that agents are having to big an influence on the future of any clubs big time stars. This is further evident after that captain lifts a European cup after argueably the best ever final in the history of the Champions League after a superb individual and collective second half performance, to then be on his way from the club.

In maybe a completely naive statement, the hope would be that Stevie could sit down with Rafa and Rick Parry without the involvement of agents to try and resolve what may turn out to leave a club, its current captain and its supporters with a very sour taste in our mouths

Run upto todays events

How Gerrard talks broke down at Anfield
Wed: Talks between SFX and Parry take place. SFX make ridiculous demands but LFC don't reject them and simply listen to what SFX have to say.

Thurs: SFX return for talks but seem less interested. The club detect that Gerrard isn't interested any more. Gerrard privately claims Rafa wants him out. The skipper feels actions of club suggest they want to sell. Someone (SFX?) appears to have got to Gerrard and has brainwashed him into believing he's not wanted. LFC deny this is the case.

Sat: Gerrard is used to Houllier's friendly-friendly, arm around a player approach where as Rafa is respectful but tougher (Michael Owen discovered this). As a result Gerrard's relationship with Rafa is not as good as the one he had with Houllier. Gerrard arrived late for training following Carragher's wedding and was made to train alone. Rafa and Gerrard spend 1 hour talking at Melwood. It is claimed the duo had a serious disagreement regarding the contract talks. Following that meeting LFC will tell you that Rafa contacted Anfield and said 'Make Gerrard feel special. He's convinced we want to sell him'. Source close to Rafa insist he doesn't want to sell Gerrard.

Sun: British newspapers are informed by a mystery source (SFX?) that talks have hit problems. Several tabloids run reports of Gerrard feeling club is pushing him out. SFX inform Liverpool that Gerrard will reject every contract offer and will now quit the club.

Mon: Every tabloid and broadsheet is tipped off that talks have now collapsed because of the situation. It appears that SFX have fed more information out in the hope of embarrassing chief executive Rick Parry at this afternoon's press conference for Bolo Zenden.

CONCLUSION:

SFX are advising Gerrard to quit Anfield

Liverpool prepared to offer Gerrard £100k-a-week

Chelsea and Real Madrid offering approximately £120k-a-week

Rafa hasn't forgotten Gerrard's lack of commitment earlier in the season regarding his contract/future

LFC are in debt and needed funds to help repair this problem hence the reason why Rafa hasn't been given a blank cheque book this summer as fans expected

Parry wants SFX to reduce the demands for Gerrard in his contract negotiations.

SFX believe Rafa is using the Spanish media to make it look like Gerrard wants out and is to blame

SFX are leaking their side of things to the British media to try and embarrass Reds and also thereby alert the big clubs interested in Gerrard to a possibility of him becoming available

Interested clubs almost certain to make official bids within next 72 hours thereby maybe making Liverpool interested in offers by large sums to be offered for the player (Sounds very similar to the Owen Situation)

Manchester United the first of these by being linked with Gerrard on Monday

LFC will never admit any of the claims that they are trying to push him out so their next statement should prove very interesting. It is likely they will play down everything from their point of view.

by **hawkmoon269** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 9:54 am

I fu(king hate this 5hite every year. Why the fu(k can't they leave us alone. If it's not SG, then it was Owen. If Stevie goes, will it be Carra next? Well fu(k the whole lot of them! At least Carra came out and stated that there was no bigger club that Liverpool, and he would never leave. Why can't Stevie come out and publically say that?

by **ckay** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 10:08 am

Great post Alonso!

by **Anfield rapper** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 10:09 am

At the end of the day i think it will come down to who Gerrard believes can win the Premiership next season and complete his medal collection. Being perfectly honest i believe he will be at Chelsea. On sky yesterday they showed some interesting stats for liverpool with and without SG. Without SG liverpool have won more games scored more goals and conceded less goals. The things liverpool will miss though is his ability to change a game and score vital goals but all this speculation is doing the club no good at all. IMO no player is as big as liverpool fc and one way or the other this speculation has to stop or we can expect another inconsistant season from him.

by **ALONSO_14** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 10:15 am

ckay wrote:Great post Alonso!

thanks mate just thought i needed to get a lot off my mind and give my thoughts on the matter

by **BringBackTiti** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 10:23 am

Liverpool will turn down Chelsea's £32m offer for unsettled Steven Gerrard.

Anfield chief executive Rick Parry told BBC Sport Chelsea had made a bid for Liverpool's 25-year-old captain, who has broken off talks on a new contract.

He said: "I can confirm we have had a bid from Chelsea and that it will be rejected by us."

Liverpool have now offered Gerrard a deal worth £100,000-a-week to stay, but are not optimistic he will stay, with Real Madrid also waiting in the wings.

Gerrard met a high-level Liverpool delegation, led by Parry and chairman David Moores, on Monday evening after the England star's advisors called off contract negotiations earlier in the day.

Liverpool then made Gerrard the biggest contract offer in the club's history, and were told he would go away and sleep on the deal.

They are still hopeful Gerrard will have a similar change of heart to the one that led him snub a move to Chelsea at the 11th-hour last season, but BBC Sport understands Liverpool are not optimistic that he will agree to stay.

Real Madrid confirmed their interest on Tuesday in the England star, who has two years left on his current deal at Anfield.

They now appear set for a bidding war with Chelsea for the services of Gerrard, who is thought to be upset that Liverpool did not place a high enough priority on the contract negotiations.

Chelsea's offer was higher than the previous British record buy, which was set at £29.1m when Manchester United bought Rio Ferdinand from Leeds in 2002.

But the feeling in Spain has always been that Gerrard would not leave Liverpool for another English club - which has encouraged Real.

Bernabeu director of football Arrigo Sacchi said on Monday: "Of course we are interested in him, what big club isn't?"

But Sacchi suggested Gerrard would have to hand in a formal transfer request first.

"Until the player makes a move we are not going to be involved in a fight for his services."

Sacchi also rubbished rumours that Real and Chelsea had a deal aimed at keeping the price down for Gerrard.

He said: "We have no agreement with Chelsea. How could we when our clubs are always interested in the same players?"

According to reports, Gerrard currently earns £60,000 per week at Anfield. It is claimed Real will pay him up to £130,000 per week, with Chelsea going no higher than £90,000.

Liverpool open their defence of the Champions League crown with a qualifier against Welsh side TNS on 13 July.

If he plays in that match he would be ineligible to turn out for any other side in the competition.

Liverpool chiefs are thought to be surprised at the speed with which negotiations to keep their captain dissolved.

Parry said on Monday: "We still hope this situation is repairable. We are completely surprised by the comments (from Gerrard's agent).

"Rafa Benitez wants Steven to stay and couldn't have made it any clearer.

"We have made it clear since January we wanted to talk to Steven about a new contract.

"For anyone to make an issue of a delay of just a few days makes no sense. When we met on Wednesday, things were fine.

"We have wanted to keep Steven all along. There has never been any suggestion we wanted to sell him.

"Money is not an issue. There are no financial concerns regarding Steven's contract so any suggestion to the contrary is wrong."

Zenden points to Benitez factor

And Benitez, speaking at a media conference to announce four new signings, added: "We tried last season three times to talk to Steve about a new deal and he said we need to wait."

Meanwhile England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson told BBC Radio Five Live that Gerrard's chances of being picked for the national team would not be affected if he chose to join Real Madrid.

"Look at David Beckham, Michael Owen, Owen Hargreaves. They are playing outside (England) and playing well in the national team every time they are picked - and they are always picked."

by **jonnymac1979** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 10:30 am

Yep, we've officially rejected the bid.

by **mistyred** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 10:43 am

Do you think rejecting the (first) bid is a ploy to let the auction style
bidding war commence?

by **stmichael** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 11:07 am

hawkmoon269 wrote:I fu(king hate this 5hite every year. Why the fu(k can't they leave us alone. If it's not SG, then it was Owen. If Stevie goes, will it be Carra next? Well fu(k the whole lot of them! At least Carra came out and stated that there was no bigger club that Liverpool, and he would never leave. Why can't Stevie come out and publically say that?

Gerrard must have told someone (agent?) he was pi$$ed off that others were getting their contracts sorted before him and this got back to the firm who he told this to (sfx?).

If it's as simple as that it's a sad fact that the captain of this club is acting like a spoilt child who wants everything his own way and has a hissy fit if he doesn't get it.

Last summer was a nightmare. We were all acting like 13 year old lasses after Take That broke up - this time round i'm starting to think that i couldn't give a flying f#ck if he signs or not because if a captain can act like that he's isolated from the rest of the team before a ball is kicked . Pathetic

by **hawkmoon269** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 11:33 am

Agreed St Mike. If he was loved Liverpool (and liverpool FC) so much then he would come out publically and state that all this 5hite in the press is exactly that, 5hite! But he doesn't! He obviously knows how much this whole episode hurt the club last summer, and how unsettled he was all season. Do Liverpool really need this sort of hassle every transfer period?

Has he become a mercenary, after the bigger better deal? Is his heart no longer at the club? We can't answer these questions. But something has to be done, or it will affect the whole team again this season. Maybe it's time to cash in on the £35-40M and buy 3-4 players of Alonso's quality!!

What really is pi$$ing me off, is the thought of having this all sorted, Gerrard stays, and then in January or July/Aug next year it all starts up again. :angry:

by **red_indian** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 12:11 pm

i think players have to nail the falg to the mast in one way or another, the grass always seems greener somewhere else and there is always likely to be a side willing to pay up for you but ultimately its where your heart tells you you want to be.

Last summer Gerrard told us his heart was with Liverpool hence his reason for staying - 12 months later after lifting the Champions League is his heart no longer here? Vieira could leave for Madrid whenever he wants but despite not winning much last year and not getting anywhere near winning the Champions League with Arsenal neither he nor Henry have ever really threatened to walk away really - even though the likes of Barca, Madrid, Chelsea or whoever else would readily stump up the cash if they decided they did want to go.

You have to have loyalty to a club at some point - we only need to look as far as Carragher to see this

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