Jimmy case speaks out on stevie g issue - Anfield legend warns captain
Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2004 9:21 amIf there ever was a man worth listening to its Jimmy Case, born and bred and Liverpool thru and thru. Liverpoolfc.tv reported.....
Kop legend Jimmy Case says Steven Gerrard would be making a huge mistake if he were to leave Liverpool at this stage of his career.
With speculation about the future of the Reds captain intensifying by the day, Case has spoken out in response to comments made by fellow ex-Liverpool stars Mark Lawrenson and Alan Hansen.
In their respective newspaper columns, both Lawrenson and Hansen stated that the time was right for Gerrard to move on and that Chelsea would be the ideal destination.
Yesterday, Liverpool fans reacted angrily to what they perceive as mischief making by two of their former heroes.
But today Case, a born and bred Liverpudlian who knows what it's like to live the dream of playing for his boyhood idols, insists leaving Anfield for Stamford Bridge would be a backward step for Gerrard.
In an exclusive interview with Liverpoolfc.tv the former hard hitting midfielder of the late seventies/early eighties explains why the skipper should not jump from the Anfield ship and laughs off talk that Chelsea are a bigger club than Liverpool.
He says: "Everyone is talking about Steven Gerrard and will he or won't stay at Liverpool."
"One thing is for sure Gerrard loves Liverpool Football Club, I've no doubt about that, and he's not motivated by money, but he must be going through turmoil in his own mind because every player wants to be successful and win trophies.
"For me, what it boils down to is belief in the club. We all know Gerrard has been holding the team together. True, Liverpool did suffer their fair share of injuries last season but I have to say there were also quite a few under-achievers in the team as well.
"However, the board have reacted positively to last season and brought in Rafael Benitez as boss. Hopefully things will improve under him and if it was me in Gerrard's situation I'd give the new manager a chance to show what he can do.
"With the addition of one or two quality players I have every faith we'll be back up there challenging for honours and I think he should hang in there, and I don't just mean for one more season. He's a quality player and has time on his side. He has to give it more of a go at Liverpool, that's my view.
"Personally speaking, it would never have suited me to go and play for Chelsea. I always loved Liverpool Football Club and that was the top and bottom of it. Until I lost my place in the team, and that's not going to happen with Stevie, I would never have considered leaving Anfield.
"Realistically, Chelsea is the only club that could afford him but they can not go on spending like they have been forever and their bubble will burst eventually, I think.
"They are in no way a bigger club, that's not even up for debate. How can they be a bigger club when they've won nothing? Bigger bank balance, yes. But bigger club, no way. Liverpool have bigger crowds, a more illustrious history and the potential for a glorious future.
"Chelsea are trying to be all the so-called best players and that's why they obviously want Gerrard. But that doesn't mean they are guaranteed success."
Kop legend Jimmy Case says Steven Gerrard would be making a huge mistake if he were to leave Liverpool at this stage of his career.
With speculation about the future of the Reds captain intensifying by the day, Case has spoken out in response to comments made by fellow ex-Liverpool stars Mark Lawrenson and Alan Hansen.
In their respective newspaper columns, both Lawrenson and Hansen stated that the time was right for Gerrard to move on and that Chelsea would be the ideal destination.
Yesterday, Liverpool fans reacted angrily to what they perceive as mischief making by two of their former heroes.
But today Case, a born and bred Liverpudlian who knows what it's like to live the dream of playing for his boyhood idols, insists leaving Anfield for Stamford Bridge would be a backward step for Gerrard.
In an exclusive interview with Liverpoolfc.tv the former hard hitting midfielder of the late seventies/early eighties explains why the skipper should not jump from the Anfield ship and laughs off talk that Chelsea are a bigger club than Liverpool.
He says: "Everyone is talking about Steven Gerrard and will he or won't stay at Liverpool."
"One thing is for sure Gerrard loves Liverpool Football Club, I've no doubt about that, and he's not motivated by money, but he must be going through turmoil in his own mind because every player wants to be successful and win trophies.
"For me, what it boils down to is belief in the club. We all know Gerrard has been holding the team together. True, Liverpool did suffer their fair share of injuries last season but I have to say there were also quite a few under-achievers in the team as well.
"However, the board have reacted positively to last season and brought in Rafael Benitez as boss. Hopefully things will improve under him and if it was me in Gerrard's situation I'd give the new manager a chance to show what he can do.
"With the addition of one or two quality players I have every faith we'll be back up there challenging for honours and I think he should hang in there, and I don't just mean for one more season. He's a quality player and has time on his side. He has to give it more of a go at Liverpool, that's my view.
"Personally speaking, it would never have suited me to go and play for Chelsea. I always loved Liverpool Football Club and that was the top and bottom of it. Until I lost my place in the team, and that's not going to happen with Stevie, I would never have considered leaving Anfield.
"Realistically, Chelsea is the only club that could afford him but they can not go on spending like they have been forever and their bubble will burst eventually, I think.
"They are in no way a bigger club, that's not even up for debate. How can they be a bigger club when they've won nothing? Bigger bank balance, yes. But bigger club, no way. Liverpool have bigger crowds, a more illustrious history and the potential for a glorious future.
"Chelsea are trying to be all the so-called best players and that's why they obviously want Gerrard. But that doesn't mean they are guaranteed success."
