Someone will still complain we're not doing enough scouting when Vancouver signs some no-name South American and misses the playoffs. Like others, I have some reservations about fitness but this is frankly an amazing signing. What other club can boast they have had the best American, Irish and English players of their generation all in one decade?
Well Mike, you know us high functioning retards here in bum f*ck Los Angeles sure do love this game called (soccah). This Steven Gerrard guy we just signed is he any good? I like can't see any of his games over here because our TV sets only get Benny Hill reruns and that Ab-Fab show with those 2 english dairy cows dressed up like a Joan Rivers bowel movement. Let me school you (Mike) on the LA galaxies. In 2007 we signed a 32 year old David Beckham in the height and pinnacle of his game and celebrity to a contract and it was a HUGE DEAL here and the entire country. It's 2015 and we just signed a 34 year old pastey, disgruntled Steven Gerrard who has never played in 90-100 degree heat in the summers of United States like he will come July, August, Sept. And travel tens of thousands of miles criss crossing this country after playing almost non-stop thru all of 2014 and half of 2015. And after all that does this move make sense? Not really. If we are willing to shell out 7-9 million dollars, why aren't we looking for the "Next" Landon Donovan, not necessarily an american but young and talented 23-25 who can be with us for years and has something to prove and has value if he should get better. No Steven Gerrard is a stop gap move to pander to a stagnant LA Galaxy fanbase, one whose Season Tickets are not selling, and whose MLS Cup TV ratings were only slightly better than the year before even with all the drama and interest surrounding Landon Donovan. Sadly Mike, We have signed David Beckham, Robbie Keane, Steven Gerrard... and we aren't even the best soccer team within a 200 mile radius of Los Angeles. That honor goes to Club Tijuana Xolos in Mexico, And I bet you can't even name anyone on that team. I would be willing to say you didn't even know they existed, and the fact they would beat the LA Galaxy (even with Steven Gerrard) more times than not should blow your mind. See Mike, in MLS its about the name on the back of jersey not the front. (you'll have to understand American sports) to get that reference, google it. And that is why this move for Stevie isn't a big deal to us. By the way most people on here know exactly what were getting in Steven Gerrard.
Cool, we get one of the best English players! I'm stoked, like big-smile-on-my-face stoked, not jumping-for-joy stoked. Can't wait to see him in action. EDIT: Welcome Steve and your lovely wife Alex!
No, he'd play in behind Keane. Gerrard is a cm, amid, and off-forward by trade. http://www.football-lineups.com/lineup/31058/ should help you out some.
I've belittled you by putting up a couple of videos? Don't be so sensitive. Well done, you know a lot about the EPL and Stevie, etc, etc but I am 100% sure not every LAG supporter does. All that I have done is tried to introduce Stevie a bit more to the few that don't know the player or the person. Some good lads on here but some very arrogant ones too who seem to have their back up over nothing. Lighten up.
Why would you assume my post applied to you? =) If you (1) told us "go watch video of Stevie, he's the best!" like none of us have ever seen him play, (2) told us we have no idea what we are talking about, or (3) said "don't get offended, but...........*lots of derogatory stuff about both the fans and the league*") then you should assume it applies to you. If you didn't, then cheers. And yes, you can be 100% sure every Galaxy fan knows about Gerrard. He plays in the "best" league and on the English national team, and trust me, every single dang fan on this board has (1) seen him play, (2) has seen him play recently. In addition, he's been rumored to MLS, and the Galaxy in particular, for several years. We've been keeping tabs on him. There isn't a single person here who said "huh, Gerrard.....wonder if that guy is very good?" Posting videos for information about how he is playing: totally fine. No worries there.
This is old ground that has been repeatedly covered in this forum over the past week. Maybe you should read the threads before you start posting the stuff that everyone else has been posting. After you've read the discussion surrounding Gerrard's potential role on the field for LA, maybe you can get back with something new.
Speak English, you're not making any sense. What is your problem with Gerrard playing behind the forward? If you don't wish to discuss this further then let's keep it moving.
When someone posts a lineup from 2007/08 and adds "this should help you out" it's both dumb (the discussion is about where Gerrard will play in 2015) and condescending. That's just an especially irritating combination and I'm guessing the reason behind the "salty" reply.
I posted a video or three and you commented on videos. That's why I thought I could be one of the people you were talking about. And no mate, I totally disagree that every poster on here knows about Gerrard as I've read the whole thread. Without calling anybody out in the danger of embarrassing them there has been quite a few posts earlier in the thread that were totally off the mark regarding Gerrard.
Let me see. Donovan out, MBE in. Heck, this season seems exciting! Looking forward to a Keane +Gerrard offense.
I posted a lineup from a few years earlier in the thread. OK? Gerrard's position has varied throughout his career, got it? He's dropping down several levels to play in MLS, so what he's doing right now at EPL level doesn't give the best answer as to what role would be best fit. Again it's incredibly stupid to think he'd play the same subdued role with the Galaxy as he currently plays with Liverpool. It's important to know what he has done in his career. Thanks for the input.
No, I wasn't commenting on videos----I was commenting on those who have said "go watch some video and educate yourself" (and there were 3 or 4 of those) not those who are putting up videos of how he is playing recently, which is totally relevant. Are you sure you aren't simply disagreeing with people's remarks about Gerrard and their opinions? "Off the mark" is totally different than "haven't seen him play" or "don't know anything about him." I maintain---you may disagree with the assessments (and the assessments may in fact, be totally wrong) but that doesn't mean they don't know about him. Perhaps a better way to phrase would be you're posting video to back up your points in your disagreement with the assessments and statements of some. Because that's of course totally cool. But when you say they "don't know about him"----that's where I think you're the one who is quite wide of the mark.
You've been a good contributor to the thread. I know that jmaestro didn't mean you. All of us, of course, know who Gerrard is. But I will raise my hand as one of those who hasn't seen him play much. I don't watch much EPL/BPL/whatever, and have only seen a few England games. Other than he is a fantastic midfielder, my knowledge was quite limited. So bring on the info and the praise/analysis of Gerrard. The condescension anyone can do without, but you haven't been one of those.
Here is why you are getting flack back: you are automatically assuming that because he's dropping down a level he will be able to go back to playing a different position. If you read the analysis, WE KNOW ALL THIS. We know if is a level down. We are discussing of his legs can do what is needed. Do you think we play on smaller soccer fields? Do you think that somehow in the kilometers to miles conversion distances become shorter? We're addressing all this and discussing it! Except those who just assume "Oh, it's MLS, he can totally play a position that he was moved out of for reasons of legs and stamina." Sorry man--the "it's a level down" thing is a total cop out of analysis. We'll see. Maybe he's good enough still to play there. It is not a given. We'll have to see.
As both a Liverpool supporter and a Philadelphia Union supporter, it makes me both happy and sad to see Stevie leave the club. As far as potential destinations in MLS (within reason, I know the Union would never have a shot landing a player of his stature), LA is fine by me. I think Gerrard will fit in fine in MLS and will fit in nicely with LA. Can we all agree at least he didn't end up on Red Bull or NYCFC? That would've gutted me even worse. See you guys at PPL in 2016.
Short, interesting article on Gerrard's fit in LA: http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/...5&utm_source=FB - NBC Sports Soccer&utm_tags=
Here's the thing: if his legs are a worry, wouldn't it make more sense for him to play off-forward/a-mid rather than in the engine room? That's typically what happens in soccer with the scorers: they move up and centrally as the career progresses. LA don't have Sterling, Suarez, and Sturridge or even latterly just Sterling to work Gerrard around. This reminds me of the claims that Jermaine Jones, another baller dropping several levels, was going to play destroyer in this league. If JJ can drop 3 goals and 6 assists in 13 games worth of minutes, Stevie G will probably do OK. Additionally, MLS is not a pressing league at all. Liverpool like to press, which is also why Balotelli, neverminding an old guy like Gerrard, isn't a good fit. MLS teams press heavily in the playoffs, but the summers are too brutal for the modern style of defending. That aspect alone will make things much easier for Gerrard from a stamina standpoint.
Wasn't initially excited about the signing, but reading more about the situation and gerrard, I'm excited to have a quality player sign with us and hopefully help us win the cup and ultimately the CCL. That said, if for some reason this doesn't work out, I fully reserve the right to pretend like I knew it all from the beginning.
A much better post Eleven. You are including rational arguments behind your opinion. Now if you could quit repeating the phrase "dropping several levels" all would be great. I think "dropping a level" suffices, no? Also Donovan had 19 assists and 10 goals last season, so he does have to generate quite a bit of offense just to keep us level with where we were.
See, this kind of analysis is exactly the good stuff. =) Two points: the Galaxy tend to press a bit in their defense. Juninho and Sarvas in the middle have allowed it. We're concerned about having too many players up high that can't press or defend as needed. Keane isn't going to do it (and shouldn't) Zardes can but he's the guy who stretches the field. Ishizaki on the wing isn't a two way player anymore, and we don't know who fills the gap at left wing. So we're not sure we can afford, as a team, to have him sit in the hole. Personally, I'd love for him to play farther up. I think his passing is a cut above and he has great vision. But if he plays there, he'll have to be rotated a bit I think. Brutal summers may slow down the pressing, but that's not because players aren't still giving 100% effort---it's just hot as heck is all, and even not pressing, that's going to tax Gerrard's stamina.