What’s Next for Steven Gerrard? Play Him As No 10 And He Will Rip Teams Apart

As Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard walked down the tunnel of St. James’ Park shoulders drooping and spirit deflated after a rather ineffective performance, Reds fans around the world slumped in disgust and disappointment at what they’d seen in the 90 minutes prior to that moment. For the best part of the last decade it was in a game like the one against Newcastle that Kopites would turn to their skipper and the dynamic midfielder would more often than not, grab the game by the scruff of its neck and rescue his hometown club. However, as the 34 year old slipped as he attempted to change the direction he was running in, inviting all the chants reminding him about probably the most regretful moment of his career right on cue, deep down I was hit with a sudden realization that the skipper we once towards for inspiration is well past it.

Its only a testament to the player that Steven Gerrard has been for club and country over the past decade and half that the aging process of one of England’s most influential midfielders ever, has been scrutinized and dissected by newspapers, columns and television in great depth. So what’s next for Liverpool and Steven Gerrard?

As it stands, the skipper has is contracted to the Reds until May 2015 so if Liverpool were not to offer the former England skipper a new, improved deal then the MLS is one option the Huyton-born midfielder will certainly consider. Among other options, a possible move to PSG just like the David Beckham move a couple of seasons ago or a rather improbable yet fairy-tale reunion with former Liverpool team-mate Xabi Alonso at German champions Borussia Dortmund. If the veteran midfielder were to leave, he would be leaving his hometown club in able hands. With Jordan Henderson most likely to take over the mantle of running the Liverpool midfield, the likes of Emre Can and Joe Allen have enough quality to collectively try to fill in the void. The young German, in particular, has shown a lot of promise in his short yet impressive Liverpool career. With the likes of Jordan Rossiter and Jordan Williams breaking through into the first team by the start of next season, the talent is there for Reds fans not to be left gasping for breath if the skipper decides to leave.

Another possibility is that Gerrard does sign the new deal and how would Brendan Rodgers’ would manage the aging midfielder who has been quite visibly over-worked since the season has started. The two schools of thought on Steven Gerrard’s role at the club are very different from each other. The first one is the one which is in motion right now. Play the skipper in the deep-lying playmakers position and have 2 wilful runners alongside him to provide the midfield with legs. While this is a pretty plausible solution, discipline has never been Stevie G’s strongest suit. Playing as the deepest midfielder requires a lot of positional discipline and a general know-how of breaking up play as and when needed which the skipper doesn’t naturally possess in his locker. The other thought suggests that utilize Stevie G as an impact sub in the attacking midfield position, the position he made his own under Rafa Benitez. Play the skipper in the 10 and let him rip teams apart as they tire.

The contract is yet to be signed and every Liverpool fan on the planet would heave a huge sigh of relief if the issue is solved at the earliest. The skipper and his clubs’ future depends on the signing of a contract.