The team at CaughtOffside ponder whether Steven Gerrard will hang up his international boots.
For so long now, Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has been central to the plans of the England national team. However, during that time he has so often failed to live up to expectations and after the country’s latest failings at a major tournament the time has come to ask; should Steven Gerrard retire from International football?
Would it be in England’s best interest for him to retire?
Mark Apostolou: Yes, time for new blood.
Adam Davies: It wouldn’t yet be in England’s best interests for Gerrard to retire. There is not yet a replacement with similar ability, and he has held the squad’s respect throughout his captaincy. England are on the verge of a new era, but Gerrard is one of the few to emerge with some credit from the so-called ‘Golden Generation’, and his experience could prove invaluable.
Jordan Chamberlain: No. He’s England’s best holding midfielder by a long, long way. Two poor performances at the World Cup don’t change that.
Glen Harrington: No – we have no one else who can play in that position and do the job he does.
Steven Green: No, we don’t yet have the necessary ingredients to replace him – not just on the pitch but in the dressing room, too.
Would it be in Liverpool’s best interest for him to retire?
MA: Certainly, if Gerrard gives up on England he can probably keep playing for two or three more seasons, perhaps more.
AD: Yes. Liverpool will play European football this coming season after a long break, and would benefit from Gerrard not having to travel and play matches in international breaks.
JC: Arguably – but I don’t see it making a huge lot of difference. Often when a player retires from international duty it signals that they’re winding down their playing career anyway. Gerrard isn’t just yet, and will be a key Liverpool player regardless of his involvement with England.
GH: Yes, with CL football next season, Gerrard could be playing 50+ games if he continues with England.
SG Possibly, but he has been quite lucky with injuries over the years and has a high level of natural fitness anyway.
How long could he keep going for England if he doesn’t retire?
MA: If he doesn’t retire from national team duty one would imagine Euro 2016 would be his potential swan song.
AD: It would be unlikely that he would depart mid-qualifying campaign for UEFA Euro 2016, but Gerrard may feel he has one major tournament left in him.
JC: One more qualifying campaign, and Euro 2016. Let’s leave it at that, and he can walk away as England’s most capped ever player.
GH: Euro 2016 will be is last tournament if he does continue.
SG: IT would be Euro 2016 for sure, he wouldn’t go all the way through qualifying just to step aside by the time the big show rolled around.
Could he cope with the demands of the upcoming season with Liverpool’s return to the Champions League?
MA: He would struggle, all the more reason that he calls time on his England career
AD: Gerrard remains in excellent condition for 34 years of age, but did suffer a couple of niggly injuries last season. If international football remains on his agenda, Brendan Rodgers may have to manage his appearances in cup competitions.
JC Yes. He’s a brilliant professional, and does much less running now anyway as he sits deep instead of providing a box-to-box influence.
GH: Possibly – he has been relatively injury free over the last few years but has had problems in the past. Liverpool are so reliant on his presence, they’d hate to lose him.
SG: Yes, because he wouldn’t be used for every single game. Brendan Rodgers may not have any Champions League experience but he will know when to use certain players and when to give them a breather.
Who would replace him?
MA: Adam Lallana or Ross Barkley would work well as potential replacements though worth noting that both players are perhaps more akin to a Gerrard of old rather than his more recent usage as a more withdrawn midfielder.
AD: Jack Wilshere is an excellent footballer, but is not the holding player England require in midfield. James Ward-Prowse is the only player comfortable playing as the pivot player going forward, but isn’t yet a regular at club level. His Southampton colleague Jack Cork may be an alternative, if he can force his way into the starting XI beyond Morgan Schneiderlin and Vincent Wanyama.
JC: Nobody is good enough yet. Possibly James Ward-Prowse in the future, but if you think he’s capable of doing a job for England already, you’re deluded.
GH: Wilshere / Henderson in a deeper role, the likes of James Ward-Prowse long term.
SG: England are lucky in the fact that the draw for the qualifiers has been kind to them, meaning they could experiment a little with new players. Somebody like Jack Cork or Fabian Delph could be drafted in slowly with an eye for taking over after the tournament.
Will he actually go?
MA: Yes, he’ll retire soon after he arrives back in the UK, isn’t foolish enough to retire in the middle of a major tournament
AD: I think Gerrard will retire. He’ll be 36 in Euro 2016, and although Andrea Pirlo is still going strong at Juventus and with Italy at 35, the speed and pace about this new England side means the defensive midfielder needs to put in plenty of running – which unfortunately Gerrard may not be able to manage.
JC: No. He’ll stay. Too much pride.
GH: He will go, England are at the start of a new era and I don’t believe Gerrard will have the desire to continue playing with a team of youngsters who are at least four years away from being ready.
SG: I can see him staying with the view to taking some sort of coaching role in the near future.
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