Free the Liverpool One!

[Worthy4England]

Anyway... I was in that Lounge Inn back in the summer when I was in Birkdale for the week for the Open Golf. Seemed a pretty ordinary place to me, and not where you'd expect to bump into somebody on Gerrard's money.

Maybe that's why he was there? Canapes every night gets a bit boring after a while.

Tried it have you? unfortunately - yes - a weeks worth was more than enough...

I suppose the kind of thing I might be getting at is that there's always a danger of getting involved in a scrap if you mix with the hoi polloi when you're a rich and famous as he is...

[seanworth]

Thing is, this incident will probably endear Gerrard even more to the Liverpool fans. Now they will be able to really relate to each other.

[bobo the clown]

Thing is, this incident will probably endear Gerrard even more to the Liverpool fans. Now they will be able to really relate to each other.

I refer you to the "Roll Model" thread.

Don't forget though, he's not been found guilty of anything.

Just a thought, but do you think maybe " ... the Bizzie's have fitted him up " ??

I bet Carragher's fuming, with Stevie Me having one up on him.

[palexjones]

Thing is, this incident will probably endear Gerrard even more to the Liverpool fans. Now they will be able to really relate to each other.

I refer you to the "Roll Model" thread.

Don't forget though, he's not been found guilty of anything.

Just a thought, but do you think maybe " ... the Bizzie's have fitted him up " ??

I bet Carragher's fuming, with Stevie Me having one up on him.

Suppose that depends on wether they are blue noses

[Hoboh]

Anyway... I was in that Lounge Inn back in the summer when I was in Birkdale for the week for the Open Golf. Seemed a pretty ordinary place to me, and not where you'd expect to bump into somebody on Gerrard's money.

Maybe that's why he was there? Canapes every night gets a bit boring after a while.

Tried it have you?

I suppose the kind of thing I might be getting at is that there's always a danger of getting involved in a scrap if you mix with the hoi polloi when you're a rich and famous as he is...

They've got to at least be in the same club as some of the common people, or they've nowbody to be considered V.I. compared to. Couldnt have them not being able to lourd it over the masses from behind the safety of a rope.

The knobs should be at home tucked up in bed during the season, acting like bloody professionals! Not making theirselves targets for every berk who wants to make a name for himself.

Overpaid morons should at least think what they are doing, if I was "the prick" I would be less than happy my club Captain was on the piss in a bit of a hovel chasing pensioners at that time of the morning!

[TANGODANCER]

Overpaid morons should at least think what they are doing, if I was "the prick" I would be less than happy my club Captain was on the piss in a bit of a hovel chasing pensioners at that time of the morning!

He was obviously on a mission of goodwill to promote the club image amongst the outlying regions.

[Bruce Rioja]

Overpaid morons should at least think what they are doing, if I was "the prick" I would be less than happy my club Captain was on the piss in a bit of a hovel chasing pensioners at that time of the morning!

Clearly you were there then to know that that's what he was doing then? He couldn't possibly have been having a quiet evening with his mates in exactly the sort of establishment that's not going to draw attention then?

The more of your blather I read, hoboh2o, the further you slump in my regard.

[Hoboh]

u
Overpaid morons should at least think what they are doing, if I was "the prick" I would be less than happy my club Captain was on the piss in a bit of a hovel chasing pensioners at that time of the morning!

Clearly you were there then to know that that's what he was doing then? He couldn't possibly have been having a quiet evening with his mates in exactly the sort of establishment that's not going to draw attention then?

The more of your blather I read, hoboh2o, the further you slump in my regard.

Anyone got an hanky?

[Zulus Thousand of em]

Pass the sick bag!

Steven Gerrard arrest: Brawl claim is like poison to model pro By Oliver Holt Daily Mirror 30/12/2008

It is hard to think of anyone less likely than Steven Gerrard to be facing allegations of assault in a late-night bar. The Liverpool captain has matured into the epitome of the conscientious, committed, responsible kind of professional footballer. He is the opposite of the spoilt, out-of-control, boorish minority of players who have given modern footballers a bad name. Everything about him exudes honesty and courtesy and, of course, a fierce will to win. And most of all, he has always felt a keen sense of duty to uphold the image of Liverpool FC, the great Merseyside institution he represents.

Involvement in this kind of incident, however marginal his role may turn out to be, will be like poison to him. He will be torturing himself for even being near a brawl in a Southport bar. Gerrard shies from publicity and does not relish the limelight off the pitch. He will also know this is just about the worst time for his focus on his game to be disrupted. His team are three points clear in the Premier League and fresh from a 5-1 thrashing of Newcastle on Sunday.

They were beginning to look as though they might be building the kind of momentum that could hold off the title favourites, Chelsea and Manchester Utd. And there is real optimism that the club side can win its first top flight title for 19 years. And yet now Gerrard, who has a vulnerable side and often needs reassurance, has found himself caught up in nightclub mess. He is Liverpool's most important player and the club's management and supporters will be hoping the furore quickly abates. The consolation for them and for Gerrard is that recent years have shown it has become fashionable to accuse footballers of wrong-doing, often without any evidence to back it up. Modern players have become trophy victims for those seeking publicity. Time and again, players have been subjected to lurid allegations only for charges to be dropped

Liverpool fans will be hoping their instincts about Gerrard are right and that he will soon be free to get on with his life.

I reckon they should just read this out to the judge. He could let him off scot free and award him £100,000 from public funds.

[seanworth]

Pass the sick bag!

Steven Gerrard arrest: Brawl claim is like poison to model pro By Oliver Holt Daily Mirror 30/12/2008

It is hard to think of anyone less likely than Steven Gerrard to be facing allegations of assault in a late-night bar. The Liverpool captain has matured into the epitome of the conscientious, committed, responsible kind of professional footballer. He is the opposite of the spoilt, out-of-control, boorish minority of players who have given modern footballers a bad name. Everything about him exudes honesty and courtesy and, of course, a fierce will to win. And most of all, he has always felt a keen sense of duty to uphold the image of Liverpool FC, the great Merseyside institution he represents.

Involvement in this kind of incident, however marginal his role may turn out to be, will be like poison to him. He will be torturing himself for even being near a brawl in a Southport bar. Gerrard shies from publicity and does not relish the limelight off the pitch. He will also know this is just about the worst time for his focus on his game to be disrupted. His team are three points clear in the Premier League and fresh from a 5-1 thrashing of Newcastle on Sunday.

They were beginning to look as though they might be building the kind of momentum that could hold off the title favourites, Chelsea and Manchester Utd. And there is real optimism that the club side can win its first top flight title for 19 years. And yet now Gerrard, who has a vulnerable side and often needs reassurance, has found himself caught up in nightclub mess. He is Liverpool's most important player and the club's management and supporters will be hoping the furore quickly abates. The consolation for them and for Gerrard is that recent years have shown it has become fashionable to accuse footballers of wrong-doing, often without any evidence to back it up. Modern players have become trophy victims for those seeking publicity. Time and again, players have been subjected to lurid allegations only for charges to be dropped

Liverpool fans will be hoping their instincts about Gerrard are right and that he will soon be free to get on with his life.

I reckon they should just read this out to the judge. He could let him off scot free and award him £100,000 from public funds.

WTF. I really haven't been following this that closely, but has Gerrard spoken out regarding this incident. Has he apologized, even if only concerning the damage to the reputation of the Liverpool club. If not, how the hell can reporters write such drivel basically forgiving him everything. Let's hear what Stevie me has to say first. If in fact he has spoken out then I retract some of my comments. Not

[bobo the clown]

Pass the sick bag!

Steven Gerrard arrest: Brawl claim is like poison to model pro By Oliver Holt Daily Mirror 30/12/2008

It is hard to think of anyone less likely than Steven Gerrard to be facing allegations of assault in a late-night bar. The Liverpool captain has matured into the epitome of the conscientious, committed, responsible kind of professional footballer. He is the opposite of the spoilt, out-of-control, boorish minority of players who have given modern footballers a bad name. Everything about him exudes honesty and courtesy and, of course, a fierce will to win. And most of all, he has always felt a keen sense of duty to uphold the image of Liverpool FC, the great Merseyside institution he represents.
..................
....................
etc., etc

Liverpool fans will be hoping their instincts about Gerrard are right and that he will soon be free to get on with his life.

I reckon they should just read this out to the judge. He could let him off scot free and award him £100,000 from public funds.

... and so the great £multi-million business PR exercise begins.

The police, after discussions with the CPS have seen enough evidence to charge him & 2 others with ABH & Affray. Affray, is often viewed as some pillock being a bit boisterous. It's not. For those who aren't certain, is when a persons actions put another person in genuine fear for their wellbeing ... even for their life.

Interestingly they released 3 others, so far, without charge. So there appears to be something suggesting that 3 of them were more active in whatever happened than the others.

Now, in the sort of legal system that we have, you are innocent till proven guilty. That's a good thing ... generally. "Generally" in that, with current vagaries, that means any jury trial is immediately influenced by the bias' & bigotries of the jury members. When on Jury service many years ago I had 2 women jurers with me who actually stated that " ... I don't trust coppers .. they're always supporting each other, so I won't believe anything they say as witnesses". Another saw fit to feel that one of the accused mothers looked so very concerned for her son and she felt terribly sorry for her and didn't want to add to her suffering.

Juries are also massively influenced by image and, in high-profile cases, PR stunts like this all weigh together to add to the pressure they're under. That's all before the promise of a nice wedge, or alternatively, a "we know where you live" message.

None of this can state whether Stevie Me has done what he's accused of or not. None of it can condem him .... however, neither is it right to suggest that anyone who crosses a high profile, rich, "man of the people" is necessarily a gold digger who's out to blackmail the accused.

The injured man is being directly accused of something far worse than a quick loss of temper under drink here. Oliver Holt is directly suggesting that this man is guilty of making a false statement and perverting the course of justice. He's suggesting that he's planning to commit perjury and insinuating, quite directly, that he's seeking financial benefit to withdraw his accusation ... blackmail in other words. All done in a cold, premeditated way. If he has proof of this Mr Holt should present it to the police. If he hasn't the guy should add Mr Holt & the Daily Mirror to the list of people he plans to see in Court.

That man has rights too. The PR machine will roll and I hope to hell he has a clean past and is a robust character. Apparently kicking, snarling, diving, cheating Stevie Me is a paragon of virtue and a quiet man who deserves to be assumed to be incapable of having done something, whatever the facts turn out to be.

A guilty man should be punished and an innocent man should not. It shouldn't matter whether or not they are famous or rich.

Problem is ... it does, and it will.



b.... dummm. "What was that ?" ... "that was me getting off my high-horse".

[H. Pedersen]

Personally I was over the whole "go out and get blind drunk" thing by the time I was 23. What's the appeal for someone who has more money than God? Can't he go cruising on his gold-plated yacht or something?

[bobo the clown]

Personally I was over the whole "go out and get blind drunk" thing by the time I was 23. What's the appeal for someone who has more money than God? Can't he go cruising on his gold-plated yacht or something?

.... Henrik, what do you know ? Tell me now !!! Stevie Me goes CRUISING !?!?!?

[seanworth]

Getting wound up by a Liverpool supporter yesterday over our recent game. All I had to do was smile, then say " Congratulations on a fine result, oh by the way, how's Stevie?" A long silence was followed. In fact he never spoke to me again for the whole night.

[jimbo]

From today's Sunday Times.

Is there a devilish, shadowy conspiracy to stop Liverpool winning the Premier League title this season? Or are Liverpool retreating into their unlovable role as perpetual victims once more? I have the horrible feeling that Steven Gerrard’s arrest (and subsequent charging) for some alleged fracas in a Southport nightclub will lead, some way down the line, to black armbands, wreaths strewn around the gates at Anfield and maybe a minute’s silence before the next home game.

Liverpool’s fans have been quite magnificent these past few years, rock solid in support of their manager, fervently behind their team even when getting the run around by Havant & Waterlooville and Barnsley - a model of patience, forbearance and loyalty. In other words, proper football supporters as we once understood the term. But they do not always react well to adversity apparently imposed from outside. And this time around, with Steven Gerrard’s arrest, they are being chaperoned back into their whining laager by the national press. It’s not fair, etc, someone wants us to lose the league, etc.

One commentator - who also, presumably not coincidentally, was the ghost-writer of Gerrard’s award-winning autobiography - laid it on with a particularly broad trowel. “No-one walks alone at Anfield” the article began, before detailing how poor Stevie would find everyone rallying around, with “Sammy Lee delivering a few words of encouragement” and the backroom staff bowing and scraping and Rafa putting his arm around the shoulder. And then stepping out proudly at Deepdale in the FA Cup tie against Preston North End because Stevie G “possesses the mental strength to sprint out of the tunnel and impose his phenomenal game on proceedings, perhaps by bashing the opposing centre-half on the cranium inside the first minute”.

Well, okay, he did not write that last bit, that was me. And it may be unfair on Gerrard because, of course, the whole affair has not yet come to court and “Stevie” might be an entirely innocent party, which is precisely the subtext of how he has been judged so far by his employers and by much of the national press.

Compare and contrast, if you will, with the way football supporters are prejudged in much less grave matters (see right) or indeed with the calumny heaped (rightfully, I reckon) on the shoulders of that lovable but mischievous little imp, Joey Barton.

This is Steven Gerrard MBE we are talking about, of course, Steven Gerrard of England - and to read some of the encomiums in the press you might think that he had just embarked on a course of chemotherapy or recently returned from a tour of duty in Basra or suffered a sudden triple bereavement, rather than been arrested for allegedly occasioning actual bodily harm in a nightclub at two o’clock in the morning. Innocent until proven guilty, for sure, but such a presumption does not necessarily have to imply a requirement for beatification.

And we haven’t even begun to deal with that exacerbating circumstance, Mr Gerrard’s deep love and veneration of the music of Phil Collins and the suspicion, unspoken so far, that he may have requested the unfortunate DJ to have played In The Air Tonight or some other noisome sliver of Mr Collins’s vapid 1980s bombast.

Hell, sure, it is a tough time for Steven Gerrard right now, but it is probably a rather tougher time for the alleged victim, what with those four stitches in his forehead and the fact that, according to several reports, he is a Manchester City supporter.

Should Gerrard play at all, with this charge hanging over him for the next three weeks (and perhaps longer)? I am not entirely won over by his manager’s insistence that playing for Liverpool will have a magical rehabilitative effect on Gerrard. “The best thing for him and for us is to just focus on the football,” the manager remarked. Benitez has also said that he knows Gerrard as a “nice lad”, to which we might respond well, fair enough, who could possibly gainsay such a judgment?; but the whole business smacks just a little of what we might call self-interest.

I wonder if Benitez would have been quite so indulgent had, say, Robbie Keane been banged up for 20 hours after having been accused of clobbering someone while on the razz at two o’clock in the morning at a nightclub. I have my doubts. Gerrard is crucial to Liverpool’s title hopes; they can do without Torres just about, but not Gerrard.

Still, as I say, Gerrard is innocent until proven guilty and, beyond that, in theory I have nothing against players celebrating in a nightclub until the early hours after a football match. The notion that they should not be allowed to do so is yet another imposition that separates the players from the fans and establishes them as a sort of weird super-breed, devoid of morality, fragile of constitution and too stupid to be allowed out on their own.

It is certainly true, too, that the way we view our footballers - and celebrities in general - has changed considerably in the past 15 or so years. They are no longer revered by the public quite as they were but are more often the repositories of (more often than not, drunken) disdain, hostility and even violence.

This is partly because they have traded in their honest pro credentials for celebritydom, effected through the outrageous wages they are paid each week, which, you have to say, exceed the value they bring to their clubs. The money they earn and the lifestyles they enjoy seem to offer carte blanche to any normal person to subject them to derision and vituperation, which may be unfair, but it is comprehensible. It sort of goes with the territory these days, and nightclubs are, for the likes of Steven Gerrard, accidents waiting to happen.

At last a bit of realism in the whole Stevie GBH affair

[jaffka]

Personally I was over the whole "go out and get blind drunk" thing by the time I was 23. What's the appeal for someone who has more money than God? Can't he go cruising on his gold-plated yacht or something?

.... Henrik, what do you know ? Tell me now !!! Stevie Me goes CRUISING !?!?!?

Is he into cottaging as well?

What about dogging?

If he has done some felching will his breath smell?

[Lord Kangana]

Thats as much garbage as Oliver Holt. When did the press stop reporting the facts and just start reporting their and others opinions?

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=E10Bp_mPXXA

[InsaneApache]

http://www.4thegame.com/features/feature/165716/.html

LOOK WHO IT IS...

The official Liverpool website describes the club captain as: "A boyhood Liverpool fan, Gerrard is living the dream of playing for his team and is considered by many to be the complete midfield player." Some would debate the latter part of that sentence, but not many would claim Gerrard to be anything else but a Liverpool fan. Until they see our picture of him in an Everton kit as a youngster that is...

Of course there could be an excuse for it, but we're struggling to think of one. Maybe he was spying on Goodison Park for the Reds during the days when Everton were challenging them for trophies (as opposed to the position of fourth best team in the league). But we doubt it, so what was Stevie up to? Sadly, it seems like just another story of a die-hard fan whose allegiance may not be all it is hyped up to be.

He wouldn't be the first, just look at Man United's two summer signings Alan Smith and Wayne Rooney. Smiffy was the epitome of a Leeds fan (albeit one who allegedly supported Liverpool as a youngster), while Rooney once made a T-shirt promise to be Blue til he dies. Strangely, neither seems to have a problem with having joined their club's rivals at Old Trafford.

The sad truth is that loyalty in football is as rare as honesty in that they are only on display when it suits the players and managers. But, ask yourself this, if you were offered the chance to play for your most hated club for a shedload of cash, would you do it? Of course you would, and we do forget at times that football is just a job for these lucky millionaires.

But that doesn't stop us laughing at them when evidence like this comes out...

[TANGODANCER]

Probably, the truth is, the press know as much, or little, about the facts as the rest of us. Twill all come out in the wash in time no doubt.

[bobo the clown]

Probably, the truth is, the press know as much, or little, about the facts as the rest of us. Twill all come out in the wash in time no doubt.

Facts ?? Facts !!! Who needs facts ???