Whether Gerrard is jumping ship or has been pushed, Liverpool still can’t afford to lose him

As a Liverpool fan, the surprising news of Steven Gerrard’s (premature) departure was certainly not the New Years gift I was hoping for. For the second half of the season, an error free Simon Mignolet or an injury free Daniel Sturridge was closer to what I had in mind. But after cutting through the crimson waves of emotion, sadness, sentiment and appreciation that have greeted Gerrard’s announcement to seek pastures new, despite advancing years and the inevitable restriction of his abilities, this season – with the possible exception of Raheem Sterling – he is once again proving to be Liverpool’s best player. And Liverpool can ill afford to let him leave and should have done more to keep him.

At the time of writing, his match-winning brace against AFC Wimbledon has put Liverpool into the next round of the FA Cup taking him three goals clear as the club’s top scorer this season. His fourth goal in two games as manager Brendan Rodgers has finally realised the most effective place to deploy his aging skipper is higher up the pitch – as Rafa Benitez first did – where his in still-in-tact match-winning thrusts are best utilised.

This is surely why Brendan Rodgers – as big a Gerrard fan as any of his previous managers at Anfield – wants to measure his game time so that he’s available for the key battles. A strategy, despite Gerrard’s apparent fear of becoming a ‘squad player’, that has seen Anfield’s most celebrated no.8 once again be amongst the team’s top league starters this term. Against the backdrop of Frank Lampard’s continued excellence at Man City after being discarded by Chelsea, it beggars belief that Gerrard is even being allowed to leave, before you even consider how much experience and know how would be lost. Amidst the accolades and eulogies, the PR spin from Gerrard and Liverpool is clouding whether he has jumped, is being pushed or has simply misinterpreted Rodgers wanting to protect his 34 year old legs. But what is clear is that even after 17 years of distinguished service and excellence, this Liverpool side will be a significantly lesser team without Gerrard in it.

Wilshere’s nationalistic flag waving shows why English football is being left behind

Seeking to clarify and defend his comments about why ‘foreigners’ shouldn’t be eligible to play for the England football team, which ignited mini media and Twitter storms last week, Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere was “…just saying his opinion.” Fair enough, as we live in a democracy founded on the premise of free speech.

But Jack the Lad’s patriotic words – supported by the pre-historic football views of chest-beating, Neanderthal Match Of The Day pundit Alan Shearer – demonstrate why the England national team, English club game and England players are increasingly being left behind by other nations. And other sports in this country.

The advent of full-time time professionalism, advances in sports science, million pound TV deals, lottery funding and increased global exposure has seen sports such as cricket, cycling, rugby union, swimming and athletics flourish, delivering a steady stream of successful international teams and champions. All embracing new ideologies, avenues and ways of thinking in the pursuit of success; without sacrificing our precious national identity. Wiggins, Woodward, Wilkinson, Radcliffe, Flintoff and Addlington are as ‘English’ as they come.

And whilst nobody is pretending athletes qualifying to represent England or Great Britain purely through historical ancestry or residency are descendants of King Arthur, they are reflective of Britain’s modern day, multi-cultural society. Spawned in a large part by the length of the Old Empire’s reach abroad.

By national and international law, anyone living in the UK, amongst its citizens, contributing to its economy and wellbeing, is entitled via citizenship to choose if they want that commitment honoured. So why can’t sportsmen and women do the same?

The battlefield cry echoing through Jack’s words of “We are English. We tackle hard, are tough on the pitch and are hard to beat”, sound like nostalgic sound bytes from the 60s, 70s or even 80s. The game has moved on, whilst English attitudes have not. Identity is precious, but nature dictates evolution is necessary for survival. The alternative is extinction. A tad dramatic, but I hope you see the point.

Ironically, Wiltshire is the standard bearer for a more technically astute generation of England football players, trying to break free of the shackles of Shearer & Co.’s preferred of recipe of 4-4-2, high-tempo, crosses and bucket loads of passion.

But until the English game embraces modern attitudes towards possession, tactics and coaching, like dear old Jack, it will remain stuck in the last century.