With constant talk surrounding the Liverpool captain and his future, Gary Neville has written a really illuminating piece about the future for recently retired players and the thought process that goes in to calling it a day.
In his column for
today, the Sky pundit describes Gerrard as entering the 'storm phase' of his career with massive decisions cropping up in front him over the coming months.
However, he feels that for anyone to make a snap judgement right now would be unwise:
'This week Gerrard told Liverpool fans that he would speak to them when the time was right, which was a sensible stance. I can’t quite understand where the fire is coming from on this issue. The idea that a 34-year-old can decide his future before Christmas seems odd to me. My take on it would be that both parties should sit back and relax. There are no flames'
Neville discusses his own decision to call it quits at Old Trafford explaining that as players get older their state of mind about their own ability to last the pace at the very top can change from day to day:
'At that age, often you’re in a vulnerable state in your own mind, as Steven Gerrard will be. You fluctuate. Your sense of your own capabilities can vary from day to day. You have down days and days where you feel: ‘I could go for another two or three years here.’ Twenty-four hours later you will come into training and be a yard off it, everywhere. An internal voice says: ‘I’m coming to the end.’
Neville feels that Liverpool should put any talk of Gerrard's future in the background as they try to recover some of the form that saw them finish second in the Premier league last season:
'When I look at Steven Gerrard I do feel he has two or three more years left in him. The issue is how he’s used and how he’s managed. Again, though, the fuss over the decision-making seems counter-productive. Gerrard and Liverpool Football Club should be making a decision, I would say, around March or April next year. The club should have planned already (or be planning) for life without him. That would be true for any 34-year-old, however illustrious. Gerrard, on the other hand, is approaching post-career mode in his thinking. As so many footballers find, there is no manual and no right or wrong path'.
Neville also reveals that even his own future plans are not mapped out and that he will have to decide someday whether to stay with SKY or perhaps go full-time into coaching:
'I could have stayed at United in some capacity but didn’t want to be reliant on the club, or to be known as ‘ex-Man Utd Gary Neville.
There’s a bit of ego there. But it was really about finding a new life away from Manchester United, and staying there as a fan without being defined by my playing career. I accept I am having my cake and eating it, with broadcasting, my Telegraph column and the England coaching role. That will end. I committed to Sky for four years and Roy Hodgson for four years and I’m not stupid enough to think I will be so fortunate to combine those functions forever'.
Interesting stuff frm Neville and wise-words from someone who came out the far side of retirement with his reputation enhanced after some very clever decisions in terms of his career.
H/T to T
he Telegraph
