Gerrard unmoved by Honours snub
- 17 Jun 06, 05:57 PM
BADEN-BADEN - Steven Gerrard was clearly unaware of a little bit of local difficulty brewing back in his home town over Liverpool's snub in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.
There is apparently a renewed outcry on Merseyside that another round of gongs have gone by without Gerrard or Liverpool being rewarded for the Champions League win against AC Milan last year.
It was a nice little talking point to put to Gerrard away from the World Cup - but rarely have I seen anyone less interested, or less upset by, a supposed snub.
"It's not important", was Gerrard's response on both occasions he was asked - and the smile and body language spoke of a man who will happily settle for his Istanbul memories rather than take a trip to the Palace.
And who can blame him?
Just as England have opened up their World Cup campaign with two wins, so have the travelling media.
A group of MPs - with Olympic rowing gold medallist James Cracknell in goal - were dispatched 4-0 in Frankfurt last week.
I was sadly unable to attend, but all reports suggest James was slightly more reliable with an oar in his hand than when a football was coming at him.
And today it was the turn of Baden-Baden's finest scribes to feel the full force of the English media's mighty power.
After racing into a three-goal lead, our heroes were pegged back but ran out 3-2 winners. And not a single excuse about the heat...take note England.
The hunt is also on for the culprit who defaced the hotel noticeboard advertising a press mountain biking trip - I can actually hear dearly-departed old reporters spinning in their graves at the very notion of taking to the saddle - on Monday.
Let's just say one or two of those who "volunteered" for the gruelling trek were, to say the least, unlikely candidates.
Me? I think I'm busy that night.
England's players have been enjoying the delights of Baden-Baden which is, and I don't want to sound like I'm enjoying myself too much here, a tranquil delight.
Rio Ferdinand, Sol Campbell and David James have been spotted having coffee at a local restaurant, Joe Cole was seen wheeling his niece in a pushchair while walking with his family last night, while Gary Neville also sat outside with his family for a meal.
They have remained relatively untroubled, but it should be also reported that the players have been a credit when asked for a photograph or an autograph.
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Just a guess, but perhaps Gerrard's thinking about the World Cup or something instead...
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For the World Cup Blog team.
Loving the entries but how about a plug for the FIFA approved World Cup 2006 charity, 6 villages for 2006, which is being advertised on billboards at all the games alongside the corporate parasites.
Forget the likes of Bud and McDonalds THIS charity needs all the publicity it can get, please help!
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isn't winning the European Cup good enough in itself, without needing extra medals? I think the habit of giving honours to sports performers simply for winning something is missing the point completely. By all means, recognise those who have contributed to the game itself over a long period of time (I have no objection to Bobby Robson's award, for example), but simply winning a trophy doesn't qualify - that's what footballers are paid to do, for goodness sake!
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Yes but dont forget that Alex Ferguson got knighted for winning the treble didn't he?
Yet, he was the manager!
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just a few points about the honours.
how many english players were playing for liverpool in istambul ?
were they representing their country, as was the case for the cricket and rugby teams ?
fergie had been a top coach for years, and won european trophies for 2 clubs, plus all the domestic honours.
if there is a manager who can qualify under long and distinguished service, its the red-faced, grumpy, scottish one !
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The ony thing Gerrard should be worried about is the fifty quid he owes me.
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If any British subject ever deserved a gong for Euro Cup success, it was Bob Paisley, not Ferguson or Gerrard.
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Gerrard should aim for World Player of the Year and honours like that. Those are decided not on just one game but over a season or so.
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Honours should be saved until a player's career has finished. Arwarding honours mid-career is similar to footballers writing autobiographies when they are 22 - as if they have achieved anything in life other than play football.
And offerning "gongs" out for one-off wins in what is a TEAM game is ridiculous.
As someone says above, what about Bob Paisley?
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gerrard is a good player.he should 4get this award and focus on helping england to win the world cup
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I agree that honours should not be dished out whenever. This devalues the whole honours system.
Reminds me of the TV programme 'This is your life' when some 21 year old mega-star gets the red book treatment!
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I don't think Gerrard needs be honoured just because of the win in Istanbul. I think he will need to achieve more to get this kind of honour in the future, for example scoring the winning goal in the World Cup final, winning Premiership with Liverpool and perhaps another European Cup. But anyway, it's not important indeed. I agree with Gerrard.
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Gerrard certainly deserves an award, I think now is probably the wrong time for it though. After the World Cup I would hope all of our squad will be rewarded for winning the trophy.
If, by some misfortune, we do not win the World Cup then Gerrard must surely get a gong in the next list.
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I would like to think Gerrards done enough on the pitch to warrant this kind of award. he is also a role model off the pitch (well he's never pictured in the papers snorting coke off his girls back) but seriously , do Barry Ferguson (aged 28, 32 intl caps, 2 league titles) and Claire Connor (England womens cricket captain) really deserve their rewards?
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who cares if that ugly royal does not recognise your sporting efforts?
surely there is more joy and BEAUTY to life than the affirmation of a stuck up stodgy 80 yr old monarch whose presence in society today is a big joke
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steven Gerrard is quite simply a special player who gives his all week in week out doing what he loves. The fans of liverpool reward him with their love and praise.That is what's important to him, not a honour from the queen. He is honoured everytime he pulls on the red shirt.Captain of the worlds best club is the biggest honour he could ever have.
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Gerrard is n't that special. Maybe he is in the premiership / CL but he still has a little way to go to prove is is special at international level.
His performance and goal the other night did help though!
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Liverpool seem to be working on the misconception that MBEs are an automatic right for those who win anything in football. Finish sixth? Get UEFA Cup football. Finish fourth? Get champions League football. Finish top? Get a shiny trophy? Win the Champions League? Get honours from the Queen. It doesn't work like that, and nor should it.
Honours are awarded. They are not earned, nor can they be demanded.
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The Queen is just an overpaid tourist attraction anyway. Does anyone actually care what she thinks?
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At the end of the day what would u rather have an MBE, or a Champions League winners medal.
We all know which one we would want.
At the moment i think Steven Gerard main concern is the world cup, and some MBE snub isnt going to change that.
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he knows ders nom point in worryin toooooooooooooooooo much bout dis because he knows dt nxt year dis time he'l gt dis lol, wid de england squad for winin da world cup !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!lol !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Let's just get one thing straight here (and it's about time the whole country did!)
The Queen has absolutely nothing to do with the Honours system apart from approving what the Prime Minister's list of intended awards.
Don't blame the Queen for this, the blame is solely laid at 10 Downing Street.
It's just one more example of this ridiculous government's ineptitude.
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and furthermore, just to add to post 24.
Steven Gerrard, aswell as the rest of the team, and Rafa did deserve to be recognised because:
1. A stirring example of leadership.
2. 拢25 million plus smackers in prize money into the UK.
3. Enhancing the reputation of the English Football League.
Beat that!
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Unless your associated with Man Utd
Matt Busby, Alex Ferguson & Sir Bobby Charlton (I refuse to call the first 2 sirs) you will not be recognised.
Sir Bob Paisley (3 european Cups) & Sir Brian Clough (2 European cups) achieved more for this country than the above to managers.
Ignoring Gerrard and his colleagues again in the honors list is yet another example of how worthless they are and yet another reason why Man utd are hated.
I do hope that when honors are eventually awarded to the Liverpool establishment, that they scincerely tell them what they can do with them.
Liverpool FC have achieved more success in football for this country than any other, they are the real peoples champions
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Who cares about Queens Honours. No one from Liverpool does and neither does Gerrard, so what's the problem. Come on Gerrard!! Come on England!!
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Who cares about corrupt national honours, not that footballers deserve them anyway, certainly not Liverpool or Gerrard! No, I think honours should go to the majority of referees in this World Cup for potentially ruining all our enjoyment.
What's got into them, blowing their whistle for players breathing, walking onto the pitch, kicking the ball - they are so sensitive, yellow cards shown everwhere, spoiling matches by constantly stopping them for 'incidents' - its all too much - someone must be bribing them or something.....maybe they want to impress the marvellous Sepp Blatter, paragon of virtue and dispenser of homilies!
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Why would Stevie G be bothered. He's a football God.He needs no other honours.
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Why would Stevie G be bothered. He's a football Legend.He needs no other honours.
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steve G is great in football, whatever we goin to say.If honours are goin to follow him, pliz leave him alone.
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Excuse me this is Stevn Gerrard here. I honestly dont want any other honours im happy being a captain of the champions league final winners in 2005 and being a captain of the 2006 FA cup
Thank you
Stevie G
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im gay with u u ok mate loving u mmmmmmmm
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LET THEM DANCE THE SAMBA AND WILL DANCE WTH THEM TOO!
BUT THIS TIME WE WILL TEACH THEM TANGO FOR TWO, AND ENGLAND WILL CARRY THE WORLD CUP HOME!
HOPE THEY DANCE THE TANGO TOO!
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If (when?) Gerrard wins the Premiership, he'll have a full house of Domestic and European medals - not many Englishman achieve that, so I would suggest that might be deserving of a gong?
I would also ask what Matt Busby and Alex Ferguson did to deserve their knighthoods that Bob Paisley, Brian Clough and Ron Saunders/Tony Barton didn't?
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Did you know that Stevie Gerrard is a Roman Catholic - hardly surprising then that he was snubbed by the Queen
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