We had this topic more than a year ago. He didn't want to take any long distance efforts all last season and we had about a 9 page topic on it. He has actually taken a couple this season - one superb volley a couple of weeks ago which just cleared the bar sticks vividly in the memory.
Having said that I think the same remains true this season as last - he's pulling out of the shots and looking to lay it off because the body is not quite up for it. People always talk about fitness or muscle injury when a player gets older but the first thing that goes are the ligaments. They feel a little looser, don't have the flexibility that they used to so the joints don't feel nearly as secure.
If you remember throwing rocks when you were young and every now and then you'd let one go and the arm felt like it was going to drop off. You were right again in a few seconds but that came from the action putting too much strain on the ligaments from your shoulder down to you wrist. Usually they're flexible enough to handle whatever action you use but, as you get older, that flexibility diminishes very suddenly and your arm hurts a lot more often.
I'm sure it's the same for Stevie. He puts an awful lot of power and strength into striking the ball and I imagine after taking a shot it feels like his knee is going to tear away; mentally that will play on him and in the half second he has with the ball sitting in place for a shot its only natural that he'll hesitate and look for another option.
Gerrard has made a few comments recently underlining his thinking, saying he knows he's getting older but believes he's looked after himself well enough to continue playing for a few more years. I've no doubt he can but I think it will be a little deeper now which is why Raul has been such good timing. The question will be whether Gerrard can bear the limitations his body is placing on him. It only seems like yesterday he was the all action hero who could play anywhere in Istanbul and score from anywhere for that matter. If we don't win the title with him in the team it will be a tragedy and some managers/owners will have to pay. :angel: