Gerrard

[Rory Fitzgerald]

I got my s*** together Leo

 

I want to pose a question to the form and ask is Steven Gerrard the most complete/all-round footballer the Premiership has seen play ?

 

Quite possibly and probably I think the answer is yes - in fact, I dont think someone can come out and suggest another name and say with out right authority that the [suggested player] is a more complete player than Gerrard, but rather he is at or about the same level as Gerrard.

 

The reason why I pose the (hypothetical ) question is because I feel he is a fantastic player.

 

In terms of defensive ability and work, he puts in real effort to chase back and rarely if ever gives up on his team-mates when it comes to defensive work allied with the fact that he has played RB late on in both the UEFA Cup Final and Champions Lge Final when required. When we lose it, he uses his abundance of energy to play for his team-mates and he's not unknown for chasing back from one box to the other to put in a tackle.

 

 

He is ferocious in the tackle and never shirks his responsibility when it comes to stamping his authority on a midfield battle.

 

His passing, whilst questioned by some, is still of a standard beyond many footballers. He can pick a long pass and play the shorter ball but at a tempo that seeks to gain the utmost advantage.

 

When in possession of the ball, he looks for the offensive pass, tries to drive his team forward and when the ball goes short, is rarely found lacking for the ball back.

 

His attacking qualities are without doubt the most awe inspiring aspect of his game. He is lethal from 30 odd yards. He can drive a ball with such sheer force that gives keepers little chance. He services great strikers with his passing such as Torres and Own as its been proved.

 

He has raw energy and then some. He is one of the most athletic players the game has seen. Strenght, pace, passion,.

 

At an early age he was seen as one of Liverpools best players and then at a still early age, he became our captain and our most important player. Not exactly an endorsement that supports an arguement for his completeness but when you consider what he has taken on his shoulders - a club like Liverpool craving success and still growing in stature shows another aspect to his footballing make-up, he is up to a challenge.

 

Furthermore, he has shown that when the chips are down, he steps up to the plate. He has scored goals against Arsenal, Utd, Chelsea and Everton - not exactly shy in big Premiership games. He has also scored in the 4 major finals.

 

 

Rescued Liverpool against Olympiacos, West Ham, AC Milan. Thats some pedigree to show that when the big games roll around he doesnt hide, one of the most important aspect for a player that seeks to have greatness bestowed upon him I would suggest as many others have.

 

For his sheer raw power & energy, ability going back and forward, box to box, in many different positions and his explosive impact on games and some of the greatest in the history of competitions (UEFA Final, FA Final, CL Final) combined with the level of responsibility shown and general consistent high standard .......... I cant think of anyone that deserves the title of 'Most all-round footballer of the Premiership era' than Gerrard. Sure, some may be faster, some with more consistent passing, better dribblers but few if any has the various abilities that Gerrard consistently shows.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Forgot to add this YouTube link.

 

Would be interested in other great comps you can find on YouTube

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=978-mBWIyZI

[Alonso]

Agree with what your saying, no-one comes close to Gerrard's ALL ROUND ability. One slight thing to mention being picky most of the examples used are from cup comps therefore not relevant to the PL!!!!

[smithdown]

He's the outstanding footballer of his generation.

 

Best right back in the league, best right mid, centre mid, second striker. If he has to play centre half when he gets older he'll be boss at it. The second half in Istanbul won him the respect of anyone who has ever played in an eleven a side match and really really wanted to win it. Professional footballers fell in love with him that night.

 

He's good.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Agree with what your saying, no-one comes close to Gerrard's ALL ROUND ability. One slight thing to mention being picky most of the examples used are from cup comps therefore not relevant to the PL!!!!

 

That fact was not lost on me Alonso, I used those examples to show that he is a fantastic player with an ability to impact the biggest one-off games in football. Given that he can do that, makes him the all-round footballer of the Prem Lge i.e. he played in the Prem Lge for 10 yrs and as an example of how good he is, some cup games are used.

 

I hope you see what I am getting at, I'm dont just want to show what he can do in Premiership games rather that he is a Prem player that does it at every level including, dare I say it, international level.

[Alonso]

That fact was not lost on me Alonso, I used those examples to show that he is a fantastic player with an ability to impact the biggest one-off games in football. Given that he can do that, makes him the all-round footballer of the Prem Lge i.e. he played in the Prem Lge for 10 yrs and as an example of how good he is, some cup games are used.

 

I hope you see what I am getting at, I'm dont just want to show what he can do in Premiership games rather that he is a Prem player that does it at every level including, dare I say it, international level.

Yeah I know what your on about just yanking you chain!! Those are the best examples and the ones that stick in the mind highlighting exactly what he can do. If anything you should change the title to "most complete player in the world of his genertaion?"

[oran]

i am only 25 and EPL football wasnt broadcasted where i live weekly until 10 or so years ago.

but i cant think of any other player in europe since i watch football that is so all-rounder.

such pride that he is ours.best football player in the world.

[Frosty Jack]

Forgot to add this YouTube link.

 

Would be interested in other great comps you can find on YouTube

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=978-mBWIyZI

 

That comp is a succession of misses! is it a wind up?

[Crazy Horse]

To answer the initial question: yes, no doubt about it.

 

Sometimes I can't help but wonder how differently Rafa's time here would have gone if he hadn't inherited Gerrard.

[Igors Uncle Dave]

After Igor Rory I think you might be right

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Yeah I know what your on about just yanking you chain!! Those are the best examples and the ones that stick in the mind highlighting exactly what he can do. If anything you should change the title to "most complete player in the world of his genertaion?"

 

SssshZZZzzzouuuhhhhhh

[_00_deathscar]

There's some newer compilations on YouTube that also highlight just how deadly he's become as a 'striker'.

[John am Rhein]

If most complete means most versatile at a high standard then yes

[David Hodgson]

If most complete means most versatile at a high standard then yes

 

I took it to mean more like 'Roy of the Rovers', godlike level of consistency, easily the best player of the era, type of thing.

[Flasher]

Gerrard is completely unique. He's the best player we have in every position apart from Torres and Reina.

[fred milne]

He's the best player we have in every position apart from Torres and Reina.

I think that pushing the idea too far myself. CB, LB, holding midfielder? Not in my book.

[Swipe]

We hear a lot about "the complete player", when most of the players suggested are nowhere near that.

 

Gerrard is the closest there is to the complete player in world football.

 

In a word - awesome

[Walrus]

I think that pushing the idea too far myself. CB, LB, holding midfielder? Not in my book.

Even LM is pushing it, as I'd probably rather have Riera in there.

Edited February 20, 2009 by Walrus

[whitewidow]

Gerrard is completely unique.

 

Know your on/off, black/white words sonny....

[Chili Palmer]

He's the outstanding footballer of his generation.

 

Best right back in the league, best right mid, centre mid, second striker. If he has to play centre half when he gets older he'll be boss at it. The second half in Istanbul won him the respect of anyone who has ever played in an eleven a side match and really really wanted to win it. Professional footballers fell in love with him that night.

 

He's good.

 

Agree with all of that Smithdown except the centre midfield one. Which is strange considering when he first burst on to the scene thats where we all thought he would be best. I am the anti Jamie Redknapp.

 

All in all, he's half decent.

[John am Rhein]

I took it to mean more like 'Roy of the Rovers', godlike level of consistency, easily the best player of the era, type of thing.

 

Well in terms of consistency he's high on the list but not at the top of it.

[Mike]

Well in terms of consistency he's high on the list but not at the top of it.

 

he is on the top of it, who is the more complete player that is above him?

[fred milne]

There was a good debate on RAWK a while back which compared Gerrard with the likes of Vieira and Keane and I thought this post was on the money:

 

I don't think this comparison does either camp any favours. Gerrard simply hasn't dominated entire seasons, and title winning teams in the way that Vieira and Keane have. Gerrard doesn't have the ability to make those around him play better, which is what Keane and Vieira with force of personality, as well as their ability, did.

 

On the otherhand, Keane and Vieira fade into comparison when you think of genuine match-winners. Gerrard has altered the course of the biggest club games a player can play in. He's the only player in history to score in every club final he can play in. When you look at how many games Gerrard has won through this incredible ability he has to just turn the tide of a match and compare it to the other two... they pale into insignificance.

 

In short, they're just not the same type of players. Keane and Vieira can do things that Gerrard has never been able to do, but Gerrard can do things that I don't think any other footballer on the planet would have been capable of. There isn't a comparison here because in the ideal team you'd have Gerrard and Keane/Vieira/Souness.

 

If you want to find a Vieira/Keane type in our team then I think the closest is quite possibly Xabi Alonso. He's the one that, like Vieira and Keane, makes the others play better when he's on his game. To be considered in the class of Vieira or Keane he'll have to have at least another 2-3 seasons like the one he is having, within which we pick up a glut of trophies, but nevertheless he is our general on the park. The way he's changed the face of the team this season when he's been on the pitch has been amazing. Everything is sharper, and occurs with more purpose when he's on the pitch. Everyone else plays with a greater purpose and drive. He's starting to take the game of those around him up a notch, and that's exactly what the two mentioned did repeatedly over the course of several seasons. It's not so much a style of play, more of a presence - an aura. Xabi's got it this season. You need only look at the way we've played when he's been brought off the bench against Sunderland, Spurs, Portsmouth and Fulham. It hasn't always yielded the result we've wanted, but there can be no denial that the performance of everyone has gone up a notch as soon as he's brought on. Maybe he's not got the same personality that Vieira and Keane had, but he's starting to play with the same sort of authority.

 

Gerrard is different. Gerrard is more a product of his enviroment. Something that's his biggest strength and also weakness. Most world class players tend to hone their skills in a team of top draw players. Gerrard started showing his ability in a team filled with some right dross. I mean it is laughable to think of some of the players he's played alongside, and how many times he's dug them out of the mire.

 

See to me players like Keane, Vieira, Alonso, Xavi - whoever you want to name - they can make the players around them play better, but they need the players to be good to begin with. They're top quality footballers, and would shine in any team, but what makes them stand out is that they can make the players in the best teams perform better. These are already some of the best players around though. Sure, you could stick them in a team like Wigan and they'd probably take the game of those around them up a level, but that wouldn't win Wigan anything. It'd take them from mid-table to UEFA cup, or something similar. Gerrard? Well Gerrard has taken teams as good/bad as Wigan are now to the Champions League, and he hasn't done it by making them perform better, he's done it by dragging them along by himself.

 

Gerrard hasn't had the luxury of top draw team mates for most of his career. What he's acheived has often been off the back of realising that if he doesn't win the match then no one will. He chases the ball, he drives forward with it, he tries 30 yard screamers and often rattles them into the net. Toward the back-end of Houllier's reign he was the closest thing to a one man team that I can recall.

 

The issue with Gerrard now is that he does have quality team-mates, but still doesn't have the trust in them often enough. Who can blame him really? It's not a situation he's been used to most of his career. I think this part of the reason that Gerrard's "game intelligence" is criticised on occasion. If you watch players like Messi then one of the things that really stands out is how they don't go chasing the ball. They're not attracted towards the play but rather the space they can find off the ball. There is a knowledge in their play, a faith in their team-mates ability to find them eventually. That's because they know that their team-mates are quality players. Gerrard doesn't have the same faith in those around him because for most of his career he hasn't had the quality around him. His first instinct now is still to go chasing the ball, to up the tempo to a level where no one - even his own team-mates - can live with him. Gerrard's instinct whenever things aren't going well is to go chasing the ball and get it as much as possible, whereas Messi's is to carry on finding the space and to know that, because of the situation his team are in, the ball will be played to him more often, because he is an exceptional player.

 

Gerrard's getting there though. He's added a lot more nous and craft to his game even in the last year, and while his tendancy is to start chasing as soon as the game is going against us, you can tell he has more faith in his team-mates now than he did two years ago. Ultimately though, I do think that he'll always want to done his cape when things are getting out of hand, but not through ego, as he is occasionally accused of, but instinct. That's how he grew up as a professional footballer, knowing that if he didn't do it then it wouldn't get done.

 

Comparing the 3 isn't really fair, but what I will say is that if Gerrard had come through in that Manchester United team, or in that Arsenal team (or in Barcelona/Madrid/Juventus) I think he would have been able to make the players around him play better because he would have had faith in them from the start of his career and that's how he'd have learnt to play the game. On the otherhand, I don't believe that you could drop Vieira or Keane in some of the sides Gerrard has played in and they'd have been able to acheive what he has.

 

I can't think of a player in my lifetime that would have been able to do what Gerrard has done, and whilst I do sometimes wish that he was a little smarter in his play, showed a little more faith in those around him, or even just chose to focus on being the best in the world at two or three aspects of his game, rather than being the most complete player in the world... There isn't a single player I would swap Steven Gerrard for. Not one playing now and probably not one that I've seen playing in my life time - Messi and Ronaldo would come close, but even so I'm not sure I'd prefer either to Gerrard.

 

He may not be able to dominate an entire team of great players in the way that Keane could, and he may not be able to stamp his authority on a match for the full 90 minutes like Vieira, but with one swing of either foot he can do more to change the course of a game than either could, even if he'd been awful up until that point.

[Flasher]

I think that pushing the idea too far myself. CB, LB, holding midfielder? Not in my book.

 

There's nothing the players in those postitions can do that Gerrard cannot.

[Flasher]

Know your on/off, black/white words sonny....

 

Que?