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Lodatz
10 years ago
Edited
Oops, I put in the wrong video, for the section about 2005.
Here's the right one:
Oops, I put in the wrong video, for the section about 2005.
Here's the right one:
Dynastian98
10 years ago
Edited
"Steven Gerrard has every right to be considered one of the greatest midfielders ever, one of the best players in the modern era, and an absolute legend of game."
Your opinion is your own, but I feel that saying Gerrard is one of the greatest midfielders of all time is stretching it. He's obviously on of the best midfielders of his generation, no doubt. And one of the best English midfielders in history? Hell yeah. Just bummed out he missed out on the EPL title this season. So close, and yet so far.
"Steven Gerrard has every right to be considered one of the greatest midfielders ever, one of the best players in the modern era, and an absolute legend of game."
Your opinion is your own, but I feel that saying Gerrard is one of the greatest midfielders of all time is stretching it. He's obviously on of the best midfielders of his generation, no doubt. And one of the best English midfielders in history? Hell yeah. Just bummed out he missed out on the EPL title this season. So close, and yet so far.
Lodatz
10 years ago
Edited
*"And one of the best English midfielders in history?"
Even more than that, he's an epitome of what an English midfielder actually looks like.
We all know what the Spanish archetype of a midfielder is. We all know the same about Italian midfielders. You could probably make a good case for a German archetype, too. But, few people around here seem to actually know what an ENGLISH archetype is.
Steven Gerrard embodies the great, all-round play of the greatest of English talent. It's always been a hall-mark of our game, and our style of football, since before the modern era.
Bobby Charlton, Glenn Hoddle, Paul Ince, David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Frank Lampard... they all exude the same qualities and general excellence. Iniesta may have the most exquisite touch in all of world midfielding football, but he can't do half of what Gerrard can do. Pirlo may have the patience, discipline and vision that has marked him out as a modern great, but Pirlo can't dribble through two men and set up a winner, like Gerrard can.
Of course it's true, and no-one would deny that different types of players have different qualities, and the importance of recognizing that fact. But even when dealing with players of different types, we can analyze their greatness, in comparison to one another.
Gerrard is simply in one of those categories of his own, alongside someone like Seedorf, or Puskas, who can do everything.
That's precisely what Zidane said, too.
"And one of the best English midfielders in history?"
Even more than that, he's an epitome of what an English midfielder actually looks like.
We all know what the SPanish arhetype of a midfielder is. We all know the same about Italian midfielders. You could probably make a good case for a German archetype, too. But, few people around here seem to actually know what an ENGLISH archetype is.
Steven Gerrard embodies the great, all-round play of the greatest of English talent. It's always been a hall-mark of our game, and our style of football, since before the modern era.
Bobby Charlton, Glenn Hoddle, Paul Ince, David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Frank Lampard... they all exude the same qualities and general excellence. Iniesta may have the most exquisite touch in all of world midfielding football, but he can't do half of what Gerrard can do. Pirlo may have the patience, discipline and vision that has marked him out as a modern great, but Pirlo can't dribble through two men and set up a winner, like Gerrard can.
Of course it's true, and no-one would deny that different types of players have different qualities, and the importance of recognizing that fact. But even when dealing with players of different types, we can analyze their greatness, in comparison to one another.
tiki_taka
10 years ago
Lodatz
10 years ago
Wow. That's really childish and disrespectful.
Dynastian98
10 years ago
@Lodatz
Easy man... it was probably meant as a joke.
Tuanis
10 years ago
No one can put into question his class and trajectory just because a couple of games. He is among the best in history, around the top 15 midfielders EVER if I may add.
tiki_taka
10 years ago
Wait i will post something and someone would probably disappear again...
koldimere
10 years ago
I agree with Lodatz opinion about Gerrard. No doubt he's been a catalyst for Liverpool. And such loyalty to a single club is unfathomable to me really. He's one of those midfielders that young British footballers will look up to for inspiration everyday. Gerrard is no doubt already a legend.
@tiki taka that's really in bad taste my friend. Lodatz is just trying to create a good thread about an esteemed footballer. That video wasn't necessary at all.
iamRDM
10 years ago
my KFC comment has been deleted.. :( .. we should just chill down including the mods >:-|
tiki_taka
10 years ago
Edited
Zidane :
“You rarely come across the complete footballer, but Scholes is as close to it as you can get, he is my favourite player.”
“One of my regrets is that the opportunity to play alongside him never presented itself during my career.”
“My toughest opponent? Scholes of Manchester. He is the complete midfielder.”
“He’s almost untouchable in what he does. I never tire of watching him play.”
Zidane’s admiration of Scholes is heart-warmingly sincere. I get goosebumps every time I read these quotes.
Xavi:
“In the last 15 to 20 years the best central midfielder that I have seen – the most complete – is Scholes. I have spoken with Xabi Alonso about this many times. Scholes is a spectacular player who has everything. He can play the final pass, he can score, he is strong, he never gets knocked off the ball and he doesn’t give possession away. If he had been Spanish then maybe he would have been valued more.”
Luis Figo:
“I’m star-struck when I see Paul Scholes because you never see him. On the pitch you can’t catch him. Off the pitch he disappears.”
Edgar Davids:
“I’m not the best, Paul Scholes is.”
“Every one of us (midfielders) is just trying to become as good as him. Everyone can learn from Paul Scholes.”
Pele:
“If he was playing with me, I would have scored so many more.”
Patrick Viera:
“The player in the Premiership I admire most? Easy – Scholes.”
Roy Keane:
“An amazingly gifted player who remained an unaffected human being.”
Laurent Blanc:
“I tell anyone who asks me – Scholes is the best English player.”
Xabi Alonso:
“I admire him a huge amount. To me, he is a role model.”
Wayne Rooney:
“The best player I’ve played with or against.”
José Mourinho:
“One of the best in the world. Manchester United are lucky to have him.”
“I can’t understand why Scholes has never won the player of the year award. He should have won it long ago. Maybe it’s because he doesn’t seek the limelight like some of the other ‘stars’.”
“He is my Favourite player.”
“United always had many amazing players, but whenever we faced them we were always, always, always scared of what Paul Scholes could do. “Ask anyone from that old Arsenal team, they will tell you the same.”
Diego Maradona:
“His technique is unique.”
Ronaldinho:
“I want to pass like him. Who taught him how to do that?”
Brian Kidd:
“Paul Scholes had the best football brain I’d ever seen in a kid. Let’s face it. Paul Scholes is in a class of his own.”
Marcello Lippi
“Paul Scholes would have been one of my first choices for putting together a great team.”
Pep Guardiola:
“Out of everyone at Manchester United, I would pick out Scholes, he is the best midfielder of his generation. I would had loved to play alongside him.”
Cesc Fabregas:
“He is the one whose level I aspire to. He is the best player in the Premier League.”
Lionel Messi:
“At La Masia his name was mentioned a lot. He’s a teacher.”
“He’s an inspiration.”
Gerard Pique:
“One of the best players I’ve ever seen in my life.”
Dimitar Berbatov:
“Nobody else can play the way Paul Scholes does.”
Cristiano Ronaldo:
“When we were in training, I used to do a lot of tricks which hardly any players at the club could do. Once I was showing my skills to Scholes. After I finished, Scholes took the ball and pointed to a tree which was about 50m from where we were standing. He said, I’m going to hit it in one shot. He kicked and hit the tree. He asked me to do the same; I kicked about 10 times, but still couldn’t hit it, with that accuracy. He smiled and left.”
Gary Neville:
“I wouldn’t swap Paul Scholes for anybody. He is quite simply the most complete footballer I have ever played with. He is the best.”
Rio Ferdinand:
“Best player? For me, it’s Paul Scholes. He’ll do ridiculous things in training like say, “You see that tree over there?” – it’ll be 40 yards away – “I’m going to hit it”. And he’ll do it. Everyone at the club considers him the best.”
George Best:
“He is simply the best.”
David Beckham:
“Even when I’m playing with Real Madrid, the players always say to me ‘what’s he like?’”
Ryan Giggs:
“I have played with some great players in my time at United but I would have to put Paul Scholes down as the best.”
Sir Bobby Charlton:
“Many great players have worn the shirt of Manchester United. Players I worshipped, then lost with my youth in Munich. Players like Denis Law and George Best who I enjoyed so much as team-mates and now, finally, players I have watched closely in the Alex Ferguson era. And in so many ways Scholes is my favourite.”
“Paul Scholes is my favourite player. He epitomises the spirit of Manchester United and everything that is good about football.”
Sir Alex Ferguson:
“Without question, I think Paul Scholes is the best player in England. He’s got the best skills, the best brain. No one can match him.”
“He has an awareness of what’s happening around him on the edge of the box which is better than most players. As a kid he always had a knack of arriving in the penalty area just at the right time, but he’s proving just as effective from outside the box because he’s using his experience in the right way. It doesn’t matter who I am thinking about bringing into my midfield, Paul Scholes will be included, as he would in any side in the world.”
Sir Alex Ferguson gave evidence in court on behalf of one of his former trainees and listened to the prosecution barrister’s list of United’s top players.
“You’ve missed Paul Scholes – and he’s my best player,” Ferguson chided her.
Paul Scholes:
“I am not a man of many words, but I can honestly say playing football is all I have ever wanted to do.”
Zidane :
“You rarely come across the complete footballer, but Scholes is as close to it as you can get, he is my favourite player.”
“One of my regrets is that the opportunity to play alongside him never presented itself during my career.”
“My toughest opponent? Scholes of Manchester. He is the complete midfielder.”
“He’s almost untouchable in what he does. I never tire of watching him play.”
Zidane’s admiration of Scholes is heart-warmingly sincere. I get goosebumps every time I read these quotes.
Xavi:
“In the last 15 to 20 years the best central midfielder that I have seen – the most complete – is Scholes. I have spoken with Xabi Alonso about this many times. Scholes is a spectacular player who has everything. He can play the final pass, he can score, he is strong, he never gets knocked off the ball and he doesn’t give possession away. If he had been Spanish then maybe he would have been valued more.”
Luis Figo:
“I’m star-struck when I see Paul Scholes because you never see him. On the pitch you can’t catch him. Off the pitch he disappears.”
Edgar Davids:
“I’m not the best, Paul Scholes is.”
“Every one of us (midfielders) is just trying to become as good as him. Everyone can learn from Paul Scholes.”
Pele:
“If he was playing with me, I would have scored so many more.”
Patrick Viera:
“The player in the Premiership I admire most? Easy – Scholes.”
Roy Keane:
“An amazingly gifted player who remained an unaffected human being.”
Laurent Blanc:
“I tell anyone who asks me – Scholes is the best English player.”
Xabi Alonso:
“I admire him a huge amount. To me, he is a role model.”
Wayne Rooney:
“The best player I’ve played with or against.”
José Mourinho:
“One of the best in the world. Manchester United are lucky to have him.”
“I can’t understand why Scholes has never won the player of the year award. He should have won it long ago. Maybe it’s because he doesn’t seek the limelight like some of the other ‘stars’.”
“He is my Favourite player.”
“United always had many amazing players, but whenever we faced them we were always, always, always scared of what Paul Scholes could do. “Ask anyone from that old Arsenal team, they will tell you the same.”
Diego Maradona:
“His technique is unique.”
Ronaldinho:
“I want to pass like him. Who taught him how to do that?”
Brian Kidd:
“Paul Scholes had the best football brain I’d ever seen in a kid. Let’s face it. Paul Scholes is in a class of his own.”
Marcello Lippi
“Paul Scholes would have been one of my first choices for putting together a great team.”
Pep Guardiola:
“Out of everyone at Manchester United, I would pick out Scholes, he is the best midfielder of his generation. I would had loved to play alongside him.”
Cesc Fabregas:
“He is the one whose level I aspire to. He is the best player in the Premier League.”
Lionel Messi:
“At La Masia his name was mentioned a lot. He’s a teacher.”
“He’s an inspiration.”
Gerard Pique:
“One of the best players I’ve ever seen in my life.”
Dimitar Berbatov:
“Nobody else can play the way Paul Scholes does.”
Cristiano Ronaldo:
“When we were in training, I used to do a lot of tricks which hardly any players at the club could do. Once I was showing my skills to Scholes. After I finished, Scholes took the ball and pointed to a tree which was about 50m from where we were standing. He said, I’m going to hit it in one shot. He kicked and hit the tree. He asked me to do the same; I kicked about 10 times, but still couldn’t hit it, with that accuracy. He smiled and left.”
Gary Neville:
“I wouldn’t swap Paul Scholes for anybody. He is quite simply the most complete footballer I have ever played with. He is the best.”
Rio Ferdinand:
“Best player? For me, it’s Paul Scholes. He’ll do ridiculous things in training like say, “You see that tree over there?” – it’ll be 40 yards away – “I’m going to hit it”. And he’ll do it. Everyone at the club considers him the best.”
George Best:
“He is simply the best.”
David Beckham:
“Even when I’m playing with Real Madrid, the players always say to me ‘what’s he like?’”
Ryan Giggs:
“I have played with some great players in my time at United but I would have to put Paul Scholes down as the best.”
Sir Bobby Charlton:
“Many great players have worn the shirt of Manchester United. Players I worshipped, then lost with my youth in Munich. Players like Denis Law and George Best who I enjoyed so much as team-mates and now, finally, players I have watched closely in the Alex Ferguson era. And in so many ways Scholes is my favourite.”
“Paul Scholes is my favourite player. He epitomises the spirit of Manchester United and everything that is good about football.”
tiki_taka
10 years ago
Edited
^ This man is the best English midlefielder of the last 20 years, and sucess is on his side.
11 PL titles to 0 for Gerrard.
How people cant see the difference between a confirmed athleete and an artist, the brain will always beat the muscle.
If people prefer Gerrard or Vidal rather than Scholes, Pirlo, Xavi or any creative midlefielder then we just not share the same vision of Football to be polite...
@koldimere Its not innocent either from Lodatz, go look Italy - England thread of Manchesterut, im not denying the fact that Gerrard is a Legend, he is but some other Legend deserves to be rated higher than him...
^ This man is the best English midlefielder of the last 20 years, and sucess is on his side.
^ This man is the best English midlefielder of the last 20 years, and sucess is on his side.
How people cant see the difference between a confirmed athleete and an artist, the brain will always beat the muscle.
^ This man is the best English midlefielder of the last 20 years, and sucess is on his side.
How people cant see the difference between a confirmed athleete and an artist, the brain will always beat the muscle.
@koldimere Its not innocent either from Lodatz, go look Italy - England thread of Manchesterut, im not denying the fact that Gerrard is a Legend, he is but some other Legend deserves to be rated higher than him...
^ This man is the best English midlefielder of the last 20 years, and sucess is on his side.
How people cant see the difference between a confirmed athleete and an artist, the brain will always beat the muscle.
If people prefer Gerrard or Vidal rather than Scholes, Pirlo, Xavi or any creative midlefielder then we just not share the same vision of Football to be polite...
@koldimere Its not innocent either from Lodatz, go look Italy - England thread of Manchesterut, im not denying the fact that Gerrard is a Legend, he is but some other Legend deserves to be rated higher than him...
^ This man is the best English midlefielder of the last 20 years, and sucess is on his side.
11 PL titles to 0 for Gerrard.
How people cant see the difference between a confirmed athleete and an artist, the brain will always beat the muscle.
If people prefer Gerrard or Vidal rather than Scholes, Pirlo, Xavi or any creative midlefielder then we just not share the same vision of Football to be polite...
@koldimere Its not innocent either from Lodatz, go look Italy - England thread of Manchesterut, im not denying the fact that Gerrard is a Legend, he is but some other Legend deserves to be rated higher than him...
Lodatz
10 years ago
Edited
"If people prefer Gerrard or Vidal rather than Scholes, Pirlo, Xavi or any creative midlefielder then we just not share the same vision of Football to be polite..."
If you do not understand that Gerrard is creative too, then I'd say my vision of football is superior. And I'm likewise being polite.
Are you just looking for a fight, here? I happen to also believe that Scholes is better than Gerrard, but he sure as hell is more like Gerrard than he is like Pirlo. How do I know this? Because I happen to have watched Gerrard and Scholes my entire adult life, and neither of them were deep-lying play-makers, until Gerrard's last couple of years.
Have you? Be honest now.
"If people prefer Gerrard or Vidal rather than Scholes, Pirlo, Xavi or any creative midlefielder then we just not share the same vision of Football to be polite..."
If you do not understand that Gerrard is creative too, then I'd say my vision of football is superior.
You're just looking for a fight, aren't you? I happen to also believe that Scholes is better than Gerrad, but he sure as hell is more like Gerrard than he is like Pirlo. How do I know this? Because I happen to have watched Gerrard and Scholes my entire adult life.
Maybe you just need to actually some some English football sometime?
"If people prefer Gerrard or Vidal rather than Scholes, Pirlo, Xavi or any creative midlefielder then we just not share the same vision of Football to be polite..."
If you do not understand that Gerrard is creative too, then I'd say my vision of football is superior. And I'm likewise being polite.
Are you just looking for a fight, here? I happen to also believe that Scholes is better than Gerrard, but he sure as hell is more like Gerrard than he is like Pirlo. How do I know this? Because I happen to have watched Gerrard and Scholes my entire adult life.
Have you? Be honest now.
Tuanis
10 years ago
I always said Scholes was our Gerrard...
Scholes seemed so underrated to me before he retired. Naturally with any player who retires they become legends and people start giving him the credit he deserved. I mean... he retired, United lost a tittle, he came back and United won the tittle again!
I think both Gerrard and Scholes are amazing and I consider them more defensive midfielders than attacking midfielders but being such complete footballers you can argue their position and role. "Creative midfielder has never worked for me as a position, being a midfielder implies being creative and all sub-divisions on the midfield area are creative and are the ones who create all the plays, that is the basic midfielder role.
putting that a side, Gerrard is amazing so lets not compare him with other players. He is just unique. And being a United fan I can say with no shame the day this guy retires will be a sad day for football and Ill miss him.
tuan_jinn
10 years ago
Completely agree with Tuanis, Scholes was always kinda underrated. He should be mentioned among the best English mid of all time.
As for Gerrard, no doubt he's a legend!!! Already!
AlexBatak
10 years ago
One does not simply deny that Gerrard, Lampard, Beckham & Scholes are the best midfielders of their generation. One slip means nothing in football even if it cost you the title. It happened to John Terry and happened to many other Legends.
tuan_jinn
10 years ago
Yep, and Roberto Baggio, one of the most pleasure-to-watch players
Lodatz
10 years ago
And Zola. <3
shpalman
10 years ago
Gerrard: best box to box midfielder of the last 20 years.
Scholes? legend as well but here too, can't compare the 2, different players imo. for how i see football Gerrard plays with Scholes, or Pirlo. Gerrard doesn't exclude them. if you really need to compare Gerrard to someone else, i'd pick Yaya Toure.
Vendetta
10 years ago
@Lodatz:
"And Zola. <3"
Are you sure you don't want to become a Chelsea fan!? You've got the same thought process of a Chelsea fan! It's not too late if you pledge your loyalty to the Blues and promise to never switch back to Spurs!
Since Gerrard's status as one of the greatest midfielders in the world has come into question of late, I felt it would be fair to have a close examination of just how good he is, and just how good he HAS been. We are, remember, talking about the fellow of whom Zidane said, as recently as 2009: "Is he the best in the world? He might not get the attention of Messi and [Cristiano] Ronaldo but yes, I think he might be...."
So, why did Zizou say that? Well, it was because Gerrard scored twice in a 4-0 romp over Real Madrid, to win 5-0 on aggregate. Luis Suarez was trying to cement his place in Ajax's first team, around that time.
Who was playing in that game? Well, Madrid had the likes of Casillas, Cannavaro, Pepe, Heinze, Robben, Sneijder, Raul and Higuain. Quite the interesting look in hindsight, eh? Liverpool had the likes of Reina, Arbeloa, Skrtel, Alonso, Mascherano, Kuyt, Torres, and Steven Gerrard.
Where are some of these players now? History is fun to observe.
But anyway, the reason Zidane picked out Gerrard is because of Gerrard's completeness. After all, it's not every player, even amongst the greats, who can literally claim to be excellent at pretty much everything, in the way that Gerrard can. This is, let's remember, a player who is known for not only his sublime rocket goals from 30 yards out, but also his exquisite long-range passing, his precise tackling, his awareness and reading of the game, his technique, his vision, and perhaps most of all his leadership.
Gerrard had all of these things, in spades. He's that classy an act. Pirlo cannot do everything Gerrard does. Xavi cannot do everything Gerrard does. Iniesta cannot do it either, nor can Busquets, Alonso, Schweinsteiger, or any of the other names one would like to throw into the ring as the top midfielders in the world. It's true that many of them can do things that Gerrard cannot, but none of them cover such a range of skills and value to the team that this man from the city of Liverpool can do.
His two goals against Madrid were mere parts of his amazing display that night against the (then) 9-times European champions, with his finish for the 2nd easily the goal of the game, and only Iker Casillas preventing him from later scoring what would have been the goal of the year. Liverpool were on fire, and many people had credited this to Fernando Torres, so why did Zizou not lavish this speculation about the best in the world upon El Nino instead?
Because it was Gerrard who was the heartbeat of that side, as he has always been. It was Gerrard who excelled most, of any of the names on that pitch, as he so often did. In that match, as in so many others against the very cream of the world's footballers, it was Gerrard who stood tallest above them all. Here's some video to attest to that:
People like Zizou understand this. Players like Zizou admire it more than anything. I challenge anyone here to argue against him.
But, was that the only time that Gerrard deserved such praise, or had stood so tall above the world's best?
Well, no.
It was Gerrard who won the Champions League, in 2005, not just for his leadership and goal in the final (of which he was named Man of the Match, incidentally). It was Gerrard who scored the crucial late goal against Olympiakos in the Group stage, where Liverpool were staring elimination in the face. It was Gerrard who held the midfield against Chelsea (who had beaten Barcelona) in the semis, and yes, it was Gerrard who started the fightback against Milan, and then earned the penalty to equalize and go on to win what is considered one of the greatest European Cup finals in history.
This is why Gerrard was named UEFA Club Footballer of the Year, in 2005, above such names as Crepso, Shevchenko, Ronaldinho, Seedorf, Kaka, Zidane, and yes, even Pirlo.
He was that damn good.
This is probably why his Liverpool side knocked out Barcelona, the reigning European champions, in 2007, too. And knocked out Chelsea, again, in 2007 in the semis, and faced Milan, again, in the final. Individually, he 's been busy being the PFA footballer of the year in 2006, scoring the 2006 PL Goal of the Season, being Liverpool's top goalscorer in 2006 (again, as a CM!) and appearing the the Champions League official XI of the Year from 2005-2007 straight. He was also in the FIFPro WORLD XI from 2007-2009.
I repeat: he was that damn good.
But, that was all in the past, right? I mean, Gerrard had a great period from 2004-2010, maybe, but surely he's past it now, right?
Well, again, let's return to Zidane for an opinion. In 2014, Zidane said this:
"He could have played for any team in Europe -- but he turned them down. That sort of loyalty should be rewarded with a title ... England have probably produced the two best midfield players of the last 20 years in Steven Gerrard and Paul Scholes ... There was a point when Gerrard was the best midfield player in the world. It is unusual to get complete midfield players who can do everything, but that is what he was."
Seems to me that Zidane feels that period was more than enough to prove the point, and I'm inclined to agree. And as Michael Owen said: "If not for Luis Suarez the Gerrard would have won the PFA Player of the Year", this year, in 2014. Maybe that's because even in his dwindling days, now in DM as a deep playmaker, he managed to get 13 goals and 13 assists in the league, this year.
The ACTUAL PFA Player of the Year Luis Suarez considers him to be the best player he's ever played with. Vincent Kompany, captain of the Premier League champions, considers him the greatest PL player he's ever played against. Now weigh that against the wealth of talent in the league these men are talking about.
Maybe, just maybe, these four gentlemen, who aside from Owen have no reason to be biased towards an Englishman, know what they are talking about. ;) Here's some highlights to judge for yourself:
And here's some from the rest of his career, so your jaw can drop:
Steven Gerrard has every right to be considered one of the greatest midfielders ever, one of the best players in the modern era, and an absolute legend of game. Every bit as much as anyone else you want to subjectively name.
Thank you for the memories, Stevie. If you had not been so loyal to your boyhood club, you might have played for a team who could have showcased your excellence to the point where no-one would doubt it. As it was, we saw a club that has been based around YOUR talent, and YOUR gifts, for the last 10 years, give us some of the most incredible victories and memories of football history.
Bless ya.
Since Gerrard's status as one of the greatest midfielders in the world has come into question of late, I felt it would be fair to have a close examination of just how good he is, and just how good he HAS been. We are, remember, talking about the fellow of whom Zidane said, as recently as 2009: "Is he the best in the world? He might not get the attention of Messi and [Cristiano] Ronaldo but yes, I think he might be...."
So, why did Zizou say that? Well, it was because Gerrard scored twice in a 4-0 romp over Real Madrid, to win 5-0 on aggregate. Luis Suarez was trying to cement his place in Ajax's first team, around that time.
Who was playing in that game? Well, Madrid had the likes of Casillas, Cannavaro, Pepe, Heinze, Robben, Sneijder, Raul and Higuain. Quite the interesting look in hindsight, eh? Liverpool had the likes of Reina, Arbeloa, Skrtel, Alonso, Mascherano, Kuyt, Torres, and Steven Gerrard.
Where are some of these players now? History is fun to observe.
But anyway, the reason Zidane picked out Gerrard is because of Gerrard's completeness. After all, it's not every player, even amongst the greats, who can literally claim to be excellent at pretty much everything, in the way that Gerrard can. This is, let's remember, a player who is known for not only his sublime rocket goals from 30 yards out, but also his exquisite long-range passing, his precise tackling, his awareness and reading of the game, his technique, his vision, and perhaps most of all his leadership.
Gerrard had all of these things, in spades. He's that classy an act. Pirlo cannot do everything Gerrard does. Xavi cannot do everything Gerrard does. Iniesta cannot do it either, nor can Busquets, Alonso, Schweinsteiger, or any of the other names one would like to throw into the ring as the top midfielders in the world. It's true that many of them can do things that Gerrard cannot, but none of them cover such a range of skills and value to the team that this man from the city of Liverpool can do.
His two goals against Madrid were mere parts of his amazing display that night against the (then) 9-times European champions, with his finish for the 2nd easily the goal of the game, and only Iker Casillas preventing him from later scoring what would have been the goal of the year. Liverpool were on fire, and many people had credited this to Fernando Torres, so why did Zizou not lavish this speculation about the best in the world upon El Nino instead?
Because it was Gerrard who was the heartbeat of that side, as he has always been. It was Gerrard who excelled most, of any of the names on that pitch, as he so often did. In that match, as in so many others against the very cream of the world's footballers, it was Gerrard who stood tallest above them all. Here's some video to attest to that:
People like Zizou understand this. Players like Zizou admire it more than anything. I challenge anyone here to argue against him.
But, was that the only time that Gerrard deserved such praise, or had stood so tall above the world's best?
Well, no.
It was Gerrard who won the Champions League, in 2005, not just for his leadership and goal in the final (of which he was named Man of the Match, incidentally). It was Gerrard who scored the crucial late goal against Olympiakos in the Group stage, where Liverpool were staring elimination in the face. It was Gerrard who held the midfield against Chelsea (who had beaten Barcelona) in the semis, and yes, it was Gerrard who started the fightback against Milan to win what is considered one of the greatest European Cup finals in history.
This is why Gerrard was named UEFA Club Footballer of the Year, in 2005, above such names as Crepso, Shevchenko, Ronaldinho, Seedorf, Kaka, Zidane, and yes, even Pirlo.
He was that damn good.
This is probably why his Liverpool side knocked out Barcelona, the reigning European champions, in 2007, too. And knocked out Chelsea, again, in 2007 in the semis, and faced Milan, again, in the final. Individually, he 's been busy being the PFA footballer of the year in 2006, scoring the 2006 PL Goal of the Season, being Liverpool's top goalscorer in 2006 (again, as a CM!) and appearing the the Champions League official XI of the Year from 2005-2007 straight. He was also in the FIFPro WORLD XI from 2007-2009.
I repeat: he was that damn good.
But, that was all in the past, right? I mean, Gerrard had a great period from 2004-2010, maybe, but surely he's past it now, right?
Well, again, let's return to Zidane for an opinion. In 2014, Zidane said this:
"He could have played for any team in Europe -- but he turned them down. That sort of loyalty should be rewarded with a title ... England have probably produced the two best midfield players of the last 20 years in Steven Gerrard and Paul Scholes ... There was a point when Gerrard was the best midfield player in the world. It is unusual to get complete midfield players who can do everything, but that is what he was."
Seems to me that Zidane feels that period was more than enough to prove the point, and I'm inclined to agree. And as Michael Owen said: "If not for Luis Suarez the Gerrard would have won the PFA Player of the Year", this year, in 2014. Maybe that's because even in his dwindling days, now in DM as a deep playmaker, he managed to get 13 goals and 13 assists in the league, this year.
The ACTUAL PFA Player of the Year Luis Suarez considers him to be the best player he's ever played with. Vincent Kompany, captain of the Premier League champions, considers him the greatest PL player he's ever played against. Now weigh that against the wealth of talent in the league these men are talking about.
Maybe, just maybe, these four gentlemen, who aside from Owen have no reason to be biased towards an Englishman, know what they are talking about. ;) Here's some highlights to judge for yourself:
And here's some from the rest of his career, so your jaw can drop:
Steven Gerrard has every right to be considered one of the greatest midfielders ever, one of the best players in the modern era, and an absolute legend of game. Every bit as much as anyone else you want to subjectively name.
Thank you for the memories, Stevie. If you had not been so loyal to your boyhood club, you might have played for a team who could have showcased your excellence to the point where no-one would doubt it. As it was, we saw a club that has been based around YOUR talent, and YOUR gifts, for the last 10 years, give us some of the most incredible victories and memories of football history.
Bless ya.
Since Gerrard's status as one of the greatest midfielders in the world has come into question of late, I felt it would be fair to have a close examination of just how good he is, and just how good he HAS been. We are, remember, talking about the fellow of whom Zidane said, as recently as 2009: "Is he the best in the world? He might not get the attention of Messi and [Cristiano] Ronaldo but yes, I think he might be...."
So, why did Zizou say that? Well, it was because Gerrard scored twice in a 4-0 romp over Real Madrid, to win 5-0 on aggregate. Luis Suarez was trying to cement his place in Ajax's first team, around that time.
Who was playing in that game? Well, Madrid had the likes of Casillas, Cannavaro, Pepe, Heinze, Robben, Sneijder, Raul and Higuain. Quite the interesting look in hindsight, eh? Liverpool had the likes of Reina, Arbeloa, Skrtel, Alonso, Mascherano, Kuyt, Torres, and Steven Gerrard.
Where are some of these players now? History is fun to observe.
But anyway, the reason Zidane picked out Gerrard is because of Gerrard's completeness. After all, it's not every player, even amongst the greats, who can literally claim to be excellent at pretty much everything, in the way that Gerrard can. This is, let's remember, a player who is known for not only his sublime rocket goals from 30 yards out, but also his exquisite long-range passing, his precise tackling, his awareness and reading of the game, his technique, his vision, and perhaps most of all his leadership.
Gerrard had all of these things, in spades. He's that classy an act. Pirlo cannot do everything Gerrard does. Xavi cannot do everything Gerrard does. Iniesta cannot do it either, nor can Busquets, Alonso, Schweinsteiger, or any of the other names one would like to throw into the ring as the top midfielders in the world. It's true that many of them can do things that Gerrard cannot, but none of them cover such a range of skills and value to the team that this man from the city of Liverpool can do.
His two goals against Madrid were mere parts of his amazing display that night against the (then) 9-times European champions, with his finish for the 2nd easily the goal of the game, and only Iker Casillas preventing him from later scoring what would have been the goal of the year. Liverpool were on fire, and many people had credited this to Fernando Torres, so why did Zizou not lavish this speculation about the best in the world upon El Nino instead?
Because it was Gerrard who was the heartbeat of that side, as he has always been. It was Gerrard who excelled most, of any of the names on that pitch, as he so often did. In that match, as in so many others against the very cream of the world's footballers, it was Gerrard who stood tallest above them all. Here's some video to attest to that:
People like Zizou understand this. Players like Zizou admire it more than anything. I challenge anyone here to argue against him.
But, was that the only time that Gerrard deserved such praise, or had stood so tall above the world's best?
Well, no.
It was Gerrard who won the Champions League, in 2005, not just for his leadership and goal in the final (of which he was named Man of the Match, incidentally). It was Gerrard who scored the crucial late goal against Olympiakos in the Group stage, where Liverpool were staring elimination in the face. It was Gerrard who held the midfield against Chelsea (who had beaten Barcelona) in the semis, and yes, it was Gerrard who started the fightback against Milan to win what is considered one of the greatest European Cup finals in history.
This is why Gerrard was named UEFA Club Footballer of the Year, in 2005, above such names as Crepso, Shevchenko, Ronaldinho, Seedorf, Kaka, Zidane, and yes, even Pirlo.
He was that damn good.
This is probably why his Liverpool side knocked out Barcelona, the reigning European champions, in 2007, too. And knocked out Chelsea, again, in 2007 in the semis, and faced Milan, again, in the final. Individually, he 's been busy being the PFA footballer of the year in 2006, scoring the 2006 PL Goal of the Season, being Liverpool's top goalscorer in 2006 (again, as a CM!) and appearing the the Champions League official XI of the Year from 2005-2007 straight. He was also in the FIFPro WORLD XI from 2007-2009.
I repeat: he was that damn good.
But, that was all in the past, right? I mean, Gerrard had a great period from 2004-2010, maybe, but surely he's past it now, right?
Well, again, let's return to Zidane for an opinion. In 2014, Zidane said this:
"He could have played for any team in Europe -- but he turned them down. That sort of loyalty should be rewarded with a title ... England have probably produced the two best midfield players of the last 20 years in Steven Gerrard and Paul Scholes ... There was a point when Gerrard was the best midfield player in the world. It is unusual to get complete midfield players who can do everything, but that is what he was."
Seems to me that Zidane feels that period was more than enough to prove the point, and I'm inclined to agree. And as Michael Owen said: "If not for Luis Suarez the Gerrard would have won the PFA Player of the Year", this year, in 2014. Maybe that's because even in his dwindling days, now in DM as a deep playmaker, he managed to get 13 goals and 13 assists in the league, this year.
The ACTUAL PFA Player of the Year Luis Suarez considers him to be the best player he's ever played with. Vincent Kompany, captain of the Premier League champions, considers him the greatest PL player he's ever played against. Now weigh that against the wealth of talent in the league these men are talking about.
Maybe, just maybe, these four gentlemen, who aside from Owen have no reason to be biased towards an Englishman, know what they are talking about. ;) Here's some highlights to judge for yourself:
And here's some from the rest of his career, so your jaw can drop:
Steven Gerrard has every right to be considered one of the greatest midfielders ever, one of the best players in the modern era, and an absolute legend of game. Every bit as much as anyone else you want to subjectively name.
Thank you for the memories, Stevie. If you had not been so loyal to your boyhood club, you might have played for a team who could have showcased your excellence to the point where no-one would doubt it. As it was, we saw a club that has been based around YOUR talent, and YOUR gifts, for the last 10 years, give us some of the most incredible victories and memories of football history.
Bless ya.