Steven Gerrard Question

Javier pastore is better as well.

 

Gerrards problems are mostly due to injury, he's missed half of this season and last season but his record is still good with 16 goals and 9 assists in his last 35 starts and 9 sub appearances for Liverpool.

 

Xavi was better than Gerrard pre 2009, he just wasnt recognised in the same way

 

Mario Gotze still has to prove himself....he'll have a chance at the Euro's.

Essien, if he gets back to his best...then yeah, at one point he was the best midfielder in the EPL

 

Not really until about 2008 though and Gerrard was still great at his own job then too so it was close.

I would say Xavi only took over Pirlo in 2007, he was just coming into his own then as a centre-mid when before they had been playing him in the Cocu kinda role, hes got better and better every year.

I mind when we played them in Europe years ago and thinking Xavi was fantastic, he always held onto the ball and turned and turned into space until he could make a pass, but back then that was all he really done, he never dictated games like he does now and has the past 4 or so year.

 

I think its hard to compare though, people are mentioning guys like Gotze, Ozil, Kaka and Pastore who are more attacking midfielders/playmakers even wide players, which is really like saying a full-back is better than a centre half, theyre different positions. If Gerrard was in the same team as them they'd be in no competition for places because they dont play in his position.

 

off topic....but can you believe Zizou's headbutt was 6 years ago now?

 

you say that...but 2007,2008, 2009 when gerrard was still at his best he often played behind the striker....the most advanced midfielder, so i think using those players is fair

 

I would say Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas, Schweinsteiger and Toure are better players than Gerrard as a centre-mid. But id still say Gerrard was better than Pirlo, Scholes, Hamsik, Sneijder and Modric. Would also say he's still a better attacking midfielder than guys like Lampard and Van der Vaart. I wouldnt compare him to defensive players like Mascherano, Alonso and Busquets as he has never really played in those positions or to guys like Silva, Mata, Ozil, Gotze, Kaka etc as he's never been a playmaker either.

 

you are all forgeting the greatest cm of recent years
































Evander Sno:icon_mrgreen:

 

The likes of Sneijder and others you have in there, are playing that play in the hole behind the striker and don't really have to contribute much defensively. They can't be compared to Gerrard IMO.

 

Gerrard has done the same mate.

 

Badger I think your football knowledge is very decent but I'm going to have to disagree with you here, I know the English media have a tendancy of vastly overrating some of the English players, Gerrard is not overrated, he has the ability to lead on the pitch, his presence alone seems to inspire other players around him.

Alot of the players on your list are very good footballers but don't have that leadership quality and determination that Gerrard has to take the game of the throat and take it to the opposition, alot of players you've named, yeah they might be awesome when their team are 3-0 up with fancy tricks and getting on the ball to create chances but when it really matters, in them crunch games alot of them don't influence the game and go missing, that's what seperates good players from 'Top' players.

Gerrard has been Liverpool's saviour for more years than I can care to remember, West Ham FA Cup Final 2004? Last minute, Gerrard get's the ball, most players won't play the easy ball out wide, Gerrard, took the responsibilty and took the shot on from 30 yards, bang, Liverpool go to to win in Pens.

Champions League Final 2005, Istanubl, he came out the second half and literally, single handed changed the game in Liverpool's favour.

I think to say 30 people are better than Gerrard is just harsh and not fair, very few people on that list have played in some of the matches Gerrard has played in and won almost single handed. He is a leader on the field and his passing range and threat going forward makes him one of the greatest midfielders in the world, like I say, very few people I would say are 'better' than Gerrard in terms of what he offers to his team individually.

Just last night, his first goal, pure quality, most people would have put their foot through that and hope for the best, perfectly hit curler in the net, I would love for one of our stat men on TalkCeltic to find out Gerrards pass success and total assists since he joined along with total goals scored, Lampard may get more goals but Gerrard has far more to his game but going forward, influencing matches and defensively.

Stand behind what I said, Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas possibly Toure only players who I would say are better than Gerrard.

 

Gerrard in his prime was confortable top 5, now he is just top 10.

 

Iniesta
Xavi
Schweinsteiger
Yaya Toure
Modric
Silva
Hamsik
Sneijder
Fabregas
Xabi Alonso
Scholes
Essien (when fit)
Gotze
Lampard
Parker


are all players i'd have before gerrard at this moment and time, so i'd have him in my top 20 probably. And to the person that said it wasn't fair to include the hole players, gerrard played that position for years basically

 

'Very decent' cheers.

Istanbul was 7 years ago. He's not the same player. He was top 5 then but not anymore.

Don't get me wrong he still good just not as good.

Top 20 to top 30 is fair. He's definitely not better than
Xavi
Iniesta
Busquets
Fabregas
Toure
Ozil
Alonso
Schweinsteiger
Sneijder
Silva
Martinez
Mascherano


The rest are mentioned are quite interchangeable and have good arguments for and against them being there. I'd still have him about 22nd, 23rd currently.

 

At his peak he was amongst the top 5 players in the world. But seeing as he's now past his peak, he's in the top 20 in my opinion. Still a good player that could do a job for a side at any level, but not as essential as he once was. At his peak I believe that he could have played with any team in the world.

 

I would say he was better than Martinez and Sneijder, Busquets and Alonso are a different style of player as are Silva and Ozil. Silva and Ozil are more comparible to Messi than Gerrard.

 

he'd be a much better player if he left liverpool ..who are average at the very most. But hes a scouser .. he'll prob see out his career with them .

 

Gerrard plays a similar role to Ozil and Silva. Its fine to compare them.

Gerrard is worse than them at the same job.