It's typical Rodgers nonsense. The man's a clown. In no specific order this would be my top ten of outfield players. If including keepers then Schmeichel and Cech would have to be on the list. Keane Ronaldo Cantona Scholes Giggs Shearer Henry Bergkamp Vieira Lampard I'd say Gerrard is in the bracket below the players I've listed.
A straight foward choice then gonzo? You have to choose between Gerrard and Scholes for your team, who would it be?
That's obvious as to who I'm going to go for we've argued the points forever. But lets say Mcmanaman or Giggs and Macca was a big player for us and coveted worldwide at his peak but IMO Giggs was better. Hurts to admit it, even if your tea lady made a better brew I wouldn't want to admit it but I'm being honest.
Both highlighted had and even have that touch of genius about them which sets them apart, Scholes and Keane we would argue all day and get nowhere. Comparing a Goalkeeper is difficult and the others indicate that you've been on something.
Of that list only Souness, Rush and Dalglish have realistic claims to be better players than Gerrard.
We'd get somewhere alright. Keane was three times the player Gerrard could ever even dream of being. Pisses all over in him in absolutely every facet, bar maybe free kick taking ability which means **** all as most players can hit a dead ball.
My point was we'd never agree and would be old and grey and still stand fast on our opinion. Tbf I did see Keane play but wouldn't have paid that much attention to him with him being a Utd player I do recall him being a great all round midfielder though, box to box good in the tackle, consistent in his passing and I remember him getting goals. I don't dispute that he was one of the best midfielders but didn't see him enough to know where he would rank.
Honestly, in central midfield I'd rank him behind Keane, Scholes, Vieira, Alonso, Toure and Makalele. Also ahead of Lampard as an all round player, but behind him as a midfielder. That's not even including better players who played in other positions like Ronaldo, Giggs, Drogba, Henry, Bergkamp, Cantona, Zola and Shearer. Tho' in fairness to Gerrard, I think his career has definitely suffered from staying at Liverpool. Much like with Rooney - his own individual specialisation has been suborned to the needs of the team. So when you had good CMs he was shunted around to the right wing, second striker etc, which has robbed him of the awareness and tactical discipline that the top CMs mentioned above had. He definitely had the talent to be one of the top ten PL players, but just like Rooney he failed to fully realise it due to the club he was at.
I agree, top player but to be in this list you should imo have been at the very top for a number of years and consistantly produced performances.
Players like Alonso and Makalele specialised in a certain position and simply couldn't do the all round midfield role so that makes them a lesser player imo. Viera didn't get enough goals he was a strong player in the middle who would win the ball back and give it to the likes of Berkamp but as an all round player had his limitations. Toure is brillinat when he's playing well but puts his team down to 10 men when bad, shouldn't be mentioned in the same breath as the others. Keane and Scholes we've covered. Lampard we've had the argument many times.
So in a nutshell the four best CM's in premier league history are, in order; Keane Scholes Lampard Gerrard.
Vieira was a far better footballer than Gerrard. Couldn't stand the twerp but he was a fantastic player. His one real weakness was he shat himself every time he saw Roy Keane.
Tell you what, Emmanuel Petit was superb but only for a couple of seasons. When he was good he was brilliant. Bryan Robson would be only just behind Keane but he wasn't really PL era.
He was better in the challenge and better at controlling the game, his shooting and passing was nowhere near Gerrards, his influence on the pitch we could argue over but I'd go Gerrard, Arsenal fans would argue.
Bahaha don't make me laugh. Only two out of that group I would compare - Giggs and Henry. Cantona & Bergkamp on their day perhaps, but were not top dollar for long.
