07 Feb 2018 18:47:32
Hey Ed's,

I know we used to all adore him on the pitch and maybe speak of him with bias but now that it's been a few years since he retired and we can look back and reflect, what is your opinion on Steven Gerrard as a player?

And where would you rank him among those who played CM in the premiership era, in comparison to the usual Lampard and scholes, but also the veiras, keanes, makele, etc.

Would be interested to hear any of the Ed's opinions, and the users of course!

Thanks guys!

{Ed0333's Note - great question mate and I shouldn’t be editing because I’m on honeymoon but I can’t resist this site it’s my dirty little secret. Like everyone I rated Gerrard as a player. He had the knack of scoring goals that would save our bacon, he was a archetypal Roy of the rovers football player (google it kids) and players of his talent don’t come around often, but we were certainly blessed to have him. He also had opportunities to leave and didn’t so he was loyal also which endears him further. But Im objective enough to appreciate other Premiership central midfielders and it’s because of this I say that Gerrard wasn’t the best in the PL era. He wasn’t even the best at Liverpool that mantle will always to Xavi Alonso, that cat was magnificence and resplendence personified. He would own people on the pitch. But I will have to cut this short because the Mrs is giving me daggers as we’re going to dinner but to answer your question the best was probably a toss up Scholes, Makelele, Keane, Viera, Essien and Alonso. Sorry if this reply is haphazard but I’m writing furiously trying to duck the stiletto heels she’s throwing at me. Would love to hear your opinions Jak and others who their top 3 were and why?

1.) 08 Feb 2018
08 Feb 2018 00:35:56
My view on Gerrard is as a player he had the ability over others to play different roles and make them his own.
I can remember he played right winger one season under Benitez and scored a shed load of goals, he played behind Torres and scored and created.
In the 05 champions league final I believe he took up three different roles in that game and came out on top in every position.
For England he was predominantly the holding midfielder
They guy had the lot.

Can’t remember any other player doing that for club and country.

Top three for me
Gerrard. Footballing legend
Alonso. Owned the game for every second he was on the pitch. Class act
Makele. The guy just made Chelsea tick with his presence.

{Ed0333's Note - Gerrard wasn’t a great at international level Gaza so he loses points there for me.

2.) 08 Feb 2018
08 Feb 2018 01:17:38
Gerard’s best years were when he had Xabi behind him as he had the freedom to drive us forward safe in the knowledge Xabi or Didi had his back. Although Stevie could put a challenge in his positional sense wasn’t the best which is why I think BR ruined him trying to play him as the midfield pivot. Gerrard was untouchable for 2 or 3 seasons after Istanbul because of Alonso/ Mascherano. For me no player has had to drag the team to victory as much as Gerrard because like it or not the poor lad has had to put up with some mediocre players along side him most of his career. He could of left but he was loyal. There probably are better midfielders in the premier league era but I don’t think any of them had the heart our captain had and I wouldn’t of swapped him for Messi.

3.) 08 Feb 2018
08 Feb 2018 01:39:21
I'm going for Alonso, Makelele and Essien.

Essien was just such an incredible footballer, Alonso was the Goat and Makelele essentially gave birth to a brand new position.

4.) 08 Feb 2018
08 Feb 2018 02:07:45
Sometimes you have to separate the most talented and the best in a position.

I watched when j was younger the world's best free styler at the time, every trick in the book. Just couldn't play in a football match though.

Gerrard was the most talented premier league midfielder all round for me. He just didn't master his position and as ed says there is a whole host in front of him who did.

5.) 08 Feb 2018
08 Feb 2018 02:47:11
Gerard is right up there for the way he could dictate the game and turn things on his own. Keane was influential but more just for that uncompromising attitude that made the opposition (and his own team) fear him. Scholes was brilliant but I never feared him completely as someone who could own the game.

I’d put Gerard’s real challengers as Makelele, Alonso and Viera, they were all something else and could dictate the play almost single-handedly. My personal favourite would be Alonso. he owned the game like very few others since, and could lock down the defence, control the possession, create, make incredible passes, and score some screamers. Viera would be very close too, thought he was a major part of the invincibles being invincible.

6.) 08 Feb 2018
08 Feb 2018 04:51:07
Unfulfilled potential for me. Rafa was the best thing that happend to Stevie and even then he would moan about he's position. After he left, him and Carra had way too much influence at the club e. g being asked to tap up players I mean come on. Should have been phased out when he lost the physical side of his game and was being shoe horned into the holding midfield role. Still he accomplished so much and will always be a legend to my generation of fans who never got to see the glory days.

7.) 08 Feb 2018
08 Feb 2018 01:31:07
Ed 0333 how much would your 6 listed players be worth in today’s game be worth considering the silly fees these days. I don’t think any team could afford them.

{Ed0333's Note - I think PSG and Man City would find a way I think mate.

8.) 08 Feb 2018
08 Feb 2018 07:04:08
Of course this is subjective but I would not put Gerrard below any of the people mentioned above.

To me he was a match winner extraordinaire. I'll also hypothesise that if he'd had a better team around him then this wouldn't be a debate, he wouldn't just be a Liverpool great but an all time great.

9.) 08 Feb 2018
08 Feb 2018 07:31:55
I'll keep it pretty short if I can, he was an outstanding driving force for the team on the pitch, some didn't like him or his persona off the field but I never saw anything untoward, so can't possibly comment on that, nor do I care really.

If losing a game or drawing, he'd pull us out of the fire, almost on his own at times.
We went through a phase in the mid to late 00's where we looked almost unbeatable in Europe and you had confidence we could beat almost any team due to his dominance on the field and aura with opposition players.

A true gem of a player in my opinion.

10.) 08 Feb 2018
08 Feb 2018 07:42:47
I'm amazed to see lists above of a top 3 not including Keane. If he was from a big football nation it wouldn't even be a question. No matter what Fergusion said after their falling out Keane was his captain and first name on the team sheet as they won all around them. When he made Veira back down in the tunnel it ended that particular debate!

11.) 08 Feb 2018
08 Feb 2018 06:16:09
I tend to look at the players he had around him when performing at his best. It's easy to look at Keane and Viera as being top shelf, but they consistently had quality around them. Scholes I don't rate as much as you do Ed033, in fact I think he was hugely overrated, but that's just a personal opinion. Keane was a beast, really put himself about and scared his own team mates never mind the opposition. Viera I think of as a classic midefielder. Touch, vision, drive, passion. Gerard I think is the closest to Viera, but again, only shone when Xabi and Masch were there with him. Other times pure grit and determination made him stand out when partnered with lesser midfielders.
So I'd go with:
Viera
Gerard
Keane
Not sure where to put Alonso. Quality player and person.

12.) 08 Feb 2018
08 Feb 2018 08:25:46
Sorry ed 0333 mate but were is lampard in all this he was brilliant a real team player a leader scored the most goals out of all them midfielders u mentioned an was decent for England, even has record goals for Chelsea an he ain't even a striker, I used too hate him cos he was direct competition too Gerrard but in all honesty he achieved more in every sense, all be it his club had real power and an advantage with money at the time.

{Ed0333's Note - I respect Lampards accomplishments especially as he was as naturally gifted as some of his contemporaries but to say he was the best Premiership midfielder nope not having it hailstones but it’s a great debate nonetheless.

13.) 08 Feb 2018
08 Feb 2018 08:28:34
U rite though ed so right xabi Alonso was the anchor in the ship an when he left we were never the same again, an as great as Gerrard is he suffered too with Alonso leaving, I was completely gutted when he left.

{Ed0333's Note - Alonso today is better than Milner and Gini.

14.) 08 Feb 2018
08 Feb 2018 09:51:40
I'll pick the best holding midfielder, best attacking midfielder, and best box to box midfielder in that order.

Alonso. Best midfielder of his generation.

Lampard. Incredibly hard working and scored an unprecedented number of goals.

Viera. Most complete midfielder of the premier league era.

Imagine them as a midfield 3!

Gerrard for me was best on the right side. Shame he refused to play there as i think he'd be remembered as the best right sided player in the leagues history. He was probably better there than even Ronaldo (Premier league Ronaldo that is) was because he scored 20 a season, but also created more than ever Ronny did, and worked harder defensively. I'd never have him in my top 3 midfielders though. He was a world class right midfielder, a top class attacking midfielder, and just a decent central midfielder. I'd say his choice in where he played made him into a scorer of great goals, rather than a great goal scorer. Shame really. Rafa saw his potential on the right, he scored more goals in his one season there than in any other year of his career, but he just wanted to be in the middle to the detriment of the team and even his own game. What i will say is that Gerrard had the best set piece delivery I've ever seen in any generation of footballers. His corners and free kicks alone, were worth £50m. He's still one of the best players ever to play for Liverpool though which takes some doing.

If we're including outside of the premier league too though, my midfield 3 would be Alonso (still), Iniesta, and probably Seedorf. I'm struggling to decide between Seedorf and Zidane though.

15.) 08 Feb 2018
08 Feb 2018 10:41:43
From the English lads Lampard and Scholes were very good but if you’re ahead in a game and the opposition were to Bring on one of those 3 who would you fear most? Gerrard, every day of the week.

16.) 08 Feb 2018
08 Feb 2018 11:14:04
I'd fear Lampard more to be honest, Swishcleaner. He scored nearly twice as many goals as Gerrard.

Maybe Gerrard scored better goals, but I'll take two scrappy 18 yard deflected goals over one 30 yard free kick.

Gerrard and Scholes were awesome, but for all their Brilliance, Lampard got more goals, and more assists in less games. Maybe he was less talented, but he sure as hell made the best of it and squeezed every last drop of ability he had out onto the pitch. He was also far less likely to get himself sent off unlike Gerrard and Scholes who often let games get away from them and violently retaliated.

Unpopular opinion on here for sure as Gerrard was clearly the more talented player, but I'd be more scared of a prime Lampard, than the other two.

17.) 08 Feb 2018
08 Feb 2018 12:02:32
Maybe so mk, scored more but in terms of grabbing games by the neck and influencing them either from the bench or from the start I’d say Gerrard was ahead of him. Far more versatile as well, so you could have him be influential in far more areas. Lampard was playing in a very good Chelsea team where a lot less was asked of him as well.

18.) 08 Feb 2018
08 Feb 2018 12:33:14
I'd say Lampard was being asked a lot more questions to be honest. It is much easier to look out of place in a world class team. Chelsea also replaced every player in their team regularly and Lampard was good enough to beat off all comers fir his place in the team.

Gerrard had everything built around him, whereas Lampard had to accept being a part of the team, rather than the team. Gerrard got to take every penalty, every free kick, every corner etc. He was afforded the freedom to take shot after shot because it was widely accepted he was our best chance at a goal, whereas Lampard had no excuse not to pass.

What i will agree on is grabbing a game though. Lampard arguably wasn't as complete individually. Gerrard could win the ball back, run 40 yards, and then score from 30 yards. Lampard possibly needed a better team around him as he didn't have the pace and power to take a game to the opposition single handedly. So i suppose it depends on the team. In a weak team, Gerrard is your man. In a stronger team, Lampard is your man. Good argument though mate, certainly made me reconsider slightly.

19.) 08 Feb 2018
08 Feb 2018 15:03:38
Lampard was great but it was in the context of a team that clicked. Gerard could turn a game on his own regardless of how good the team was around him. he was the fulcrum while Lampard was the finisher.

20.) 08 Feb 2018
08 Feb 2018 16:26:04
Lampard used to arrive late on the edge of the box and get his goals that way.
He never turned a game round for me, Gerrard did it frequently via a long thunderbolt, a driving run, a pin point cross or even a header.
In big games, he always delivered. Scored in finals of league cup, FA cup, UEFA cup and Champions league.

Gerrard way above Lampard. With Gerrard in your team you always had a chance.
I’d also put him ahead of Viera, Scholes and Keane.

Alonso was supremely talented, but did he ever pull the team out of a hole like Gerrard? Did he do it consistently like Gerrard? I’m not so sure.

A legend, simple as that, and easily in the top 5 LFC players ever for me 🤝.

21.) 08 Feb 2018
08 Feb 2018 20:28:33
The only thing I’ll add mk and was that two of the top 3 of Gerrard’s hightest scoring seasons were when we had Mascherano and alsonso plying alongside him with. Gerrard was pushed further forward as we weren’t so reliant on having one player holding it together. So when he did have better players around him he actually delivered more on the goal scoring front.

22.) 09 Feb 2018
09 Feb 2018 11:30:37
I thought Gerrard was a phenomenal player but only occasionally. He could do great things with the ball but most of the time he made the wrong decision similar to Coutinho in that style. Sometimes, the correct decision was the ten footer to a runner instead of the thirty yard shot which sometimes hit the target. I can not stress how perfectly built he was to be a legend but I can’t help feel he could have accomplished far more in the game if his mind set was a little different.

The loyalty thing is a strange one- he spun it favorably but I’m not sure it was loyalty alone which kept him at the club. Was it not said that his treatment of team mates was very bad? I thought I’d heard that Torres received a lot of abuse from him for their different lifestyle and much of it led to him wanting to leave. His off field antics were disgraceful and on numerous occasions he was arrested and let’s not forget the high profile court case for his assault on the dj which he skipped free from.

And last but not least, he kind of landed us in trouble with the fa with his book after he left. For me Gerrard is a frustrating memory. I think he could have been one of the all time greats and he did do great things but I couldn’t put him up there with god or Kenny. And now to add insult to injury, imo three best midfielders were Keane, Scholes and Makelele. Shout out to Viera.

23.) 09 Feb 2018
09 Feb 2018 11:41:32
Gerrard was better than alonso. Simple. Torres always maintained that sg was the best he ever played with not xa.

24.) 11 Feb 2018
10 Feb 2018 18:50:43
Cheers for the response ed, especially on your honeymoon haha and congrats by the way! Agree with most of what u said actually, loved Alonso, loved Keane, wasn’t mad on scholes but appreciate some people rank him up there. Loved Gerard’s driving abiltity, determination and moments of brilliance which could win a game or drag us out of a rut at times and inspire others in the team. definitely don’t think his strong point was dictating a game tho, in terms of slowing it down when needed etc. think he played a lot with his heart rather than his head which is probably why he shone so much more when placed with Alonso who was a genius at playing with his head and seeing the whole game in front of him! I’d have to give it a real good think about who else I’d place up there, which is probably what I’ll be thinking theoughout my shift in work now tonight haha. Enjoy the rest of the honeymoon mate!