In your opinion who's a better player....

[Unknown_Genius]

Pirlo, by a long stretch. Gerrard has never dictated a game for England against a strong team, like Pirlo has done. Before anyone brings up "The Miracle of Istanbul" Hamann coming on at half-time was a key tactical decision that changed that game. It always amazes me how thats completely overlooked and everyone just blows Gerrard for diving to win a penalty. But hey, Hamann's German, and the Sun says we must all hate them...

 

[Deleted member 14625]

Pirlo easily

Two champions league wins and a world cup winner amongst a host of other trophies

Trophies aren't won by individuals. Liverpool's most decorated player is Phil Neal, and he's no superstar!

From 2002-2008, other than Kaka, Gerrard was the best central midfielder in the world. As players in their mid 30's Pirlo is now the much better player. But I don't think he was ever as good as Gerrard at his best. So goin off that I'd say it is very even throughout their careers.

 

[Armaan]

I wonder what views would have been on this a month ago?

Pretty much the same i reckon... Seen Pirlo play for years, just because you might have not doesn't mean that others are judging him based on this years euros.<br /><br />-- Fri Jun 29, 2012 6:21 pm --<br /><br />

Would love to hear some Italian opinions.

Here I am :D .
This is not an easy question, btw I think that Pirlo was really understimate throught years, maybe because Italian serie a in the last years have lost some visibility.
But he is brilliant, clever, pure class player... one of the best midfielder ever.
Two years ago he got injuried and that's why he did not played at his standards.
On the other side, Gerrard is a nice all-round player, I love it... but at the end of the day, I would like to have Pirlo in my team rather than Gerrard.
Because Pirlo can really change a team alone, can turn your the cards in the table more than Gerrad.
That's my opinion, sorry for english mistakes :D

-- Fri Jun 29, 2012 3:42 pm --

Would love to hear some Italian opinions.

Here I am :D .
This is not an easy question, btw I think that Pirlo was really understimate throught years, maybe because Italian serie a in the last years have lost some visibility.
But he is brilliant, clever, pure class player... one of the best midfielder ever.
Two years ago he got injuried and that's why he did not played at his standards.
On the other side, Gerrard is a nice all-round player, I love it... but at the end of the day, I would like to have Pirlo in my team rather than Gerrard.
Because Pirlo can really change a team alone, can turn your the cards in the table more than Gerrad.
That's my opinion, sorry for english mistakes :D

Interesting... Good post mate

 

[Joehannes]

I wonder what views would have been on this a month ago?

I don't know but maybe your average Englishman's opinion of Italian football being finished along with Serie A may have changed over the course of the last 3 weeks. Maybe it will take a good CL run from Juve next season to change it, although unlikely, we as a footballing nation, are simply that arrogant and ignorant as individuals. I think you can compare previous English opinion of Italian football to English opinion of Pirlo.

 

[Challenger1978]

Gerrard, pretty much dragged liverpool throughout the years, to win cups like the champions league, fa cup.....

if gerrarad was italian or dutch.... we would be saying hes the best

This is what Gerrard has won over the years.

FA Cup (2): 2000–01, 2005–06
League Cup (3): 2000–01, 2002–03, 2011–12
FA Community Shield (2): 2001, 2006
UEFA Champions League (1): 2004–05
UEFA Cup (1): 2000–01
UEFA Super Cup (2): 2001, 2005

That's not to bad at all for a player at a team that was just scrapping in to the top four most of his career.

 

[Stoned Rose]

Pirlo easily

Two champions league wins and a world cup winner amongst a host of other trophies

Trophies aren't won by individuals. Liverpool's most decorated player is Phil Neal, and he's no superstar!

From 2002-2008, other than Kaka, Gerrard was the best central midfielder in the world. As players in their mid 30's Pirlo is now the much better player. But I don't think he was ever as good as Gerrard at his best. So goin off that I'd say it is very even throughout their careers.

From 2002-2008, other than Kaka, Gerrard was the best central midfielder in the world.

Scholes?, Keane?, Viera?

 

[Dzeko's Right Boot]

Changed my mind after reading Zealot's post.

Gerrard can change a game, but Pirlo can change a team.

 

[Deleted member 14625]

Pirlo easily

Two champions league wins and a world cup winner amongst a host of other trophies

Trophies aren't won by individuals. Liverpool's most decorated player is Phil Neal, and he's no superstar!

From 2002-2008, other than Kaka, Gerrard was the best central midfielder in the world. As players in their mid 30's Pirlo is now the much better player. But I don't think he was ever as good as Gerrard at his best. So goin off that I'd say it is very even throughout their careers.

From 2002-2008, other than Kaka, Gerrard was the best central midfielder in the world.

Scholes?, Keane?, Viera?

I think Gerrard was better than Scholes. and Keane's best years were 1994-2000, and Vieira's best years were 1997-2003.

We've got family friends who are Scousers. The Dad who is in his late 50's has been a Liverpool SC holder for decades and he says Gerrard is Liverpool's best ever player, and he's witnessed their best ever years in the 70's and 80's. When you watch someone live week-in-week-out you see much more of a players game than you do on tele. Kenny Dalgliesh says Gerrard is Liverpool's best ever player too.

 

[sergiokun]

Pirlo

 

[Marvin]

At the moment Pirlo by a mile.

Gerrard 5 years ago was one of the best in the world, but he's lost those trademark surging runs. He's left with the long passing like Scholes. A great crosser too. Gerrard's physicality was a huge part of his game so he's much more affected by the ageing process than Pirlo