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

[Latics Fan SJK]

Bloody hell, I'm amazed at the flak Gerrard has received off some people here.

Yes, Pirlo has looked good for Italy, and the way he plays the game means he doesn't sprint here, there and everywhere like Gerrard still (tries) to do, so he will probably age a lot better.

Pirlo will still be able to do what he always has done when he's 37, Gerrard wont.

However, over the course of their careers, IMO, Gerrard by quite a bit.

He was an incredible box to box midfielder. Fantastic captain, tackler, passer both short and long, could strike a ball as good as anyone from all ranges, and was also a great finisher.

He's carried Liverpool on more than one occasion and when I used to watch him in his prime, he was my favourite CM in England. I loved the way he played. Yes, now and again he tried the odd one to many Hollywood balls, but that's because he could.

He scored so many important goals for his club, West Ham in the Cup Final, Olympiakos in the CL Groups and of course the header against Milan.

Don't get me wrong, Pirlo has always been a classy player and if you asked me who I'd want in my 4-5-1 team right now I'd say Pirlo.

However, if you asked me in any season between 2003-2009, whether it be 442 or 451, Gerrard absolutely hands down.

The reasons you point here seem to reinforce the fact that Gerrard is not a technical player nor is he tactically intelligent.

Gerrard should have never stayed at Liverpool once the opportunity to move to a better team came. He stayed loyal at the detriment of his footballing career.

And no Gerrard has never been better than Pirlo. You know that Pirlo was even better when he was at Milan right?

Yes I do know that. In the same way I know Gerrard was a lot better a few years back to.

Who's the best player now? Pirlo.

Who was the best player for the longer period? Gerrard.

In Gerrard's prime, there wasn't too many midfielders I'd have preferred to have in my side.

The fact that he was picked in either the UEFA Team of the Year and/or Fifa World XI every year in 04/05 ,05/06, 06/07, 07/08 and 08/09 kinda shows the powers that be felt the same too.

And yes, before you bring up Pirlo being a World Cup winner, I wont take that away from him. I'm not saying he's shit, he's top drawer. But Gerrard was better for me.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

'Who's a better player . . .?' is the wrong premise. I would always ask the question "Who would you have in your team, A or B?"

 

[Stoned Rose]

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.

Well if your scouse mate's dad says so it must be true.

And adding the weight of Kenny Dalglish's opinion to that really does make my argument crumble into pieces. This is after all the man who bought Downing, Henderson, Adam and Coates. He is clearly a guru.

 

[sergiokun]

Pirlo

 

[davymcfc]

Gerrard was sensational for Liverpool from 2004-2007. I would go for him.

 

[heliwolf]

Gotta say Gerrard.

Not to take anything away from Pirlo though, absolutely astounding player who would walk into any side of the last 5/6 years. I've just seen SG playing more than I have AP.

 

[Bill]

Gerrard or Pirlo? Im on about as a whole.... Taking both careers in to account who would you say is the better player? I just started this thread because a few dipper fans were annoying me saying "pirlo isn't on Stevies level... He's lucky he was playing in a better team. Zidane said Gerrard's the best player in the world (*facepalm*)" I then replied with "so Pele says Neymars better than Messi, must be true then" and he did go quiet for a bit tbf..... I've always rated Pirlo and think he's a very classy player. Your opinion?

Pirlo



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Paul Scholes is a better than Gerrard.

Gerrard's problem is that he only learned how to play one way: "bombing forward". While it is great that he stayed loyal to Liverpool, staying there his whole career really prevented him from what he could have been.

You can make an argument that Rooney's career has stagnated too. He's happy collecting 250k a week in wages but his career hasn't advanced. When he threaten to leave Man U, he should have left.

scholes pisses all over the pair of them.

 

[kenster197]

people are too quick to disregard Gerrard just because he's scouse etc, but tbf they dont have the same style, have different roles even though are both centre mids, Pirlo is a deep lying playmaker, one of the best, Gerrard is a box to box powerhouse.

The better question would have been Pirlo or Scholes

A great comparison, and for me Scholes all day long. Putting aside who he played for, he was class and a genius at picking and delivering a pass.