Who is the Best All-Around Player England Has Ever Produced?

dennishasdoneit said:
But he didn't.thats the issue
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He played main striker for Man U for a few years - scoring 34 in one season
then he played attacking mid, some on the wing
then he played many games centre/defensive mid

What position did Rooney play under Alex Ferguson?

Wayne Rooney reveals he HATED playing as a central striker for Manchester United because he 'wanted to get involved'... despite netting 34 goals in one season
thefootballlovers.com thefootballlovers.com
 
jacko74 said:
I'd say its the rocks for brains that actually made him the player he was.

Footballing ability is nothing without also having self-confidence, especially where 'flair' players are concerned.

Most people with any level of intelligence hold a certain degree of self doubt and self analysis which can impede their natural ability.

Gascoigne's lack of intellect meant his self-confidence was off the scale which allowed him to demonstrate his flair completely unencumbered by any hesitancy or feelings of self doubt.
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I can remember reading about him as a teenager first training with the Newcastle 1st team squad..he used to demand the ball off senior pros,and berate them when he didn't get it! Confidence off the scale.
It's when he wasn't playing that self doubt set in....

In later years Gary lineaker said Gazza doesn't pass you the ball he lends it to you...and I can remember so many of his surging runs from centre mid where he'd attack the very heart of the oppennent,and just at the point where he may be tackled,release the ball to the forward and run intelligently into space for the return,but he used to fire the ball at pace, so that the only thing u could do was give it back to him...

The so called Wall Pass..or one two if u like.

Loved to watch him play football, even if he always seem to score against us,over the years.The amount of times his rampaging runs led to him completely bypassing a static defence ..and boy could he finish.
Cool as you like,making a keeper look silly,often dribbling round him after making him sit down before poking into an empty net.

Great player.but definitely not an all rounder.
 
BlueHammer85 said:
He played main striker for Man U for a few years - scoring 34 in one season
then he played attacking mid, some on the wing
then he played many games centre/defensive mid

What position did Rooney play under Alex Ferguson?

Wayne Rooney reveals he HATED playing as a central striker for Manchester United because he 'wanted to get involved'... despite netting 34 goals in one season
thefootballlovers.com thefootballlovers.com
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I didn't know that,if that's correct he played defensive mid,it passed me by.i stand corrected .
 
Ste68 said:
Have heard old time blues insist Edwards’s was destined to be the best player of his generation. Same with Peter Doherty being City’s best ever player. Difficult to judge fairly across generations and so many players lost prime years like Doherty and Matthews. Best I have seen would be between Keegan who made the best of his ability and Gascogne. Rooney in his first tournament was frightening but never really hit those heights often enough to stay in the debate.
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Great point made about many players losing their prime years .
Very sad that.
 
BlueHammer85 said:
yep many games in midfield for Man Utd and at the end of his career for Derby/America side he went
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I think the last two sides he played dont really support your view...
Imo.can remember derby losing an important match at QPR when he was caught in possession and the oppennent broke away and scored.
From what I can remember his derby midfield days were not great.
 
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dennishasdoneit said:
I think the less two sides he played dont really support your view...
Imo.can remember derby losing an important match at QPR when he was caught in possession and the oppennent broke away and scored.
From what I can remember his derby midfield days were not great.
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Think age caught up with him mainly but still most were favourable of his time there

www.coachesvoice.com

Wayne Rooney: Championship Player Watch - Coaches' Voice

Wayne Rooney excelled in a new midfield role for Derby County before retiring from playing to become their manager
www.coachesvoice.com www.coachesvoice.com
 
As with most questions like this you have to be very focussed in the actual question to be able to make a reasoned judegment.
Max Woosnam wins it hands down if you are talking overall sporting talent...but are we just talking about football? Even Dennis Compton cannot match up to Max's sporting diversity and quality....and did Max & Dennis ever perform on a cold wet night in Stoke?
If it is purely football that we are talking about then do you have to look at a player who has played at the highest level in multiple positions?
You look at the likes of Paul Warhurst. OK a couple of good seasons and played all across the park and scored the odd goal but he isnt ever going to be up there with the greats...but he was an all rounder...Like Milner!
I see potential for Stones to be up there but would have to go along with many and say that it has to be a midfielder who could score goals but also put the work in and defend...so Charlton/Robson/Gerrard/Lampard
 
johnevans said:
Agree.. like Colin Bell, Paul Madeley cruised around a football pitch and made playing in any position (which he did for Leeds, apart from goalkeeper*) look like it was a doddle.

For me, he was the ultimate 'Protean' player.. like Colin Bell, would be worth £gazillions on the transfer market at today's prices..

(* curiously, another 60s/70s great, the glorious Martin Peters, actually did play in every position including goalkeeper for West Ham)
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They used to say about Martin Peters,he was ahead of his time.
Famous for ghosting into the pen area ,unmarked,to score.
Didnt know he played every position Inc goalkeeper for WHU.
Not much is said nowadays about this quiet,professional,well respected world cup winner.
Anybody else see him play ?
 
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Dirty Harry said:
He was a belting player mate, and is absolutely up there !

Sadly, I remember watching one of his last games for WBA (against us) when we were in the process of buying Steve Daley, I just stood there with my head in my hands going “no, no, no” as he completely dominated the game for them and rinsed us, great player.
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Was that the 3-1 home defeat to Albion when Cyrille Regis nearly broke the net with that cannonball strike...
 
Gaz Baz had a hell of a career played fullback across midfield. Chipped in with goals. Not a flair player but I’d imagine he was loved by managers and teammates alike for what he brought to the team.
 
bondsman said:
Gaz Baz had a hell of a career played fullback across midfield. Chipped in with goals. Not a flair player but I’d imagine he was loved by managers and teammates alike for what he brought to the team.
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I always think that any player who was an essential part of Hughes team,.. then adapt to a totally different tactical set up under Mancini,again playing every week means he's special.
Invaluable on the 2012 title run in,so many inceterceptions,no fuss,consummate professional. Mr consistent throughout his career.
 
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