Xavi said Gerrard was the most difficult player he's played against.


He said the same about Scholes. Pinch of salt comes to mind.





Hoody, I honestly can't remember, I just remember the poor run on form from you guys. It was a question not a statement, as to whether that was his oppurtunity to inspire a team to the title the way the likes of Viera and Keane have.

"I would even go on a limb and say that Scholes / Gerrard would be on par with Xavi and Iniesta."

Don't be silly.

Gerrard is too tactically naive to be paired up with Scholes.
Don't think it would work. And it most certainly wouldn't be on par with Iniesta and Xavi.
Pure hype.

"Barca are often pressd all over the pitch and kicked in the air throughout a game and win."

True Busby, but Barcelona win the vast majority of their games. It makes more sense to look at the games they lose and the tactics that the other team use, and it is more often than not a physical approach.

That is part of the reason why I think trying to rank players is a completely futile exercise as it depends on their contribution to that particular team as a whole and the way they are set up. Xavi and Iniesta, for example, suit Barcelona's style perfectly. Put someone like Platini in there though and that style changes and he wouldn't fit in as well as they would.

It all depends on the shape and style of the team you are trying to create in terms of determining who you choose for the central midfield pairing and what you want from those players. If one dictates play, that does not mean he is any better or more important to the team than the player alongside him who breaks up the opposition more.

Gerrard is too tactically naive to be paired up with Scholes.
Don't think it would work. And it most certainly wouldn't be on par with Iniesta and Xavi.
Pure hype.

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Scholes in his prime could match both, Gerrards drive would cause them problems, i think they would be on par i seriously do.

Iniesta, Busquets, Messi dropping back to help out, plus Alves running the wing to provide an easy ball out wide...a lot of things help Xavi dominate midfields, but he's the fulcrum of it all and the rest are his supporting cast with greater or lesser roles.

That Barça have less drive when Iniesta's out is a fact - you might even argue he's the most important player in the team, at least statistically - but as far as dictating what goes on in the centre of the park, that's Xavi's business.

comment by BusbysBabes (U9083)
posted 6 minutes ago
Elvis, the year liverpool finished second to utd he could have inspired them vitory during the period they basicallt handed us the league, no?
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I think it is fair to say that over the years LFC have had teams capable of winning the PL. Had you swapped Gerrard for Scholes, they probably would have won the PL. That is the difference for me as Scholes would have performed more consistently over the course of the season and had a greater impact on more games, controlling the tempo to suit his team.

Joe Allen is the best midfielder of all time FACT

BusbysBabes (U9083)

It was our highest points total in PL history.

Elvis;

Why point out Gerrard? I bet you love Alonso and it was his job to dictate tempo. Is he not very good?

Gerrard has a better strike rate than Scholes and has played more games per season. Fact.

What other things does he do? Shoot really hard and run around, working hard?
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Running at players, long pass, shooting, drive, tackling, heading, crossing, etc..Just a few.

And yes Gerrard outclassed Xavi/Iniesta when Liverpool beat Barcelona in CL and Liverpool won. The match is there on the internet. Don't take my word, go watch it.

I see what you're saying my point was more to do with the fact that technique can be built and nurtured through surroundings education etc and then sourced back via your brain. Which is why i am certain that the Barca academy spends a lof of time working on the brain as well as the phyiscal side.

--

Oh they do. They start off by ensuring that all of their kids spend enough time in a classroom and get a proper education. That's not a bad way to go about it.

Imagine if Maradona had had that sort of privilege.

People going on about biased Liverpool fans need to look at themselves. Gerrard has consistently been shortlisted for European and World individual honours has been standout in World Cup and Euros even winning a place on the best eleven team and been talked as the best midfielder in the game by some of the best players ever. If you cant see how good Gerrard was then I suggest it is you who is biased.

comment by Robbing_Hoody I taught Reina to flap (U6374)
posted 2 minutes ago
BusbysBabes (U9083)

It was our highest points total in PL history.

Elvis;

Why point out Gerrard? I bet you love Alonso and it was his job to dictate tempo. Is he not very good?
--------------------------------------------

I didn't point out Gerrard. I was responding to an LFC fan who said Gerrard is world class - I disagree and so responded. Is that ok?

comment by Robbing_Hoody I taught Reina to flap (U6374)
posted 3 minutes ago
Gerrard has a better strike rate than Scholes and has played more games per season. Fact.
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And there we have it.

Elvis (U7425)

I think Scholes is a better footballer if that helps. Just pointing something out.

Had you swapped Gerrard for Scholes, they probably would have won the PL. T
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I disagree. Gerrard was playing AM and Alonso played the Scholes role.

The problem that season was more of squad.

Elvis;

Okay if he is not World class how can he win these?

FWA Footballer of the Year (1): 2009
Ballon d'Or Bronze Award (1): 2005
UEFA Club Footballer of the Year (1): 2005
UEFA Team of the Year (3): 2005, 2006, 2007
FIFA/FIFPro World XI (3): 2007, 2008, 2009

What makes you right and the professionals wrong?

Genuine question.

"Scholes in his prime could match both, Gerrards drive would cause them problems, i think they would be on par i seriously do."

If you believe this, then you're deluded. Scholes I understand, yes. But Gerrard? Gerrard's a bully boy. He flourishes (used to) in the Prem due to it's physical nature.

If he went to the Bundesliga, Serie A or La Liga, he'd never ever touch the ball.
He'd be average.

Great players can adapt to any team.

Dubbed;

Okay if he is not World class how can he win these?

FWA Footballer of the Year (1): 2009
Ballon d'Or Bronze Award (1): 2005
UEFA Club Footballer of the Year (1): 2005
UEFA Team of the Year (3): 2005, 2006, 2007
FIFA/FIFPro World XI (3): 2007, 2008, 2009

What makes you right and the professionals wrong?

Genuine question.

melton, sorry I didn't come back to you. It's probably true that no team has the skill required to take on Barça at their own game, but I still don't think it's a question of playing them 'physically', for a simple reason: after 60 minutes of chasing them down, you're done. You stated Madrid as an example, but I'd argue that a lot of Madrid's against them were brought about by trying to be overly physical, as they've rarely managed to keep Barça in check for long enough.

I think beating Barça requires a lot of astuteness. Watching them domestically, I'd say that they have the most trouble when opponents alternate spells of folding back on their own area with short periods (5-10 minutes) of very aggressive pressing - that approach seems to mess with Barça's rhythm, while providing the opposition with a few isolated chances of catching Barça out. Even then, it generally requires a good slice of luck and Barça having a below-par day in front of goal.

Robbing.

Accolades? Seriously? That's all you have?

Giggs won the PFA player of the year 2 seasons ago, even though he was nowhere near the best player.

Mean nothing at all.

When I look at Iniesta for example, I don't use accolades to gauge his ability.
You shouldn't either.

And before 08/09 Liverpool didn't have a team capable of winning the league. Gerrard single handedly carried Liverpool to top 4/3. No surprise Liverpool declined with Gerrard injuries / form. People are forgetting how good Gerrard was.

Dubbed The New Wenger -Sancti Cazorla (U9163)

Just asnwer the question. It's not like he fluked it through pity like Giggs. He is in year after year. He's won trophies and scored over 160 first class goals if you want football stats.

But what makes you right and his peers, Fergie and Zidane wrong?

Just answer it please.

"Just asnwer the question. It's not like he fluked it through pity like Giggs. He is in year after year. He's won trophies and scored over 160 first class goals if you want football stats."

No. I do not want stats. Nor do I use trophies to when looking at a player's ability.

"But what makes you right and his peers, Fergie and Zidane wrong?"

You are desperate indeed.

Everyone has their take on things. Pele thinks Neymar is better than Messi and Ronaldo.
He must be right indeed, as he's a "professional".

No you're desperate because you can't answer the question.

Only a bloody idiot, a chuirlish one at that, would turn his nose up at a player that was in the UEFA and FIFA Pro team of the year four years in a row.

You're looking foolish.