I've watched them but having heard and seen a few videos on the players close to the top (and Pirlo's performances now), I do think, from my knowledge, they were better than what I've seen of Gerrard, Lampard and even Scholes. But that doesn't mean to say that videos or rumours are consistent enough for them to file an accurate view, but that is how I like to see it.

Didn't see much of Seerdorf or Pirlo during their primes but heard a lot about Scholes and seen a lot of Gerrard and Lampard during their time.

==

Scholes played at the same time as Gerrard and Lampard three and four years age difference

" I also theorise that Scholes benefitted a lot from having Fergie as manager. For some reason players performed very well for him and this last season under Moyes might have validated this theory."

Fair point - but you could flip that on it's head and say that Ferguson was such a great manager that Scholes would not have played such a large part for United if he wasn't good enough.

Could Gerrard have been better under Ferguson?

Now there's an interesting question

Arouna Jagielka oooh I wanna take ya, Heitinga Nikica come on pretty mama (U1308)

Them 3 or 4 years is the difference of his prime, when I didn't enjoy football that much.

^^ Although you do hold a fair point

comment by TomShrimp (U19831)



posted 4 minutes ago


^^ Although you do hold a fair point

==

My mistake 3 and 5

comment by Winston (U16525)




posted 6 minutes ago



" I also theorise that Scholes benefitted a lot from having Fergie as manager. For some reason players performed very well for him and this last season under Moyes might have validated this theory."

Fair point - but you could flip that on it's head and say that Ferguson was such a great manager that Scholes would not have played such a large part for United if he wasn't good enough.

Could Gerrard have been better under Ferguson?

Now there's an interesting question


==

If he made Scholes, a player of lesser ability than Gerrard into a world renowned player then wow.

How does the old saying go, you can't polish a t.urd.....but you can roll it in glitter

"You might want to check your facts - he played wide right for most of one season."

this is the myth that keeps on mything

did he ever play on the right? yes, but only in defence really, In attack he cut into the middle into opposition half. I would be surprised if you could find (m)any instances of him crossing from the right or being marked by a fullback. It just didn't happen.

Otherwise, we had Garcia, Pennant, and sometimes even Finnan playing on the right that season as well.

So not only wasn't 'wide right', it wasn't even that often.

How would Scholes have faired playing for the likes of Houllier, Rafa and Hodgson? An even more interesting question.

The Kaiser's Trainers (U5676)

If you want a pedantic argument about what to call the position, I'll leave you to it.

He played on the right of a 4 man midfield, and was moved to give the team better balance, with 2 central midfielders in place.

Call it what you like, but it won't change the facts.

the few times Scholes and Gerrard were actually paired for England in a two they were both excellent. They complimented each other perfectly. Shame it rarely happened.

Mamba - Here's one for you to suck on - Real Sosobad (U1282) (U13041)

Why even more interesting?

Pretty much the same question from where I'm standing.

He played on the right of a 4 man midfield in defence only and it was a rare occurrence in general. Call it what you like, but it won't change the facts.

Ok Winston. They are equally interesting.

The Kaiser's Trainers (U5676)

'In defence only'

I've heard it all now.

Yes, the minute Liverpool had the ball, Gerrard ran into the middle and played centra midfield.

Pathetic.

He played on the right of midfield.

I'm not sure why this is so upsetting for you.

"Prime" doesn't necessarily mean a players age. Pirlo, as far as I can tell improved with age, as his game was never attributed to his physical attributes, unlike Gerrard.

It's fair to say all of these players were the heartbeat of their teams, Scholes, Pirlo and Seedorf would dictate play where as Lamps and Gerrard were more effective in the final thirds, hence their recognition when it came to awards.

It's only since Xavi that people began to realise the importance of controlling a game.

"Yes, the minute Liverpool had the ball, Gerrard ran into the middle and played centra midfield."

that's exactly what happened.

Ronaldo did exactly the same for you starting in his 3rd season. That's how he scored so many goals.

I'm not sure why you find your 'facts' being myth busted so upsetting. You even used the exact same tactics with your 'wide right' player so it should be very familiar.

The Kaiser's Trainers (U5676)

Even your Manager called him a right sided player.

He didn't run into the middle everytime you had the ball.

He often received the ball outside and cut in.

He was a right midfielder. You can dress it up however you wish, but that's a fact.

It's not even being used as a criticism, yet you seem intent on denying it. Perhaps you should give Mr Benitez a call and have it out with him as well. You obviously know more about Gerrard's position than he does.

Fergie talks about Benitez' use of Gerrard in his book, he couldn't understand it either.

He said he loved to see Gerrard on the right hand side.

However, Benitez insists he is not restricting Gerrard by playing him out on the right side of midfield.

"Stevie was on the right, but he was going inside a lot. In the end we put him in the middle," said Benitez.

"Last season he played really well on the right, he had freedom and he could go inside when he wanted.

"I do not feel we are using him as a winger, he is not being asked to get to the line to make crosses.

"He has a freedom to come inside and find space to attack."

"He can cause teams problems coming inside from a wider position."

The end.

Robbing_Hoody - Here, have some goals. You don't have to work for them. They're a gift. That's what we do now. (U6374)

'he played really well on the right'

The end?

Indeed it is. He played right midfield.

No one claimed he didn't have the freedom to go inside.

Doesn't change the fact that he played on the right.

I could add more quotes but you've already done a pretty decent job of proving my point. Cheers.

I'm not proving anyones point but I have had the conversation with you before in regards to him being able to play in the middle and the spaces he picked up and I feel you don't know as much on the subject you you clearly feel you do.

TKT is pretty accurate when it comes to the spaces Gerrard occupied and I find the stance of pigeon holing him to an orthodox position rather myopic to say the least.

Robbing_Hoody - Here, have some goals. You don't have to work for them. They're a gift. That's what we do now. (U6374)

I'm not pigeon holing anyone.

You're just trying to read some sort of criticism / motive behind what is a fairly straightforward comment.

Did he have freedom and often come inside? Yes

Did he often hit the byeline? No

Doesn't change the fact that he played right midfield.

Liverpool employed two central midfielders, and Gerrard wasn't one of them. His position was on the right.

I find your lack of acceptance rather baffling.

"'Steve scored 23 goals last season, playing on the right side of midfield."

"'McClaren is clever. He knows that Stevie's best season was as a right-sided player."

Got a problem with me saying Gerrard played right midfield?

As I said, take it up with your Manager at the time then.

You know - the one who picked the team.

Semantic nonsense.

If he was inside and behind the striker centrally during a game of football was he literally playing on the right of midfield? No he wasn't. Will have looked like it on a little team sheet though.

You're probably both right tbh.