Is Gerrard a footballing genius?

[Guest]

Based on individual performances:

1. Messi - best in the world, love watching him play.

2. Ronaldo - Whether you like him or not, the guy gets goals and is hugely talented.

3 - Gerrard.

Wrong, Messi isn't the best in the world neither is Ronaldo.

Gerrard can do soooo much more. He can defend, attack and play in any position with a high degree of success compared to the others. And Messi is too young to be bracketed in there and he hasn't been doing this stuff for that long. He's a bit injury prone too.

As for Stevie G, well he's been around and doing things that we saw last Tuesday regularly for the best part of 8 years now.

He must be the best, no question about that. Don't believe the hype being praised on other players.

[Mike]

Wrong,That is just your opinion, not fact. Messi isn't the best in the world neither is Ronaldo.

Gerrard can do soooo much more. He can defend, attack and play in any position with a high degree of success compared to the others. True And Messi is too young to be bracketed in there Age does not play a part in how good someone IS and he hasn't been doing this stuff for that long. He's a bit injury prone too. What the feck does that have to do with how good the lad is at football?

As for Stevie G, well he's been around and doing things that we saw last Tuesday regularly for the best part of 8 years now.

He must be the best, no question about that. Don't believe the hype being praised on other players.

[El Jefecito]

There was an article that Rafa wrote during the Euros where he spoke about effective players vs. exciting players. As maradonna has pointed out, Messi is exciting/pretty but not effective.

To me the two best players in the world are Ronaldo and SG. If we can convince SG that he is not a CM, then we can shorten that list to 1.

[Icon]

Been supporting Liverpool for 33 years now.

SG is the best all round player I have ever seen in our shirt.

And probably the best I have ever seen in the world.

[Craig_H]

How is Messi 'not effective' ?

[El Jefecito]

Been supporting Liverpool for 33 years now.

SG is the best all round player I have ever seen in our shirt.

And probably the best I have ever seen in the world.

If only SG had tactical nouse. You're an old timer like me, so you know how much Souness added to the team, just because he was that smart. That's what frustrates me about SG. He's just not that smart. If he were he would be head and shoulders above EVERYONE.

[Mike]

Been supporting Liverpool for 33 years now.

SG is the best all round player I have ever seen in our shirt.

And probably the best I have ever seen in the world.

I agree with the all round best player in the world, but not THE best player in the world right now.

How is Messi 'not effective' ?

Exactly, any team would snap him up if given the chance.

[Craig_H]

I consider Gerrard to have more footballing intelligence than most. Not the same as Souness, granted. Gerrard's only real flaw in that sense, is his passion and desire sometimes takes over. Very small flaw to have.

[Guest]

Age = maturity. How old are you ?

Footballers are better for it. FACT.

[Craig_H]

I'm 84.

[Shaggy]

I consider Gerrard to have more footballing intelligence than most. Not the same as Souness, granted. Gerrard's only real flaw in that sense, is his passion and desire sometimes takes over. Very small flaw to have.

Agreed, although another weakness IMO is his tendency to try the killer ball (often a long pass) too often. Not sure whether that's a 'decision-making' or a passing deficiency. Bit of both probably. I know people who think he's a **** passer of the ball. This is clearly utter bollocks but you can sort of understand why they reach this inaccurate conclusion.

We're nitpicking though.

[Craig_H]

I dont think that's really the case anymore, i think he used to be horribly guilty of that in the past, but i think he's largely cut it out of his game for the most part.

[Shaggy]

I dont think that's really the case anymore, i think he used to be horribly guilty of that in the past, but i think he's largely cut it out of his game for the most part.

Do you? Hmmm. Not sure. He's definitely more guilty of it in an England shirt.

[Mike]

Age = maturity. How old are you ?

Footballers are better for it. FACT.

I'm 16 but that is not the point, Messi is a fantastic footballer and is also very mature for his age.

But what you are saying is that Gerrard is better than Messi not for football reasons, because he is more mature and older

[El Jefecito]

How is Messi 'not effective' ?

Because last season both Ronaldo + Stevie + Torres + Adebayor + Cesc accounted for more goals, you know those things which win games, than he did.

Ipso facto SG > Messi.