Gerrard, Scholes or Lampard. Who was best?

[Liverbirdie]

.................... and about Paul Scholes!


Zinedine Zidane: My toughest opponent? Scholes of Manchester. He is the complete midfielder. Scholes is undoubtedly the greatest midfielder of his generation.

Socrates (Brazil): Good enough to play for Brazil. I love to watch Scholes, to see him pass, the boy with the red hair and the red shirt.

Marcello Lippi: Paul Scholes would have been one of my first choices for putting together a great team – that goes to show how highly I have always rated him. An all-round midfielder who possesses quality and character in abundance.

Cesc Fabregas: For any football player in the Premiership, Scholes is a player you want to emulate. One player does not make a team but there is no doubt that the presence of some players add extra motivation and confidence. Scholes is a player with character and is capable of transmitting that mental strength to his team-mates.

Laurent Blanc: I tell anyone who asks me – Scholes is the best English player.

Xavi Hernandez: Paul Scholes is a role model. For me – and I really mean this – he's the best central midfielder I've seen in the last 15, 20 years. I've spoken to Xabi Alonso about him. He's spectacular, he has it all: the last pass, goals, he's strong, he doesn't lose the ball, vision. If he'd been Spanish he might have been rated more highly. Players love him.


Patrick Vieira: The player in the Premiership I admire most? Easy - Scholes.


Michael Owen: Nobody on this planet had a range of passing like Paul Scholes. Training every day was a pleasure just watching him.


Edgar Davids: I’m not the best, Paul Scholes is.


Okay, I know I'm biased, but they guys quoted above aren't.

How apt:-

[FONT=&quot]“There are some who argue Gerrard cannot be rated so highly because he does not have the medal haul to compare with, say, the Manchester United players. It is preposterous to judge a player’s ability based on his trophy collection. There are dozens of players who have several Premier League winners’ medals who are not fit to lace Gerrard’s boots.” [/FONT]— Michael Owen

:rofl:

 

[Papas1982]

How apt:-

“There are some who argue Gerrard cannot be rated so highly because he does not have the medal haul to compare with, say, the Manchester United players. It is preposterous to judge a player’s ability based on his trophy collection. There are dozens of players who have several Premier League winners’ medals who are not fit to lace Gerrard’s boots.” — Michael Owen

:rofl:

Maybe one of them should have laced his boots that fateful afternoon against Chelsea.....................

Joking aside, i agree with your point a few messages ago. This board clearly shows that they were all great players.

 

[Oohmeoldbacksknackered]

Thing with Scoles, and I'll admit I never played against him, was that pretty much all these compliments came when he retired.
To me he didn't shine as brightly when he was playing.
My doubts about him are based around the fact that he could play well for Utd alongside Keen but never performed for England alongside lesser players. It always felt like he needed Ferguson to make it easy for himself- he didn't have that extra smidge of class to.really boss a side the way Gazza could.
And this was in an era when we actually had half decent England managers not like when Gerrard and Lampard were more active.
And on a personal note, anyone who makes themselves unavailable for England when they still have something to offer because they want to concentrate on their club side can never be considered a great.

Of course, I've not looked up stats or wiki, so I stand to be corrected but these are just the memories and biases of an old feeble mind.

😳

 

[Papas1982]

Thing with Scoles, and I'll admit I never played against him, was that pretty much all these compliments came when he retired.
To me he didn't shine as brightly when he was playing.
My doubts about him are based around the fact that he could play well for Utd alongside Keen but never performed for England alongside lesser players. It always felt like he needed Ferguson to make it easy for himself- he didn't have that extra smidge of class to.really boss a side the way Gazza could.
And this was in an era when we actually had half decent England managers not like when Gerrard and Lampard were more active.
And on a personal note, anyone who makes themselves unavailable for England when they still have something to offer because they want to concentrate on their club side can never be considered a great.

Of course, I've not looked up stats or wiki, so I stand to be corrected but these are just the memories and biases of an old feeble mind.



I never really got the love in with Gazza, he has a few special highlights. But I really don't remember him dominating teams. Not for full seasons. Just passing occasions.

re scholes and England, how often did he get played cm? I agree re the retirement thing, but think a lot of that is to to with him being played as a left winger and he felt he couldn't contribute so did what he felt was the honourable think. Unlike others who retired when they thought they'd not be picked.

 

[Liverbirdie]

.................... and about Paul Scholes!


Zinedine Zidane: My toughest opponent? Scholes of Manchester. He is the complete midfielder. Scholes is undoubtedly the greatest midfielder of his generation.

Socrates (Brazil): Good enough to play for Brazil. I love to watch Scholes, to see him pass, the boy with the red hair and the red shirt.

Marcello Lippi: Paul Scholes would have been one of my first choices for putting together a great team – that goes to show how highly I have always rated him. An all-round midfielder who possesses quality and character in abundance.

Cesc Fabregas: For any football player in the Premiership, Scholes is a player you want to emulate. One player does not make a team but there is no doubt that the presence of some players add extra motivation and confidence. Scholes is a player with character and is capable of transmitting that mental strength to his team-mates.

Laurent Blanc: I tell anyone who asks me – Scholes is the best English player.

Xavi Hernandez: Paul Scholes is a role model. For me – and I really mean this – he's the best central midfielder I've seen in the last 15, 20 years. I've spoken to Xabi Alonso about him. He's spectacular, he has it all: the last pass, goals, he's strong, he doesn't lose the ball, vision. If he'd been Spanish he might have been rated more highly. Players love him.


Patrick Vieira: The player in the Premiership I admire most? Easy - Scholes.


Michael Owen: Nobody on this planet had a range of passing like Paul Scholes. Training every day was a pleasure just watching him.


Edgar Davids: I’m not the best, Paul Scholes is.


Okay, I know I'm biased, but they guys quoted above aren't.

Just for balance then, as some people get heavily influenced by what great player's opinions are:-

“Is he the best in the world? He might not get the attention of Messi and Ronaldo but yes, I think he just might be.” — Zinedine Zidane (between 2009 and 2011)

“There was a point when Gerrard was the best midfield player in the world. It is unusual to get complete midfield players who can do everything, but that is what he was.” — Zinedine Zidane

“Steven Gerrard would be the captain of my World XI dream team.” — Francesco Totti

“Put him alongside Roy Keane, probably even ahead of Frank, put him alongside Paul Scholes or a Michael Carrick and you think United probably would have won more European Cups. If you talk about Liverpool players over the years – and they have had some greats – I have never once thought I’d like to put him in a Manchester United shirt. [But] Gerrard was one – put him in a United midfield next to Scholes or Keane and wow, utopia.” — Phil Neville

“It was a pleasure to play against Steven Gerrard.” — Cristiano Ronaldo

“It was a disgrace he didn’t win European Footballer of the Year after Istanbul in 2005 and, for me, he will be regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of all time when he finishes.” — Thierry Henry“One of the best players I have seen in my life, not only in the Premier League but in the world. The way he could decide a game at any time, and change the course of a game with his abilities, it was just breathtaking at times.” — Thierry Henry
“I really love [ . . . ] Steven Gerrard. He is someone I have a real soft spot for. [ . . . ] He has everything. [ . . . ] I love the way he plays. He’s an inspirational leader, he scores goals, he plays great passes, he runs powerfully, he tackles… everything. Stevie is just brilliant – the complete player.” — David Villa

“For me, and I have always said this, he will be regarded as one of the greatest midfielders ever when he finishes his career. No doubt.” — Kaka

“If you were looking for the player you would replace Keane with, it would be Gerrard, without question. He has become the most influential player in England, bar none. More than Vieira. Not that Vieira lacks anything, but I think that Gerrard does more for his team than Vieira does, and has way more to his game. I’ve watched him quite a lot. To me, Gerrard is Keane. Everywhere the ball is, he seems to be there. He’s got that unbelievable engine, desire, determination. Anyone would love to have Gerrard in their team.” — Sir Alex Ferguson (2004)

“To me he is one of the super best midfielders in the world. He is an excellent player.” — Pele

There were a lot more, but generally just picked out opponents, and legends of the game.

Them mancs arent too loyal, are they?

 

[Pin-seeker]

Just for balance then, as some people get heavily influenced by what great player's opinions are:-

“Is he the best in the world? He might not get the attention of Messi and Ronaldo but yes, I think he just might be.” — Zinedine Zidane (between 2009 and 2011)

“There was a point when Gerrard was the best midfield player in the world. It is unusual to get complete midfield players who can do everything, but that is what he was.” — Zinedine Zidane

“Steven Gerrard would be the captain of my World XI dream team.” — Francesco Totti

“Put him alongside Roy Keane, probably even ahead of Frank, put him alongside Paul Scholes or a Michael Carrick and you think United probably would have won more European Cups. If you talk about Liverpool players over the years – and they have had some greats – I have never once thought I’d like to put him in a Manchester United shirt. [But] Gerrard was one – put him in a United midfield next to Scholes or Keane and wow, utopia.” — Phil Neville

“It was a pleasure to play against Steven Gerrard.” — Cristiano Ronaldo

“It was a disgrace he didn’t win European Footballer of the Year after Istanbul in 2005 and, for me, he will be regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of all time when he finishes.” — Thierry Henry“One of the best players I have seen in my life, not only in the Premier League but in the world. The way he could decide a game at any time, and change the course of a game with his abilities, it was just breathtaking at times.” — Thierry Henry
“I really love [ . . . ] Steven Gerrard. He is someone I have a real soft spot for. [ . . . ] He has everything. [ . . . ] I love the way he plays. He’s an inspirational leader, he scores goals, he plays great passes, he runs powerfully, he tackles… everything. Stevie is just brilliant – the complete player.” — David Villa

“For me, and I have always said this, he will be regarded as one of the greatest midfielders ever when he finishes his career. No doubt.” — Kaka

“If you were looking for the player you would replace Keane with, it would be Gerrard, without question. He has become the most influential player in England, bar none. More than Vieira. Not that Vieira lacks anything, but I think that Gerrard does more for his team than Vieira does, and has way more to his game. I’ve watched him quite a lot. To me, Gerrard is Keane. Everywhere the ball is, he seems to be there. He’s got that unbelievable engine, desire, determination. Anyone would love to have Gerrard in their team.” — Sir Alex Ferguson (2004)

“To me he is one of the super best midfielders in the world. He is an excellent player.” — Pele

There were a lot more, but generally just picked out opponents, and legends of the game.

Them mancs arent too loyal, are they?

Wow you've really put some effort in there La 😳.!
So basically Zidane is full of crap.

 

[Deleted member 1740]

Wow you've really put some effort in there La 😳.!
So basically Zidane is full of crap.

I'll bump this so he can reply.

 

[Oohmeoldbacksknackered]

I'll bump this so he can reply.

I didn't know Zidane was a forumer.
🤐
IGMC

 

[MadAdey]

Gerrard or Scholes, who really cares. Any team that had either of those players would be better for it.

I think if you had to choose between them, it would depend on what you are looking for.

If your wanting someone who has the ability to scare defenders with his delicate touches and passes around the area then you would have to choose Scholes.

If your looking for someone who can run for 90 minutes box to box chasing balls, someone who can drive a team back from certain defeat, like he did many times, then Gerrard is your man.

Both are fantastic players and I'm sure all the top clubs would have loved to have either player when they where in their prime.

For me Gerrard just edges it though with his all round midfield abilities. He was the faster player and could certainly defend better than Scholes. To go with that he also has the ability to score plenty of goals and also create goals too.

 

[Liverbirdie]

I'll bump this so he can reply.

A 2 minute search and all on one site, and copy and paste is a great invention.

There was loads more but just picked out the big hitters.