Is there a better all-round midfielder in the world than Steven Gerrard at the moment?
by Henry Winter 21 November 2008
Liverpool's captain is creating goals, scoring them, tackling and passing. Even during a rare defeat in the Premier League, such as to Tottenham Hotspur, most newspapers listed Gerrard as man of the match. Even when Liverpool looked to be slumping to Champions League embarrassment to Atletico Madrid, Gerrard pops up to win a penalty, admittedly controversially, and convert it.
If there was one midfielder that every manager on the planet would love to have in their team it would be Gerrard. Why? He is the man for the big occasion, for the critical moment in a match when decisive leaders are required. Ask Olympiacos, AC Milan, West Ham United or Atletico. Fabio Capello, who began the England manager's job wondering about Gerrard's tactical discipline, has even tweaked his midfield to bring the best out of Liverpool's dynamo, allowing him a freer role.
Since arriving in the Liverpool first team 10 year ago, and recovering from an awkward first start against David Ginola, Gerrard has matured from a raw talent with a tendency for rash challenges into a class act, a man with a mission, leading Liverpool to glory. Gerrard learned from playing with such an outstanding central midfielder as Gary McAllister, who also urged him to cut out the bad tackles. The apprentice became the master craftsman.
Now at the peak of his game, Gerrard is invariably named in the PFA Team of the Year and when talk with foreign reporters turns to English players, they invariably rave about Liverpool's No 8. Gerrard is admired by supporters of other teams because he represents the passionate pursuit of silverware, not money as is the case with many modern players. They know he plays from the heart, that Liverpool red runs through his veins.
Even if Gerrard has a poor game for England, the fans will never criticise him because they know how much he cares about the team's welfare – and how much he worries about his own form. The hunger he showed when emulating his heroes on the streets of Huyton remains. Supporters respect that. His surroundings may have changed, elegant mansion replacing council house, but the man himself does not appear to have altered markedly. Maybe that's a Liverpool trait, an enduring acknowledgement of one's roots; Jamie Carragher does not appear to have changed much either. Family and friends wouldn't allow it anyway.
Just as Carragher has few equals amongst Europe's leading centre-halves, it is hard find genuine challengers to Gerrard's billing as the most accomplished midfielder at work today. A debate about whether Gerrard has any rivals as the best midfielder leads to mention of Chelsea's Frank Lampard, whose many allies in the media rarely pause in promoting his cause.
Lampard has many strengths, a box-to-box energy, a terrific passing range and an ability to create a shooting chance out of the tiniest pieces of space but he does not seize the day as Gerrard can. The 2005 Champions League climax is occasionally referred to as the Gerrard Final. Ditto the 2006 FA Cup final. Gerrard delivers on the grand stages.
Chelsea fans would put forward another challenger to Gerrard. John Obi Mikel has been in magnificent form this season, anchoring midfield like a youthful Makelele while displaying a greater array of passing, particularly when switching the ball out wide to Jose Bosingwa or Ashley Cole. But Mikel is still learning his craft, and still lacks the goal threat of Gerrard.
Along with Mikel and Lampard, other rivals deserve brief consideration. Barcelona offers Xavi and Andres Iniesta, both inspired for Spain during Euro 2008, but neither is in Gerrard's creative league. Iniesta is a continuity man, keeping moves ticking over, but not capping them with a 30-yard thunderbolt a la Gerrard. Xavi works incredibly hard, rarely squandering possession but he rarely dominates the final third.
Arsenal fans would argue that Cesc Fabregas can run a game like Gerrard. Arsenal's tempo-setter has this wonderful way of inviting team-mates to attack, sliding passes through to Robin van Persie or Emmanuel Adebayor. Fabregas also became an integral part of Spain's successful boys of summer, beginning on the bench but then showing his class with some fine assists. But unlike Gerrard, Fabregas starts moves, rarely finishes them.
Andrea Pirlo of AC Milan and Italy probably fits into the same category as Fabregas, the architect behind moves but rarely the finisher. When fit and not suspended, Paul Scholes is hugely influential for Manchester United, and was outstanding last season but his best years are behind him.
Others deserve mention like Gareth Barry, who can nick the ball and distribute it well while Michael Carrick and Owen Hargreaves have individual strengths. At Liverpool, Xabi Alonso has shown his class this season, particularly against Chelsea at the Bridge where he disrupted Blue attacks while finding time to get forward and score. For holding midfielders, few can match Javier Mascherano, who exudes all that time-honoured Argentinian trait of frustrating the opposition.
All outstanding. But none possesses the armoury of strengths of Gerrard, a gladiator amongst midfield men.
« Last Edit: Nov 21, 2008 11:27:35 am by Ad »
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