*Official* English Football Season 2014-15

[GIMH]

Comfortably I'd say.

Certainly in the Prem/modern era. There are a few from back in the day that come to mind I guess.

 

[Pothas]

Yeah different era and all that but Tom Finney and Stanley Matthews.

 

[Pothas]

Linekar in more modern times as well maybe.

Obviously there have been those foreign players that did not play in the league all that long but guess they don't really get included, Suarez the obvious one but there are others as well.

 

[GIMH]

Yeah different era and all that but Tom Finney and Stanley Matthews.

Bobby Moore the one that came to my mind as soon as I had made the post

Linekar in more modern times as well maybe.

Obviously there have been those foreign players that did not play in the league all that long but guess they don't really get included, Suarez the obvious one but there are others as well.

The likes of Suarez etc are interesting ones. I guess it depends how you define it.

I think it's no secret that despite his allegiances he is a player I really do like. It's definitely the right time for both him and Liverpool for him to go, but really, given the trophies they've won over the years the fact their fans rank him so highly, over the players who won multiple leagues and European cups, says it all really.

 

[Ikki]

 

[duffer]

From redcafe:

He probably thinks their name is pronounced "la, Galaxy"

Heh. Hopefully the cricus around his retirement distracts Pool over the rest of the season. Unbelievable footballer though.

 

[wpdavid]

Gerrard the best player to play in England and not win the title?

I'd probably have him in my starting XI for that particular side.
Qualifying period at least 5 years playing in England?

Banks or Jennings in goal
Mills, Butcher, Moore & Pearce
Haynes, Gerrard & Brady in central midfield
Finney and Matthews playing wide.
Greaves or Lineker


Unless Greaves and Lineker both play, in which case Gerrard and Haynes are fighting over one place.
Honourable mentions also to Hoddle, Brooking, Osgood, Hurst, Owen, Sansom, and Beattie.

 

[wpdavid]

Talking of Gerrard, I read an interesting piece a little while back. The author was mainly writing about Terry McDermott, who he regarded as one of the most under-rated players you could name. Part of the piece was about McDermott vs Gerrard, and whether Gerrard would have merited a place in the great Liverpool side circa 1978-1980. He thought that TM was the better player, but Gerrard could play on the right instead of Jimmy Case or Sammy Lee.


Here it is. Seems I imagined the part about SG playing on the right side of that great Liverpool midfield though. Maybe that's just my take on the matter.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/nov/28/golden-goal-terry-mcdermott-liverpool-aberdeen

 

[GIMH]

I'd probably have him in my starting XI for that particular side.
Qualifying period at least 5 years playing in England?

Banks or Jennings in goal
Mills, Butcher, Moore & Pearce
Haynes, Gerrard & Brady in central midfield
Finney and Matthews playing wide.
Greaves or Lineker


Unless Greaves and Lineker both play, in which case Gerrard and Haynes are fighting over one place.
Honourable mentions also to Hoddle, Brooking, Osgood, Hurst, Owen, Sansom, and Beattie.

Owen is ineligible, won a title with Man U

 

[wpdavid]

Owen is ineligible, won a title with Man U

So he did. Easily forgotten when you get to my age.

 

[cpr]

No mention of Gascoigne....

 

[wpdavid]

No mention of Gascoigne....

Now that's a good call. Perhaps his peak was all too brief, but for a couple of years he was unbelievably good. he certainly should have been one of my honourable mentions, even if he doesn't make the final XI.

Ditto Matt le Tissier, before anyone else mentions him.

 

[sledger]

Fabregas imo.

 

[Ikki]

Talking of Gerrard, I read an interesting piece a little while back. The author was mainly writing about Terry McDermott, who he regarded as one of the most under-rated players you could name. Part of the piece was about McDermott vs Gerrard, and whether Gerrard would have merited a place in the great Liverpool side circa 1978-1980. He thought that TM was the better player, but Gerrard could play on the right instead of Jimmy Case or Sammy Lee.


Here it is. Seems I imagined the part about SG playing on the right side of that great Liverpool midfield though. Maybe that's just my take on the matter.
Golden goal: Terry McDermott for Liverpool v Aberdeen (1980) | Scott Murray | Football | The Guardian

McDermott himself a few months ago considered Gerrard the best midfielder Liverpool have ever had, above Souness. On the whole, I think the only person who really challenges Gerrard as Liverpool's greatest is Dalglish.

Found this old McDermott interview re Gerrard:

 

[GIMH]

I wondered when one of our Arse contingent would pipe up with Cesc. He'll rectify that at some point now he's at a big club you'd think.

 

[sledger]

Yeah, had to get it in now, won't be able to say it in a few months.

 

[wpdavid]

McDermott himself a few months ago considered Gerrard the best midfielder Liverpool have ever had, above Souness. On the whole, I think the only person who really challenges Gerrard as Liverpool's greatest is Dalglish.

tbf McDermott was never going to place himself above SG, so I wouldn't place too much on that.

And neither would I categorically place TM above SG actually. But there is a lot of truth in the argument that SG stands out because of the lack of competition in the Liverpool sides he has played in, whereas TM (and Kennedy, as the piece also mentioned) had plenty of other great players alongside them. Plus he had the misfortune to play before most of today's commentators were even watching the game, so he doesn't have the emotional pull on the under 40's that Gerrard does. Obviously the opposite is true for those of us who are older.

That being said, the other thing about Gerrard is his longevity at the club. 17 years is an extraordinary length of time to maintain a high level of performance, and that alone possibly places him above others who have been mentioned, even if their peak performances were superior.

 

[GIMH]

Yeah, had to get it in now, won't be able to say it in a few months.

Don't let Smitteh hear you saying that

 

[sledger]

Don't let Smitteh hear you saying that

Dw, he and I have an understanding. I send him pictures of me playing xbox whilst sat next to a cushion with a picture of his face on it. It's enough to keep him content. For now.

 

[Ikki]

This one hit hard: