Thommo: No midfielder in Europe is better than Gerrard

[Suss]

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N143844040216-1108.htm

Steven Gerrard has been beyond amazing in recent matches. I don't know about the best in Europe, but I would certainly say he is the best midfielder in the Premiership. There are only a handful of players in the world that can attack and make tackles at the level Gerrard does. We would be lost without Stevie G.

[youllneverwalkalone]

stevie is definitely one of the best midfielders in the premiership, if not the best, and one of the top in the world, we would definitely be lost without good ol' stevie g.

[USAdude2010champs]

You guys have heard of Amsterdam Ajaxes John O Brien ,right?

[655321]

Originally posted by USAdude2010champs
You guys have heard of Amsterdam Ajaxes John O Brien ,right?

Yea, we have. Your point??

[RedKnight]

Originally posted by USAdude2010champs
You guys have heard of Amsterdam Ajaxes John O Brien ,right?

I think the article was about the best midfielder in Europe, not the best American midfielder in Europe.

FWIW, I think JOB is the best Yank midfielder, period--even though he often plays at the back for Ajax, IIRC.

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[Emre5]

Gerrard the best in Europe . no
the best in the EPL the last few weeks, surely. the man has been everything I've wanted in Liverpool, but have not encountered.
now if he can only stay injury-free..

[sendorange]

"Best" is always highly subjective, but who is a better two-way player then him? People like Zidane and Nedved are obviously in a class of their own as attacking midfielders, and Viera and Davids are great runners and tacklers. But it's hard to find someone who can genuinely do both roles at the same time and to such a high level.

I'm sure he can keep getting better and isn't the best yet, but he's the name I always dread to see on the team sheet when a team I want to win is playing Liverpool. Have to also give Houllier the credit for making him captain, seems to have really driven him to keep improving and take on more responsibility for the team.

[liverbird]

Originally posted by sendorange
"Best" is always highly subjective, but who is a better two-way player then him? People like Zidane and Nedved are obviously in a class of their own as attacking midfielders, and Viera and Davids are great runners and tacklers. But it's hard to find someone who can genuinely do both roles at the same time and to such a high level.

I'm sure he can keep getting better and isn't the best yet, but he's the name I always dread to see on the team sheet when a team I want to win is playing Liverpool. Have to also give Houllier the credit for making him captain, seems to have really driven him to keep improving and take on more responsibility for the team.

Couldn't have expressed my thoughts any better than you have. I second every word.

[usscouse]

We needed Thommo to tell us this...?

[liverbird]

Originally posted by usscouse
We needed Thommo to tell us this...?

No I didn't. When I came back after watching the Liverpool - City game, I wrote an email to friends saying "God is dead (Fowler), Long Live God (Gerrard)".

[ScouseCat]

Originally posted by liverbird
When I came back after watching the Liverpool - City game, I wrote an email to friends saying "God is dead (Fowler), Long Live God (Gerrard)".
I wouldn't quite go as far as saying Steven Gerrard is god, but he's a really great player and I'm glad he's playing for Liverpool.

[roarksown1]

Originally posted by USAdude2010champs
You guys have heard of Amsterdam Ajaxes John O Brien ,right?

On behalf of the few level-headed Americans with a bit of perspective on the world's sport, I would like to apologize for this post. Although John O'Brien is a very good midfielder, he's not quite in Steven Gerrard's league. Sometimes we like to look at the world through rose colored, red-white-and-blue glasses. I do think that JO'B would be a very effective player in the Premiership, but he wouldn't dominate as the top midfielder there without question.

[NY via SE18]

Best in Europe? I doubt it, but maybe. Best in PL? Maybe, considering recent form. HWR, as a Gooner, I will throw Paddy in there. While he hasn't been top form all season, his game v. Chelsea yesterday was fantastic. His tackling and distribution was superb and changed the game. BUT, I like Gerrard's game and think he is the engine for your team and hopefully for Engalnd this year. If your players follow his lead you will bag 4th spot for sure.

[babytiger2001]

Originally posted by roarksown1
On behalf of the few level-headed Americans with a bit of perspective on the world's sport, I would like to apologize for this post. Although John O'Brien is a very good midfielder, he's not quite in Steven Gerrard's league. Sometimes we like to look at the world through rose colored, red-white-and-blue glasses. I do think that JO'B would be a very effective player in the Premiership, but he wouldn't dominate as the top midfielder there without question.

Another level-headed Yank (and one abroad, at that) speaking here...

I'll concur, you can't put O'Brien-- as marvellously talented as he is-- in the same class, mainly because he doesn't even play the d-mid position for his own club team. He plays at left back for Ajax.

So I think the jury may be out on that, and leave it open to some form of debate.

But seeing that he plays d-mid for the USA, and does it well, he can certainly play that position for any of the top club teams in Europe. And he may, over time, wind up playing that position at an elite level among those on the continent that play that position.

But for right now, it's merely conjecture until he actually does.

[babytiger2001]

Originally posted by ScouseCat
I wouldn't quite go as far as saying Steven Gerrard is god, but he's a really great player and I'm glad he's playing for Liverpool.

What impresses me about watching Gerrard in the times I've been able to watch him play is that his work rate is fantastic. Really speaks well about the rest of his game.

[RedKnight]

Originally posted by babytiger2001
What impresses me about watching Gerrard in the times I've been able to watch him play is that his work rate is fantastic. Really speaks well about the rest of his game.

Right. Add his decision-making ability and much-improved discipline and maturity (he was made captain, after all)--and then throw in the fact that he's just 23 years old.

Glad to have him.

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[liverbird]

Originally posted by ScouseCat
I wouldn't quite go as far as saying Steven Gerrard is god, but he's a really great player and I'm glad he's playing for Liverpool.

It's a concept known as hyperbole!