Alex Ferguson may have said he's not a 'top top player' but Michael Owen rates Steven Gerrard second only to Zinedine Zidane as the most talented player he's ever played with.
In his column in today's Telegraph, Owen writes:
'I have played alongside some of the greatest footballers of my generation, but there is only one ex-team-mate I would rate higher than Steven Gerrard.
'The biggest compliment I can give him is he is second only to Zinedine Zidane in terms of his world-class status. Since the first time I saw Stevie play, as an 11-year-old in the Liverpool youth ranks, it has been obvious how much ability he possessed to become the complete, modern footballer.'
Owen speaks glowingly of Gerrard's new role as a holding midfielder, which may come as a surprise to some who argue that he can't tackle. Owen, however, thinks that playing the holding role is relatively simple:
'His new role at Liverpool as a deep midfielder is a position he can play blindfolded. It is the easiest position on the pitch and, if anything, the only obstacle to success is psychological.'
Most of his column goes on like this, waxing lyrical about how wonderful Gerrard is and the exciting prospect of having him, Michael Carrick and Ross Barkley as an English midfield trio (Xavi, Iniesta and Fabregas eat your heart out), but another thing I found interesting was that Owen once towered over Steven Gerrard during their time in the Liverpool's youth squad:
'With me, I would make a forward run and this tiny lad in midfield – believe it or not I was bigger than Stevie in those days – would just keep delivering the ball into my path. That was how it was with Stevie and me for the next 20 years for Liverpool or England. No one created more goals for me.'
So do you agree? Is Gerrard better than Beckham, Scholes, Figo, Roberto Carlos, Raul, Ronaldo and the rest?
hat-tip: independent.ie
