Wayne Rooney has been discussing Paul Scholes and Steven Gerrard.
Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney may have ended the Steven Gerrard and Paul Scholes debate for good. (Image: The Overlap/YouTube)
Wayne Rooney, who calls Steven Gerrard the “greatest” of all time at Liverpool, feels Paul Scholes was never able to reach what the Reds legend accomplished.
Years after their retirement, the controversy surrounding Gerrard, Scholes, and former Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard continues to rage. It did for decades during their playing careers.
Many people consider Gerrard to be among the greatest football players to have come out of England, and at Anfield, he is revered as a legend for having carried the Reds to victory on his own throughout his career. Scholes was Rooney’s teammate at United, and Rooney thinks the Liverpool graduate was the best all-around player.
He said, “Paul Scholes, Steven Gerrard, and Frank Lampard are all different,” to Gary Neville for the Overlap. “Stevie is the best all-around player; he can set pieces, run, tackle, pass the ball, and defend.
From an all-around perspective, he is the best. When it came to scoring goals, Frank Lampard, or Lamps, was the greatest.
“There was no one better at scoring goals from midfield than him, but his midfield goals were amazing. Technically, he wasn’t as good as Stevie or Scholesy. Scholesy’s adaptation style.
“He was a striker in his younger days, so I don’t think either of the other two (Gerrard or Lampard) could dictate a game the way he could. He would go to a ten, then midfield, then a deeper midfielder.
“They were all elite athletes. Stevie could become a star player and emulate Scholes at Manchester United. However, I doubt Scholes could match Stevie’s accomplishments at Liverpool.”
Rooney’s playing career ended after two stints with Everton and a trophy-filled period at Old Trafford. He also had spells with Derby County and DC United. Throughout his 242 games with Scholes for the Red Devils and England, the 38-year-old won multiple trophies.
Jamie Carragher, Gerrard’s former Liverpool teammate, also assisted Roy Keane in coming to a different conclusion. The two were talking about the old subject for LadBible.
Carragher stated: “I always wonder if United had won more or less if Stevie had replaced Scholes in the starting lineup. Would we have won the match if Scholes had replaced Stevie on our team?
“I just think of what Stevie did in that Champions League final and that FA Cup final in 2006, I’m not sure Scholes or Frank could have had that impact on that team.”
Keane acknowledged this and said, “I guess it comes down to the fact that there’s a little loyalty. Though I believe both Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard were excellent players, I always liked players who could score goals in the few games I had with them.”
“The thing I would say about Stevie that would put him ahead of other players, I think he could have been the best player in two or three positions,” countered the former defender. He would have played for England if he had spent his entire career as a right back. He filled a variety of roles, including right midfield, number ten, and central midfield.”
The Republic of Ireland midfielder eventually gave in and declared, “He was brilliant.” He was Jesus. You’ve got me; in a minute, I’ll be crying. Loyalty must be considered in moderation.”
But Carragher was unable to persuade Premier League goal-scoring sensation Thierry Henry of his misgivings. While the Liverpool captain was on par with Scholes in terms of skill, the Frenchman acknowledged that Scholes was marginally superior to Gerrard.
In his mind, Paul Scholes was slightly ahead. Henry remarked, “He was what kept Man United going. “We had to figure out a way to stop him each time we played them. Paul Scholes would have to prevail, but I believe Stevie G is very close to him.”
