Steven Gerrard vs Ryan Giggs

[ADL9798]

Who has been the better player?

Gerrard:
Ballon d'Or Bronze Award (1): 2005
UEFA Club Footballer of the Year (1): 2005
FWA Footballer of the Year (1): 2009
FWA Tribute Award (1): 2013
PFA Players' Player of the Year (1): 2006
PFA Young Player of the Year (1): 2001
PFA Fans' Player of the Year (2): 2001, 2009
England Player of the Year Award (2): 2007, 2012
PFA Team of the Year (7): 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
Liverpool Top Goalscorer (3): 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09
UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament (1): 2012
UEFA Team of the Year (3): 2005, 2006, 2007
FIFA/FIFPro World XI (3): 2007, 2008, 2009
ESM Team of the Year (1): 2008–09
Goal of the Season (1): 2006
UEFA Champions League Final Man of the Match (1): 2005
FA Cup Final Man of the Match (1): 2006
Premier League Player of the Month Award (5): March 2001, March 2003, December 2004, April 2006, March 2009

Giggs:
PFA Young Player of the Year (2): 1991–92, 1992–93
PFA Team of the Year (6): 1992–93, 1997–98, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2006–07, 2008–09
PFA Team of the Century (1): 1997–2007[88]
PFA Players' Player of the Year (1): 2008–09
FWA Tribute Award: 2007
Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year (1): 1997–98
Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year (2): 1990–91, 1991–92
Premier League 10 Seasons Awards (1992–93 to 2001–02): Overall Team of the Decade
Premier League 20 Seasons Awards (1992–93 to 2011–12): Most Player Appearances (596)
UEFA Champions League 10 Seasons Dream Team (1992 to 2002): 2002
Wales Player of the Year Award (2): 1996, 2006
Premier League Player of the Month (3): September 1993, August 2006, February 2007
English Football Hall of Fame Inductee: 2005

For mine, Giggs has been incredibly consistent over a long period of time but his career didn't quite reach the individual heights that Gerrard's has. That's by no means a slight on Giggs who has been brilliant for a number of years, but Gerrard's 3x World XI/UEFA Team of the Year and 7x PFA Team of the Year selections vs Giggs' 0 and 6 (voted for by the managers and the players) illustrate the difference in my opinion. Even looking at the 1x PFA Players' Player of the Year award that Giggs won in 2008/09, it would be difficult to argue that he actually deserved the award with Gerrard being by far the superior player that season. Giggs wasn't even the best United player in 2008/09. Comparing the team honours is an interesting one. I think the best way of looking at it is to ask if United would have won as many trophies over the years with Gerrard in the side instead of Giggs (I know they play different positions), yes in my opinion, probably more. Would Liverpool have won as many trophies over the years with Giggs in the side instead of Gerrard? Probably not.

 

[PP34]

Giggs and Scholes >

 

[Cruyff14]

It's hard because they don't play in the same position.

Both their peaks were very high, although it's hard to say when Giggs' peaked considering the length of his career. But Gerrard's peak was sublime. I don't know. Probably Giggs. But maybe that's because I like him more than Gerrard. I don't know.

I think in the grand scheme of things, in the last 10-12 years, there have been more better CMs than Gerrrard than left wingers Giggs. I could be wrong though.

And I can't see this taking long before it turns into a United vs Liverpool shit slinging fest and it's locked.

 

[Jatz]

Giggs for mine but it honestly depends on what criteria everyone is marking by.

 

[Redalert]

Gerrard, I think over the course of his career he's been the slightly better player.

 

[glenferry23]

Both are magnificent footballers. They play different positions so its difficult to make a direct comparison. Trophies/awards won can sometimes skew these sorts of discussions.

 

[Jozzy]

I think it really depends what you're basing it off. Once both player hang up their boots Giggs will have had the better career, he's been consistanly brilliant for a very long period of time and has done just about everything but of you were to ask what player is/was better I would have to go Gerrad, admitly I never got to see Giggs when he was younger or in peak but going off videos and awards I think Gerrad at his best was just better than Giggs at his best.

 

[FAITH]

the way i look at these scenarios are like afl drafts.
you have Pick 1 both Giggs and Gerrard are available, who do you take knowing how their careers will turn out?
I would take Gerrard pick 1, complete player, can carry a team on his shoulders, and obviously it helps that he doesnt sleep around with his brothers wife.

*Would be fun to play a draft game see who ends up with the best team at the end...

 

[moomba]

For me Giggs is a bit overrated. Longartivity grest, but has had plenty of average years amongst a few fantastic ones. Can't argue with the successes he has had, and while I agree with the concept that trophies don't equal greatness (nor do PFA awards and teams of the year ... Scott Parker anyone), there is something to be said for a player good enough to contribute to so many succesful sides over such a period of time, Gerrard better as an individual but there is a different pressure doing the job in a title race, to doing it for a mid table club. Could he have handled that pressure? Probably, but it is a black mark on his career.

Giggs shags his in-laws, Gerrard punches someone for not playing Phil Collins, fair to say both are campaigners off the pitch.

Any in summary, the correct answer is ... Paul Scholes,

 

[ADL9798]

there is something to be said for a player good enough to contribute to so many succesful sides over such a period of time, Gerrard better as an individual but there is a different pressure doing the job in a title race, to doing it for a mid table club. Could he have handled that pressure? Probably, but it is a black mark on his career.

You do realise that the Premier League didn't start the year Sheikh Mansour bought City don't you? Liverpool finishing 6th/7th has been quite a recent development for Gerrard, for the majority of his career we've consistently finished in the top 4, being legitimately involved in title races on 2 or 3 occasions in that time. He's experienced that pressure and come out with flying colours, unfortunately his team mates couldn't provide him with enough support to get us over the line but I don't think you'll find anyone who would argue that Gerrard could have personally done any more to bring success to Liverpool.

 

[moomba]

You do realise that the Premier League didn't start the year Sheikh Mansour bought City don't you? Liverpool finishing 6th/7th has been quite a recent development for Gerrard, for the majority of his career we've consistently finished in the top 4, being legitimately involved in title races on 2 or 3 occasions in that time. He's experienced that pressure and come out with flying colours, unfortunately his team mates couldn't provide him with enough support to get us over the line but I don't think you'll find anyone who would argue that Gerrard could have personally done any more to bring success to Liverpool.

Ooh 2 or 3 whole occasions. And still one less league title than Stefan Savic.

Shame that.

BTW try not to be a patronising campaigner all your life. I was posting on this board long before the takeover, so yeah. I think I have a fair idea of when the premier league started.

 

[ADL9798]

Ooh 2 or 3 whole occasions.

I thought you'd be impressed, that's more title races than City have been involved in during the last 50 years.

 

[Cruyff14]

That's more title races than City have been involved in during the last 50 years.

Not really. It depends if you're saying two, or three.

City have been involved in the last two. Which proves your statement wrong.

 

[moomba]

I thought you'd be impressed, that's more title races than City have been involved in during the last 50 years.

And still no trophy for Stevie Starfish.

 

[ADL9798]

And still no trophy for Stevie Starfish.

You could probably do with a player like Stevie, he might be able to teach your players a thing or 2 about getting out of the Champions League group stage for a change.

 

[moomba]

You could probably do with a player like Stevie, he might be able to teach your players a thing or 2 about getting out of the Champions League group stage for a change.

Nah, we're doing fine thanks.

 

[BlueBen]

...and while I agree with the concept that trophies don't equal greatness (nor do PFA awards and teams of the year ... Scott Parker anyone), there is something to be said for a player good enough to contribute to so many succesful sides over such a period of time, Gerrard better as an individual but there is a different pressure doing the job in a title race, to doing it for a mid table club. Could he have handled that pressure? Probably, but it is a black mark on his career.

But how is it Gerrard's fault that the team around him lacked the quality required to win the league? I don't think that anyone believes that we ever had the best team.

 

[moomba]

But how is it Gerrard's fault that the team around him lacked the quality required to win the league? I don't think that anyone believes that we ever had the best team.

Why does it have to be a fault thing?

 

[BlueBen]

Why does it have to be a fault thing?

Well, I would have thought that a "black mark" would usually imply some sort of fault or failure attributable to the player against whom you are assessing that "black mark".

 

[moomba]

Well, I would have thought that a "black mark" would usually imply some sort of fault or failure attributable to the player against whom you are assessing that "black mark".

No, just that it's something in his career he hasn't achieved. Like Rio Ferdinand not winning an FA cup is a black mark on his career.

Not sure why anyone is making a deal out of it, I've never said it makes him a worse player, just that there is something missing from his CV.

 

[Stratton_Gun]

No, just that it's something in his career he hasn't achieved. Like Rio Ferdinand not winning an FA cup is a black mark on his career.

Not sure why anyone is making a deal out of it, I've never said it makes him a worse player, just that there is something missing from his CV.

FA Cup, in fact most Cups are overated. Biggest two trophies by a fair length are Premier League and Champions League

 

[Cruyff14]

FA Cup, in fact most Cups are overated. Biggest two trophies by a fair length are Premier League and Champions League

The FA Cup lost its prestige in the last few years. It is the oldest cup competition in the world. The nail in its coffin was not making it the last football match on the calendar.

Having it played the week before the final league game is absolutely absurd.

 

[moomba]

It's still something you'd want to win in your career, especially those players that are a bit older and grew up when it was truly prestigious. Rio would be gutted if he gets through his career without winning one.

 

[Stratton_Gun]

The FA Cup lost its prestige in the last few years. It is the oldest cup competition in the world. The nail in its coffin was not making it the last football match on the calendar.

Having it played the week before the final league game is absolutely absurd.

Top clubs don't take it or the League Cup seriously. That's how teams like Bradford, Wigan and to a lesser extent Swansea or able to make finals.

 

[Stratton_Gun]

It's still something you'd want to win in your career, especially those players that are a bit older and grew up when it was truly prestigious. Rio would be gutted if he gets through his career without winning one.

Doubt it. Sure he would prefer to win it but i think his other accolades will make him forget about it