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Exclusive: Liverpool Captain Steven Gerrard Is World’s Most Complete Player - John Barnes
Liverpool and England legend John Barnes - now a New Football Pools pundit and manager of the Jamaican national team - tells Goal.com why he regards Steven Gerrard as such an asset.
27 Mar 2009 07:00:00
John Barnes is a pundit for the New Football Pools who gives his views to Goal.com readers on some hot topics of the week
Stephen Gerrard has contributed six of the 13 goals scored by Liverpool in their last three games - all emphatic victories over top-rated opponents - and he already has 21 for the season from midfield.
New Football Pools pundit John Barnes rates the man currently captaining his former club very highly - but where does he place him in the world game now? He told Goal.com:
"Steven Gerrard’s recent form has prompted the press to suggest he is now one of the best players in the world. For me, he has always been one of the best in the world.
"Players like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo may grab all the plaudits as attacking players and are rightly named as some of the world’s best; but if you are talking about a complete player, then there is no-one better than Gerrard.
"Messi and Ronaldo are both brilliant offensive players but Gerrard is a great all-round player. He can defend, create, attack and scores goals too, which are incredible attributes to have in one player. Throw in the fact he is a leader too and I’m sure every manager in world football would want him in their side.
"I don’t want to jump on the bandwagon claiming that just because Stevie scored a hat-trick at the weekend he is suddenly the best thing since sliced bread, as two were penalties and one a free-kick. However, for me, he is the most complete player in the world and has been for some time."
King & Lennon Deserved England Call-Ups
Barnes understands why Fabio Capello called up Tottenham Hotspur's
Ledley King to the latest England squad, and also believes another Spurs player is well worth his place in the national team. He told us:
"Ledley King deserved his call-up to the latest England squad on the back of some excellent displays for Tottenham this season. He is a fantastic player and I’m not surprised at his selection despite not being able to train due to problems with his knees.
"Unfortunately for Ledley his career has suffered due to injury in the last few seasons or he would’ve won far more caps for his country.
"We will never know how things would have turned out had he not struggled with his knees but it’s testament to the player that despite being unable to train he can still put in superb performances for his club when called upon. He is definitely good enough to be a regular in the England squad but for his injury problems.
"The other Tottenham call-up to Capello’s squad is Aaron Lennon, who has not been included in the national set-up for the past two years but is in the best form of his life. His performances have been very good of late and he’s starting to produce an end product to his game. The lightning-quick winger has been given a new lease of life under Harry Redknapp and looks to be enjoying his football again judging by his confident displays.
"The competition for a place on the right-side of midfield is fierce with the likes of David Beckham, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Theo Walcott all in the mix, so Lennon faces a tough challenge making that spot his own. After all, they are all fantastic players but if you had to choose one of those players right now then you’d have to go with Lennon as he is the man in form and deserves the shirt."
John Barnes for Goal.com
John Barnes is a pundit for the New Foolball Pools. To challenge John's prediction prowess or hear his weekly football podcast - or to play Footy 15, Premier 10 or any other of the Football Pools games on offer - visit
Liverpool and England legend John Barnes - now a New Football Pools pundit and manager of the Jamaican national team - tells Goal.com why he regards Steven Gerrard as such an asset.
27 Mar 2009 07:00:00
John Barnes is a pundit for the New Football Pools who gives his views to Goal.com readers on some hot topics of the week
Stephen Gerrard has contributed six of the 13 goals scored by Liverpool in their last three games - all emphatic victories over top-rated opponents - and he already has 21 for the season from midfield.
New Football Pools pundit John Barnes rates the man currently captaining his former club very highly - but where does he place him in the world game now? He told Goal.com:
"Steven Gerrard’s recent form has prompted the press to suggest he is now one of the best players in the world. For me, he has always been one of the best in the world.
"Players like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo may grab all the plaudits as attacking players and are rightly named as some of the world’s best; but if you are talking about a complete player, then there is no-one better than Gerrard.
"Messi and Ronaldo are both brilliant offensive players but Gerrard is a great all-round player. He can defend, create, attack and scores goals too, which are incredible attributes to have in one player. Throw in the fact he is a leader too and I’m sure every manager in world football would want him in their side.
"I don’t want to jump on the bandwagon claiming that just because Stevie scored a hat-trick at the weekend he is suddenly the best thing since sliced bread, as two were penalties and one a free-kick. However, for me, he is the most complete player in the world and has been for some time."
King & Lennon Deserved England Call-Ups
Barnes understands why Fabio Capello called up Tottenham Hotspur's
Ledley King to the latest England squad, and also believes another Spurs player is well worth his place in the national team. He told us:
"Ledley King deserved his call-up to the latest England squad on the back of some excellent displays for Tottenham this season. He is a fantastic player and I’m not surprised at his selection despite not being able to train due to problems with his knees.
"Unfortunately for Ledley his career has suffered due to injury in the last few seasons or he would’ve won far more caps for his country.
"We will never know how things would have turned out had he not struggled with his knees but it’s testament to the player that despite being unable to train he can still put in superb performances for his club when called upon. He is definitely good enough to be a regular in the England squad but for his injury problems.
"The other Tottenham call-up to Capello’s squad is Aaron Lennon, who has not been included in the national set-up for the past two years but is in the best form of his life. His performances have been very good of late and he’s starting to produce an end product to his game. The lightning-quick winger has been given a new lease of life under Harry Redknapp and looks to be enjoying his football again judging by his confident displays.
"The competition for a place on the right-side of midfield is fierce with the likes of David Beckham, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Theo Walcott all in the mix, so Lennon faces a tough challenge making that spot his own. After all, they are all fantastic players but if you had to choose one of those players right now then you’d have to go with Lennon as he is the man in form and deserves the shirt."
John Barnes for Goal.com
John Barnes is a pundit for the New Foolball Pools. To challenge John's prediction prowess or hear his weekly football podcast - or to play Footy 15, Premier 10 or any other of the Football Pools games on offer - visit
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