Ronaldo

He looked fucking awesome till the Reading game right before Pompey, actually. Pompey was just a fucking bloodbath. Remember he Scored against Spurs in a 3-1 win at SJP and was the best player on the pitch. Classy defender, good in the air and a good reader of the game but a perfect example of what happens in this league if you're too physically inferior.

What does this even mean?

Nobody is arguing he could be relied on. But he made some vital contributions too that harshly seem to pale into insignificance because he made a lot of blatant mistakes.

You obviously don't remember him before he left the first time. He had decent pace. Had everything, really.

Bernard was originally a winger. Very, very good going forward and actually became a decent defender too.

Whatever he was, his two goals (and solid defending under Roeder) got us into Europe in 2006. Be a cold day in hell the next time we can say that about a central defender.

And that makes a central defender worse than useless. Mental that so many managers kept trying to get something from him that wasn't there. He wasn't worse than useless, though. He had far more good games than bad.

Stamp on his heed.

Buggered.

Bramble is the worse ever player to play in the BPL. Even Woodgate couldn't help him. Ok, I'll play along with this tripe. The season Woodgate and Bramble were our main partnership we had the 5th best defensive record in the league, even with Bobby's attacking style. Helpless.

Xavi's the best midfielder I've watched live. So no, I don't think anyone would argue that.

HTT knows.

Sense.

Exactly.

Top scorer in WC qualifying for 2006 too. Not saying he's been great for England because he hasn't, but when you're talking about the greatest players England's produced he's got to be pretty prominent on the list, especially in my lifetime.

When did Lampard ever be the best player at a World Cup like Gazza was at Italia 90? Im starting to think that you are related to Frank such is the ridiculousness of your debate. If one 4 week tournament is the best you can throw up I don't think we can even call this a debate. As if that counts for well over a decade of consistent brilliance that's won medal after medal. We're talking about a midfielder who's the top scorer in the history of his club and the top midfield scorer in the history of his country, and you're trying to outweigh that with 5 games, and call the opposing argument ridiculous. You're being silly, man.

A better footballer is one who contributes more to winning games.

I'm sure West Ham is missing. The one where he dinks it over the keeper, hits the post and follows it in. Great day that. Last home game of that glorious season.

Gazza had more talent, but to suggest he'll go down as a better player than Lampard is silly.

no you loon ...hes been conisistently ave while playing IN an england shirt. Admitedly hes had to play under various insane managers and their wacky teams selections/tactics. I guess youhave to compare him to scholes or gazza ? Perhaps his midfield role is ill defined in englands team vs chelsea....cos he seems to muddle through a fair few matches. You what?

Yep, he was brilliant in that second half.

Never said it was. It's just too easy to say 'oh that fellow from way back when was a much better passer' or 'he was better at winning the ball'. I just think generally folk take for granted that Lampard has spent over a decade consistently getting more goals and assists than any other midfielder/winger/supporting striker in the top league in the world. Does that not make him one of England's greatest?

Derby away, man. Who the fuck just blasts it straight at the keeper from 30 yards out?

How many English midfielders equal his goals and assists record, by the way?

Pretty sure I said 5 years past his best. Which he was at the time. 6 years now. It's funny the same posters who consistently undermine the significance of international football watch a player once every couple of years in their country's shirt and let it totally dominate their perception.