Complete Players

Right now if you're talking "complete" players there isn't one more so than Gerrard; pace, strength, shooting, finishing, heading, passing, running with the ball, tackling, vision, skill, control..... I could go on and on. As a player he has no weak parts of his game so therefore he is the complete player.

In recent years other "complete" players include Ballack, Viera and Matthaus, there's not been many more complete players over the years than those 3 at the top of their game.

I was thinking the other day if you were to pick a team of one player, ie a team of Gerrards, who would you pick?
 
Im amazed Pele hasn't been mentioned in this thread so far. He wasn't too bad on his day :) Nor was Johann Cryuff.

If we are talking about players having 'it all'. C.Ronaldo shouldn't come into it as he can't tackle for toffee.
 
Players I consider to be at least reasonably complete:

-C.Ronaldo: Reasonably quick, good dribbler, good shot, good header, left foot, right foot all the same to him
-Vieira: Great ball winner, powerful surges, big physical presence, could pass and shoot
-Shearer: Quicker than was given credit for, strong, amazing shot, good in the air, reliable on pens
-Keane: At his peak, the definitive box-to-box midfielder and very strong mentally
-Toure: Strong and quick, amazing slide tackler, heart of a lion, incredibly comfortable on the ball, very powerful shot
-Maldini: At one stage he was IMO the best player in the world, although he never got the award. Great in the air, quick, great tackler, marker, positioning, reading the game, humility, loyalty, and a lot more effective bombing on from LB than people realise.

Potentials for the future:

-Clichy: Great pace, dribbling, passing, crossing, tackling, positioning (note how he often comes quite far infield to cover the CBs)
-Richards: Has the raw attributes, just needs to learn how to mark and keep a cool head
-Huddlestone: Fantastic range of passing, decent shot, can tackle, and with a physical presence like that he should never get outmuscled or be beaten regularly in the air


Reviewing my list I've convinced myself that Maldini is the closest thing I've seen to a complete player.
 
Vieira and Keane were close to being complete players but they were slightly too defensive and lacked some of the attacking attributes.

Like i said in my last post, it depends on whether you're looking for a complete player which would then more than likely narrow it down to box-to-box cm's or whether you're looking for complete forwards, defenders etc.

If its complete players then imo Gerrard is the most complete player in a long time but if you're looking for position specific players then Ferdinand has got everything a defender needs, Gerrard as a CM and then Ronaldo or Kaka for the attacking midfielders/wingers. Im struggling to think of a complete forward around atm, Henry (from 2-4 years back) was the closest there's been in the last few years but even he possibly didn't score enough 'tap ins' or headers although he's proven he can score them if he wants.
 
The most complete player I have seen in recent years is Batistuta. Absolutley awesome striker who was adept with both feet. Could hold the ball up, head it, play as the lone striker, link striker in a front two. Scored tap ins as well as screamers and was a competent free kick taker. Imo one of the best forwards of the last 15-20 years.

Gerrard comes close but I think the acid test would be how he would stand up in Serie A for a season or two
 
The same Ballack who's looking distinctly average at Chelsea in 18 months? I dunno about complete. He's very good, but complete? I wouldn't say so.
 
How can you guys overlook Giggs? Seriously?

Ronaldo is not complete. He cant tackle. The only reason I over look Scholes is because when he tackles he gets a yellow card

Gerrard hasn't really set the international stage alight, has he?

Rooney/Fabragas too young
 
Surely complete = complete skills for his position, not being able to do everythihng.


Fabregas can't score goals like Torres, but he isn't a striker so doesn't need to be!
 
Ruud Gullitt in his prime.

At AC Milan he played right back, left back, centre back, right midlield, left midfield, central midlfield, support striker and out and out striker.

He was competent or excelled in all of these positions.

Awesome levels of fitness, plenty of gas, extremely powerful in the air, physical strength, could finish, tackle, pass, create and had a high level of technical ability.

He is the true benchmark by which notions of completeness should be judged.

Edit: Oh yeah I almost forgot: He was also two-footed.
 
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