Liverpool FC Forum

[LFC #1]

I have taken on the ball to mean dribbling ability and the abilty to bear a defender. For this reason I think McManaman is the best in this regard.

Owen is also very good at this but relies on his pace, as does Stevie G, although you could argue Macca was quick also, but his natural dribbling abilty and beating defenders in the last few years is the best i have seen at LFC for the last 5 or so years.

[JBG]

The question asked was who had the most natural talent with the ball to feet and to my mind that excludes Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen.

Jari Litmannen had sensational technical ability, as did John Barnes. Remember, Digger still played for the Pool until the late 1990s.

Thats no slight on Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen whom I feel are the best two players to play at Anfield in the last 10 years (slightly ahead of Robbie Fowler whom we should not forget). However, the question was directed specifically to "ball at feet" and in that regard both Barnes and Litmannen were peerless.

Its an interesting question as it shows that good ball control is only one part of a good players makeup.

To my mind the ultimate player should have:

(a) reasonably tall with good physical strength
(b) pace, including pace over the first two yards
© good dribbling ability
(d) good first touch
(e) accurate passer both short and long
(f) good leap and good header of the ball
(g) good timing and power in the tackle
(h) comfortable with both feet
(i) good healing ability to recover from injuries (Steve Nicol anyone?)
(j) accurate and powerful shooting with both feet
(k) good vision and timing
(l) tough character
(m) good attitude: will work hard and play for the team despite abilities
(n) intelligent
(o) confident even when things aren't working out
(p) the "X" factor: got the nerve to try things out when other footballers wouldn't even think of them.
(q) ability to lead.

There are probably more, but as you can see, good technique is only one part of many. Kevin Keegan wasnt the most naturally gifted in the world but that didn't stop him winning two European player of the year awards, did it?

[Bring Dalglish back]

John Barnes' Granny, there is not a lot of people in the Liverpool team at the moment who meet all your list of qualities is there?

[JBG]

There are the attributes of an ideal player.

I doubt even Pele or Maradonna had 'em all.

[azriahmad]

There are no Liverpool players who presently fit the description by JBG, but the only player who comes close to those attributes is none other than Zinadine Zidane.

On a lighter note, we don have a player who in his then manager's dream is the "next Zidane"...

[anfieldadorer]

To my mind the ultimate player should have:

(a) reasonably tall with good physical strength
(b) pace, including pace over the first two yards
© good dribbling ability
(d) good first touch
(e) accurate passer both short and long
(f) good leap and good header of the ball
(g) good timing and power in the tackle
(h) comfortable with both feet
(i) good healing ability to recover from injuries (Steve Nicol anyone?)
(j) accurate and powerful shooting with both feet
(k) good vision and timing
(l) tough character
(m) good attitude: will work hard and play for the team despite abilities
(n) intelligent
(o) confident even when things aren't working out
(p) the "X" factor: got the nerve to try things out when other footballers wouldn't even think of them.
(q) ability to lead.

In accordance with those points defined, Stevie is better than Owen.

Owen:
(b) pace, including pace over the first two yards
© good dribbling ability
(k) good vision and timing
(l) tough character
(m) good attitude: will work hard and play for the team despite abilities
(n) intelligent
(o) confident even when things aren't working out
(q) ability to lead.

Gerrard
(b) pace, including pace over the first two yards
© good dribbling ability
(d) good first touch
(e) accurate passer both short and long
(g) good timing and power in the tackle
(h) comfortable with both feet
(j) accurate and powerful shooting with both feet
(k) good vision and timing
(l) tough character
(m) good attitude: will work hard and play for the team despite abilities
(n) intelligent
(o) confident even when things aren't working out
(p) the "X" factor: got the nerve to try things out when other footballers wouldn't even think of them.
(q) ability to lead.

[leothelion]

HAVE TO AGREE WITH ALL POINTS BUT LOOKING AT THE QUESTION NATURAL TALENT TO ME IS SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T HAVE TO WORK HARD IT JUST COMES NATURAL
WHILE I AGREE STEVIE,KEWELL,MACCA,BARNES KEEGAN ARE ,OR WERE ALL OUTSTANDING BUT I BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE PLAYERS WHO LOVED THE GAME AND WORKED AS HARD AS THEY COULD TO IMPROVE
NATURAL TALENT IS SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T HAVE TO TRY HARD JUST GIFTED
THATS WHY I WOULD GO WITH OWEN MAYBE NOT THIS SEASON BUT AS A 17,18,19 YEAR OLD HE WAS ALWAYS IN THE RIGHT POSITION AT THE RIGHT TIME TO ME THATS NATURAL TALE
DOESN'T MEAN THE OTHER PLAYERS AREN'T AS GOOD BUT I THINK THEY WORK HARDER

[greenred]

The question asked was who had the most natural talent with the ball to feet and to my mind that excludes Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen.

Jari Litmannen had sensational technical ability, as did John Barnes. Remember, Digger still played for the Pool until the late 1990s.

Thats no slight on Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen whom I feel are the best two players to play at Anfield in the last 10 years (slightly ahead of Robbie Fowler whom we should not forget). However, the question was directed specifically to "ball at feet" and in that regard both Barnes and Litmannen were peerless.

Its an interesting question as it shows that good ball control is only one part of a good players makeup.

To my mind the ultimate player should have:

(a) reasonably tall with good physical strength
(b) pace, including pace over the first two yards
© good dribbling ability
(d) good first touch
(e) accurate passer both short and long
(f) good leap and good header of the ball
(g) good timing and power in the tackle
(h) comfortable with both feet
(i) good healing ability to recover from injuries (Steve Nicol anyone?)
(j) accurate and powerful shooting with both feet
(k) good vision and timing
(l) tough character
(m) good attitude: will work hard and play for the team despite abilities
(n) intelligent
(o) confident even when things aren't working out
(p) the "X" factor: got the nerve to try things out when other footballers wouldn't even think of them.
(q) ability to lead.

There are probably more, but as you can see, good technique is only one part of many. Kevin Keegan wasnt the most naturally gifted in the world but that didn't stop him winning two European player of the year awards, did it?

The only player I have ever seen with all those attributes was a young Ruud Gullit.

[Redtribe]

I think that if Owen has a good Euro 2004, he could surpass the all-time England goalscorers record, which I think is held by Bobby Moore and Gary Linekar just missed out on.

I bet Bobby Moore wished he was top scorer

[stmichael]

he's on course to break it. he's got more international goals than his age in years. 25 goals since 1998 means that by the age of 29-30 he should have broken bobby charlton's record, barring injuries. i wouldn't bet against rooney overtaking charlton aswell.

[gaz31]

hello !! well i think you have to really put the players in classes for this one cos you can not say that for example owen is more naturally gifted than gerrard because they play totally different roles so you cant judge whether one is better than the other !!
I personally would say that mcmanaman was the most naturally gifted mf player weve had whereas gerrard has had to try to improve his game in alot of areas in the last few seasons ...

What about barnes was he naturally gifted ??

Owen really is a good forward but i dont think he is as good as fowler could have been ( sorry)...

Ian rush my hero he was naturally gifted was'nt he !!

The person who i would say was the best (naturally) in his position for the club WAS and has to be is ..... RUSHIE

[begintoend]

Modern day... gotta be Fowler. Most natural left foot since John Barnes.
They have it in them that seems like its their hand.

Zidane once said,
what i can do with a football, maradona did it with an orange.

[Gareth G]

Anyone ever think of, or even wish Fowler had stayed at Anfield. Imagine the player he would be.

It actually makes me sick to my stomach of how badly Houllier wasted him. He should have still played him despite any troubles, look at Souness with Yorke and Cole, he had problems with both yet he still played them because they were his best strikers. In my opinion thats what Houllier should have done.

[JBG]

Fowler is perhaps my favourite Anfield player of all (together with Daglish and Barnes) and but on balance the decision to release him was correct as Fowler's attitude was questionable at times and his fitness started to wane.

His injury problems since he left show that it was the right decision to let him go.

The club marches on.

[stmichael]

robbie fowler was the most unbelievably gifted finisher i have ever seen during my years as a liverpool supporter. he was a fantastic goalscorer. unfortunately he became another example of a great talent wasted. the guy is in most ways completely opposite to michael owen, who may not be as good a goalscorer but is a far better all round footballer.