United's Roy Keane and Liverpool's Steven Gerrard are two of the most charismatic players in football. Here Stuart Brennan draws a comparison.
ROY KEANE
HONOURS: European Cup 1999; Premier League 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003; FA Cup 1994, 1996, 1999, 2004, League Cup 1994; Full Members Cup 1992; Charity Shield 1993, 1996, 1997, 2003. International caps - 62 (for Republic of Ireland). PFA and Sports Writers' Footballer of the Year 2000.
STRENGTHS: Keane has an indefatigable will to win which has made him one of the modern midfield greats.
Uncompromising in the tackle and in every aspect of his game and preparation, Keane plays to his strengths - he dictates the pace of games, keeping the ball moving, lets play pivot around his short passing, and in recent years has become an effective midfield "shield" for the back four.
Aside from his individual talents, he provokes fear in opponents and inspires teammates both by example and an intolerance of anything less than perfect.
WEAKNESSES: Age is catching up with the Irish ace, along with years of commitment in one of the world's most demanding leagues - he still suffers from hip and knee injuries and has had to curtail the box-to-box running of his youth.
Temper has always been Keane's biggest problem, leading to bans galore during his years at United, and, though he has largely learned to contain and channel his aggression, it still occasionally boils to the surface.
In playing terms, Keane is unspectacular - he is not a great long passer of the ball, and he has not scored for the Reds since November 2003.
CONCLUSION: Keane is already a United legend, regardless of what happens in the rest of his career.
The on-field embodiment of manager Sir Alex Ferguson's drive and desire, Keane has been described by his boss as his single best signing.
The measure of the man is probably best made by the fact that replacing him in the United team is the biggest challenge facing the Reds in the medium-term future.
STEVEN GERRARD
HONOURS: UEFA Cup 2001; FA Cup 2001; League Cup 2001, 2003. PFA Young Player of the Year 2001. International caps - 27 (for England).
STRENGTHS: Combines most of the assets of a true top-class midfielder - intense commitment, unbridled aggression, a knack of scoring spectacular and important goals, great passing ability, and the ability to drive his team forward.
At the age of 24, Gerrard is already a talismanic figure for Liverpool, badly missed when absent, and able to turn matches on his own.
His physicval attributes add to his attraction as an all-round package - at six ft tall, and well-proportioned, Gerrard can initmidate opponents as well as beat them with ability.
WEAKNESSES: Injuries have already taken their toll on the fearless Scouser, who misses a fair few games because of his over-zealous approach.
He can also be overly ambitious with his passing - when the spectacular long balls come off, they look great, but too often they end up in the crowd.
As with Keane, gerrard's temperament also needs reining in at times - he has been guilty of some awful tackles during his short career, and could learn from the United skipper's example.
CONCLUSIONS: Sir Alex Ferguson was unequivocal when asked about the talents of Gerrard - he believes the Liverpool man is comparable to Keane at the same age.
If United-Liverpool football politics were not so difficult, the Reds would be keen pursuers of their bitter rivals' best player, and that is the highest compliment they could pay him.
Gerrard has the ability, the confidence and the temperament to become one of English football's greats in the years to come.
Who do you think is better? Have your say.
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Gerrard has the world at his feet. Keane is finished & may as well put his feet up.
I think it's stupid to even try to see who of these two players are the better one. Roy Keane is far more better player than Steven Gerrard and this is not a joke. Don't get me wrong here, Gerrard is quality player, but I think that in the position that both players are playing Keane has been absolutly fantastic. Steven Gerrard is still a "baby" if you look from the international aspect of the game and the boy has a lot to lear before we can even put his name togheter with Keane, Scholes, Vieira, Makalele and those great midfield players. And i would like to say that he is a little bit overrated.
Both players are captains in each team and they are those who should lift the team but I can't see why and how you can compare Gerrard with Keane even in that aspect. Keane is a true leader and we all saw what happend at Old Trafford last game these teams between. Gerrard scores more goals than Keane but so does the Tim Cahill for exemple and you don't see him mentioned. You have to look of how the player is good for the team and not how team should be good for a player if you can understand of what I'm saying.
You don't or shouldn't have to be Einstein to figure out that Gerrard will never ever be a player Roy Keane is or was. We are talking here about one legend versus a player that has to prove himself interantionally. It's like comparing Ferrari with a Fiat.
Keane was, Gerrard is. Simple as that really.
Look at the honours list. Enough said.
Maybe so Dan, but Keane won everything the game can offer at club level whereas Gerrard has it all to do still and the probability is if he does it, it won't be with Liverpool.
Gerrard has the world at his feet??
Only if he leaves the under achieving scousers will he fill his undoubted potential.
How long will he wish to remain in a team of also-rans?
As with Owen, there comes a time in every players career when he wants to win a trophy!
Gerrard is 24 and has the world at his feet. He is a mile behind Roy in terms of accomplishment but he can run all day and while Roy is knackered at the end, Gerrard still has half a tank left. There is something weird about Gerrard's temperament and some of his bad tackles come out of nowhere and at times when a game is lost. Always rated him behind Scholes and Lampard in an England shirt. Never seems to rise to the occasion. Would mortgage the stadium at OT to get him.
Its not really fair to compare the two of them now as they are both at different stages in their careers. Gerrard seems to have a bit more flair to his game though
Keane.
dan tomorow's game will make u swallow this comments on the greatest midfielder the english football league has ever seen.
gerrard is good for sure but is still some miles away from our captain marvel.
wait and see,scouse !!!!!!!!
when it comes to tackling,handling pressure, there is only one ROY KEANE.
Although lacking speed and struggling from injuries HE can match steven any time any where. Gerrard should take tackling and skill lessons from KEANO. HE IS THE BEST. EVEN
ERIC DJEMBA-DJEMBA IS BETTER THAN STEVEN.
Didnt see gerrard take hold of the game like Keano can, he may not have the legs but he's still an inspiration, keep up the good work stevie...but theres only one KEANO!!!
While I do like Gerrard a lot,
he's one of the best players
in the world today. I still would
not yet put him in the class of
Roy Keane. After watching United for over 40 years I can honestly say Keano is my
personal favorite player. Yes,
I saw Best, Charlton and Law
in their prime but still find Keano's game a compelling
reminder to all of us of how to
play unspectacularly, yet with an efficiency, accuracy and workmanlike manner that will always beat the fancy pants players that often make all the headlines yet don't always get the job done (score, win).
C. Ronaldo, Robert, Ginola,
I don't like these kind of brain candy players who often might win as highlight players of the week, year, whatever, but they cannot compare to players like Roy Keane, who, if player of the year was based on effectiveness, then Keano is my player of the year,
every year.
Up the Reds
Good comments Z-Man. It is really hard to compare these two players due to age, silverware and style of play. Gerrard has a bit more flair then Keane but in the end Keane realizes that a step over does not make him a better player, he plays for the team and not to appease the crowd.
Gerrard oozes with talent and potential, no question about it and that is why many see him as United s answer to Keane leaving one day. He is strong, can tackle, pass and score. United s system would fit him perfectly (more so then Chelski) but chances of him making the transistion are almost nil.
Keane is simply magic and not replacable. Think about what Fergie has said about him while he has managed United, he has been United s best player even with the likes of Robson, Bruce, Cantona, Becks etc.
The mere fact that Keano at 33 is still compared in the same breath as Gerrard and Viera tells you that in his prime neither could touch him for what he gave a team. Judge Gerrard and Viera at 33 and see whether come close. Also let's not disrepect Gerrard... looking at an earlier comment saying Djemba Djemba is a better player is both embarrassing and insulting.
Keane was exceptional and seems like Giggs to have woken up for one last time he wants the big one and it shows.We are capable of beating anybody even with Phil Neville.
I have to say I was friends with Best who was a football genious,but have to say Cantona is the man who changed us for me he is the King.
Both great players! Gerrard has a tremedous engine on him. Covers so much ground and is a true grafter. Keano has been bashed on these very sites as recently as a month ago for having lost "it", but still manages to pull all the strings of this United team whenever he plays. The ball moves through him. Has anyone else noticed how his passing has improved throughout his career? He never gives it away.
However the same cannot be said of Gerrard. He forces the ball all the time, and although it looks pretty when it comes off, more times than not it doesn't, and posession is lost. Must be frustrating to play with.
At the end of the day, although it is unfair to compare the two, I'm takin Roy (and not because I'm a United fan from Dublin).
Roy Keane is by far a better player keane had Gerrard in his pocket.. if roy keane was english he would be considered a god.. the best player ever to come out of england they would be saying.. go keano you god..