Who's currently the best central midfielder in the EPL?

Cesc Fabregas - The young Spaniard has been central to Wengers plans for a while now, and provides a creative force on another level to any other current Arsenal player. He joined Arsenal on a free from Barca, and looks to be one of the best captures of the decade.

Frank Lampard - Lampard was immense for Chelsea last season. There's no doubt about it. He scored the most ever midfield goals, and hardly missed a game. Consistant in his performances and always a threat.

Claude Makelele - Some argue that he is Chelsea's most important player, providing a defensive platform which breaks down opponents attacks, and starts Chelsea's attacking build up. Irreplaceable.

Michael Ballack - Yet to set the premiership alight, Ballack is a world class player, and captain of his international team. he has the potential to be the best midfielder in the premiership, but has he proved it to us yet?

Tim Cahill - Evertons best player, Cahill has been right in the middle of all of Evertons recent success. He drives the team forward, and scores a lot of vital goals.

Xabi Alonso - When he's on form, Alonso is on a different level to all of Liverpools players. He sets the tempo, and creates the play. His cutting passes and amazing goals, along with the huge amount of successful tackles prove his importance.

Stevie Gerrard - Drives Liverpool forward, and inspires the team. Creates a win out of a bad performance, and is a great captain in the bargain.

Paul Scholes - Regarded as one of Uniteds best players ever, Scholes is a very intelligent footballer. His passes and goals, along with his tremendous work rate has earned him the tag of world class.

Scott Parker - After an impressive start to the season, Scott Parker has to be included. His excellent tackling, and work rate has been vital to Newcastles midfield.

Essien (can someone add him to the poll) - Has proved his doubters wrong this season with an array of excellent performances

Nearly all of those can be divided up into an attacking midfielder and a defensive midfielder.
For me, the best allround Midfielder would be Essien.

Kevin wrote:Nearly all of those can be divided up into an attacking midfielder and a defensive midfielder.
For me, the best allround Midfielder would be Essien.

Yeah, I should have inclueded Essien I guess, but it was getting a bit congested with chelsea players.

I voted Gerrard simply because, of the players on that list, he is the one I would most like to see at Barcelona. He is also, imho, the most versatile of the list, being able to pass, tackle, shoot, dribble and truly and inspiration on the pitch.. one of the highest work rates in the world

Makelele and Scholes... very good but getting old

Cesc and Alonso.. good playmakers but we have 3 of the already

Parker and Cahill.. good players but not World Class

Ballack and Lampard.. very good players but don't think they would suit our style.

Oleguerisntthatbad wrote:I voted Gerrard simply because, of the players on that list, he is the one I would most like to see at Barcelona. He is also, imho, the most versatile of the list, being able to pass, tackle, shoot, dribble and truly and inspiration on the pitch.. one of the highest work rates in the world

Makelele and Scholes... very good but getting old

Cesc and Alonso.. good playmakers but we have 3 of the already

Parker and Cahill.. good players but not World Class

Ballack and Lampard.. very good players but don't think they would suit our style.

I don't get it. People seem to doubt Gerrard as a central midfielder, but he has been consistantly excelllent for us there for seasons. I think the real reason he doesn't work in CM for Liverpool at the moment is that he just doesn't compliment Alonso

With Essien added.. he would be my second choice, but I still prefer Gerrard. Very few players can claim to have had such an impact on so many games.

Crouching Tiger wrote:

Oleguerisntthatbad wrote:I voted Gerrard simply because, of the players on that list, he is the one I would most like to see at Barcelona. He is also, imho, the most versatile of the list, being able to pass, tackle, shoot, dribble and truly and inspiration on the pitch.. one of the highest work rates in the world

Makelele and Scholes... very good but getting old

Cesc and Alonso.. good playmakers but we have 3 of the already

Parker and Cahill.. good players but not World Class

Ballack and Lampard.. very good players but don't think they would suit our style.

I don't get it. People seem to doubt Gerrard as a central midfielder, but he has been consistantly excelllent for us there for seasons. I think the real reason he doesn't work in CM for Liverpool at the moment is that he just doesn't compliment Alonso

I also think it is because he can play many positions, contrary to a player like Alonso, so Gerrard is moved in order to accomodate the less flexible players.

"Frank Lampard - Lampard was immense for Chelsea last season. There's no doubt about it. He scored the most ever midfield goals, and hardly missed a game. Consistant in his performances and always a threat".

Your definition of a central midfielder is very different to mine.

I can't believe people go on about the amount of goals Gerrard, Lampard and Nolan score form central midfield - IF YOU ARE PLAYING IN BETWEEN TO CENTRAL MIDFIELDERS AND A STRIKER YOU ARE NOT PLAYING CENTRAL MIDFIELD.

Lets see how many goals Lampard gets this season from CENTRAL MIDFIELD - now that he's actually playing there


"Stevie Gerrard - Drives Liverpool forward, and inspires the team. Creates a win out of a bad performance, and is a great captain in the bargain".

Great in bewteen 2 cm's and a forward and very good when he's free to come in from the right.

Central midfield against top class opposition and he is shite.



"Essien ( - Has proved his doubters wrong this season with an array of excellent performances"



Best CM in the Prem.

Essien.

Followed by Alonso, Ballack, Makelele and Gerrard.

With Fabregas and Scholes just after.

Parks Lives wrote:Essien.

Followed by Alonso, Ballack, Makelele and Gerrard.

With Fabregas and Scholes just after.

Its either Essien or Fabregas.

I would vote for Essien, but as a substitute i'll vote for Parker. Both of them have been on TOP form this season. Good to see Cahill in the list aswell.

<--- What the fuck is this????

I wouldn't put Fabregas in front of Alonso or Ballack, not yet anyway. I'm not even sure I'd put him in front of Makelele and Scholes. Last week was the first time I'd seen him outplay Scholes for instance. It was only 15 months ago in the FA cup final where he got completely overshadowed by him.

He has an amazing future though.

Also I know you have your thoughts on Gerrard and I share some of them but I still think tucking in on the right side in an almost central role he is excellent.

Pierre Littbarski wrote:"Frank Lampard - Lampard was immense for Chelsea last season. There's no doubt about it. He scored the most ever midfield goals, and hardly missed a game. Consistant in his performances and always a threat".

Your definition of a central midfielder is very different to mine.

I can't believe people go on about the amount of goals Gerrard, Lampard and Nolan score form central midfield - IF YOU ARE PLAYING IN BETWEEN TO CENTRAL MIDFIELDERS AND A STRIKER YOU ARE NOT PLAYING CENTRAL MIDFIELD.

Lets see how many goals Lampard gets this season from CENTRAL MIDFIELD - now that he's actually playing there


"Stevie Gerrard - Drives Liverpool forward, and inspires the team. Creates a win out of a bad performance, and is a great captain in the bargain".

Great in bewteen 2 cm's and a forward and very good when he's free to come in from the right.

Central midfield against top class opposition and he is shite.



"Essien ( - Has proved his doubters wrong this season with an array of excellent performances"



Best CM in the Prem.

My definition of central midfielder is:

-------------------------DM--------------------------

-------------------------CM--------------------------

-------------------------AM--------------------------

They play in a central possition, and are all midfielders.

Crouching Tiger wrote:

Pierre Littbarski wrote:"Frank Lampard - Lampard was immense for Chelsea last season. There's no doubt about it. He scored the most ever midfield goals, and hardly missed a game. Consistant in his performances and always a threat".

Your definition of a central midfielder is very different to mine.

I can't believe people go on about the amount of goals Gerrard, Lampard and Nolan score form central midfield - IF YOU ARE PLAYING IN BETWEEN TO CENTRAL MIDFIELDERS AND A STRIKER YOU ARE NOT PLAYING CENTRAL MIDFIELD.

Lets see how many goals Lampard gets this season from CENTRAL MIDFIELD - now that he's actually playing there


"Stevie Gerrard - Drives Liverpool forward, and inspires the team. Creates a win out of a bad performance, and is a great captain in the bargain".

Great in bewteen 2 cm's and a forward and very good when he's free to come in from the right.

Central midfield against top class opposition and he is shite.



"Essien ( - Has proved his doubters wrong this season with an array of excellent performances"



Best CM in the Prem.

My definition of central midfielder is:

-------------------------DM--------------------------

-------------------------CM--------------------------

-------------------------AM--------------------------

They play in a central possition, and are all midfielders.

So Zidane is a central midfielder then ?

If a player plays here:

dm
cm
AM

Then he is playing central midfield ?


Well there should be no problem when he's asked to play here for his country then.

rm cm CM lm

Essien

It's between Alonso and Essien.

I consider cesc more of an attacking midfielder. I think that is his best position.

Xabi was getting back to his best today. The long passing was a little out and and he gave the ball away once or twice, but the tempo he set was the difference second half.

His tackle set up our second goal too. Good second half display from him.


give him the new contract!

essien by a mile, people just beginning to see how good he is. not much he does not do.

Essien easily.

Alonso by a country mile

where's momo please!!?

i voted stevie

luisgarciahedrinkssangria wrote:where's momo please!!?

Parker's better...


*tries desperately to keep straight face*

Excellent we were today Obispo,

I cant fault our team this week, we battered newcastle and spurs off the park, two good teams, and we created a hell of a lot of chances

Obispo wrote:

luisgarciahedrinkssangria wrote:where's momo please!!?

Parker's better...


*tries desperately to keep straight face*

I thought about putting Momo on, but as this board happens to be anti sissoko, so i thought it was pointless. Also, if I didn't put Parker in, I'm sure Kimbo would have a strop

it's not just anti-sissoko it's anti-Liverpool!

@ Crouching Tiger

Nobody is anti-Sissoko ..

where is Essien, for me he is the best all round midfielder in the prem by a long way on current form

poiuy1 wrote:where is Essien, for me he is the best all round midfielder in the prem by a long way on current form

I forgot to put him in the poll

It's not easy to pick one of these players -but I can comfortably produce a shortlist of Essien, Cesc, Alonso. Essien is perhaps the most complete allrounder of the three - proficient with defensive responsibilities and when attacking. He's also the most combative, so maybe I'd go for him - but Cesc Fabreags is the player of the future...another good display today against (literally) tough opposition.

For me then its a battle between Gerrard and Scholes, and for me obviously it's Scholes as a United fan

But on current form and talent and the most rounded player i suppose it would have to be Fabregas