[Marshmallo]

Debate down the pub this evening - who would you have in your side, Steven Gerrard or Darren Fletcher?

I would personally have Fletcher but would be interested to know what the masses think?

[Mr. Brightside]

Fletcher.

But if Gerrard returned to the form of a few years ago I'd take him.

Different players though so it'd depend what your team needed.

[Dark Blue]

It depends really as there both different players. Gerrard is more of a threat going forward and chips in with more goals that Fletcher, his passing and shooting is alot better aswell. Fletcher is more of a defensive player although he's started to get forward alot more this season and he's assisted and scored quite a few goals this season. Fletcher breaks up the play well and plays the easy pass but so does Gerrard.

I would opt for Gerrard.

[Mr Mojo Rising]

Mr. Brightside, on 10 March 2010 - 23:11, said:

Different players though

Totally different players, to the extent that the question is pretty impossible to answer.

Fletcher has a very specific role and performs it very well but Gerrard is easily an all round better footballer.

Defensively, Chelsea's Michael Essien is better than both

[Marshmallo]

The debate was originally over who was the better player. It then moved onto who would start alongside Lampard in the World Cup if Fletcher was English.

[Mr. Brightside]

Marshmallo, on 10 March 2010 - 23:23, said:

The debate was originally over who was the better player. It then moved onto who would start alongside Lampard in the World Cup if Fletcher was English.

I think Capello would (stupidly) pick Gerrard, and play Fletcher and Gerrard together.

[Mr Mojo Rising]

Marshmallo, on 10 March 2010 - 23:23, said:

The debate was originally over who was the better player. It then moved onto who would start alongside Lampard in the World Cup if Fletcher was English.

If Fletcher was English I believe he would get into the English starting XI.

However, I also think both Gerrard and Lampard would get into the team as well. I think all three could be accomodated. In fact, I think Fletcher as the out and out defensive mid with Gerrard and Lampard in front of him would work excellently

[gy diamond]

Fletcher everytime.

He turns up for every game and gives his all unlike Gerrard

[Marshmallo]

Gerrard has done nothing for 12 months. Fletcher is almost the first name on the Man Utd teamsheet for every big game.

[craigkillie]

Mr. Brightside, on 10 March 2010 - 23:24, said:

I think Capello would (stupidly) pick Gerrard, and play Fletcher and Gerrard together.

Gerrard doesn't play in the middle as it is - so why would he suddenly be moved in there if England had yet another central midfield player to choose from?

[Dave]

I'd have Fletcher as a defensive midfielder and Gerrard as an attacking midfielder.

[GiGi]

I'd suggest for the money they're being paid Fletcher is probably much better value.

And he's not a cheating prima donna.

[LOL @ Celtic]

Gerrard by a mile. If you want to see how good Fletcher is watch his invisible man performances for Scotland.

[chris123]

IXI THE ONE IXI, on 11 March 2010 - 02:42, said:

Gerrard by a mile. If you want to see how good Fletcher is watch his invisible man performances for Scotland.

As opposed to all of Gerrard's wonderful England performances.

[banana]

Considering Gerrard is the most over-rated spunknugget in recent English footballing history, Fletcher would be in ahead of him.

[port-ton]

I've always been a fan of defensively minded central midfielders more than any other position, and right now Fletcher is my favourite player in the world. I think even if he wasn't Scottish i would feel this way as he's such a well rounded player with endless amounts of energy and he has such a great footballing brain whether it's what pass to play or what position to be in when his team don't have the ball.

So yes, Fletcher for me.

[Savage Henry]

Am I the only one who thinks Gerrard and it isn't even close? There's no way Fletcher would be ahead of Barry, Lampard or Gerrard.

[miko]

impossible to compare they play in different positions

[H_B]

Jim Pansy, on 11 March 2010 - 06:26, said:

Am I the only one who thinks Gerrard and it isn't even close?

Nope.

[ScottyC]

Mr Mojo Rising, on 10 March 2010 - 23:31, said:

If Fletcher was English I believe he would get into the English starting XI.

Truth be told Fletcher does f**k all for Scotland, would be no great loss. The guy is the Scotland captain purely because hes Scotland's big name player and knows how to behave himself.

[Colin M]

Fletcher has had plenty good games for Scotland - against Holland for example he was easily the best player.

Obviously though at Man U he has a fairly specific role in an amazing team. The problem is that people expect him to be something different for Scotland.

Anyway, in a straight who's better it's obviously Gerrard who has far more strings to his bow. If you were building a team, however, it depends on what you are looking for.

[H_B]

Gerrard is a much better cheat as well. That's one of his best attributes.

[dubs]

On form currently it's Fletcher, don't think there's much doubt about that. Gerrard hasn't kicked a ball all season aside from the odd flash whereas Fletcher has been magnificent all round for his club at least. Chipped in with a good few goals and assists despite being asked pretty much to do all the dirty work, the ideal footballer in my opinion.

I actually think he would get in Englands team if such an oppurtunity arose, in reality there aren't many Englsih centre mids playing well at the moment. Barry, Carrick, Lampard and Gerrard have all been fairly mediocre this season.

[Colin M]

I'd play Fletcher ahead of Barry or Carrick as well.

[craigkillie]

If Steven Gerrard was Scottish, we'd have qualified for the last couple of major tournaments.