Topic: Is there such a thing as the complete player?

[Scall]

Is a complete player one who specialises and play well as, say a striker Michael Owen, a defender Jamie Carragher, or a goalie Jerzy Dudek

Alternatively is a complete player one who can take on different roles, either for a particular match on during a match. John Arne Riise being an example from defender
to midfielder to goal scorer.

Or is it the midfielder like Stevie G who can regularly defend, marshal the midfield, create chances for others and attack and score, is this the ultimate complete player.

Then again if the club asks a player to take up other positions like Emile Heskey playing deep and on the wing as apposed to being an out and out striker is that complete as playing goes.

Or is it all down to whatever your preferred position, wherever a player is asked to play is it a case of its for the benefit of the team as a whole with the right result, winning the game being the objective. Filling that role as a squad player, if thats the right term, makes for a complete player.

I’m sorta with the last statement with a mix of Stevie G. Or maybe I’m reading it wrong, would welcome your views.

[Aidan_B]

I don't think that you can have any truly complete players.  The closest are those midfield generals who get forward and score.  Gerrard is a clasic example, as has Hamann been.  He gave one of the greatest midfield performances I have ever seen against Newcastle.

But with such large squads in todays game and with so many substitutes available on the bench, there is not a great deal of need for players to be able to play in multiple positions.  It is great to have players like Carra who can play anywhere along a back four, or hold in the midfield, or Smicer who can play anywehre along the forward line.

I would rather say that 'x' is the complete defender, or complete striker.  Hyypia would be the complete defender if his distribution was a little more refined and he was a tad quicker.  Owen would be the complete striker if he could win flick ons as well as race through onto them.  Things like that.

[treble2001]

Only bad players think they cant improve

[laddo]

closest to a complete player is stevie G. he can do everything xcept play in goal. will be the best player in the world in a few years IMO.

[Gray_YPC]

I think the most complete midfielder at the moment is Ballack.  he can do everything and is a player I love.  I'd LOVE him at Liverpool, and is the sole reason I've got a few quid on Bayern to win the Euro CL.