Kieron Dyer has weighed in on one of the biggest Premier League debates.
Paul Scholes, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard?
There’s only one winner in our books and he was the one that was under-appreciated by England.
Thankfully, Scholes had his priorities in check and always put United first.
Former Premier League midfielder Kieron Dyer was a guest on Drivetime and discussed a number of topics, including a red flag he spotted watching Jadon Sancho in Man City’s academy.
Dyer also dived into the age old debate that has divided football fans for years – having played with all three Scholes, Gerrard and Lampard. When asked who his favourite was out of the trio, Dyer told talkSPORT: “Paul Scholes. No disrespect to Frank Lampard, but that’s not even a conversation.
“Frank has got the most assists in the Premier League and has scored more goals than him, but my answer to that is that Chelsea played a completely different formation to Manchester United and Liverpool at the time, if you throw Steven Gerrard into the mix.
“I love Frank Lampard because out of the three including Steven Gerrard, he had nowhere near the same amount of natural ability and talent as them, so for him to have the career that he had.
“Every single time I saw him in training he was doing extras – shooting and he was being labelled as ‘fat’ by West Ham fans and the amount of fast-feet stuff that he’d do – he was completely dedicated.
“Everything that he’s got – it’s a bit like Messi and Ronaldo when they say Messi has god-given talent and Ronaldo’s all hard work – that’s how I see Scholes and Gerrard and Lampard.”
Dyer also ranked the midfielders in order: “Scholes, Gerrard and then Lampard.”
The conversation then got a bit ridiculous when Andy Goldstein and Darren Bent moved onto David Beckham and asked Dyer when the former United midfielder can be considered world class.
Dyer added: “Definitely world class. I think a world-class talent means you’re in the top three or four in your position.
“Luis Figo was Ballon d’Or winner at the time – he had more than Becks because he could beat people, but with Becks’ delivery he didn’t need to beat people.
“It was a touch, out of his feet and then whoosh – I’d see it in training, he can do anything he wants with a ball. He could put it anywhere.”
He went on to argue that Beckham was better than Scholes, Gerrard and Lampard when it came to representing England.
“Beckham’s delivery was brilliant and I always say that when you think of England and the golden generation – every time Becks played for England, he performed.
“Okay, he got sent off against Argentina in a crucial game but that’s the only slur that he’s got on his England record. He performed every time for England and he’s played over 100 times for England.
“We can’t say that about Wayne Rooney; we can’t say it about Scholesy, Steven Gerrard, Lamps or Rio, but you can say it about Beckham.”
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