How do you judge greatness? By goals perhaps, or by trophies, or individual honours? Is an exceptionally talented but trophy-less footballer not a great player? Is an average player with an exceptional haul of medals then great? This was what Rio Ferdinand had been implying recently on Twitter.
As the debate between Gareth Bale and his fellow Welshman Ryan Giggs fell into Ferdinand’s lap the United defender claimed that Bale could never be considered a great player because he hasn’t won any trophies yet. A fair point perhaps, but a little harsh on a twenty-two year old. Yes, Giggs had won trophies by the time he was Bale’s age, but he was also playing during United’s golden years.
Trophies are important, everyone knows that. Great players should win medals, however there are various problems with overplaying the importance of such concrete successes. For example, you might suggest that having a Champions Leaguemedal in your collection would make you a great, but Djimi Traore has one with Liverpool from 2005. And, no offence Djimi, I wouldn’t consider the former Charlton man one of the greats.
Similarly Phil Neville, Nick Butt, John O’Shea and Wes Brownall have impressive medal collections, yet they are far from being great. Then if you look at someone like Carles Puyol: he didn’t win a single medal until he was 26, now he has won literally every competition he has entered.
I can definitely understand the argument that to be one of the best you have to won the best competitions. To win a major trophy is clearly going to provide a player with experience and confidence that could take them, mentally, to the next level. People spoke about Arsenal’s problems in the last six years stemming from having a lack of players whose experience included winning trophies. An overly simplistic explanation perhaps but a fair point nonetheless.
You contradict yourself with your point about Carlos Puyol, therefore you prove yourself wrong.
Also it is ridiculous to say Ferdinand has been carried by his teamates to success. His brilliant form in 2008 earned him a cl winners medal and was labelled as the best defender in the world by Lionel Messi amongst others.
Gareth Bale has an awful long way to go before he can be considered anywhere near the same class as Giggs. Giggs is a world star, a legend of the sport, still playing at the highest level at 39m, scored in every single premier league season. Bale has had one and a half decent seasons and the typically ignorant english media (who love to overrate british players) get carried away. When Bale looses his pace his kick and rush game will be gone and his technique and skill will be put into question. Giggs has shown his ability on the ball is up there with some of the greatest players of all time, Bale will do well to show anything even remotely as good.
Ultimately Bale needs to move up to the highest level and perform consistently if he wishes to show he can be great, or he will be forgotten.