Frank Lampard or Steven Gerrard? Who is the better player?

This debate has been taking place over the last couple of seasons, especially before the many Liverpool-Chelsea matches. With the World Cup just around the corner, reports about these two players have reemerged, saying that the two of them just cannot play alongside one another.

True, they are both the playmakers and the driving forces of their respective clubs. If both of them join every attack, England are going to be left vulnerable at the back. Unless one can be disciplined enough to stay back while the other one attacks, there are bound to be undesired effects, especially against top opposition.

The solution? Go ahead and play both of them, but also accommodate a defensive midfielder in the team by either playing a 4-5-1 or a 4-4-1-1 with Steven Gerrard playing in the hole behind Michael Owen in attack. This way, neither Lampard nor Gerrard would be restricted and the benefits and the advantages the two of them bring to the team will not be limited. However, this style of play cannot be permanently deployed, as once Wayne Rooney recovers, there is no way he is going to stay out of the starting line-up.

For the time being, this seems like a good solution for England, though there could be a better one. How can we keep Peter Crouch out of the team when he is in this sort of form? The striker 'who cannot score' has just gotten his first hat-trick for his country. He looked good upfront alongside Owen in the 6-0 demolition of Jamaica. Therefore, it would not be a wise decision to drop him, neither would it be to drop Owen for all the goals he brings to the team. This means that England should indeed deploy the traditional 4-4-2. But why not drop either Gerrard or Lampard for a more balanced team?

This brings us back to the question: Who is better, Gerrard or Lampard? Who brings greater benefits to the team? Whose presence can England afford to do without?

According to many, Lampard is the better player. After all, he scores more goals, doesn't he?

However, I think that Gerrard would be the better option. I feel that he is an all-round better player than his Chelsea counterpart. He brings so much more to the team. He possesses the leadership qualities which Lampard does not have in so much abundance. He probably plays with more passion, more hunger and more desire than any other member of the England squad.

After all, Lampard has come under criticism for his recent form for England. Other than his goal against Jamaica, he did not make any other significant contribution in that match. Gerrard ended the season on much better form than Lampard did. Who can forget that injury time strike against West Ham?

Surely, Gerrard has done enough to claim that midfield spot over Lampard. Sven, give Gerrard the place in the starting XI at the World Cup, especially during the latter stages. Drop Lampard, for the good of the team. Give Carrick, or even Carragher, the nod to hold the midfield.

The time has come for Stevie G to take the world stage by storm!