Former Manchester United and England captain Bryan Robson once revealed his answer to the forever contentious Frank Lampard vs Steven Gerrard vs Paul Scholes debate. All three midfielders were among the best of their generation, lighting up the Premier League in slightly different ways.
Their different strengths and abilities to impact the game have long led to arguments about who is the superior of the trio. Some claim Lampard for his goalscoring in midfield. Others claim Scholes for the way he could dictate any game he played, while Gerrard's leadership and power at both ends of the pitch lead some people to choose him. But Robson, who himself was a top-class engine room operator, had no hesitation with his choice.
Robson On Lampard, Gerrard, Scholes Debate
Former Manchester United midfielder Bryan Robson
While some may have assumed that his allegiances to United would've led to Robson placing Scholes at top spot, the 11-time Premier League champion had to settle for second-placed this time around. Speaking to the Daily Mail in 2013, the former Middlesbrough manager instead opted for Gerrard at the top step of the podium.
"For me he [Gerrard] can do everything and that's the reason I'd say he was the best of the three if I had to split them ahead of Scholes and Lampard in that order."
"They are all top professionals and each brought different attributes and strengths but Gerrard can tackle, defend, score goals, head it, make a telling precision pass, dictate the tempo and is a powerful runner. He has a bit more to his game."
Robson also expressed his frustration at how the trio were unable to work as a collective during England's golden generation. Sven-Goran Eriksson often played a 4-4-2 formation and, in order to incorporate all three, he forced Scholes to play as a makeshift left midfielder.
The dynamic this created hampered the Three Lions' performances, particularly at Euro 2004, and almost ten years later, Robson was still scratching his head as to how that happened.
"It annoyed me when people said they couldn't play in the same England team because good players can always play together it's just about sharing responsibility of roles on the pitch," the 68-year-old stated.
"I remember when we beat Germany 5-1 he played in the sitting position and was excellent. There is no reason why Lampard couldn't have played a little ahead of him and then Scholes in the hole behind the striker for England more often."