The definitive list of top, top players: Lescott, Januzaj but not Gerrard
By now most readers will be aware of Sir Alex Ferguson’s assertion in his new autobiography that ‘Steven Gerrard is not a top, top player’. While Fergie’s opinion on the matter is clear, the definition of what it really takes to be a true ‘top, top player’ is still incredibly murky, so that got us thinking: would it be possible to provide a solid, definitive answer on just which players really are ‘top, top’, and which players aren’t? After extensive research, our conclusions are provided below…
The definition
The claims that the term ‘top, top player’ was coined by the Redknapp family, and is ‘generally reserved for English internationals or anybody in form for Tottenham Hotspur’. Our incredibly extensive research, carried out over a period of at least half an hour, does touch on that definition, but it also challenges it. According to multiple sources, a list of top top players is as follows:
Top, top player: James McCarthy
According to: Roberto Marinez
He’s Scottish, he’s Irish, he plays for Wigan, and according to Roberto Martinez, he’s :
“He’s a top, top player. James McCarthy showed what he can do in his attacking sense."
Top, top player: Roman Pavlyuchenko
According to: Harry Redknapp
The Russian striker was brought to White Hart Lane for nearly £14m in 2008, and most fans could considered him inconsistent at best. Harry Redknapp had , however:
“Technically, he’s a top, top player. When he lined it up I had a feeling he was going to score because he is a very clean striker of the football. He’s got two great feet."
Top, top player: Joe Cole
According to: Harry Redknapp
Mercurial for Chelsea, a flop for Liverpool, and now seeing out his career back at West Ham, Joe Cole was,
“an outstanding player, a great professional and a top, top player. I would love to have Joe at Tottenham, but there are lots of clubs in for him."
Top, top player: Joleon Lescott
According to: Paul Lambert
He isn’t the best defender in Manchester. He isn’t even the best defender at Manchester City, but according to Paul Lambert, :
“Joleon has been a top player and still is. He’s a top, top player.”
Top, top player: Adnan Januzaj
According to: David Moyes
Could it be that a footballer is born a top, top player, but can't become one? Although a Champions League winner (Steven Gerrard) isn’t a top, top player, but a youngster who has played a handful of games has attained such status. At least :
“I remember giving Wayne his debut, even people like Ross Barkley their debut, and Adnan is certainly in that quality. He’s a top, top player, he really is.”
Top, top player: Wayne Rooney
According to: Harry Redknapp
Considering some of the names above, Premier League and Champions League winning Wayne Rooney sticks out like a sore thumb among top, top players. Nonetheless, , according to, you’ve guessed it, Harry Redknapp:
“Rooney is a top, top player. I have said for a long time that he has been our one truly world class striker." (Hmm, is there a correlation between being a 'top, top player' and being 'truly world class'? Intriguing.)
The future
The tricky thing about trying to define a top, top player is that there are plenty of footballers who almost make the cut, but are only considered potentially future holders of the prestigious title, rather than certified members of the top, top club. Check out some of the examples, defying age (and at times, talent), below:
Future top, top player: Joe Allen
According to: Brendan Rodgers
Injury prone, underwhelming, and perhaps even unnecessary, that Joe Allen "will demonstrate he’s a top, top player over time."
Future top, top player: Adel Taarabt
According to: Harry Redknapp
Maybe those guys at the Back of the Net Wiki were right, because Harry Redknapp just can’t stop himself from using the term. This time, he singles out , saying he can "be a top, top player like Paolo Di Canio."
Future top, top player: Jonjo Shelvey
According to: Ian Holloway
He wasn’t good enough for Liverpool, but Ian Holloway has little doubt about :
“All I know is that Jonjo is a fantastic young man who has all sorts of ability. I have no doubts whatsoever that he will be a top, top player.”
Future top, top player: Ross Barkley
According to: Peter Reid
Reidy knows top, top talent when he sees it and. in Ross Barkley, :
“He has all the attributes to be a top, top player, and who knows, if he keeps improving? There is nothing wrong with sticking young players in England squads and World Cups if they can handle it. I think he has got the right character and ability to do that."
Future top, top player: Tom Carroll
According to: Harry Redknapp
Harry’s back. .
“He’s a player I fully expect to go to the top of the game - he’s a future England international. He’s got all the attributes to be a top, top player.”
Future top, top player: Alex Nimely
According to: Clive Platt (his former team-mate)
No self-respecting list of future top, top players could be complete without the inimitable Alex Tchuimeni-Nimely. The prolific forward scored one goal in 17 games for Coventry City, so it’s easy to see why his as having "the attributes to be a top player". "With a bit of luck, he’ll work his way to establish himself as a top, top player," he added. There’s time yet…
Future top, top player: Jack Wilshere
According to: Arsene Wenger
Considered the most exciting young English talent of a generation, Arsene Wenger ‘has the personality to be a top, top player’.
Conclusion
What is clear from our research is that, well, nothing is clear at all. According to the above experts, Roman Pavlyuchenko, Adnan Januzaj and Joleon Lescott are certified 'top, top players’, but Steven Gerrard isn't. Future ‘top, top players’ range from a key player for club and country in Jack Wilshere, to a 22-year-old striker that scored one goal for Coventry City, to Adel Taarabt. Perhaps the only clear conclusion is that Harry Redknapp does indeed like to use the phrase. A lot. Trust Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola to take it to the next level, however. This summer, the Catalan described Arjen Robben not as a ‘top, top player’, but a ‘top, top, top player’. Or ‘top, top, top spieler’, in fact…
Who do you consider a top, top player? Let us know below...