Ben Foster has fans fuming as he lists top 10 Premier League midfielders ever
Wrexham goalkeeper Ben Foster has caused controversy when ranking the top 10 midfielders in Premier League history, largely for the decision to leave Steven Gerrard out of the top three.
Foster made 390 Premier League appearances, the bulk of them for West Bromwich Albion. The former Man Utd man retired in 2022, but returned to the game late last season to help Wrexham climb back into the Football League and will stay with the Red Dragons in League Two.
The 40-year-old made his Premier League debut in 2008, playing his final game in the competition nearly a decade and a half later. He played against plenty of greats in the competition, but that hasn't stopped his picks attracting criticism.
David Silva claimed 10th spot on the list after a debate between Foster and his fellow Fozcast panellists. The former Manchester City star, who retired in July, won four league titles under three managers during his decade in England.
Silva's former team-mate Yaya Toure was eighth, with Welsh stars Gareth Bale and Ryan Giggs either side of him in seventh and ninth respectively. Bale was optimistically linked with a move to join Foster at Wrexham this summer, but has stuck with his decision to retire from the game.
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Patrick Vieira is just outside the top five, with Roy Keane just inside, while Frank Lampard pips Gerrard to a top-three ranking. Kevin De Bruyne takes the runner-up spot, with Paul Scholes top of the pile, and the rankings prompted debate for all manner of reasons.
Do you agree with Ben Foster's rankings? Have your say in the comments section
Foster gave top spot to his former team-mate Paul Scholes (Getty Images)"Gerrard walks all over Scholes and Lampard," one fan wrote on YouTube. "Could score like Lampard, pass like Scholes and all in a rubbish team he was carrying. Absolute all-rounder."
"Completely understand this is personal opinion, that's absolutely fair enough, but in my opinion, Gerrard 4th is a sin of football, what is this," wrote another. "Gerrard should be number one. He had everything in his game," wrote another.
It wasn't just Liverpool fans suggesting their ex-captain deserved a higher ranking. "Gerrard 4th is scandalous. I’m a United fan and he’s 2nd behind Scholes (because it’s so close and I’m biased)," was one verdict.
There weren't many complaints about the range of names in the top 10, though Bale's inclusion was questioned with the former Spurs star taking up a variety of positions before leaving for Real Madrid. As for those unfairly left off the list, N'Golo Kante's name came up repeatedly.
"Bale above Giggs is madness!" one viewer argued. "He spent half his premier League time as a left back and only performed at top level for about 4yrs. Giggs played that role at tippy top for 20yrs"
"No idea how Kante didn’t even make 10th," another response read. "Never seen a player change the momentum of a game like him. He was the best midfielder in the world for a year or two whilst playing in the prem. More to the game than purely putting the ball in the net."
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