Ferdinand slammed for ‘talking b*******’ after comparing Shearer and Kane
Rio Ferdinand has been slammed on social media for suggesting that Wayne Rooney and Alan Shearer would rank higher than Harry Kane in the debate one of the Premier League’s greatest strikers — even if he breaks the all-time goalscorer record.
Kane has been prolific in front of goal since breaking into the Tottenham first team in 2014, scoring 174 goals in 266 games for the club.
He currently sits seventh on the all-time goalscorer list, with Thierry Henry (175), Frank Lampard (177), Sergio Aguero (184) and Andy Cole (187) not far ahead and likely to be usurped in the near future.
Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney finished his career on 208, some way adrift of former Newcastle and Blackburn icon Alan Shearer, who leads the way on 260 goals.
It remains feasible that Kane could break Shearer’s long-standing record if he continues to score at the current rate, with the striker turning 29 on his next birthday.
During a pre-match discussion before Spurs faced Leeds on Saturday, Ferdinand quizzed Crouch on where he would place Kane amongst the best strikers to grace the Premier League era.
The former striker turned pundit said on BT Sport in the clip below: “Obviously Henry, Shearer, Rooney… Aguero, for me. If he beats Shearer’s record he’s up there, surely he is?
But Ferdinand wasn’t necessarily in agreement, replying: “I like Kane. But Rooney I think will always be above him no matter how many goals he scores and so will Thierry.
“If he gets more goals than Shearer, maybe above Shearer. It’s difficult.”
After presenter Jake Humphrey raised the point that Kane could easily manage 25 goals in a season over the next four seasons, the pair expanded the debate to what Kane offers as a modern striker.
And Ferdinand conceded that the England international’s all-round game ranks him above Shearer — but only if he breaks his record.
“What he does do is above Shearer probably,” Ferdinand went on.
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“He brings another element in terms of assists and bringing other players into the game. His all-round game is spectacular.
“But he’s going to have to go some to beat that record.”
Crouch agreed and added: “That record is unbelievable from Shearer, I mean just hitting the 200 club is an incredible achievement.
“But knowing Harry like I do, that is in his sights. I think that’s the biggest thing for him. He’d rather beat Shearer’s record.”
Ferdinand’s bizarre take on Kane’s status met with outrage from social media users who claimed the Spurs talisman should be regarded as better than Shearer.
One Twitter user, Phil Hannan, claims that Kane is “already better than Shearer.”
Another, Marc Trainis, took a more analytical view: "Rio talking absolute b******* as usual. 'If Kane stays at Spurs he won't break Shearers record'… he's 87 behind, six more seasons is 14-15 goals a season.
"He currently averages 22 goals across his eight full seasons. Two minutes research. Don't talk rubbish."
@WhiteHartLiz suggested Crouch would know better after playing with him at Tottenham: “He would know Kane more than Rio. Surprise, surprise Rio saying Rooney is better than Kane… no way.”
Another user, with the handle @ResilientTwo, took a cheeky swipe at Kane's lack of trophies: “He’s got the same amount of honours as Darren Bent. Maybe compare them that’s his level.”
After adding to his tally with a cool strike against Leeds United, Kane may have given Ferdinand food for thought as he closes in one of some of the Premier League’s finest goal-getters.
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