Given that it has been a bit slow over the last week as a result of Liverpool being knocked out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle, I have found it hard to come up with a blog. The lack of news regarding off field maters is also due to the newfound (or recently remembered) refreshing code of silence at the club. No longer are there leaks to the press from board room level, no longer is there power struggles from the manager and (for the moment at least) there are no players, or their agents, angling for a transfer away from the club. This of course is something we should be very happy about, unless of course youre a journalist desperate for a story to tell. The closest thing to a story this week has been the “absolutely sensational story” that Kenny Dalglish and Andy Carroll attended a Boyzone concert in the Echo arena, hardly a big story I know but as I said, when there is no real news this is what we have to put up with I guess.
I had already been thinking for a while of doing a series of Top 5’s in different categories, when in Athens for the Champions League Final in 07 my sister and I were drinking with a pair of hardcores on the day of the game and we started going through our top 5’s in various categories and it was a great way to keep the conversation (and beer) flowing, so I thought that this slow week might be a good time to start so here is the first of what I hope will be a new fortnightly article.
Please use the comments section to suggest Top 5’s for the future or debate the entries here.
TOP 5
IRISH LIVERPOOL PLAYERS
5. Steve Finnan – Stevie was brought in by Gerard Houllier after a great season for Fulham after which he was voted into the players team of the season at right back. He was a very steady defender who was quite underrated in his forward play. He didn’t start as brightly as many hoped and there was talk that he would leave once Rafa took control of the club, but this ended up having a good effect on him as he went on to cement his position at right back under the Spaniard. His crowning achievement was winning a Champions League Medal in Istanbul 2005, although unfortunately for the Limerick man he had to go off injured at half time. He ended the game a lot happier of course.The medal marked a signifigant pinnacle for a player who had at that point played in every professional League in England.
4. Mark Lawrenson – Lawro has unfortunately tarnished himself in the eyes of many reds fans in the years since he became a football pundit. His often hyper critical analysis of Liverpools performances are hard to swallow for many. We should not however, allow this to tarnish the memory of a fantastic Liverpool player and a loyal servant to the club for many years. Brought to the club from Preston he became the very epitomy of a ball playing vcentre half. Excellent on the ball and in the tackle he formed a formidable partnership with Jockey Hansen. He regurarly played in the centre of midfield for Ireland and did so at Liverpool on occasion too. His medal haul would be the envy of many past, and present footballers. He was in fact so good that its hard to understand how he seems to know nothing about football when he is on MOTD!
3. John Aldridge – Aldo is simply the most Irish Scouser in the world, People often talk about how he only played for Ireland because England didn’t want him and he freely admits he never thought of playing for Ireland until approached by Jack Charlton, but so what, once he made his decision he adopted the Irish culture to a T, and has never lost his Irishness even all these years after hanging up his boots. He was bought by Kenny to replace the Italy bound Ian Rush and he did so with aplomb. He scored goals by the bag full and only made way upon Rushie’s return. Its fair to say he was probably bombed out too soon but regardless, he was overjoyed to have played for the hometown club he once supported from the Kop, and the Kop were overjoyed to have enjoyed so many goals from one of their own.
2. Ronnie Whelan – Signed from Home Farm the Dubliner made an immediate impact at Liverpool when he was voted Young Player of the Year and scored 2 goals in the League cup final in his debut season. He turned out to be a less spectacular player than that first season suggested but he was hugely important to Liverpool’s success over the8 years he wore the red shirt. He was still capable of the spectacular as he showed when scoring 2 absolutely spectacular goals against Man U, again in the League Cup final this time in 83. He won 12 Major honours at Liverpool
1. Steve Heighway – When rebuilding his aging side in 1970 Bill Shankly signed your Irishman Steve Heighway from Skelmersdale United in what turned out to be an inspired transfer. The Dublin born winger went on to play 475 times for Liverpool and scored 50 goals. Heighway was a very pacy winger, with incredible control and was a great passer of the ball. His place in Liverpool history was further cemented when he rejoined the club in 1989 to take over the clubs youth academy. While in this role he saw the club produce talents such as Steve McManaman, Robbie Fowler, Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Dominic Matteo, David Thompson and Michael Owen. He is immortalised by the Anfield faithful with a line dedicated to himin the Kop Anthem "Fields of Anfield Road"
Honourable Mentions:
Elisha Scott (Wish I could have included Elisha here)
Steve Staunton
Ray Houghton
Michael Robinson
Jim Beglin
Jason McAteer
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