John Barnes

[friedk]

Which players in world football do you think compare to him?

C Ronaldo is a poor man's John Barnes.

[Slim]

Digger was an amazing player at his peak. Our team in the late 80s payed some incredible attacking football with Digger slaloming around opponents and scoring for fun. The media like to cream themselves over the way Arsenal play now, but we were just as good if not better back then and Digger had it all.

Its a tough call to say who compares to him in world football. Is it just me or do those types of players seem a bit thin on the ground these days?

[captainfog]

I think we should try and re-sign Digger. He could link up well with Fowler and Owen

[Maestro]

I really miss that surge of excitement when you saw the ball going to Digger in his first few years with us - you just knew something special was about to happen.
I think the other Ronaldo (in his prime) would have been more similar to JB than his Manc cousin, tbh.

[thesilverfoxlfc]

What a talent and a terrible dress sense

[tsb]

There isn't really anyone that compares to him. Strength, trickery and a shot that could kill. Maestro is right, the real Ronaldo is probably the closest in terms of strength and dribbling ability. You aren't really going to find a direct comparison as wingers are generally quite weedy but fast (Macca, Giggs, Duff). I do think however if they keep Cristiano on the creatine he'll be an absolute monster - however, he'll never touch JCB in my opinion as he was one of a kind.

[Dhav]

John Barnes, circa 1987-1990, is one of the best performers we've ever had and is probably my favourite ever LFC player (Kenny was before my time). He was similar to Ronaldo in terms of technical ability, dribbling skills, ball control and speed, but he could also put in a mean cross and was deadly from the dead ball.

Most similar player today? I dont know, you dont see many players like him who literally have it all and can do it all. I guess he's a combination of Beckham's crossing accuracy and dead ball skill and Ronaldo's dribbling and speed.

[Guest]

John Barnes was my favorite player at the time. I was 12/13 years old and I vividly remember this fabulous team we had including the likes of Beardsley, Aldo, McMahon, Hansen, Haughton etc ...

Barnesy was a unique player. He could do it all, without the stupid stepovers (cue Fookin Ronaldo) etc ... He was the crown jewell in this team.

[Shaggy]

I really miss that surge of excitement when you saw the ball going to Digger in his first few years with us - you just knew something special was about to happen.
I think the other Ronaldo (in his prime) would have been more similar to JB than his Manc cousin, tbh.

I absolutely idolized him. IDOLIZED him. Rush was my hero when Barnes arrived and it could only have been a superhuman footballer to overtake Rush in my heart – but he did.

I remember going to Anfield with my Dad in about 1989 and buying one of those photos from the club shop – just a photo of Barnesy – and it was my most prized possession.

[Shaggy]

That pic of Barnsey really has evoked some incredible memories/feelings.

[Guest]

That pic of Barnsey really has evoked some incredible memories/feelings.

Remember that team at the time mate ? What fantastic football they played ! Never ever seen football played at such breath necked speed and precision.

As Tom Finney said (after witnessing our demolition of Notts Forest 5-0), "Liverpool, on that day, played better than the brazilians would ever dream !".

[kendoddsdadsdogsdead]

That pic of Barnsey really has evoked some incredible erections/stirrings.

[kendoddsdadsdogsdead]

Does anyone remember the rumours about John Barnes having a drugs and dirty sex den on Shiel Road? This one used to do the rounds when i was at school, although I reckon it was just Bitters who spread it.

[tsb]

Does anyone have a decent resolution picture of JB kicking the banana off the pitch? That image resonates greatly with me and I've never found anything better than the thumbnail available on t'web.

[Shaggy]

Remember that team at the time mate ? What fantastic football they played ! Never ever seen football played at such breath necked speed and precision.

As Tom Finney said (after witnessing our demolition of Notts Forest 5-0), "Liverpool, on that day, played better than the brazilians would ever dream !".

Yep, it was sooooooooo glorious. Unfortunately, I was only about 12 at the time. I thought that was how it always worked. You kind of took it for granted – well I did, anyway. Little did I know that soon after that we’d embark on a near 20 year run without getting close to winning the title, and rarely (if ever) playing football of that magnitude, style and verve.