It was twenty years ago today

[Roanmore]

I feel Barnes never fulfilled his true potential in a Liverpool shirt. Granted exciting player with awesome bursts of speed and power: we had seen this for 3/4 years at Watford as his talent evolved.

He could have owned the '90 s but never showed the leadership in our mediocre squads, that which was required to elevate his status to LFC legend, and the debacle of the '96 Cup Final was the finale of this.

As he lost that yard of pace, he had the opportunity to show true leadership, like Hughes, like Dalglsih, and inspire greater performances from others, but this never happened.

Just my thoughts - awesome 87 - 90, but could have been so much more for mine.

Awful to say but I actually agree with you. A brillaint player but when Liverpool in the early 90's were crying out for a leader there wasn't many about

[mersey86]

Awful to say but I actually agree with you. A brillaint player but when Liverpool in the early 90's were crying out for a leader there wasn't many about

Even the best players have to get old. Johnny Barnes was an absolutely sublime footballer and was the fulcrum of the best football our team has ever played. To claim that he did not fulfil his potential in a Liverpool shirt just defies belief.
John Barnes is right up there with King Kenny as the best footballer I have ever seen.

[darkknight]

Even the best players have to get old. Johnny Barnes was an absolutely sublime footballer and was the fulcrum of the best football our team has ever played. To claim that he did not fulfil his potential in a Liverpool shirt just defies belief.
John Barnes is right up there with King Kenny as the best footballer I have ever seen.

... we 'll just have to disagree on that point, and in defence of Digger, the '90 s would have been tough for even the greatest of leaders to prosper.

What separates the likes of Dalglish, Hughes, Hansen (in terms of being team leaders) is the length of their tenure as great players, and how they grew and then succeeded in leadership roles. That is why they are bonafide LFC legends, and the likes of Digger are the next level down.

Its all a matter of perception - thats just mine .


.....and was the fulcrum of the best football our team has ever played.
Agree on that point, how we didn t do League/Cup Doubles in 88 and 89 is still unbelievable for mine.

I guess fate played its cruel hand in many ways at the time.

[IanTatt]

watching that Vid has made me even more pissed off than I was, the guy
was absolute class. playing one touch football with the likes of Molby and Beardsley was a joy to watch, fantstic finishing, close control, pace, skill,
the guy had the lot. the best player in a LFC shirt I have seen. Twenty years on and we are still searching for a winger fit enough to be compared with him. How sad.

[lfc_michael]

There aren't many around, though. Just like we spent so long looking for the new Fowler that, in desperation, we had to turn to the old one. Flair players who don't spend half their time making us sigh with frustration (à la Garcia or Smicer) are few and far between. Just what would Barnes be worth in today's market?

[5aq1b]

****ing legend