National salute to Anfield legends
Aug 30 2006
By James Pearce, Liverpool Echo
THREE Liverpool legends have been voted into the National Football Museum's Hall of Fame.
World Cup winner Roger Hunt, all-time leading scorer Ian Rush and classy defender Alan Hansen will be formally inducted at a special awards ceremony at Liverpool's Crowne Plaza Hotel on Thursday, October 19.
Prolific striker Hunt, who made 492 appearances for the Reds between 1959 and 1970, won two titles and one FA Cup during his stay at Anfield. His haul of 245 league goals stands as a club record, as does his total of 41 goals during 1961/62.
Rush made 658 appearances in two stints at Anfield, scoring a record 346 goals. The Welshman won five titles, five League Cups, three FA Cups and the European Cup.
The deadly frontman notched a record 44 FA Cup goals and his five goals in FA Cup finals is an all-time record. He also holds the Merseyside derby scoring record with 25 goals.
Skilful centre-half Hansen's defensive prowess played a keyrole in Liverpool's dominance in the late 70s and 80s. The Scottish international captained the Reds to the league and cup double in 1986 and was one of Bob Paisley's most inspired signings. His list of honours included three European Cups and eight league titles.
Reds legend Kenny Dalglish, who entered the Hall of Fame in 2002, has hailed the decision.
"The contribution that all three made to Liverpool Football Club was immense," he said.
"Roger came some time before big Al and Tosh but the goals he scored, along with what Bill Shankly did at Anfield, was one of the main reasons the club is where it is today.
"They were the ones who started it all off and to see Roger getting recognised like this is really brilliant for him. But don't forget he's already had a knighthood from the Liverpool fans!
"Big Al thoroughly deserves it. In some ways he was a bit unlucky. He was captain of the double winning team in '86 but because I was player manager he never really got the recognition he deserved. I'm talking publicly of course because privately he most certainly did.
"He was a big reason for the success in my period. What he did off the pitch was every bit as great a contribution as what he did on it.
"As for Rushie, his two spells at the club speak for themselves and he thor-oughly deserves to be in there. Both he and Roger were top class goal scorers. But Rushie's movement outside the box was probably a bit more than Roger's and he was also an under-rated passer of the ball.
"The three of them would probably get into any all-time best Liverpool squad."
The other players on the list for 2006 are former Newcastle striker Jackie Milburn, Hunt's former England team-mate Martin Peters, Arsenal legend Liam Brady and ex-Chelsea star Gianfranco Zola.
Former West Ham and England boss Ron Greenwood and current Arsenal chief Arsene Wenger have been voted into the managers category.
All the living inductees have confirmed their intention to attend the ceremony at the Crowne Plaza, while Milburn, who died in 1988, and Greenwood, who died in February this year, will be represented by their sons.
Launched in 2002, the Hall of Fame celebrates the greatest players and managers of all time in English football.
After his induction as a manager in 2005, Blues legend Howard Kendall formed part of an elite selection panel, including Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Bobby Charlton.
Kendall said: "There were some hard choices to make, but I think the panel has again selected players and managers of a truly high quality." Tickets for the awards ceremony cost £150, including a champagne reception and dinner.
There are a variety of packages for group bookings and opportunities to sponsor inductees.
All proceeds go to support the work of the museum, particularly its educational and social programmes.
Forfurther details contact Mark Moisley on 07843 350161 or email: [email protected].
* What do youthink of this year's additions to the Hall of Fame? Send your comments to [email protected]
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History lessons needed
Aug 30 2006
Tommy Smith, Liverpool Echo
I WAS watching a Liverpool game the other night from the Seventies against Aston Villa.
What struck me as odd was that in a 10minute period I hardly heard the ref's whistle once.
The players just seemed to get on with the game. If they went down under challenge, they quickly got up again. There was no diving, no-one was booked or sent off, and no-one was injured.
How refreshing from today's game which is stop-start due to refs' constant whistling, the diving, the elbowing, the tackles from behind, the feigning of injuries.
The Reds-Villa game was played at a fast pace, was a pleasure to watch and was without the cheating which is part of the Premiership's make-up.
It wouldn't do any harm for players today to watch those games of yesteryear.
Break just a farce
A BREAK for international football just a week after the Premier season kicks off is a farce.
What underlined the fact was the Norwegian FA's call-up of John Arne Riise.
The Liverpool star was stretchered off with an ankle injury at Sheffield United and it was reported he faced a two-week lay-off before he could even train again.
But, regardless, his country selected him and he has to join the squad irrespective of his physical state. What are they expecting him to do - run up and down the pitch?
Isn't it far better that he stay and receive the best treatment at Melwood?
If they are in any doubt as to the extent of the injury, the Norwegian FA should send a doctor over here rather than Riise waste his time being forced to travel for the game with Hungary.
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Crouch: I still need to prove my worth
Aug 30 2006
BY IAN DOYLE, Daily Post
Peter Crouch celebrates victory over Chelsea in the FA Community Shield - Picture: DAVID DAVIES/PA
PETER CROUCH admits he is having to prove himself again for both Liverpool and England this season.
The 25-year-old has enjoyed an encouraging start to the campaign, netting three goals in four games for Liverpool and scoring a brace for England in their 4-0 friendly win over Greece earlier this month.
Crouch's latest strike was the winner against West Ham United at Anfield on Saturday, a timely reminder of his talents given the arrival of £9.5million striker Dirk Kuyt from Feyenoord.
With Craig Bellamy, Robbie Fowler and Luis Garcia also jostling for a place in attack, Crouch faces a testing task to secure a regular first-team berth in Rafael Benitez's side.
And the striker admits he must continue his improvement or face being sidelined for both club and country.
"I have to move on from what I did last season," said Crouch. "It was obviously great to win the FA Cup with Liverpool and become more established in the England set-up, but now I have to push on and further that.
"I cannot afford to rest on my heels. You can see from the competition we have at club level to start games that I have to improve at Liverpool first and foremost. Then I have to carry on trying to establish myself with England further."
New signing Kuyt enjoyed an impressive debut on Saturday after replacing Crouch as a 52nd-minute substitute.
And Crouch added: "A club like Liverpool needs competition in every position and I think we have got that now. Up front there is a lot of healthy competition with Dirk coming in now.
"We all want to play and thankfully I started against West Ham. I was pleased for Dirk, though, he came on and did very well.
"But it was good to get the goal against West Ham. It has been a good start to the season for me. I am enjoying everything.
"I think when you are scoring goals you are confident that you are going to take the chances when they come around. That seems to be the case.
"There is a lot of pressure and the competition keeps you on your toes. You know you have to go out on the pitch, perform and score goals. It is going well at the moment and hopefully I can join up with England now and score a few more."
It took Crouch some time to win over the doubters following his £7million move to Liverpool from Portsmouth last summer, with the forward having to wait 19 games before opening his goalscoring account with his new club.
He suffered a similar difficult start to his England career, booed during the World Cup qualifiers against Austria and Poland at Old Trafford and omitted from the starting line-up in the World Cup quarter-final with Portugal.
Crouch was also due to be benched for the friendly with Greece earlier this month, but West Ham United striker Dean Ashton's broken ankle elevated the Liverpool forward to the starting line-up.
Crouch responded by scoring twice to take his international goals tally to an impressive eight in 12 games.
The striker is now expected to lead the line for England's forthcoming Euro 2008 qualifying double header with Andorra and Macedonia.
And Crouch said: "The way I look at it, I have played the last few games for England and I have been scoring goals at that level and I want to keep that record up. It's up to me.
"People will expect a lot of goals against a team like Andorra, but Trinidad showed in the World Cup that it is not always easy. Sides are hard to break down and until the first goal goes in they are all going to be difficult games. That is how we must think of it."
Meanwhile, Kuyt's good week continued when he was named the Dutch player of the year.
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Kuyt gave Reds pace injection
Aug 30 2006
Tommy Smith, Liverpool Echo
THERE was plenty to admire about Dirk Kuyt against the Hammers.
The striker certainly impressed me in the half-hour cameo.
He goes looking for the ball, doesn't mind running at defenders and the Dutchman also puts a little bit of zip into the play.
Kuyt generates a lot of pace in the attack, as does Craig Bellamy, and this is what we are looking for this season.
Typically, the visitors are renowned for their attacking approach and in the first 35 minutes created a few chances. But Daniel Agger's goal was a tremendous strike, and the Reds then started to turn the screw, with Peter Crouch rounding off a very good move.
It's a pity the Bellamy "goal" was ruled out for he was clearly on side.
Still, it was three welcome points after the Champions League exploits in Kiev, and the manager will be pleased to have got off to a first league win at Anfield, even if the performance wasn't outstanding.
While there is now a lull for European Champion-ship games, Rafa Benitez will spend an anxious 10 days assessing the progress of injured stars Momo Sissoko, John Arne Riise and Jamie Carragher, ahead of the Goodison derby on Saturday week.
With the Blues having started the season so confidently - they had an excellent win at Spurs despite being down to 10 men - the derby takes on extra significance.
David Moyes' men are creating chances and striker Andy Johnson looks a really good buy.
If the Reds won their game in hand both would be near the top of the Premiership and that can only be good for soccer on Merseyside. FULL OF ENERGY: Striker Dirk Kuyt caught the eye at Anfield
Aug 30 2006
By James Pearce, Liverpool Echo
THREE Liverpool legends have been voted into the National Football Museum's Hall of Fame.
World Cup winner Roger Hunt, all-time leading scorer Ian Rush and classy defender Alan Hansen will be formally inducted at a special awards ceremony at Liverpool's Crowne Plaza Hotel on Thursday, October 19.
Prolific striker Hunt, who made 492 appearances for the Reds between 1959 and 1970, won two titles and one FA Cup during his stay at Anfield. His haul of 245 league goals stands as a club record, as does his total of 41 goals during 1961/62.
Rush made 658 appearances in two stints at Anfield, scoring a record 346 goals. The Welshman won five titles, five League Cups, three FA Cups and the European Cup.
The deadly frontman notched a record 44 FA Cup goals and his five goals in FA Cup finals is an all-time record. He also holds the Merseyside derby scoring record with 25 goals.
Skilful centre-half Hansen's defensive prowess played a keyrole in Liverpool's dominance in the late 70s and 80s. The Scottish international captained the Reds to the league and cup double in 1986 and was one of Bob Paisley's most inspired signings. His list of honours included three European Cups and eight league titles.
Reds legend Kenny Dalglish, who entered the Hall of Fame in 2002, has hailed the decision.
"The contribution that all three made to Liverpool Football Club was immense," he said.
"Roger came some time before big Al and Tosh but the goals he scored, along with what Bill Shankly did at Anfield, was one of the main reasons the club is where it is today.
"They were the ones who started it all off and to see Roger getting recognised like this is really brilliant for him. But don't forget he's already had a knighthood from the Liverpool fans!
"Big Al thoroughly deserves it. In some ways he was a bit unlucky. He was captain of the double winning team in '86 but because I was player manager he never really got the recognition he deserved. I'm talking publicly of course because privately he most certainly did.
"He was a big reason for the success in my period. What he did off the pitch was every bit as great a contribution as what he did on it.
"As for Rushie, his two spells at the club speak for themselves and he thor-oughly deserves to be in there. Both he and Roger were top class goal scorers. But Rushie's movement outside the box was probably a bit more than Roger's and he was also an under-rated passer of the ball.
"The three of them would probably get into any all-time best Liverpool squad."
The other players on the list for 2006 are former Newcastle striker Jackie Milburn, Hunt's former England team-mate Martin Peters, Arsenal legend Liam Brady and ex-Chelsea star Gianfranco Zola.
Former West Ham and England boss Ron Greenwood and current Arsenal chief Arsene Wenger have been voted into the managers category.
All the living inductees have confirmed their intention to attend the ceremony at the Crowne Plaza, while Milburn, who died in 1988, and Greenwood, who died in February this year, will be represented by their sons.
Launched in 2002, the Hall of Fame celebrates the greatest players and managers of all time in English football.
After his induction as a manager in 2005, Blues legend Howard Kendall formed part of an elite selection panel, including Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Bobby Charlton.
Kendall said: "There were some hard choices to make, but I think the panel has again selected players and managers of a truly high quality." Tickets for the awards ceremony cost £150, including a champagne reception and dinner.
There are a variety of packages for group bookings and opportunities to sponsor inductees.
All proceeds go to support the work of the museum, particularly its educational and social programmes.
Forfurther details contact Mark Moisley on 07843 350161 or email: [email protected].
* What do youthink of this year's additions to the Hall of Fame? Send your comments to [email protected]
= = = = = = = = = = =
History lessons needed
Aug 30 2006
Tommy Smith, Liverpool Echo
I WAS watching a Liverpool game the other night from the Seventies against Aston Villa.
What struck me as odd was that in a 10minute period I hardly heard the ref's whistle once.
The players just seemed to get on with the game. If they went down under challenge, they quickly got up again. There was no diving, no-one was booked or sent off, and no-one was injured.
How refreshing from today's game which is stop-start due to refs' constant whistling, the diving, the elbowing, the tackles from behind, the feigning of injuries.
The Reds-Villa game was played at a fast pace, was a pleasure to watch and was without the cheating which is part of the Premiership's make-up.
It wouldn't do any harm for players today to watch those games of yesteryear.
Break just a farce
A BREAK for international football just a week after the Premier season kicks off is a farce.
What underlined the fact was the Norwegian FA's call-up of John Arne Riise.
The Liverpool star was stretchered off with an ankle injury at Sheffield United and it was reported he faced a two-week lay-off before he could even train again.
But, regardless, his country selected him and he has to join the squad irrespective of his physical state. What are they expecting him to do - run up and down the pitch?
Isn't it far better that he stay and receive the best treatment at Melwood?
If they are in any doubt as to the extent of the injury, the Norwegian FA should send a doctor over here rather than Riise waste his time being forced to travel for the game with Hungary.
= = = = = = = = = = =
Crouch: I still need to prove my worth
Aug 30 2006
BY IAN DOYLE, Daily Post
Peter Crouch celebrates victory over Chelsea in the FA Community Shield - Picture: DAVID DAVIES/PA
PETER CROUCH admits he is having to prove himself again for both Liverpool and England this season.
The 25-year-old has enjoyed an encouraging start to the campaign, netting three goals in four games for Liverpool and scoring a brace for England in their 4-0 friendly win over Greece earlier this month.
Crouch's latest strike was the winner against West Ham United at Anfield on Saturday, a timely reminder of his talents given the arrival of £9.5million striker Dirk Kuyt from Feyenoord.
With Craig Bellamy, Robbie Fowler and Luis Garcia also jostling for a place in attack, Crouch faces a testing task to secure a regular first-team berth in Rafael Benitez's side.
And the striker admits he must continue his improvement or face being sidelined for both club and country.
"I have to move on from what I did last season," said Crouch. "It was obviously great to win the FA Cup with Liverpool and become more established in the England set-up, but now I have to push on and further that.
"I cannot afford to rest on my heels. You can see from the competition we have at club level to start games that I have to improve at Liverpool first and foremost. Then I have to carry on trying to establish myself with England further."
New signing Kuyt enjoyed an impressive debut on Saturday after replacing Crouch as a 52nd-minute substitute.
And Crouch added: "A club like Liverpool needs competition in every position and I think we have got that now. Up front there is a lot of healthy competition with Dirk coming in now.
"We all want to play and thankfully I started against West Ham. I was pleased for Dirk, though, he came on and did very well.
"But it was good to get the goal against West Ham. It has been a good start to the season for me. I am enjoying everything.
"I think when you are scoring goals you are confident that you are going to take the chances when they come around. That seems to be the case.
"There is a lot of pressure and the competition keeps you on your toes. You know you have to go out on the pitch, perform and score goals. It is going well at the moment and hopefully I can join up with England now and score a few more."
It took Crouch some time to win over the doubters following his £7million move to Liverpool from Portsmouth last summer, with the forward having to wait 19 games before opening his goalscoring account with his new club.
He suffered a similar difficult start to his England career, booed during the World Cup qualifiers against Austria and Poland at Old Trafford and omitted from the starting line-up in the World Cup quarter-final with Portugal.
Crouch was also due to be benched for the friendly with Greece earlier this month, but West Ham United striker Dean Ashton's broken ankle elevated the Liverpool forward to the starting line-up.
Crouch responded by scoring twice to take his international goals tally to an impressive eight in 12 games.
The striker is now expected to lead the line for England's forthcoming Euro 2008 qualifying double header with Andorra and Macedonia.
And Crouch said: "The way I look at it, I have played the last few games for England and I have been scoring goals at that level and I want to keep that record up. It's up to me.
"People will expect a lot of goals against a team like Andorra, but Trinidad showed in the World Cup that it is not always easy. Sides are hard to break down and until the first goal goes in they are all going to be difficult games. That is how we must think of it."
Meanwhile, Kuyt's good week continued when he was named the Dutch player of the year.
= = = = = = = = = = =
Kuyt gave Reds pace injection
Aug 30 2006
Tommy Smith, Liverpool Echo
THERE was plenty to admire about Dirk Kuyt against the Hammers.
The striker certainly impressed me in the half-hour cameo.
He goes looking for the ball, doesn't mind running at defenders and the Dutchman also puts a little bit of zip into the play.
Kuyt generates a lot of pace in the attack, as does Craig Bellamy, and this is what we are looking for this season.
Typically, the visitors are renowned for their attacking approach and in the first 35 minutes created a few chances. But Daniel Agger's goal was a tremendous strike, and the Reds then started to turn the screw, with Peter Crouch rounding off a very good move.
It's a pity the Bellamy "goal" was ruled out for he was clearly on side.
Still, it was three welcome points after the Champions League exploits in Kiev, and the manager will be pleased to have got off to a first league win at Anfield, even if the performance wasn't outstanding.
While there is now a lull for European Champion-ship games, Rafa Benitez will spend an anxious 10 days assessing the progress of injured stars Momo Sissoko, John Arne Riise and Jamie Carragher, ahead of the Goodison derby on Saturday week.
With the Blues having started the season so confidently - they had an excellent win at Spurs despite being down to 10 men - the derby takes on extra significance.
David Moyes' men are creating chances and striker Andy Johnson looks a really good buy.
If the Reds won their game in hand both would be near the top of the Premiership and that can only be good for soccer on Merseyside. FULL OF ENERGY: Striker Dirk Kuyt caught the eye at Anfield