How good was Jari Litmanen?

[Shaggy]

Wasn't Jari's issue under Houllier that he gave Heskey some advice in training which Houllier didn't like so pretty much marginalised him after that?

Yep.

[Tee]

I'm pretty sure I heard it somewhere. I wouldn't make up something as obscure as that but it's totally believable bearing in mind what Houllier was like towards the back-end of his managerial stint. Played some of the most boring/negative football I've ever seen. His stubborness knew no bounds

Despite the success he achieved, I think it was a dark period the club in terms of the way our very playing style was destroyed under Houllier. We haven't really recovered from it IMO. I used to dread watching us play at times. :shudders:

[Alex]

I remember being proper excited when we signed Jari. Great little player, shame he didnt play more.

I was also excited when we signed Karl Heinze Reidle too.....

[Gingawaria]

I remember being proper excited when we signed Jari. Great little player, shame he didnt play more.

Yeah, same here. I remember going into work the day I'd found out we'd signed him and was chatting to another Liverpool supporter who said he'd never heard of him. I was dumbfounded!

[Tee]

I remember being proper excited when we signed Jari. Great little player, shame he didnt play more.

I was also excited when we signed Karl Heinze Reidle too.....

Haha, me too. Especially for Jari. Even got the long sleeve shirt with 37 Litmanen from that season.

[Neil Young]

Despite the success he achieved, I think it was a dark period the club in terms of the way our very playing style was destroyed under Houllier. We haven't really recovered from it IMO. I used to dread watching us play at times. :shudders:

I agree our football was poor in general, more about individuals making things happen than a consistent team pattern, but come on, Houllier left nearly a decade ago, it seems a bit of a stretch to blame him for deficiencies in our playing style ever since, even it had been the same throughout that period, which it wasn't.

[Tee]

I agree our football was poor in general, more about individuals making things happen than a consistent team pattern, but come on, Houllier left nearly a decade ago, it seems a bit of a stretch to blame him for deficiencies in our playing style ever since, even it had been the same throughout that period, which it wasn't.

He left in 2004, since when several Managers have come in and tried to get us playing the Liverpool way again, i.e. pass and move football. Rafa was geting us there as was Kenny, but still we lacked the fluidity we had prior to the Houllier years IMO. I can see signs of it coming back under BR, so IMO Neil we have suffered for many years since Houllier left as a result of the playing style he imposed on the club. Just my feelings on it.

[Sarb]

He left in 2004, since when several Managers have come in and tried to get us playing the Liverpool way again, i.e. pass and move football. Rafa was geting us there as was Kenny, but still we lacked the fluidity we had prior to the Houllier years IMO. I can see signs of it coming back under BR, so IMO Neil we have suffered for many years since Houllier left as a result of the playing style he imposed on the club. Just my feelings on it.

I remember when Rafa came, we all thought that we'd play the way Valencia did against us at Anfield where they scored that team wonder goal. I don't think he ever implemented that style fully here either. Undoubtedly, before this season the best football we've played in the last 3 or 4 years was what we played under Hodgson

[Darkon]

Litmanen fun fact: He is the only player to have played international matches in 4 different decades! 1989-2010

[Tee]

Litmanen fun fact: He is the only player to have played international matches in 4 different decades! 1989-2010

That is brilliant.

[JudgeRed]

I remember when Rafa came, we all thought that we'd play the way Valencia did against us at Anfield where they scored that team wonder goal. I don't think he ever implemented that style fully here either. Undoubtedly, before this season the best football we've played in the last 3 or 4 years was what we played under Hodgson

I dunno- the season we were runners up under Rafa, and were brushing teams like Real aside was pretty close-and I loved it

Those were the days

[Patricks_Berger]

Sounds plausible to me. Houllier strikes me as a vain and insecure man.

[Patricks_Berger]

Despite the success he achieved, I think it was a dark period the club in terms of the way our very playing style was destroyed under Houllier. We haven't really recovered from it IMO. I used to dread watching us play at times. :shudders:

Agreed. Only Gerrard Houllier could have sold Robbie Fowler. I mean WTF? He may have won the trebble but he didn't win much after Fowler went.

I suppose he needed that £11 million to secure the services of El-Hadj Diouf

[Sarb]

Agreed. Only Gerrard Houllier could have sold Robbie Fowler. I mean WTF? He may have won the trebble but he didn't win much after Fowler went.

I suppose he needed that £11 million to secure the services of El-Hadj Diouf

He even got Thommo to do the deed on Fowler.

He purchased Diao, Diouf and Cheyrou rather than Anelka. Criminal

[Patricks_Berger]

I agree our football was poor in general, more about individuals making things happen than a consistent team pattern.

Like Roy Hodgson but with better players really.