Souness on Goals on Sunday

[CJ]

As I recall, when he took over we were top of the league. We were in decline at that point anyway in my opinion. Some of KD signings weren't that great and, similarly to the Man U of today, we were top of the pile whilst being a shadow of our former selves. He also arrived just as the super rich footballer of the Sky era arrived. That caused it's own problems as player power kicked in. Add to that he splashed the cash on a number of really good players who, for one reason or another, just didn't play for us as they had for their previous clubs. I remember GS referring to a player (Houghton) coming up to him and saying his wife wanted to return to London on family reasons and could he leave. Souness relented. The player went to Villa. My memory may be clouded but I remember a change in the attitude of certain players, McMahon for one, who just didn't fancy the fight and left. The Liverpool Souness returned to 5 or 6 years after he left was not one he recognised. He tried major surgery and it backfired. I still maintain that he was not solely responsible for Liverpool's decline in the 90s. That started under Dalglish(maybe not as a result of Dalglish). David Moores part in our downfall has to be addressed aswell. I believe we stood still as a club off the pitch in the belief it would all last forever. It didn't.

i agree,

[Fosterbloke]

As I recall, when he took over we were top of the league. We were in decline at that point anyway in my opinion.

Some of KD signings weren't that great and, similarly to the Man U of today, we were top of the pile whilst being a shadow of our former selves.

He also arrived just as the super rich footballer of the Sky era arrived. That caused it's own problems as player power kicked in. Add to that he splashed the cash on a number of really good players who, for one reason or another, just didn't play for us as they had for their previous clubs.

I remember GS referring to a player (Houghton) coming up to him and saying his wife wanted to return to London on family reasons and could he leave. Souness relented. The player went to Villa.

My memory may be clouded but I remember a change in the attitude of certain players, McMahon for one, who just didn't fancy the fight and left.

The Liverpool Souness returned to 5 or 6 years after he left was not one he recognised. He tried major surgery and it backfired.

I still maintain that he was not solely responsible for Liverpool's decline in the 90s. That started under Dalglish (maybe not as a result of Dalglish). David Moores part in our downfall has to be addressed aswell.

I believe we stood still as a club off the pitch in the belief it would all last forever.

It didn't.

That's easier to read!

I'm going to assume you are in your 40s/50s as you double spaced all your sentences!

[frank the tank]

That's easier to read!

I'm going to assume you are in your 40s/50s as you double spaced all your sentences!

what a dickhead you are

[Drago]

Here's the bit about the S*n....

YouTube - Souness Apology Over Sun Newspaper 001

Yes it seems heartfelt but seriously, how the **** could he not realise how strong the opinion against that rag is?

[rodo]

Graham Souness remembers his poor Tottenham start and the wonder years at Liverpool.

Souness played for the Anfield giants between 1978-84 and then went on to manage them in the early '90s but he started his footballing career as an apprentice at Tottenham Hotspurwhere things did not quite go to plan.

"I was impatient and I drove the manger mad," admitted Souness on Goals on Sunday.

"I was a real pain and very difficult. Every Friday when the team sheet would go up I would knock on Bill Nicholson's door and ask why I was not in the team.

"I was 18 and at the time we had Alan Mullerywho was England captain, Martin Peters who was a world cup winner and Steve Perryman. I thought I was better than them when obviously I wasn't.

"I drove him mad and in the end he sold me as far as from London as he possibly could. I went to Middlesbrough as he would not sell me to another London club."

The informative years

Souness spent four years at Middlesbrough where he matured into a fine player under the tutelage of manager Jack Charlton

"Middlesbrough was a great period for me, I went there when I was 19 and I have got as lot to thank Middlesbrough and Jack Charlton for.

"He sort of said to me that there were two doors for me. One I could go and have a career and be a decent player, the other one is you can just drift off and do nothing with your life.

"It sounds ridiculous but I had four years at Middlesbrough and then when Liverpoolcame into buy me I was not sure. Liverpool were the team to go to at the time but I was happy at Middlesbrough and I have fond memories of my time there."

Golden age at Liverpool
Despite his initial worries Souness did sign for Liverpool and played some of his best football while at Anfield. It was a remarkable time for the club and in the seven years he was there they won five League Championships, three European Cups and four League Cups.

"It was just a privilege really, we all took it for granted," remembers Souness.

"If we ended up with just one trophy at the end of the season it was deemed a semi-failure. Winning trophies was natural for us and at the time we were always reminded - especially by Ronnie Moran - that we may be decent players and a decent team but we are not as good as who Liverpool have had in the past.

"It made you strive all the time; there was always competition for places. I used to look over at the players not involved in the game wearing there suits sitting in the stands and there would be four or five internationals who may have just represented their countries. I knew as a captain that I may be allowed on bad game, two would be pushing it but three and I would be swopping places with one of them.

"It kept you on your toes and kept you grounded in such a basic way. There was no magic, just really good players working hard."

Souness also remembers that under at Liverpool they were expected to know what to do one the field and one of the favourite saying from the managerial team was 'work it out for yourself'.

"When I first went to Liverpool the first game was West Brom away, we trained all week and at quarter to three on the Saturday at West Brom I am nervous. So I whisper to Joe Fagan 'Joe, I've been here a week and no one has told me how I should be playing'.

"I've tried to keep that between him and me, but in a big booming force he has told me where to go in no uncertain terms: 'We have paid all this money for you and you are asking me how to play football?' Then he just walks away."

Souness also revealed how they never had team meetings about the opposition and the closest they came was in Rome.

"We fly out to Rome to play Roma in their stadium. We don't talk about their team at all. We train and on Wednesday morning and go back to the hotel for lunch. After lunch Joe stood up and rattled his glasses with his spoon.

"He's sent all the waiters out and we are all nudging each other wondering what he is going to say. He stands up and it is as if he is talking to himself. 'Big game tonight boys and they must be a good team. But they can't be as good as us, they just can't be.Now the bus leaves at 5.30 so make sure no one is late' "

[Fosterbloke]

what a dickhead you are

Thanks cunt face. I wasn't disparaging anyone by the way, just making an assumption as double spacing is a typewriter habit.

[dom9]

what a dickhead you are

Random.

[Maz]

Full interview here:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLZ-izJAzAU&feature=player_embedded"]YouTube - Graeme Souness on his time as Liverpool manager[/ame]

[Armchairkopite]

Big, big fan of Souness, hes not afraid to express himself and never bull****s.

[The Erectile Banana]

Thanks for posting the links guys. Interesting stuff.

Souness also gave a similar interview on Irish radio during the week. Well worth listening to.

http://www.newstalk.ie/2011/programmes/all-programmes/offtheball/graeme-souness/

[Leyton388]

Fair play to Souness.

[mick the click]

Met him over Xmas - shared a short ride on a golf buggy type thingy. The missus (clueless - she's from Yorkshire) and a group of kids (LFC supporters) and I were already on the thing and it stopped to pick GS up. I announced to the kids (with a bit more volume than was strictly necessary) that we were in the presence of 'a Liverpool legend - football royalty.'

He liked that - handshakes and autographs all round.

Told him I used to watch him play etc etc.

Came across like a genuine bloke. I should have got a picture, but failed.

[Tee]

Souness

I think it is time to forgive him and move on.

From the Offal:

Souness: I'm sorry


Graeme Souness has spoken of his deep regret over the interview he conducted with The Sun newspaper during his time as Liverpool manager.

The former Reds midfielder was featured in the tabloid following the club's FA Cup semi-final triumph over Portsmouth, a story that was held back and published on April 15, 1992.

He admits it was a mistake that has haunted him to this day and insists he is deeply sorry for the hurt caused when the article appeared on the third anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.

Speaking on Sky Sports' Goals on Sunday yesterday, Souness said: "I accept I made one almighty rick by doing The Sun newspaper.

"At the time I didn't realise the strength of feeling against the Sun newspaper. When I was manager of Liverpool, there were players in my team dealing with the Sun newspaper. There were ex-players dealing with that newspaper.

"My problem was that I agreed to do an exclusive with them. The thing that really killed me, and makes me sad today is that the last thing I want to do is upset any Liverpool supporter - especially the people damaged by Hillsborough - in whatever shape of form.

"There were a series of circumstances. I agreed to have a picture taken after the FA Cup replay against Portsmouth. The game went to extra-time. I said you can only have a picture if we get through.

"I was in hospital with my girlfriend who is now my wife. We had our picture taken but that was after extra-time and penalties. That picture was meant to go in on the Tuesday but because it had gone to extra-time and penalties, it missed the deadline.

"So it went in on the Wednesday. The Wednesday was the anniversary of Hillsborough and that killed me.

"The local journalist for The Sun at the time was Mike Ellis, who was away on holiday and was the one person who could have said to The Sun newspaper's office, you just can't do that.

"So I hold my hands up. I'm still a Liverpool supporter. They are still my team. There is no one who hurts more than me whenever the Hillsborough thing is mentioned. It hurts me because I had a great time as a player at Liverpool and I'd like to think I had a great relationship with the supporters at the time, and it hurts me.

"I can only apologise and it's something I have to live with."

[paulc]

I think it is time to forgive him and move on.

From the Offal:

yes i watched it yesterday, he seemed quite upset by it and kept saying Liverpool are his club

Also he said he shipped out players too quickly, if a player said to him i have an offer from such and such he got mad as no one should want to leave liverpool

[Shaggy]

http://www.est1892.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=73936