John Barnes

[Red_Polo]

Good shout, I racked my brain and struggle to find a player who has the same skill set and impact as him. Ronaldo was obviously a CF and Barnes a classic winger (early days) but they way they dribbled using pace, power and technique is v similar.

People forget how good Barnes was.

Indeed. He was almost as good as Sterling at times

[Irishnev]

He had Figo's direct running, shooting and ball control, but was far more explosive and dynamic. Beating players was effortless - you don't see that very often and when you do, it absolutely sticks with you.

Also a good shout

[Lecter]

Did he? I haven't seen that - can you point me in the right direction?

This was all pre-internet you know

Read Aldridges biography, or the Quiet Genius by Ian Herbert

A lot of it was eventually blamed on Bob's ill health

From 44 Years with the Same Bird

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=PV998tJILtUC&pg=PA206&lpg=PA206&dq=John+Aldridge+Bob+Paisley+interview&source=bl&ots=nBctANq5lK&sig=UiO1FvZM9lEIASav02VYN5-d8Go&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiGicqAyOTbAhUMKsAKHb4XCBU4FBDoAQg6MAM#v=onepage&q=John%20Aldridge%20Bob%20Paisley%20interview&f=false

From Quiet Genius

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=gl9LDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA309&lpg=PA309&dq=John+Aldridge+Bob+Paisley+interview&source=bl&ots=Q-3u3d82X5&sig=biuKsGrqYC9fAP3Thh2zyOeGHDQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj6rKiZx-TbAhXIBcAKHTdJCnw4ChDoAQhaMAs#v=onepage&q=John%20Aldridge%20Bob%20Paisley%20interview&f=false

[Lecter]

Bob Paisley on John Barnes

http://www.bobpaisley.com/article/1185

[Tatterdemalion]

This was all pre-internet you know

Read Aldridges biography, or the Quiet Genius by Ian Herbert

A lot of it was eventually blamed on Bob's ill health

From 44 Years with the Same Bird

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=PV998tJILtUC&pg=PA206&lpg=PA206&dq=John+Aldridge+Bob+Paisley+interview&source=bl&ots=nBctANq5lK&sig=UiO1FvZM9lEIASav02VYN5-d8Go&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiGicqAyOTbAhUMKsAKHb4XCBU4FBDoAQg6MAM#v=onepage&q=John%20Aldridge%20Bob%20Paisley%20interview&f=false

From Quiet Genius

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=...erview&f=false

Ta

[Buzzo]

Bob Paisley on John Barnes

http://www.bobpaisley.com/article/1185

If you zoom in on the press article at the top of the page talking about the transfer some things don’t change.

We backed out of the deal, it became a saga and Barnes had to make a personal plea to Kenny to resurrect it

[Lecter]

If you zoom in on the press article at the top of the page talking about the transfer some things don’t change.

We backed out of the deal, it became a saga and Barnes had to make a personal plea to Kenny to resurrect it

The Barnes deal was quite a protracted one if I remember rightly

We agreed a fee quite quickly and Barnes had his medical etc.. but he needed time to think over the move as he was hankering after staying in London (amid Arsenal interest) or going abroad (to Milan I think it was)

Eventually we gave him a deadline which passed and it was reportedly off but then shortly after he signed

One thing I would say about us back then was PBR was a very good administrative executive and was an expert at transfer dealings so maybe its not all down to our failings

[Paul12]

England have a history of not getting the goods out of great players in the last couple of decades though. ...

Steve Bruce...never even got a cap.

You do realise what you have just written don't you?

[fah-q]

They probably could find a cap big enough for his big fat head.

[labourRed]

Sterling is a good player. Not even sure Barnes was that good at his age.

I missed this. A new gold standard of trolling.

[Venton]

He didn't do much else in an England shirt though.

Was always amazing for us (until he got old and dropped into midfield) but always mainly under performed for England. Probably because the ****s were booing him.

One of my favourite ever players.

I remember that match - that's when I fully went off supporting England because of the ****ty fans.

[Paul12]

I remember when we were trying to sign him he took ages to agree..as if he was holding out for something better/more. In this day and age, we'd have crucified him for that.

[BillobShaisley]

Barnes, Hoddle, Le Tiss etc

All great players at the wrong time, being asked to do a **** job for England that curtailed their abilities, a real era of ****e for the national team that was cynical of anyone who could caress a football rather than lump it up for Hately to knock on or Lineker to tap in.

[dom9]

Barnes, Hoddle, Le Tiss etc

All great players at the wrong time, being asked to do a **** job for England that curtailed their abilities, a real era of ****e for the national team that was cynical of anyone who could caress a football rather than lump it up for Hately to knock on or Lineker to tap in.

I don't disagree but has there ever been a right time?

[BillobShaisley]

Under El Tel or Hoddle we had a go at playing footie properly but yeah otherwise struggling to think of a suitable period for those sorts of players to shine.

Very recent managerial changes excepted, watching England has mirrored watching Liverpool. A collection of decent players who appeared not to have any plan about how to score a goal, so mince about playing some possession football before getting pressured and lumping it up there, lightened up only with the odd moment of individual quality.