Anfield legend Steven Nicol has lambasted Daniel Agger for publicly questioning the commitment of his teammates after the poor Premier League performance against Swansea City.
Agger, who clearly forgot about the Liverpool principle of never washing dirty laundry in public, labelled his colleagues 'headless chickens', but the comment that really got on Nicol's nerves was the following:
"I think everyone was angry and disappointed, some more than others, but that is the way it is"
Nicol, who won the PFA Player of the Year Award in 1989, blasted:
"I don't think there's discontent in the dressing room but I think there's something wrong with him [Agger].
"He complains that they're like headless chickens, which means they're trying and they're just overdoing it, but to come out and make a statement like that is not good for the dressing room at all.
"If he's got something to say, he needs to go to the person he's talking about and tell them face to face, not be talking to the press.
"All the press are going to do now is start going after people".
I totally agree with Nicol; As I argued earlier in the week, Agger was out of order, and he has no business casting aspersions on his teammates in public.
As Nicol states, if Agger has a problem with some of his fellow players then he should speak to them directly, not make cryptic, negative comments.
I conducted a poll on this site to gauge fan reaction and the overwhelming majority of voters supported Agger's comments, which is a sad (but predictable) indictment of modern fandom.
Once again, as is increasingly the case, fans put the individual ahead of the club. Kenny Dalglish has repeatedly stated that club business should be conducted behind closed doors, and this should go without saying anyway as it's a core principle of Liverpool FC's philosophy. However, according to the alleged 'greatest fans in the world', it's okay for Agger to ignore that directive, and basically dismiss decades of LFC tradition.
Why?
Agger's comments were obviously ill-advised and (arguably) counter productive, but according to the fans, it's okay for players to diss their teammates in public.
Of course, as we all know, only the most popular players are given a pass for this kind of behaviour; if one of the less popular players said the same thing as Agger, he would be eviscerated and accused of disrespecting the Liverpool Way.
Therein lies the hypocrisy of fans.
As I've argued many times, fans are the great enablers, and they're collectively culpable for many of the negatives of modern football. If their favourite players are involved, fans will condone and encourage anything, including all forms of cheating, and - as in Agger's case - undermining the integrity of the club.
Bravo!
Jaimie Kanwar
Agger, who clearly forgot about the Liverpool principle of never washing dirty laundry in public, labelled his colleagues 'headless chickens', but the comment that really got on Nicol's nerves was the following:
"I think everyone was angry and disappointed, some more than others, but that is the way it is"
Nicol, who won the PFA Player of the Year Award in 1989, blasted:
"I don't think there's discontent in the dressing room but I think there's something wrong with him [Agger].
"He complains that they're like headless chickens, which means they're trying and they're just overdoing it, but to come out and make a statement like that is not good for the dressing room at all.
"If he's got something to say, he needs to go to the person he's talking about and tell them face to face, not be talking to the press.
"All the press are going to do now is start going after people".
I totally agree with Nicol; As I argued earlier in the week, Agger was out of order, and he has no business casting aspersions on his teammates in public.
As Nicol states, if Agger has a problem with some of his fellow players then he should speak to them directly, not make cryptic, negative comments.
I conducted a poll on this site to gauge fan reaction and the overwhelming majority of voters supported Agger's comments, which is a sad (but predictable) indictment of modern fandom.
Once again, as is increasingly the case, fans put the individual ahead of the club. Kenny Dalglish has repeatedly stated that club business should be conducted behind closed doors, and this should go without saying anyway as it's a core principle of Liverpool FC's philosophy. However, according to the alleged 'greatest fans in the world', it's okay for Agger to ignore that directive, and basically dismiss decades of LFC tradition.
Why?
Agger's comments were obviously ill-advised and (arguably) counter productive, but according to the fans, it's okay for players to diss their teammates in public.
Of course, as we all know, only the most popular players are given a pass for this kind of behaviour; if one of the less popular players said the same thing as Agger, he would be eviscerated and accused of disrespecting the Liverpool Way.
Therein lies the hypocrisy of fans.
As I've argued many times, fans are the great enablers, and they're collectively culpable for many of the negatives of modern football. If their favourite players are involved, fans will condone and encourage anything, including all forms of cheating, and - as in Agger's case - undermining the integrity of the club.
Bravo!
Jaimie Kanwar
This is not the first time Agger has washed dirty laundry via the media. I am just happy that our ex spaniard manager aint here to do the same thing anymore :)
ReplyDeleteJamie You're totally right.
ReplyDeleteSpot On Jamie, but the problem with the new generation of fans is that They are miles away from the past glory of Liverpool, They don't know Liverpool's way, philosophy and culture. Each of us good old fans can talk hours after hours about Liverpool's golden decade and great players & managers of the past, as modern football fans have no idea of Liverpool's tradition.
They think that Suarez is the best, as We knew Kevin Keegan...
I still like Suarez and I consider him an outstanding player, but Keegan is
Keegan.
I fell in love for Steve Mcmanaman: He was such a great player, with fantastic composure...
I retain so many Liverpool's dvds and product collections..
We all know that time, love, support and patience are required to success as They are fickle fans, and think that football is like football manager Pro.
AGGER is RIGHT! We were running like headless chicks!!! SO what is wrong in saying the truth??? If we play crap like this week in week out, then someone's got to take responsibility to say the truth!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWas the tradition practiced last year between August and January?
ReplyDeleteNicol is referring to the second part of Agger's comment, where he suggests some of his team-mates were not very disappointed with the performance. In any event, why can't you see that such severe criticism is not conducive to dressing room harmony? Why are so wrapped up in your feeling for Agger the individual instead of seeing how such comments are bad for the image of the club?
ReplyDeleteAnd Liverpool have not been playing crap week in week out; home form against newly promoted sides has been a concern, but Swansea aside, the performances themselves have not been crap, so Agger's criticism is not warranted.
Even if he is right, why can't he say this behind closed doors?
The points is do not make a mockery of your team mates in public. It is ok to say the team played bad but to then go and say "SOME MORE THAN OTHERS" will not only cause unrest but will also give the media a chance to make up BS about players in our team.
ReplyDeleteIf Agger had a problem with a certian player then rather approach Kenny or the player himself? If Agger has balls big enough to talk about SOME MORE THAN OTHERS out in public then obviously his balls are too small to face the player/s he has a problem with?
The irony. You as a fan make your name out of criticising players and one former manager in particular and when one player criticises other unnamed players YOU CRITICISE HIM AND OTHER FANS FOR CONDONING IT. Then you as a fan criticise the player and fan culture for enabling a situation where players criticise players. You really couldn't make it up. I'm not condoning what Agger said (although I do think it is a storm in a teacup), but the irony of your point and your eagerness to throw criticism at others strikes me. Hilarious.
ReplyDeleteNo, it wasn't, which is what makes Agger's comments worse. We thought we'd left the public catfighting of the Benitez/Hicks/Gillett era behind; we all saw how damaging it was, but now Agger has dragged the club back down to that level again.
ReplyDeleteCombine that with the disgraceful treatment of Hodgson by the fans, and there is nothing to be proud of at all during that period.
There is no irony. I don't work for Liverpool FC; my comments are not reported by every media establishment under the sun; my comments don't have the capacity to cause dressing room unrest. There is a clear separation between what the fans say, and what players and managers say, and the fact you refuse to see means your point has little validity.
ReplyDeleteFans and the media are expected to discuss, praise and criticise the team; players and managers are expected NOT to publicly criticise the team.
thing is JK you have never really liked Agger you have been critical of him in the past perhaps he has become your new Rafa.
ReplyDeleteeverybody has the right to be critical I dont see it as washing dirty linen in public. Even KD had a go saying the performance was unacceptable. If anything what Nicol has said and done is worse
Jaimie, it's not often I've agreed with you, but.........I do! I would completely agree with all Nicol said, if you think your teammates don't care-tell them. Don't be sneaky and cryptic in the media. I bet teammates would be saying 'who doesn't care Dan?' and 'how can you tell someone doesn't care?' so I do think it's counterproductive. With regards to the headless chickens bit then I think he's within his rights to say that though. And the gent saying it's funny that fans can say it but Aggers can't, I can slag off Mayes workmates and company, but if HE does it? Catch my drift?
ReplyDeleteJamie, by your own admission Dalglish himself made very similar comments about the "unacceptable" performance though. And I can also recall him questioning player's attitudes following the cup game and friendly against Rangers. So clearly Dalglish is setting the example in how business is conducted. And I don't see how being honest about the team's performances and ambitions is detrimental to the club - there was no pointing fingers, defeatism or negativity in the comments as far as I could see.
ReplyDeleteI thought that the team needed to lose before we had a wake up call and started playing more aggressively for the full 90 mins, but if a draw against Swansea is enough then so be it.
(for whatever it's worth, I don't think that we were as abject with the ball as some are making out. We were however pathetic in our defensive game and players didn't look like they had a clue when they were supposed to be pressing or where, leaving Swansea to look like Barcelona in possession of the ball)
Hodgson should never have been manager in the first place though, deserved everything the cockney cunt got!
ReplyDelete2 things... 1st, as a fan, I like to know what is going on with the players.
ReplyDelete2nd, how does anybody know that Agger did not say something to the players in the dressing room as well as to the media? Why do some people assume Agger did not talk to the players about how he feels? Maybe he did???????
Well Kenny has backed him over his comments, so if he finds nothing wrong with what Daniel said, everyone bitching here should get off his back.
ReplyDeletePathetic, Agger simply spoke the truth and if the other players (grown men by the way on mega amounts of money) can't take it then maybe they should pull there fingers out a bit and avoid such criticism in the future.
ReplyDeleteWe know that, wouldn't even visit Liverpool when SOS invited you! Wanted somewhere more neutral didn't you, I'm sorry but what is your problem with my home city?
ReplyDeleteYour right - I think for me what has made his comments more significant was Kennys post match interview. He was expectedly asked about the game but when questioned about how they would adress some of the problems encountered at Swansea he said behind closed doors, this has made the situation worse.
ReplyDeleteI guess along with this there have also been a couple of other signs this season too that we should not forget, nameley the reactions to being subbed. Suarez and Carroll may not have done anything on the level of what Tevez has done in the past but it is still providing the media with the opurtunity to spin negativity about disharmony - It is hard to contain emotion but storming down the tunnel or a rant on the bench is not good for our image either.
Why don't you, Jaimie, focus on something positive in the meantime, instead of posting time and again some blown out of proportiopn and unfair criticism of Agger who merely said the truth (and was totally withing his rights to do so!)
ReplyDeletePost something positive for a change! How about Henderson and Kelly who both had a very good game last night in the U21 qualification match?
Your negativity is depressing and it is your blog posts that create a bad feeling, not what Agger said.
Also, if we read what Bellamy said, all is great in the dressing room. So Nicol, being in America has no knowledge about that, and his assumption that it might have affected a positive atmosphere in the dressing room is just that - an assumption, and a wrong one.
ReplyDeleteDalglish has NOT backed Agger over his comments; you make it sound like he came and said 'Yes, I have no problem with what Agger said'. KD has praised Agger's performances, that's it. unless he's asked a direct question about it, I doubt KD will directly address Agger's comments for fear of exacerbating the media reaction.
ReplyDeleteOnce again, you're making excuses for Agger. If he said something privately, then why did he feel the need to say it publicly too?
ReplyDeleteKD said things that all managers say: performance was unacceptable etc. He has the right to say such things because the buck stops with him. If Agger had said the same then it would've have been a problem. However, as Nicol suggests, he intimated that there were some players in the team who were not as disappointed as others with the Swansea performance, which calls into question the commitment of some of Liverpool's players. That's the part that's wrong IMO. If Agger has a problem with certain players, he should approach them, not say it in the media.
ReplyDeleteI think you're right re the 'headless chickens' comment. I personally think it's not the best thing to say but I'll admit that it's not really that damaging, especially since - as others have pointed out - Agger included himself in the comment.
ReplyDeleteredredman - If you suggest once more that I have some kind of personal problem with Agger I will ban you. We've been down this road before: I do not have any personal issue with anyone connected with LFC. Fair criticism is not a personal attack. I have highlighted Agger's injury record in the past; what is wrong with that? it is a valid subject of debate.
ReplyDeleteok, so it's just any sly insinuation about a lack of professionalism from his teammates that you have an issue with then? If that's the case then I can agree with you. But criticism's of TEAM performances from individual players are legit from the players.
ReplyDeleteIt should then up to the manager to come out and publicly point the finger at individual players to up their game though (and not just the manager as they always do)
OMFG overreact much?
ReplyDeleteAt first I thought the 'headless chickens' comment was a bit unwarranted but after reading all the counter-points made by people on here, I guess I can see that's it not that bad.
ReplyDeleteBut yes, I think insinuating that your team-mates don't care enough about the club is not really on.
Dissing fellow players is a damn long way from what he did, which by the way was to say that They/we, in other words the collective, were running around like headless chickens. If you go and watch The History of Liverpool right now you'll find that exact expression used by one of the greats describing the team back then in 1972-73 ish.
ReplyDeleteJevon - the issue is not the 'headless chickesn' comment; it's this comment:
ReplyDelete"I think everyone was angry and disappointed, some more than others, but that is the way it is"
Agger implies that some of his team-mates don't care as much as others. Surely he should be saying this kind of thing face-toface, not in public?
Actually, Rafa rarely (if ever) criticised the players - on the contrary, he took the flak for team failings or diverted it in other directions. I agree that one cannot say the same about our former owners, who were implicitly criticised by Rafa on more than one occasion, but then again do you really think that Rafa was wrong to do so?
ReplyDeleteI agree there Jamie - Agger should have stuck to criticising the entire team (himself included, whatever his real feelings on the matter)
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, but this is inaccurate revisionism on a staggering scale. Benitez didn't engage in public criticism?! Perhaps in another dimension, but not in this one.
ReplyDeleteI think it was a way for Dalglish to take the pressure off one of his best players. After all, KD is one of the best man-managers out there (and perhaps the best in the EPL).
ReplyDeleteA little harsh though to criticise a player for something he has no ability to influence and which probably causes a great deal of frustration and pain to the player himself ...
ReplyDeleteRight on Jamie
ReplyDeleteI mean the pressure that KD expected to result from Agger's comments ...
ReplyDeleteI guess 'criticise' was the wrong word. I didn't blame him for it; I just highlighted the overall length of time Agger spent out through injury.
ReplyDeleteThat's meant to say my mates workmates etc. My iPhone likes to finish my sentences, just like my ex-I put a stop to that, lol.
ReplyDeleteBut Rafa made the clubs problems from top to bottom public just about everytime he faced the media and the media loved it because that gave them the chance to add even more fuel to the fire which hurt the club even more.
ReplyDeleteThe media had a field day with LFC everytime Rafa opened his mouth.