3 Aug 2013

Testimonial Fail: Gerrard gets his, but why did LFC ignore these two Legends...?

Steven Gerrard's well-earned testimonial takes place at Anfield this evening, and ahead of the game, ex-Reds are lining up to heap praise on the revered Liverpool captain. It's great to see Gerrard recognised for his contribution to the club, but not every legend is given a testimonial, and in two particular cases, it's hard to understand why.

Olympiakos are fitting opponents for Gerrard's big day, and if the skipper can come up with another 25-yard screamer, I'm sure the fans will be more than happy.

Former Liverpool attacker Luis Garcia posted the following generous message on twitter:

"Tomorrow is a Big day for one of the best players I´ve ever played with. I´m sure we will enjoy it all the REDS fans".

And earlier today, Lucas Leiva paid Gerrard the ultimate compliment:

"He's probably the best, I would say the most complete player. I had the chance to play with Ronaldinho and other magic players but Stevie has everything"

It will undoubtedly be a great occasion, and Gerrard absolutely deserves his testimonial. However, it's a little disappointing to note that Liverpool failed to honour some fantastic, deserving players of yesteryear.

The general rule appears to be that players are eligible for testimonials after ten years service, but this is not absolute, and I have to that I find it sad that LFC - for some inexplicable reason - decided not to honour the following two legends:

John Barnes: 1987-1997
Sami Hyypia: 1999-2009

Ian Rush, Jan Molby, Alan Hansen and Steve Nicol received testimonials, but the club ignored their team-mate Barnes, the driving creative force behind Kenny Dalglish's all-conquering late '80s team, and arguably the the most skilful, exciting player ever to wear the red shirt.

Similarly, Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard got testimonials, but LFC seemingly snubbed the absolutely amazing Sami Hyypia, who is loved and revered by most fans, and played a massive part LFC's success during his time at the club.

Failing to arrange testimonials for Barnes and Hyypia is a egregious oversight on the club's part (IMO); I just don't understand why they wouldn't be eligible, or why LFC wouldn't do everything possible to show its appreciation for two of the club's greatest ever servants.



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31 comments:

  1. sami and barnes did not finish their playing carears at anfield ,and if i recall rightly they both got free transfers ,could explain it,

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  2. Also, is it possible they were offered them and turned them down?

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  3. That doesn't explain it all. Where does it say that 'finishing a career at Anfield' is a pre-requisite to getting a testimonial?


    There are many players who received testimonials who didn't finish their careers at LFC. Nicol, Molby and Rush, for example.

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  4. it's possible, yes, but is that really probable? Testimonials are charity events these days, and why would Barnes and Hyypia turn dow the chance to raise money for charity? That doesn't make sense to me.

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  5. Sami only played for 9 seasons

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  6. they both left after their tenth season,so niether would have had time to arrange one,and they may well have turned them down,nowadays players give the money to there charitiys ,and they maybe did not want to seem greedy

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  7. No, Sami was at Anfield for 10 seasons:


    99-00
    00-01
    01-02
    02-03
    03-04
    04-05
    05-06
    06-07
    07-08
    08-09

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  8. well i do not know i am sure its not a slur on there character by the club

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  9. i do not think they were charity events in barnes day that as been a more recent occurrence ,

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  10. It doesn't matter that they left after the 10th season; LFC could've still given them testimonials if they wanted to. Additionally, there's no evidence whatsoever to support the contention that Barnes and Hyypia may have rejected the opportunity becuse they didn't want to give money to charity. Both players are heavily involved in charity work, and when he left, Sami even made a huge donation to a local Liverpool children's charity.

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  11. Where did I say or suggest it was a 'slur on their character by the club'. Don't twist my words. I'm just highlighting how how two of the club's greatest players did not get testimonials.

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  12. i never said they did not want to give money to charity ,like i said the charity testimonial is a more recent thing ,

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  13. Jan Molby donated his testimonial cash to charity.

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  14. That still doesn't explain why LFC didn't arrange testimonials for Barnes and Hyypia.

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  15. you did not say it ,i was pointing it out ,they will be a reason and only the players and club knows that reason,both were still very busy when they left anfield ,and maybe have not had time to sort one out

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  16. Please. There's always time. Gerrard is still playing for LFC, and it's preseason. Is he not busy too...?

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  17. sami is leverkusens manager wont it be tough for him to hold a testimonial now ? also sami was always the ultimate gentleman always happy to keep his head down and watch others

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  18. like i said i doubt very much the club snubbed them ,it would have been made public by now ,also the players would feel some resentment to the club,something i have never seen by either player

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  19. Why would it be tough? Is there some international law I'm unaware of that bars managers from taking flights to different countries? Managers are always travelling around watching opposition teams; I'm sure it would've been no problem at all for Sami to come to Anfield for one day out of the year. I'm pretty sure he'd be honoured to have a testimonial.

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  20. Why would it be made public? And the supposition that Barnes and Hyypia would show resentment towards the club is not supportable or credible in the slightest (IMO)

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  21. jaimie what are you trying to get at ,i have offered a few reasons why they may not have had one,obviously you think they is something more sinister to the matter ,get it off your chest,1 other reason why they may not have had one his perhaps they think the fans pay enough money watching the team as it his,and in samis case he may have thought the send of he got in his final game was a gesture by the fans that thanked him enough ,for his wonderful service

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  22. no doubt about that but i guess he takes his job seriously ....he always was the consumate professinal ...... pkus he knoes he doesnt need a testimonial he will always be in the heart of all liverpool :)

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  23. Sinister? Nonsense. That's what you're projecting. I am merely highlighting a disappointing disparity here, i.e. that Barnes and Hyypia - two of LFC's most revered and important players of the last 30 years - are ignored when it comes to testimonial time.

    In my view, there is no excuse for this oversight. If I ran LFC, honouring these players with testimonials would be at the top of my agenda, and I would've fought to make it happen.

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  24. Liverpool Kopites11:26 am, August 03, 2013

    I think what Jamie meant was why didn't/hasn't Liverpool given both players a testimonial. Doesn't matter whether Sami needs one or not.

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  25. i thought players arranged these testimonials ? ._.

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  26. JK i wonder if there's a criteria for a testimonial ?

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  27. yeah they should have had them too, but its a while ago and in the past. The club has different owners now so not really the clubs fault of today. These things happen.

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  28. for once Jk i couldnae agree more with you. John Barnes was part of the troika of aldridge and beardsley that gave us our best ever team of 1988. For what he did i guess even aldo deserves one!

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  29. I think the most important thing right now is to be outraged by something that happened many years in the past and has nothing to do with how the club is run now and who runs it. Like some poster above I think Sami has bigger fish to fry than a stupid testimonial and I am sure Barnes is equally not bothered. Like Jason points out there is probably some good reason why it never happened. Maybe both players never wanted them, simple as.

    Oh well, I'll go shout at some kids now for daring to make noise after 8pm, oh the outrage!

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  30. ten years service is the norm

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