Who is Liverpool's best player? Many will say Steven Gerrard, though he's clearly not the player he used to be. A large number of fans will choose Luis Suarez, who inexplicably placed ahead of John Barnes - a far superior player - in the club's recent '100 Players Who Shook the Kop' (100PWSTK) poll. Both would be popular choices, but according to new Reds' signing Kolo Toure, neither Gerrard nor Suarez are top dog at Anfield.
In a recent interview, Toure dismissed suggestions that Suarez is the king of Anfield, and instead, anointed Brazilian maestro Philipe Coutinho as Liverpool's best player. He explained:
"I had one session with him [Luis Suarez] and I was all over him.
"Coutinho is the best player here, I think. I call him ‘my player’. He’s going to be massive this year"
Rather unsurprisingly, I agree with Toure here. If I had to choose, I'd have Coutinho in the team over Suarez every day of the week. Suarez may score more goals due to his advanced position on the field, but Coutinho is arguably better for the overall effectiveness of the team, and I'm sure that will be proven this season.
As for 100PWSTK - it's an absolute travesty (IMO) that fans voted Suarez in TWO PLACES ahead of Barnes. What an absolute joke, and it just goes to show how many modern supporters have very short memories.
Anyone who actually had the pleasure of watching Barnes play would - I'm sure - concede that there's no comparison. Barnes is a once in a lifetime genius of a player, and whilst Suarez is an excellent footballer, he's simply not in the same league. In my view, Barnes is superior in the following areas:
* Close control.
* Dribbling.
* First touch.
* Passing range.
* Chance creation.
* Long-range shooting.
* Short-range shooting.
* Crossing.
* Heading.
* Shooting accuracy.
* General team-play.
* On-field mentality.
* Ability to thrive under pressure (without biting/stamping/making obscene gestures)
No part of Suarez's game is superior to Barnes' ability in the same area, though Suarez's ability to pop up with crucial hand-balls is, admittedly, unsurpassed.
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
In a recent interview, Toure dismissed suggestions that Suarez is the king of Anfield, and instead, anointed Brazilian maestro Philipe Coutinho as Liverpool's best player. He explained:
"I had one session with him [Luis Suarez] and I was all over him.
"Coutinho is the best player here, I think. I call him ‘my player’. He’s going to be massive this year"
Rather unsurprisingly, I agree with Toure here. If I had to choose, I'd have Coutinho in the team over Suarez every day of the week. Suarez may score more goals due to his advanced position on the field, but Coutinho is arguably better for the overall effectiveness of the team, and I'm sure that will be proven this season.
As for 100PWSTK - it's an absolute travesty (IMO) that fans voted Suarez in TWO PLACES ahead of Barnes. What an absolute joke, and it just goes to show how many modern supporters have very short memories.
Anyone who actually had the pleasure of watching Barnes play would - I'm sure - concede that there's no comparison. Barnes is a once in a lifetime genius of a player, and whilst Suarez is an excellent footballer, he's simply not in the same league. In my view, Barnes is superior in the following areas:
* Close control.
* Dribbling.
* First touch.
* Passing range.
* Chance creation.
* Long-range shooting.
* Short-range shooting.
* Crossing.
* Heading.
* Shooting accuracy.
* General team-play.
* On-field mentality.
* Ability to thrive under pressure (without biting/stamping/making obscene gestures)
No part of Suarez's game is superior to Barnes' ability in the same area, though Suarez's ability to pop up with crucial hand-balls is, admittedly, unsurpassed.
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
LEGEND....How much would he be worth now?
ReplyDeleteTo be honest I think you despise Luis so much that your trying to persuade yourself. Think at present Luis is better, especially for the EPL. If Luis was a sweet natured individual, as a posed to a volatile personality, you'd be singing a different song. Lil Philly is a poster boy of a footballer, mothers probably prefer paying to have his name on a child's shirt. Lil Philly has the potential to be a better player, but that is down to the application of Coutinho.
ReplyDeleteive no time for suarez, and hope he leaves soon. but he is almost a complete player and is at the top of his game, coutinho is an excellent young player with bags of potential. but without being bias suarez is king.
ReplyDeletegerrard looks like he could be in for one of his best seasons for a few years, just cool as a cucumber.
toure was always going to be a great signing, i thought so anyway, playing mind games here though...............good lad!!
I'ts Rodger's sense of talent and good businesses that made this question possible. Him and Sturridge are worth 50 mil. now in my view.
ReplyDeleteBut Suarez himself had already had 40 mil. bid and if we were willing to negotiate the price could have gone up.
I am sure Toure said it partially as a joke, but the joke could become true over the years.
Coutinho has great potential, but Suarez means more in any given game today. He is on par with any striker out there, apart from Messi and Ronaldo.
You can not yet put Coutinho in the same bracket with the best playmakers/wingers yet.
I know you dislike Suarez, you can even say he doesn't deserve to be in a team after the way he acted, but to say young Coutinho is better overall is insane :D
Well, I didn't actually say Coutinho is better than Suarez :-)
ReplyDeleteI argued he's better for the overall effectiveness of the team. There is a difference...
The best player is obviously mr toure himself
ReplyDeletebeast of a player
It depends on a given game, I guess. The fact is Coutinho has brought in some much needed creativity. With Sturridge now in, Suarez is no longer the only proper goal treat we have.
ReplyDeleteBut still, for a big match, I'd always opt for Suarez. If we are under pressure and it's not easy to find space and time to do what he can, Coutinho disappears.
Lightweight and not yet as effective as Luis.
Didn't see Barnes play - but his best season falls short of Luis's last season. 22 1st division goals, in 34 games, 28 goals in 44 games over all competitions. Plus if you look at his record at Ajax 49 goals in 48 games, I think it's clear who's best! Coutinho is really good - but atm, he's better in that he's playing, skill wise, has some ways to go. I'm sure he'll be around for a while, making a name for himself.
ReplyDeletePlus Suarez is more versatile, can play several positions - even nets.
Right now SUAREZ is the best player we have at the club.He's by far the most effective and he produces goals and top performances consistantly.Take his character out of it and base it purely on football I don't think it's even close.
ReplyDeleteCOUTINHO has the potential to be a superstar but I don't think he's there yet.If we bring this up in a couple of seasons maybe PC could be better.But he will never get the goals SUAREZ does because he plays deeper position.
However from a creative playmaker type behind the main striker, playing clever through balls and coming up with the odd goal I can see him becoming a much better player for us than he is playing out wide.
JOHN BARNES was better than both.If he was available on today's transfer market at his best.He'd go for the stupid money REAL MADRID are willing to pay for SPURS for BALE.
If Suarez didn't want to leave every LFC supporter would say Suarez is by far the best player in the current squad.
ReplyDeleteAll around it should be interesting to see how well the team will do when Suarez returns. I think there will be more goals all around, and Suarez should get a much higher assist tally - last year's didn't do justice to the amount of chances he set up, the quality around is much better - Coutinho, Aspas, Sturridge etc. will get more out of Suarez, and Suarez will get more out of them.
ReplyDeleteBarnes was a winger though
ReplyDeleteToure has saved us a lot of money. He's looks very a very clever bit of buisssnes with a lot of heart. Coutinho is a absolute star, you couldn't buy him for £35 mill now. He also has his head screwed on and only says good things. Toure could be good for his development.
ReplyDeleteAnd Bale and Ronaldo are "wingers" too. Either way - I don't have that much to go on, just stats, and the odd commentary here and there. I have no doubt he was good. Won't argue with you much.
ReplyDeleteahhhhhhh Suarez got owned lols
ReplyDeleteJohn Barnes in my opinion is possibly the best player to have ever played for Liverpool (i know many will disagree) but he was near enough the perfect player, and if he was playing today he wouldnt have a price tag as you couldnt put one on him.
ReplyDeleteBarnes was better then both Bale & Ronaldo, he was a magician and the ball stuck to him like glue
ReplyDeleteCant compare suarez and coutinho,they bring different skills to the team and are equally important.
ReplyDeleteI agree
ReplyDeleteThis post is clearly ironic. It has to be, as no one would make such a judgment without actually having watched Barnes play.
ReplyDeleteFirst, Barnes is not a striker. Second, Barnes's assist rate was absolutely formidable. There are no official figures for him right now, but I'm currently working through every season review video since he arrived, and his assist rate is absolutely stunning, as is chance creation.
The likes of Suarez have so much time on the ball and massive protection from referees. Players in the 80s didn't have that. Barnes had genius skill and made it look easy *despite* the constant hacking, fouling and attempts to take his legs.
Suarez is not fit to clean Barnes's boots.
On another note i am hoping FSG & Rodgers have learnt from the past and DO NOT let Spurs pinch our player due to a few quid!
ReplyDeleteYou want quality you have to pay for it
Suarez wont ever be the player Barnes was, unless you actually know who he (Barnes) is and the player he was then your probably best to stay quiet as there will be very few fans who will agree with anything you have said, Barnes was a unique talent that we was extremely fortunate to have play for our club
ReplyDeleteAnd never once did he drag our clubs name through the dirt
ReplyDeleteBarnes' skills were sublime and as you rightly say; he made it look easy. Monster of a player and to have him in his prime available to us now, would, I believe, give us that top four we so crave......
ReplyDeleteTalking sh_t again, aren`t we? Your articles about Suarez are all predictable and its starting to get boring now. You will agree with just anyone posting anything contradictory about Suarez. Then you will go out of your way to twist their quotes in a way to make it fit in your silly articles, just to try to prove to everyone that there are other people out there that, like you, don`t think highly of Suarez. This desperate attempt in trying to convince us that you are right to hate Suarez because other "respected third party /previous Liverpool legends " etc do, and that we are wrong to like him, is simply pathetic. Grow up man...
ReplyDeleteThere is absolutely no denying, that on purely footballing terms, with a committed Suarez in the team, we are much, much stronger.....
ReplyDeleteThere is absolutely no denying, that on purely footballing terms, with a committed Suarez in the team, we are much, much stronger.....
ReplyDeleteNo story...Toure did not mean it as an attack to Luis Suarez or anything. For starters he just came to us and haven`t trained with Suarez as much as he had with the others. Suarez was at the confederation cup. Then when Suarez came back near the end of preseason, he was not training seriously because of the conflicts between him and LFC board. Obviously the next best player would be coutinho and thats why Toure made these comments.
ReplyDeleteits an unfair comparison. many people who saw barnes in action wont be avid users hence i dont think would be voting in the poll. nevertheless it would be unfair to compare. In terms of will to win I doubt very much there is a player to match suarez - his hard work is what endears us to him. Further we must remember that barnes played in a team built to win the league whereas suarez plays in a team built for top 6. Suarez therefore receives more limelight - plus as you highlight urself stats arent really available for barnes. barnes never wasted his talent with mid table mediocrity like downing and shelvey - otherwise who knows maybe he too would have blown his top a few times!!! The 1988 team was phenomenal - i remember tom finney saying after the 5-0 thrashing of forest that it was the best football he had ever seen.
ReplyDeleteI hope Rodgers team will soon hit that consistency. We fell behind our high standards in the last few years - the comolli/dalglish/roy hodgson era has put us back about 5 years. And with the likes of City and Chelsea I think we will forever play catch up unless some rich arab/russian brings some petro dollars.
I think we should be simply grateful that both played for us and both in their times were/are one of the worlds best in their position.
To rank Suarez ahead of Barnes after only playing a couple seasons is simply BLASPHEMY! No other way to put it. Suarez would need to change his tune, clean up his toolish behavior and wreak havoc for another 5 or so year - then maybe we can revisit that claim. To even anoint him to such a prestigious list after just 2 seasons (and he already wants to leave) is at best irresponsible.
ReplyDelete100 million, give or take a few quid. :D
ReplyDeletePut it simply 50million might buy you John Barnes bootlaces in the current market. More skilful than anyone on the LFC Books presently and was able to thrive in an era when men played football not prima donnas who cried foul for being looked at sideways. Superb player better than Stevie G in his pomp in my books. oh how we could be doing with him now, Wish someone would actually speed up the invention of cloning lol.
ReplyDeleteI think there's a difference between "best" and "most talented".
ReplyDeleteI think Suarez is the "most talented" player currently.
But Coutinho, for what he brings to the team in both creative ability and goal-scoring ability, is the "best" player right now.
I look at it as "give someone a fish and feed them for a day. Teach someone to fish and feed them forever."
Suarez can carry this team on his shoulders any given day and he's so heavily relied upon that when he doesn't play well, it affects everything we do. He's very streaky in terms of goal-scoring.
Coutinho, on the other hand, simply makes the players around him better. And he does it on a very consistent basis.
If we take Suarez out of the game, someone can step in (Aspas, Sturridge, etc). They may not be as good but they can still fill the role to some extent.
If we take Coutinho out of the game, the whole team suffers because no one on the team can facilitate the higher quality of play such as he can. Not even Stevie, but mainly because that's not Stevie's current role on the team.
As a season ticket holder who watched both these players up close and personal ( Barnes/ Suarez) I can categorically say John Barnes was the greatest player I've ever had the fortune to see at anfield. He was majestic! Power, sublime skill, and scored goals for fun. Sitting in the lower centenary as it is now I can proudly say I grew up watching this guy attack the kop down the left side, destroying all before him. One particular derby Everton tried three different right backs just to try and stop him! Suarez could be as good if he worked his schnutz off but I don't think he could be better....Barnes was that good! However watching countinho from the same position I watched Barnes, lemme tell you this kid is top class! Got it all in spades!....oh and by the way, if we had not have been banned from Europe you'd be looking at at 6 or 7 European cups with barnes european football player of the year NO DOUBT! Had tears in me eyes watching that vid JK. Met him once, great moment. YNWA.
ReplyDeleteHaving had the pleasure of watching Barnes many times back in the day, how can anyone compare the two?
ReplyDeleteBarnes was and is a legend.
Suarez is good, very good indeed but he ain't Barnes never will be.
Sometimes I'm glad I'm old, I can say "I was there" to many of the memorable moments for LFC.
Oh! and Coutinho is much more important to the team. He will be a difference maker.
England skipper today would probably give his left nut to have a winger of Barnes class donning the 3 Lions shirt.
ReplyDeleteTo honest I'm relatively young so only got to watch the Roy Evans years of him, so didn't see him in his pomp. But if someone talks about Barnes in ear shot of my dad, he literally gets a erection. He is one of those myth for the younger fans, like Tommy Smith, Souness and Hansen that will be spoke throughout the ages. I actually met him in The Tea factory couple of years ago as a student, seem like a nice fella.. I also seen Sinbad from Brookside on the same day...
ReplyDeleteOh crap forgot the King too..
ReplyDeleteBy a country mile. Absolute legend and a true professional. Barnes was a class act.
ReplyDeleteHad the pleasure of watching Barnes, Rush, Beardsley, Houghton, McMahon etc...For me John Barnes is my favourite Liverpool player of all time. He had everything and was the complete player. Different class.
ReplyDeleteSuarez couldn't carry Barnes' jockstrap. You simply will never see a guy like Barnes flopping around looking for a penalty - he'd simply create a REAL goalscoring chance.
ReplyDeleteIf you see early interview as to which player inspired/favourite player of Anfield great and current captain Stevie is, he had said John Barnes.
ReplyDeleteLiverpool would have to change it's style of play to accommodate a guy like Barnes. Not that he couldn't play this fancy one-touch passing style, but it would seriously hamper the impact he could make on the game. He's a marauder with a laser guided cross - let him rampage down the flank and wreak holy terror in the opposition. Would need to get some strikers who can put away those crosses too - not bring them down and let the defense recover.
ReplyDeleteYep , I agree that Jamie thinks he knows footy , probably was the fat kid that was never picked, he finished ahead of Barnes cause not everyone thinks like you , knob head
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't go so far as to say Barnes was better than Ronaldo, more like they are the same class of player. The difference is Ronaldo is asked to score more - while Barnes was asked to open up the opposition like a gutted fish and bring others into play.
ReplyDeleteIts all about Coutinho's link up play with Sturridge for me this season
ReplyDeleteHonestly think ppl don't realise how much the game has changed... Back in those days teams played a flat back 4... so fullback only stopped wingers and not much else. Thats why there a lot of crosses into the box for the strikers (hence the term old fashioned English centre forward) . Look at the video more often than not there are 4 defenders back, less space as the fullback is another defender. Nowadays full back leave so much space to exploit as they are expected to create aswell as defend, ala G Johnson. Thats the reason the Holding Midfielder position was created to have another body in the back as fullbacks bomb forward.
ReplyDeleteSo to say John Barnes can't be as good as C.Ronaldo as he doesn't score as much, is down to the fact there is more space to exploit, the is a onus on fullback to have a dual purpose... Resulting in more goals and a more exciting game. The lesser teams to a certain degree still adopt the old school way.
Who's to say John Barnes wudn't be better in this day and ages, as footballers are primed to function like machines with diet, lifestyle and no post match piss ups.
As I said - haven't seen him play - asides from a few clips. I'm just doing my thing, saying Suarez is the best. I'm sure Barnes was a beast.
ReplyDeleteWhile Suarez might have "protection" and the game is not as rough as it was in the 80s, I'm sure he'd thrive in this environment.
Either way, Barnes isn't playing anymore, and Liverpool are lucky to have Suarez - best in the premier league hands down.
Now if some of that play making ability that Suarez, Coutinho, and Aspas have could rub off on Sturridge - they would be an absolute nightmare. Not that it's a huge complaint, all of them do it to an extent, but Sturridge's decision making on shooting vs. passing is sometimes little too self centered - i.e he'll shoot or hold the ball when there are clear passes. Still it's not a huge deal.
ReplyDeleteOne thing you and many others forget to mention is that the ball now days seems to swerve a lot easier and has been made with the striker in mind. Not only was the game harder in those days but it was also harder to do what JB did with the ball. I find myself agreeing with you, musn't make a habit of it though. BUT you really have to stop pushing this Suarez thing, you are very biased. I used to be one of those who always fought for him, but now I don't, but you cannot deny his talent even though he is a poor excuse for a decent human being. For me PC is also a game changer, he provides as many goal opportunities as LS scores, so it depends how you look at it.
ReplyDeleteI'm more concerned that Jamie Carragher is considered better than John Barnes.....When I spoke to John Barnes earlier today, he said he didn't like it but he had to go along with it.
ReplyDeleteMy friend Barnes is not a striker his value comes not only from goals but from a lot of other things as well.. Just like the previous season when Suarez wasn't scoring as much he was still contributing to the team..
ReplyDeleteI think you might be surprised the number of goals coutinho is going to score this season. I have a feeling he will at least be in double figures, hopefully at least 15 and loads of assists for sure!
ReplyDeleteI still think Luis is better... BUT at 21 and still learning about the EPL and himself... He will be a better player. This I mean all round too! He is not as hard work and Luis, but a more team player!
ReplyDeleteEither way, we are lucky to have them both. Now is Suarez can just put his head down and work!
The addition of Willian is such a mouth watering prospect!
Suarez - Sturridge - Willian upfront is devastating with Coutinho pulling the strings to provide! :)
For now Luis is the better player and by some distance. Coutinho has barely proven anything, even though Luis hardly has a long established form in a top league (just the 1.5 seasons of a good form in a reputable top league).
ReplyDeleteI too am surprised by Barnses' placing behind Suarez. Luis hasn't done enough to justify that.
Stats.....
ReplyDeleteGiven that Arsenal are desperate now, why don't we sell Suarez for 50mil? He's probably going to miss another 10 games this season, so why not for them instead of us?
ReplyDeleteDAVE why exactly would I be surprised with the number of goals COUTINHO's going to get this season if i never stated how much he would score?
ReplyDeleteThe point I made wasn't to down talk the new fans favourite and the player I like watching most.It was to state facts that SUAREZ is our most important player who got most of our goals last season and created plenty too.
The goals you forecast COUTINHO to get wouldn't surprise me if he reached it with games to spare.
Ronaldo hasn't played as a orthodox winger in ages. He plays wide but with different attacking dimension, i.e. more goalscoring orientated, a lot more. Bale played left, right and through the middle last season. Probably got a lot of his goals in positions that weren't the left wing.
ReplyDeleteOn purely footballing ability Suarez is still our best player, you only have to listen to stevies opinion of him but Barnes was a far superior player, a once in a lifetime genius
ReplyDeleteWill to Win + Skill + hard work + loyalty = Kenny Dalglish
ReplyDeleteLS is simply not in the same league as a player or as a man.
Also worth pointing out Barnes was incredible at any level and his solo effort against Brazil shows that.
BUT if you want the biggest difference and i dont want to write this
Barnes overcame racism and having bananas thrown at him and whole crowds chanting filth at him and became an ambassador for the club and for equality.
Suarez ....the less said about that the better
i absolutely agree with you. john barnes is head and shoulders over suarez. and that's not saying suarez is a bad player.
ReplyDeletei argued with two united fans about barnes vs giggs. they said giggs was the better player. they clearly do not know their football.
and i have met barnes in person. absolute class of a person, friendly and no airs at all. legend in every way.
Liverpool's best player is brazilian allright :) top tackler in the league 3 out of 4 seasons, everyone he has missed most of due to injury, consistent 85 % passer, only Liverpool player who can claim being best in the league for his position
ReplyDeleteLol! You REALLY don't like suraz do you?!
ReplyDeleteSounds like Kolo is backing up his manager on the "excessive praise" tact, he's Mr Positive. Has had nothing but supurlitives to offer no matter who he's talking about. He may sound dismissive of Suarez in this instance but other recent quotes have him sounding equally supportive of our need to have Suarez in the team. I like it. I don't mind universal positivism, it's a good vibe to have in the team so long as it stays genuine, and I think it is genuine so far.
ReplyDeleteI feel like Suarez offers more than Coutinho right now. That might change, but for all that Coutinho has a great dribble and can beat players there is not a lot of end product. Suarez has end product in both goals and assists. Coutinho has let rip with a couple of wild shots in his time at the club and you can see his shooting range still needs work. Suarez, conversely, has already had a season where those spectacular shots have curled into the goal. If Coutinho can step up to the next level and get his finishing on par with some of his close-in dribbling then he'll be as important as we're thinking he can be. He doesn't have to score as many goals as Suarez to be as valuable but he does need to score some, otherwise defenders might start sitting back off him and he won't be as threatening.
That seems to be the common thread in all of these comments - the great things Coutinho is "going to do". It's yet to happen. Sure, I can see the potential, but Suarez has already proven himself. Coutinho is exciting but he hasn't yet produced the actual results that we seem to be talking about, it's all in the future. I agree that he has that potential, but he does need to step up maybe another couple of levels and start putting the ball in the net. Very early to be judging anyone but he's still got a habit of blasting wide when he does get some space to shoot. If he can convert that into goals then sure enough, he'll be our best player, but Suarez has already done that, already proven himself. Coutinho hasn't.
ReplyDeleteSomeone has to be selfish, otherwise we'll turn into Arsenal, pinging passes around the penalty box and never scoring. I'm happy for Sturridge to be the guy who tries those more ambitious shots. The way he generates power from such a quick shooting action is phenomenal. I think the result at Stoke showed just how important it is to have a player who will do that, just to try to get the goal you need when all the other good play just doesn't seem to get the ball into the back of the net.
ReplyDeleteHe'll continue to grow as a player, get smarter. I think players like him can keep developing right to the end of their careers.
Imho, Suarez doesn't come close to anywhere in the top 100. Sure he scores goals but he misses even more. The team has to play through him but a player like Barnes makes the team better. Not to mention technically and natural talent-wise, Barnes is untouchable between the two.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, Suarez clearly has more bite and many fans have his hand over their balls... ;P
True, i guess the law of averages comes into play - if he's taking shots, he'll score (unless he's glen johnson). Was a nice one from outside the box lets hope it doesn't get to his head and think he's bale now.
ReplyDeleteThis is Luis Suarez - immensely talented, but has very few friends on & off the field for his antics. This man can set fire on the grass with ball on feet & off the grass as well.
ReplyDeleteBut, he shouldn't be rated as footballer for his non footballing antics. I understand most of LFC fans are disgusted with his antics - the Evra saga, diving, Caravan Cottage gesture, the biting & finally his ill fated desperation to leave Anfield, but no denying - this man is a magician. Coutinho is an exceptional talent, a potential world beater, but I still don't think he is the best player at LFC now. Suarez was denied the PFA player of the season last year, but to me he is the best player in UK now.
I can't compare Barnes with current players (have seen him, but in my early ages, not much memory), but it's a bit hilarious to say that he was even better or at par with CR. His best time coincides with the time English clubs were out of Europe & in English League, hardly any non British player played here. Barnes also played hardly much out side English football. He was part of an English side with failed to qualify for EURO '84, finished last in group of '88 (Lost all 3 matches) & '92. & was part of the English team that failed to qualify for WC '94. He was never in top 3 of Ballon 'de oorr (which means like many other British greats, he wasn't that reputed outside British Isles), he was in PFA team of the year only 3 times, in a period when as I mentioned, without EPL riches, there was hardly any non British top player playing in England.
Make your own judgement with John Barnes & Luis Suarez, CR07, Thiery Henrey or RVP. English footballers are always over hyped (& over paid) - personally, I won't rate Barnes higher than Robert Pires, who had almost similar achievements like JB at club & personal level, but won EVERYTHING with that wonderful FRENCH team (Ironically both had 79 caps).
How much JB would have priced today? If Andy Carroll is priced 35m, I am sure JB is worth 105m, & KK probably would have paid 135m. In EPL, it's always good to have an English Passport.
I started watching football in the late 80's and supported liverpool because of one man.......JOHN BARNES!! He was a genius of a footballer and a type of player who come's around once in a lifetime.
ReplyDeleteFor Jamie K to echo such words about one lfc player tells you how highly this footballer was regarded in world football. Even when he had been at the club for nearly a decade, Barnes was able to adjust to the fast pace of the premiership and was involved in the Liverpool v Newcastle games of 1995-6, which is regarded as one of the greatest matches of the premiership to date!!
Many people refer to Barnes as the pure gentlemen, who received a lot of racism remarks from opposing fans back in the day. However, rather than complain, do flying kicks towards fans or bite players.......the man just let his football do all the talking.
For me this man was close to being as big as the club!!
stop comparing these 'great' players... no player comes before the team... when a team performs its always coz of collective efforts and not a one man show... they truly are match winners but not the sole reason for teams success... will coutinho or suarez or barnes wud have dribbled, probed, or had a go on d goal without the great build up play from the back or from the short passing in the midfield????
ReplyDeletethat is why individuals dont matter to me... team result matters...
last season suarez scored for fun... but did livpool qualify for CL or europa? NO...
Couldn't agree more
ReplyDeleteApart from Messi and Ronaldo nothing. He's right up there with them. All that aside, we can be happy to have both of them in our squad/lineup. We went from just having Gerrard to having Gerrard and Torres, then Gerrard and Suarez and now Gerrard, Suarez, Coutinho and Sturridge. It's just a shame that we didn't add anyone this summer although Touré is doing a bang up job of replacing Carra for now.
ReplyDeleteModern players will always get the edge just because there are fans who will vote who don't remember John Barnes? It's just the same in music or film; Take That will inexplicably be rated ahead of The Beatles in some polls because they are more contemporary. Don't worry about it Jamie! It isn't that important.
ReplyDeleteHang on - this article appeared to be about Philippe Coutinho, but it descends into trolling the fans of Luis Suarez particularly early this time, even quicker than usual J-Dawg.
ReplyDeleteWhat's the matter lad? Let's get this off your chest for once and for all. Is it his teeth or what?
Absolutely true! I wonder if messi would still be looked at in the same light with a player of this calibre still around and on form!
ReplyDeleteI still choose for Gerrard. When he at peak is on top of most. Even his aging is taken him most but he still all rounded in most criteria !!!
ReplyDeleteWhat you all seem to be forgetting is that it was 100 players who shock the kop. Not 100 best players. When you look at it that way Suarez in his short time has left a massive mark, not all good of course, but the survey was not for liverpools best ever player.
ReplyDeleteIm sorry i can't agree with that, maybe in a couple more seasons but the fact remains that SG is a lot older and still has the influence that only a few can have, in a team like LFC.
ReplyDeleteNow i'm not saying that Coutinho doesn't have it cause at the moment he does but it is way to early to be saying that he is LFC best player, Suarez is another who i think people are putting ahead (way too early) of Barnesy now i have had the pleasure of watching John play, all be it on TV but he was a fantastic footballer who did his job week in week out without the bullshit and i agree with JK with the above Barnsey had it all.
For me SG is the last of the really great players especially when you consider that we as a club have fallen from grace and he has had the chance to move on and didn't, he has single handed (at times) won matches of his own back (more than once) and he has the power the will the skill the fight to lift his team to another level he is out and out the complete footballer, he can play anywhere on the field (never seen what his like between the sticks) and can read the modern day game as good as anyone and boy we all know he can score some goals.Thats just my opinion, now does anyone know how we are doing with Willian?
I'm sure if you HAD seen Barnes play you would not be coming out with this statement. I'd go as far as saying Barnes was the closest thing (at the time) that we had in this country to a Maradonna type player, he was THAT good. Plus, in those days, there was no roaming roles or forwards, you were a striker or a winger, he was a winger, but much, much more.
ReplyDeleteI agree. This is nonsense. Suarez is a 50m player for good reason. Coutinho is NOT a 50m player for good reason. Plenty of players have shown early promise - Joe Cole prime example (early in career). I do think Coutinho will come good but Suarez is already the article. Barnes was a top player surrounded by other top players.
ReplyDeleteAnother one bites the dust.....
ReplyDeleteWillian:
ReplyDeleteCash is available.
Player signals his desire to play for LFC.
Fee agreed with selling club.
How the f**k do you not get this one over the line Ayre?
Something is not right.
People who haven't seen Barnes at his peak will probably agree. But ANYONE who saw Barnes in the flesh will agree I reckon, that Barnes would be completely unstoppable in today's game.
ReplyDeleteBarnes could do what Suarez does, and as least as well, in my opinion better.
The cruncher is, that Barnes could also do what Coutinho does at least as well, if not better. He also takes better free kicks than either one.
Given a choice between Barnes and both of them, I would choose Barnes if he was available at 20 years old today. Maybe Coutinho will develop into as good a passer. Maybe he will be our best ever player. But as things are, no contest
I tend to agree and it seems likely we'll miss out on Willian but I think he's too similar to Coutinho, so no issue there.
ReplyDeleteIv'e got to say after watching this video, I forgot how good of a crosser Barnes was. I believe he's the best crosser I have ever seen.
ReplyDeleteOther than that, I believe Suarez is better in terms of trickery and close control, but Barnes is far superior in long range shooting, changing pace, dribbling and on field mentality.
It's hard to decide who's better since they've played in different times, but IMHO Barnes was better.
As for coutinho - he's not there yet. He missed some opportunities during the first match I would expect a world class player to score. He does have immense quality and potential - but he can still grow.
Hold on a minute - one thing is to claim Barnes is better, it's a whole other thing to try and make the Suarzmeister look like some average player. Better at free kicks? LS got 7 in the last year (5 with liverpool, 2 with Uruguay - pretty effective.)
ReplyDeleteThe other big thing is, as someone mentioned Barnes played for a winning team - the whole line up was considered legendary - at least most are considered club legends, don't think the same can be said for the squad Suarez has played for up until now. This would be the year to make a more accurate assessment of Suarez - while the team is not as strong to LFC's teams of the 80s and 90s its a step up from the last 2. When you have a group of talented players together they perform better. This year Suarez will do far better than the previous seasons as he has talent to work with - he'll have double digit goals and assists by the walfway mark, Trust.
That being said from the Video, Barnes does look pretty good, and there was one clip of him going into a cluster of 4 defenders and emerging with the ball - I can respect that. However, the team as a whole (from the clips) took the pressure off anyone player - not to many instances where Barnes was marked by more than 1 guy alla "everybody get suarez" tactic seen so often. I have a feeling that this year defenses won't have a choice but to open up as too much focus on any one attacker will leave another dangerous option open. Should be good to watch - probably plenty of penalties too (if opening day is any indication (5 pens in 10 matches).
Don't think Toure is right but we will probably win the league with players like Coutinho
ReplyDeleteSuarez is a legend you don't know what you are talking about. Support your team and players or piss off down South, you aren't a real fan!
ReplyDeleteBarnes all the way. If he played today... would be up there as one of the most expensive players in the world. Bale money plus (yeah, I admit, he is one of my all time favorite Liverpool players) :)
ReplyDeleteMate, I've seen them both in the flesh. Barnes is better all round than Suarez.
ReplyDeleteNot at everything, but overall definitely.
Barnes didn't just play in the top Liverpool sides by the way. And when he gets older, I'm not sure Suarez will be able to settle as a playmaker like Barnes did.
I'm a Suarez fan- I've defended him more than you, though not as one-eyed as you- but sorry, you're wrong.
And Barnes scored a higher % of free kicks. He was awesome. Better passer, faster, better crosser, better creator, didn't need the team to be built around him. Infinitely better attitude.
You only saw a hint of what JB could and did do inthat clip. Trust me, Barnes is better.
No contest.
just saw the above vedio...suarez is no where near him neither ronaldo , messi could be
ReplyDeleteDitto
ReplyDelete