I was wrong (about a player) thread
- Thread starter redhorizon2
- Start date
- Latest activity Latest activity:
- Status
I said he was too small.
His debut was against West Brom, he came on with fifteen minutes to go at the same time as Lukaku did for them. It looked ridiculous... The size difference... I reckon Lukaku does bigger shites than Coutinho, who constantly lost the ball, and we ended up getting beaten two one.
Now, that's all from memory and maybe none of it is true, but on first impression I didn't see how he'd make it in this league being so tiny.
I remember a racist comment my uncle made when we signed him but I don't remember any outcry. Everyone was delighted. It was big news, he was in big demand.
I was looking at a clip with Digger playing and everytime he got the ball there was a discernible crowd noise that could have been booing or something more sinister
Litmanen is one of my favourite players but it was when he was at Ajax. Not sure why we bought him because we did not know where to play him.
He was signed in the 80's, there was a lot of racism at the time. I'm sure there was many Liverpool fans really upset we had signed a Black player.
Maybe there was, I don't remember it. He became instant hero to me and my mates.
The one thing I do recall is that the kop had collapsed in close season and they were working to fix it, and on the day they signed Barnes my uncle said that's why they'd spent so much money on a spade. I recall it coz my dad was vehemently anti prejudice and I was waiting for him to kick off, but it just hung in the air.
Even my uncle wasn't actually bothered, he was just being a nob. It's not like anfield was exclusively white, loads of black people went to the game. Maybe I didn't see much problem because I didn't hang round with twats. I went to loads of games home and away in the eighties when on reflection it was the peak of hooliganism, and I hardly even saw any.
The one thing I do recall is that the kop had collapsed in close season and they were working to fix it, and on the day they signed Barnes my uncle said that's why they'd spent so much money on a spade. I recall it coz my dad was vehemently anti prejudice and I was waiting for him to kick off, but it just hung in the air.
Even my uncle wasn't actually bothered, he was just being a nob. It's not like anfield was exclusively white, loads of black people went to the game. Maybe I didn't see much problem because I didn't hang round with twats. I went to loads of games home and away in the eighties when on reflection it was the peak of hooliganism, and I hardly even saw any.
Digressing I know - informative article about Howard Gayle, who preceded Barnes.
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-fc-legends-how-howard-3477434
[article]Liverpool FC legends: How Howard Gayle paved way for Reds' black stars
Nov 06, 2008 12:00
By James Pearce
HOWARD GAYLE was a pioneer in Merseyside football. As the first black player to pull on a Liverpool shirt in 1980 he paved the way for the likes of John Barnes, Mark Walters and Michael Thomas to follow.
Born in Toxteth and raised in Norris Green, Gayle went from playing on the fields of Sefton Park to running on in a European Cup semi-final against Bayern Munich inside three years.
But Gayle’s journey to the top – and his battle to stay there – was tough and painful as he suffered at the hands of the racism which was endemic in the 70s and 80s.
“One thing that was constantly levelled at my community was that we were under-achievers and not very good for much,” said the 50-year-old. “There were so many stereotypes of black people we had to overcome and we always had to work harder than our white counterparts.
“When I played for Liverpool I think that helped to dispel those myths. It showed people we can achieve at the highest level as long as we’re given the opportunity.”
Gayle’s chance came in August 1977 when the 19-year-old was invited for a trial by Liverpool.
”I beat three or four players and then had a shot which came back off the bar,” Gayle recalled. “Before it bounced I volleyed it in from the edge of the box and as I turned I could see the coaches watching.
“I turned my ankle and was in a lot of pain but carried on playing. I showed them just how much it meant to me.”
A month later Gayle broke into the reserves and in November boss Bob Paisley handed him a professional deal, but he wasn’t accepted by everyone at Anfield.
“As a kid I used to go to bed each night dreaming of scoring the winner at Anfield, so to sign for the club was very special,” he said.
“But I wouldn’t say I was welcomed with open arms by everyone. You always get the old school who are pig headed and ignorant. But those people were compromised by the likes of Emlyn Hughes, Ian Callaghan, Phil Thompson and Graeme Souness, who saw you for what you were.”
His first team debut came when he replaced David Fairclough at Manchester City in October 1980. But it was six months before he appeared again – in the second leg of the European Cup semi-final at Bayern Munich in April 1981.
“I had scored a hat-trick for the reserves on the Saturday and came in Monday ready to train,” he said. “But then I saw Roy Evans who said: ‘Go home and get your stuff because you are travelling with the first team.’ I was buzzing.”
Gayle got his chance when Kenny Dalglish limped off after just nine minutes and it proved to be his finest hour as he ran the Germans ragged.
“I didn’t have time to think about the magnitude of what was happening,” he said. “I was determined I wasn’t going to let myself or my team-mates down.
“That game went so quickly and it was exhausting playing at a different level. The Germans didn’t know anything about me and my pace gave them problems. To be thrown in at the deep end in a game of such significance showed me how far I had come.”
The winger came in for some rough treatment, and with Paisley worried he might retaliate and get sent off, Gayle became the first Liverpool substitute ever to be subbed when he made way for Jimmy Case with 20 minutes to go.
“I was gutted because I felt I still had more to offer,” he said. “But first and foremost I was a Liverpool fan and the most important thing was we progressed to the final.”
Gayle’s reward was a first start three days later and he scored in a 1-1 draw at Spurs. He played the final two home games and was on the bench when the Reds lifted the European Cup in Paris.
But, rather than being the start of something special, it was the end.
The following season Gayle, who scored 62 goals in 156 league games for the reserves, realised he was surplus to requirements. He went out on loan before leaving for good in 1983 when he joined Birmingham City.
“I hoped I had made an impact, but I found myself going backwards,” he said. “It was a common theme that I had a chip on my shoulder. But in 50 years I’ve never had a black person tell me I’ve got a chip on my shoulder.
“The fact is I wouldn’t turn my back on racism and would always face it. I commented on it and corrected it where needs be.”
As a player Gayle had banana skins thrown at him, was spat at and had to endure verbal abuse from the terraces. Times have changed and he is proud of the progress that has been made to combat racism.
“It’s come on leaps and bounds and Liverpool as a club has taken on an active responsibility,” Gayle said.
“Football has probably done more than any authority or government to eradicate racism. By educating people of the values of different cultures, we’ve slowly but surely changed views on black players.”
Vital work which offered chance to young ones
WHEN Howard Gayle retired from football in 1993 he went back to his Toxteth roots to coach.
The successful Stanley House Youth Project was his contribution to the community which encouraged him as a youngster to make something of his life.
"I always asked myself why not many young kids from inner cities were getting opportunities at top clubs. Why were they failing to make it in the pro game?" he said.
"With Stanley House I tried to emulate everything that went on within a top club so that when kids got the chance to go for a trial they had a good understanding of the discipline and commitment needed to survive and stay within that world.
"Clubs go through a lot of young players. One minute you can be walking around in a club's colours, the next you're being told you aren't good enough.
"When youngsters are rejected it can be traumatic for them. I was an adult when I was released by Sunderland and Blackburn, but I know the impact that had on me.
"It was about being there for them and ensuring they didn't go off the rails.
"I set it up not just from a football point of view but also a social point of view."
Stanley House merged with Tiber FC in 2001 and was renamed Kingsley United.
These days Gayle still dons his tracksuit to take coaching sessions in his role teaching social inclusion in local schools and prisons.
"I'm self-employed and work with young people, aged seven to 11, using football as a tool to keep them in education," he said. "Too often they've been out of school and fallen behind with their work.
"When that happens they feel excluded from society and it has an impact on their community.
"I also do some work for the National Youth Advocacy Service, going into care homes and ensuring the kids are well looked after.
"It's all about instilling values in young people so they know how to behave both on and off the pitch."
Howard Gayle factfile
Born: Toxteth - 18/05/58
Liverpool appearances: 5
Liverpool goals: 1
Made his league debut for the Reds as a substitute for David Fairclough at Maine Road in October 1980.
His next opportunity was in April 1981 in the European Cup semi-final in the Olympic Stadium when he replaced the injured Kenny Dalglish.
After spells on loan at Fulham and Newcastle, he left Anfield in 1983 to sign for Birmingham City.
In 1984, he joined Sunderland and won three England Under-21 caps, but two years later moved to America to play for Dallas Sidekicks.
Returned in 1987 and had a brief spell at Stoke before switching to Blackburn Rovers, where he scored 29 goals in 121 appearances over five years.
Signed for Halifax in 1992 and also played for Accrington Stanley before hanging up his boots.[/artic;e][/article]
Dani Pacheco.
Richie Partridge
Mark Kennedy
Anthothy Le T
Sinama Pongolle
Massive, massive disappointments.
And to some extent, Emile Heskey too.
There was one season he was the dog's bollocks. Almost unplayable against. Then he turned to dog shite.
Richie Partridge
Mark Kennedy
Anthothy Le T
Sinama Pongolle
Massive, massive disappointments.
And to some extent, Emile Heskey too.
There was one season he was the dog's bollocks. Almost unplayable against. Then he turned to dog shite.
Dietmar Hamann.
I thought he was meh at Newcastle and an uninspiring signing.
But what a player and person he turned out to be for us.
Hamann Crumple.
CL2005 2nd half.
That goal from the corner kick.
The facial tick.
Legend.
I thought he was meh at Newcastle and an uninspiring signing.
But what a player and person he turned out to be for us.
Hamann Crumple.
CL2005 2nd half.
That goal from the corner kick.
The facial tick.
Legend.
Mee to.. That goal against Chelsea had me thinking he was a star waiting to shine.
I didn't realise Howie Gayle set up Stanley House. They were fucking shite. Kingsley weren't great, either.
Can you guys leave me out of this thread? Cheers
Yeah we did. He improved us every time he got on the field, with the single exception of a game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge when everyone in red played like drains. There was more to his departure than purely footballing reasons IMO.
Really? I was made up when we signed him - he'd taken on the whole of the ManU midfield in the Cup Final that year and made them look second-rate before Gullit inexplicably subbed him. It was one of the best individual performances I'd seen in an FA Cup Final for years.
John Aldridge and Ray Houghton. I'd seen both at Oxford and thought they wouldn't be good enough.
Phil Babb, any one remember him? I thought he was the missing jigsaw in Roy Evans leaky defense. Unfortunate thing for Roy, was none of the defense was any good in the air.
Who?
He would have been much better if we had played him in midfield rather than as a striker.
Craig Bellamy.
I knew he was a pacy and skilful player, but I wasn't sure about his maturity and attitude. The off-the-pitch episode with Riise aside, he came to become a very likeable character for me. Should've played in the final against Milan, and I thought he should've been kept on rather than sold after a season. Obviously, I was delighted to have him return for a second spell. Didn't think when we first got him that I'd like him much.
I knew he was a pacy and skilful player, but I wasn't sure about his maturity and attitude. The off-the-pitch episode with Riise aside, he came to become a very likeable character for me. Should've played in the final against Milan, and I thought he should've been kept on rather than sold after a season. Obviously, I was delighted to have him return for a second spell. Didn't think when we first got him that I'd like him much.
Agree with most of that, though he had to go the first time (and we actually made a profit on him then).
- Status