• You may have to login or register before you can post and view our exclusive members only forums.
    To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

How good was Big Jan?

Forums Unread posts
Status
Not open for further replies.
One of my favourite ever players. He was a genius with a football. Wasn't the quickest player but could pass a ball 50 yards onto the toe of your choice. Hardly ever lost possession, a thunderous shot and was deadly from set pieces. He was one of those players that just made a team tick.
 
I only had the pleasure of seeing him play (at Anfield as opposed to tv) towards the end of his career but he was exceptional at making it look easy.

He would just stand in the centre circle, dictating the tempo effortlessly, it seemed the opposition would make a few attempts at the start of the game to play the ball off him, he'd shield it expertly with his arse (literally) & deceptively quick feet time & again, then they would just try to close him down the rest of the game, failing almost all the time.

He was a joy to watch, esp as it seemed he filled the centre circle & was rarely moving out of it.
 
His feet were remarkably quick, mega skillz for the amount of weight that he carried. If he could resist the draw of late night eating, along with all day eating, then he would have been lauded from all over the world instead of just Anfield and Denmark. Plus with one silky move, he could leave a Porsche on its side.
 
He ought to be studied by all budding midfielders. He was so intelligent, and showed how to use the ball rather than be used by it. Every single thing he did was so clever and precise. Even now, in a masters' game, the size and speed of a large oil tanker, he is still fascinating to watch because he never wastes the ball. Only Hamman came close among the players that followed as far as keeping possession is concerned. At his peak he was the best of his kind, as far as I'm concerned, and that includes anyone I've seen for Barca.
 
Just like all great players, Molby always seemed to have space and time. An absolutely superb player.

Is the Tony Barrett in the clip the journalist for the Times? Doesn't seem to be the brightest bulb in the box.
 
Vlads Quiff said:
And no one pushed him around

regards
Click to expand...

Correct. He wasn't generally one to use his size and strength, because frankly with skill like his he didn't have to, but opposition teams who made the mistake of kicking him soon regretted it. Perhaps the best example was Everton in the first Mersey Cup Final. They were bossing the game till Peter Reid whacked big Jan and made him angry, whereupon he simply took over and effectively won the game for us.
 
He was a genius. Like all great ones, he made it look effortless. The best passer of a ball I've ever seen. And so intelligent... Magnificent footballer.
 
I loved the big man. Isnt it amazing that he is just one of the names you could pull out from any team between 1978 and 1990 who was just fucking world class.
 
They couldnt get the ball off him - those tight shorts didnt do him any favours - but slow as fuck - better than Alonso imho
 
I've never really seen him play bar a few clips from the past, but if he was better than Xabi Alonso then he must have been a treat to watch.
 
FoxForceFive said:
I only had the pleasure of seeing him play (at Anfield as opposed to tv) towards the end of his career but he was exceptional at making it look easy.

He would just stand in the centre circle, dictating the tempo effortlessly, it seemed the opposition would make a few attempts at the start of the game to play the ball off him, he'd shield it expertly with his arse (literally) & deceptively quick feet time & again, then they would just try to close him down the rest of the game, failing almost all the time.

He was a joy to watch, esp as it seemed he filled the centre circle & was rarely moving out of it.
Click to expand...
Saw him play on many occasions. One I remember most was for the reserves as he was coming back from injury. It was almost comical to watch at times, the other team's (I think it was Man Utd) eager players tried to harry him off the ball, but he just fended them off as in the description above and calmly sprayed the ball around the pitch. Of course he did this on much bigger stages, but in this context he looked like an Uncle playing with his little nephews.
But look at the 1986 FA Cup Final, the greatest day in my LFC lifetime. Rushy scored the goals but Big Jan was the creator each time. A privilege to have watched.
 
The '86 Cup Final was excellent, but: better than Istanbul? I've been a Red from Shanks' time onwards and I don't ever expect to top 25.5.05.
 
When i was a kid the Fa cup was everything to me. Out on the streets against a garage door I was Rushie in the cup final beating Everton.
Always.
 
Judge Jules said:
The '86 Cup Final was excellent, but: better than Istanbul? I've been a Red from Shanks' time onwards and I don't ever expect to top 25.5.05.
Click to expand...
A bit of context JJ. By 2005 I was in USA. I was at work during the final, and could not look at the result until the game was over. 1986 was much more personal - I saw the game with my family. I had a season ticket that year. 1986 was the culmination of a great period in our history, 2005 a reminder of what once was, and a hope for the future. 2 great days.
 
Oncy: arf.

Mersey: Understood. I wasn't at either but I had the benefit of watching both live. Both on Old Faithful, I might add. 😎
 
1989 was pretty special too. Probably for all the wrong reasons but it was hard not to be emotional watching that final.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Farkmaster
    • Like
  • Locked
How good is this team?
2 3 4
Replies
116
Views
2K
Champ
C
rurikbird
    • Like
Different Gravy
8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Replies
458
Views
12K
darkstarexodus
darkstarexodus
rurikbird
    • Like
  • Locked
Slot – first impressions?
2 3 4
Replies
103
Views
2K
Oncy
Oncy
dee
  • Locked
Who will be the challengers?
Replies
14
Views
511
moron
moron
Squiggles
  • Locked
Weekends Other Games 31-8-24
2 3 4 5
Replies
138
Views
2K
Mamma Mia
Mamma Mia
Back
Top Bottom