we have released; fowler, heskey, owen, anelka, diouf, baros, crouch, bellemy, pongolle, morientes, cisse
who do you wish was still on the books from the above list
who do you wish was still on the books from the above list
in the last ten years, the strikers you wish we'd kept
- Thread starter spider-Neil
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Anelka, obviously, but I'd also be very happy if we still had Craig Bellamy. He never scored enough, but always worked hard - and he's fast and skilful. He'd certainly be a better option than Voronin.
I suspect this thread will end up with the usual stale, boring arguments about Crouch and Owen, but Anelka and Bellamy are my two choices.
I suspect this thread will end up with the usual stale, boring arguments about Crouch and Owen, but Anelka and Bellamy are my two choices.
fowler - was never the same player after injury so no real regrets. Was a sad day though. Best natural finisher ever at LFC IMO
heskey - nope. Useless twat
owen - yes. Albeit he's a mercenary twat
anelka - Definitely. Did little wrong on and off the pitch it's just a Houillier was a fool surrounding this
diouf - Good riddance to the scumbag
baros - Indifferent
crouch - Never thought he was good enough but wanted him to stay as a squad player. Better than Voronin and Ngog
bellemy - Nope but better than Voro/Ngog
pongolle - Never quite cut it. No regrets and good luck to him
morientes - Couldnt hack the pace. Had to go
Cisse - headless chicken.
heskey - nope. Useless twat
owen - yes. Albeit he's a mercenary twat
anelka - Definitely. Did little wrong on and off the pitch it's just a Houillier was a fool surrounding this
diouf - Good riddance to the scumbag
baros - Indifferent
crouch - Never thought he was good enough but wanted him to stay as a squad player. Better than Voronin and Ngog
bellemy - Nope but better than Voro/Ngog
pongolle - Never quite cut it. No regrets and good luck to him
morientes - Couldnt hack the pace. Had to go
Cisse - headless chicken.
anelka
bellemy
pongolle
bellemy
pongolle
[quote author=Sunny link=topic=36011.msg949635#msg949635 date=1253785015]
fowler - was never the same player after injury so no real regrets. Was a sad day though. Best natural finisher ever at LFC IMO
heskey - nope. Useless twat
owen - yes. Albeit he's a mercenary twat
anelka - Definitely. Did little wrong on and off the pitch it's just a Houillier was a fool surrounding this
diouf - Good riddance to the scumbag
baros - Indifferent
crouch - Never thought he was good enough but wanted him to stay as a squad player. Better than Voronin and Ngog
bellemy - Nope but better than Voro/Ngog
pongolle - Never quite cut it. No regrets and good luck to him
morientes - Couldnt hack the pace. Had to go
Cisse - headless chicken.
[/quote]
you wouldn't want bellemy in the currently squad?
fowler - was never the same player after injury so no real regrets. Was a sad day though. Best natural finisher ever at LFC IMO
heskey - nope. Useless twat
owen - yes. Albeit he's a mercenary twat
anelka - Definitely. Did little wrong on and off the pitch it's just a Houillier was a fool surrounding this
diouf - Good riddance to the scumbag
baros - Indifferent
crouch - Never thought he was good enough but wanted him to stay as a squad player. Better than Voronin and Ngog
bellemy - Nope but better than Voro/Ngog
pongolle - Never quite cut it. No regrets and good luck to him
morientes - Couldnt hack the pace. Had to go
Cisse - headless chicken.
[/quote]
you wouldn't want bellemy in the currently squad?
[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=36011.msg949634#msg949634 date=1253785000]
Cisse, Crouch, Pongolle, Bellamy.
[/quote]
You'd rather have Cissé and Pongolle than Anelka?
Cisse, Crouch, Pongolle, Bellamy.
[/quote]
You'd rather have Cissé and Pongolle than Anelka?
[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=36011.msg949643#msg949643 date=1253785252]
[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=36011.msg949634#msg949634 date=1253785000]
Cisse, Crouch, Pongolle, Bellamy.
[/quote]
You'd rather have Cissé and Pongolle than Anelka?
[/quote]No, i forgot him.
[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=36011.msg949634#msg949634 date=1253785000]
Cisse, Crouch, Pongolle, Bellamy.
[/quote]
You'd rather have Cissé and Pongolle than Anelka?
[/quote]No, i forgot him.
I actually forget cisse in the original list and had to do an edit to include him. ha ha
No Keane then? I don't want him but at least be consistent
Anyway,
Fowler - No, he's finished.
Heskey - Don't think he would add a great deal to our team right now
Owen - Yes
Anelka - Yes, I think most people would take him
Diouf - No way. A cunt and not even that good
Baros - No, was never really a fan. Nowhere near as good as he thought he was.
Crouch - I would probably take him as a back up but not that fussed either way
Bellamy - See Crouch
Pongolle - Was disappointed that he left but only because he had potential and the replacements were not as good. If we had 2 or 3 other strikers then would have him in the squad
Morientes - Nope. Awful signing. One of our worst.
Cisse - No I don't think so. He didn't do that badly for us at all but he's not amazing.
Anyway,
Fowler - No, he's finished.
Heskey - Don't think he would add a great deal to our team right now
Owen - Yes
Anelka - Yes, I think most people would take him
Diouf - No way. A cunt and not even that good
Baros - No, was never really a fan. Nowhere near as good as he thought he was.
Crouch - I would probably take him as a back up but not that fussed either way
Bellamy - See Crouch
Pongolle - Was disappointed that he left but only because he had potential and the replacements were not as good. If we had 2 or 3 other strikers then would have him in the squad
Morientes - Nope. Awful signing. One of our worst.
Cisse - No I don't think so. He didn't do that badly for us at all but he's not amazing.
[quote author=Richey link=topic=36011.msg949651#msg949651 date=1253785781]
No Keane then? I don't want him but at least be consistent
[/quote]
ha ha forget him too 😛
No Keane then? I don't want him but at least be consistent
[/quote]
ha ha forget him too 😛
[quote author=Sunny link=topic=36011.msg949635#msg949635 date=1253785015]
fowler - was never the same player after injury so no real regrets. Was a sad day though. Best natural finisher ever at LFC IMO
heskey - nope. Useless twat
owen - yes. Albeit he's a mercenary twat
anelka - Definitely. Did little wrong on and off the pitch it's just a Houillier was a fool surrounding this
diouf - Good riddance to the scumbag
baros - Indifferent
crouch - Never thought he was good enough but wanted him to stay as a squad player. Better than Voronin and Ngog
bellemy - Nope but better than Voro/Ngog
pongolle - Never quite cut it. No regrets and good luck to him
morientes - Couldnt hack the pace. Had to go
Cisse - headless chicken.
[/quote]
aagree with all of that although baros imo wasn't anywhere near good enough and i'd have given morientes an extra season.
thinking of what could have been with anelka makes my blood boil. houllier was a first class cunt there.
fowler - was never the same player after injury so no real regrets. Was a sad day though. Best natural finisher ever at LFC IMO
heskey - nope. Useless twat
owen - yes. Albeit he's a mercenary twat
anelka - Definitely. Did little wrong on and off the pitch it's just a Houillier was a fool surrounding this
diouf - Good riddance to the scumbag
baros - Indifferent
crouch - Never thought he was good enough but wanted him to stay as a squad player. Better than Voronin and Ngog
bellemy - Nope but better than Voro/Ngog
pongolle - Never quite cut it. No regrets and good luck to him
morientes - Couldnt hack the pace. Had to go
Cisse - headless chicken.
[/quote]
aagree with all of that although baros imo wasn't anywhere near good enough and i'd have given morientes an extra season.
thinking of what could have been with anelka makes my blood boil. houllier was a first class cunt there.
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=36011.msg949638#msg949638 date=1253785077]
[quote author=Sunny link=topic=36011.msg949635#msg949635 date=1253785015]
fowler - was never the same player after injury so no real regrets. Was a sad day though. Best natural finisher ever at LFC IMO
heskey - nope. Useless twat
owen - yes. Albeit he's a mercenary twat
anelka - Definitely. Did little wrong on and off the pitch it's just a Houillier was a fool surrounding this
diouf - Good riddance to the scumbag
baros - Indifferent
crouch - Never thought he was good enough but wanted him to stay as a squad player. Better than Voronin and Ngog
bellemy - Nope but better than Voro/Ngog
pongolle - Never quite cut it. No regrets and good luck to him
morientes - Couldnt hack the pace. Had to go
Cisse - headless chicken.
[/quote]
you wouldn't want bellemy in the currently squad?
[/quote]
Yes. As in nope I don't regret him leaving but he is still better than Voronin and Ngog
[quote author=Sunny link=topic=36011.msg949635#msg949635 date=1253785015]
fowler - was never the same player after injury so no real regrets. Was a sad day though. Best natural finisher ever at LFC IMO
heskey - nope. Useless twat
owen - yes. Albeit he's a mercenary twat
anelka - Definitely. Did little wrong on and off the pitch it's just a Houillier was a fool surrounding this
diouf - Good riddance to the scumbag
baros - Indifferent
crouch - Never thought he was good enough but wanted him to stay as a squad player. Better than Voronin and Ngog
bellemy - Nope but better than Voro/Ngog
pongolle - Never quite cut it. No regrets and good luck to him
morientes - Couldnt hack the pace. Had to go
Cisse - headless chicken.
[/quote]
you wouldn't want bellemy in the currently squad?
[/quote]
Yes. As in nope I don't regret him leaving but he is still better than Voronin and Ngog
[quote author=rage link=topic=36011.msg949662#msg949662 date=1253786580]
[
aagree with all of that although baros imo wasn't anywhere near good enough and i'd have given morientes an extra season.
thinking of what could have been with anelka makes my blood boil. houllier was a first class cunt there.
[/quote]
Do you like any Liverpool managers rage?
[
aagree with all of that although baros imo wasn't anywhere near good enough and i'd have given morientes an extra season.
thinking of what could have been with anelka makes my blood boil. houllier was a first class cunt there.
[/quote]
Do you like any Liverpool managers rage?
[quote author=Sunny link=topic=36011.msg949666#msg949666 date=1253786790]
[quote author=rage link=topic=36011.msg949662#msg949662 date=1253786580]
[
aagree with all of that although baros imo wasn't anywhere near good enough and i'd have given morientes an extra season.
thinking of what could have been with anelka makes my blood boil. houllier was a first class cunt there.
[/quote]
Do you like any Liverpool managers rage?
[/quote]
I loved gh but that was a first class fuck up there absolutely compounded with get diouf instead. what a one-two punch to the gut.
[quote author=rage link=topic=36011.msg949662#msg949662 date=1253786580]
[
aagree with all of that although baros imo wasn't anywhere near good enough and i'd have given morientes an extra season.
thinking of what could have been with anelka makes my blood boil. houllier was a first class cunt there.
[/quote]
Do you like any Liverpool managers rage?
[/quote]
I loved gh but that was a first class fuck up there absolutely compounded with get diouf instead. what a one-two punch to the gut.
Off topic, but I would have loved it if GH took a punt on Damien Duff for 7/8 million before the 2002 World Cup, he would have been a very good player to have in the team. All in the past now though.
Buying Diouf instead of Anelka was surely Houllier's biggest mistake at Liverpool.
However, it was more the latter part of that which was the problem rather than the former.
Anelka is a very good player but there is every reason to suggest that had we signed him at that time it would have ended badly. He seems to have settled down a bit at Chelsea so far but prior to that has there ever been a club where (even though he has always started off okay) he hasn't ended up kicking off about something?
If we hadn't signed Diouf instead but had signed someone decent then not signing Anelka wouldn't be seen as as much of a disaster
However, it was more the latter part of that which was the problem rather than the former.
Anelka is a very good player but there is every reason to suggest that had we signed him at that time it would have ended badly. He seems to have settled down a bit at Chelsea so far but prior to that has there ever been a club where (even though he has always started off okay) he hasn't ended up kicking off about something?
If we hadn't signed Diouf instead but had signed someone decent then not signing Anelka wouldn't be seen as as much of a disaster
[quote author=Richey link=topic=36011.msg949713#msg949713 date=1253788751]
Buying Diouf instead of Anelka was surely Houllier's biggest mistake at Liverpool.
However, it was more the latter part of that which was the problem rather than the former.
Anelka is a very good player but there is every reason to suggest that had we signed him at that time it would have ended badly. He seems to have settled down a bit at Chelsea so far but prior to that has there ever been a club where (even though he has always started off okay) he hasn't ended up kicking off about something?
If we hadn't signed Diouf instead but had signed someone decent then not signing Anelka wouldn't be seen as as much of a disaster
[/quote]
anelka absolutely LOVED it here.
Buying Diouf instead of Anelka was surely Houllier's biggest mistake at Liverpool.
However, it was more the latter part of that which was the problem rather than the former.
Anelka is a very good player but there is every reason to suggest that had we signed him at that time it would have ended badly. He seems to have settled down a bit at Chelsea so far but prior to that has there ever been a club where (even though he has always started off okay) he hasn't ended up kicking off about something?
If we hadn't signed Diouf instead but had signed someone decent then not signing Anelka wouldn't be seen as as much of a disaster
[/quote]
anelka absolutely LOVED it here.
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=36011.msg949717#msg949717 date=1253788935]
[quote author=Richey link=topic=36011.msg949713#msg949713 date=1253788751]
Buying Diouf instead of Anelka was surely Houllier's biggest mistake at Liverpool.
However, it was more the latter part of that which was the problem rather than the former.
Anelka is a very good player but there is every reason to suggest that had we signed him at that time it would have ended badly. He seems to have settled down a bit at Chelsea so far but prior to that has there ever been a club where (even though he has always started off okay) he hasn't ended up kicking off about something?
If we hadn't signed Diouf instead but had signed someone decent then not signing Anelka wouldn't be seen as as much of a disaster
[/quote]
anelka absolutely LOVED it here.
[/quote]
When he first gets somewhere he always 'loves' it (apart from maybe Bolton). Then something upsets him.
Why would it have been any different at Liverpool?
[quote author=Richey link=topic=36011.msg949713#msg949713 date=1253788751]
Buying Diouf instead of Anelka was surely Houllier's biggest mistake at Liverpool.
However, it was more the latter part of that which was the problem rather than the former.
Anelka is a very good player but there is every reason to suggest that had we signed him at that time it would have ended badly. He seems to have settled down a bit at Chelsea so far but prior to that has there ever been a club where (even though he has always started off okay) he hasn't ended up kicking off about something?
If we hadn't signed Diouf instead but had signed someone decent then not signing Anelka wouldn't be seen as as much of a disaster
[/quote]
anelka absolutely LOVED it here.
[/quote]
When he first gets somewhere he always 'loves' it (apart from maybe Bolton). Then something upsets him.
Why would it have been any different at Liverpool?
S
Squiggles
Guest
Didn't Fowler call Anelka a cock in his autobiography?
Anyway Owen, Bellamy, Anelka and Crouch are the ones that stand out. Losing Owen was the biggest blow out of them all.
Anyway Owen, Bellamy, Anelka and Crouch are the ones that stand out. Losing Owen was the biggest blow out of them all.
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=36011.msg949720#msg949720 date=1253789165]
Didn't Fowler call Anelka a cock in his autobiography?
Anyway Owen, Bellamy, Anelka and Crouch are the ones that stand out. Losing Owen was the biggest blow out of them all.
[/quote]
really? I was made up when he was fucked off.
Didn't Fowler call Anelka a cock in his autobiography?
Anyway Owen, Bellamy, Anelka and Crouch are the ones that stand out. Losing Owen was the biggest blow out of them all.
[/quote]
really? I was made up when he was fucked off.
S
Squiggles
Guest
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=36011.msg949722#msg949722 date=1253789272]
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=36011.msg949720#msg949720 date=1253789165]
Didn't Fowler call Anelka a cock in his autobiography?
Anyway Owen, Bellamy, Anelka and Crouch are the ones that stand out. Losing Owen was the biggest blow out of them all.
[/quote]
really? I was made up when he was fucked off.
[/quote]
You were "made up" we lost the European footballer of the year and didn't come close to adequately replace him until Fernando Torres arrived?
Unbelievable.
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=36011.msg949720#msg949720 date=1253789165]
Didn't Fowler call Anelka a cock in his autobiography?
Anyway Owen, Bellamy, Anelka and Crouch are the ones that stand out. Losing Owen was the biggest blow out of them all.
[/quote]
really? I was made up when he was fucked off.
[/quote]
You were "made up" we lost the European footballer of the year and didn't come close to adequately replace him until Fernando Torres arrived?
Unbelievable.
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=36011.msg949720#msg949720 date=1253789165]
Didn't Fowler call Anelka a cock in his autobiography?
Anyway Owen, Bellamy, Anelka and Crouch are the ones that stand out. Losing Owen was the biggest blow out of them all.
[/quote]
I believe he did yes.
And I agree about Owen
Didn't Fowler call Anelka a cock in his autobiography?
Anyway Owen, Bellamy, Anelka and Crouch are the ones that stand out. Losing Owen was the biggest blow out of them all.
[/quote]
I believe he did yes.
And I agree about Owen
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=36011.msg949740#msg949740 date=1253789923]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=36011.msg949722#msg949722 date=1253789272]
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=36011.msg949720#msg949720 date=1253789165]
Didn't Fowler call Anelka a cock in his autobiography?
Anyway Owen, Bellamy, Anelka and Crouch are the ones that stand out. Losing Owen was the biggest blow out of them all.
[/quote]
really? I was made up when he was fucked off.
[/quote]
You were "made up" we lost the European footballer of the year and didn't come close to adequately replace him until Fernando Torres arrived?
Unbelievable.
[/quote]
because I was conviced we'd have a better season without him (and said so at the time). next season; european cup.
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=36011.msg949722#msg949722 date=1253789272]
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=36011.msg949720#msg949720 date=1253789165]
Didn't Fowler call Anelka a cock in his autobiography?
Anyway Owen, Bellamy, Anelka and Crouch are the ones that stand out. Losing Owen was the biggest blow out of them all.
[/quote]
really? I was made up when he was fucked off.
[/quote]
You were "made up" we lost the European footballer of the year and didn't come close to adequately replace him until Fernando Torres arrived?
Unbelievable.
[/quote]
because I was conviced we'd have a better season without him (and said so at the time). next season; european cup.
S
Squiggles
Guest
The most accurate judge of a footballing side is their performance in the league - everyone knows that. That season we finished fifth and fortunately scraped into the next years CL.
People will do and say anything to dismiss the legacy of Michael Owen but his departure sincerely cost us for several years, because not once did we have striker we could rely upon. The admission that you were happy he left and that we were somehow better off without him is absurd.
People will do and say anything to dismiss the legacy of Michael Owen but his departure sincerely cost us for several years, because not once did we have striker we could rely upon. The admission that you were happy he left and that we were somehow better off without him is absurd.
[quote author=Richey link=topic=36011.msg949744#msg949744 date=1253790232]
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=36011.msg949720#msg949720 date=1253789165]
Didn't Fowler call Anelka a cock in his autobiography?
Anyway Owen, Bellamy, Anelka and Crouch are the ones that stand out. Losing Owen was the biggest blow out of them all.
[/quote]
I believe he did yes.
And I agree about Owen
[/quote]
Robbie's book is an interesting read but (like many sporting autobiogs TBF) far from objective, and should absolutely NOT be taken as gospel. In it Robbie also refuses to face up to the dishonesty and unprofessionalism of his mate McMoneyman and the failings of Souness as a manager. A fair bit of what he says is no more than an attempt to justify his own errors of judgment or those of others close to him.
As far as Nico Anelka is concerned, Sammy Lee, Thommo and Stevie G had nothing but good to say about him - even Houllier himself has since that said his decision was a close call and admitted that he got it wrong. Robbie is in a minority of one over this. Nico himself made it clear not only at the time but for years afterwards that he'd have crawled back to Anfield over broken glass to play for us again. Junking him was Houllier's first really serious blunder, compounded by signing the disaster that was Spit the Dog instead. Given how we played in those six months with Nico up front for us, I'm convinced we'd have won the league by now if that decision had gone the other way and we'd kept that momentum.
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=36011.msg949720#msg949720 date=1253789165]
Didn't Fowler call Anelka a cock in his autobiography?
Anyway Owen, Bellamy, Anelka and Crouch are the ones that stand out. Losing Owen was the biggest blow out of them all.
[/quote]
I believe he did yes.
And I agree about Owen
[/quote]
Robbie's book is an interesting read but (like many sporting autobiogs TBF) far from objective, and should absolutely NOT be taken as gospel. In it Robbie also refuses to face up to the dishonesty and unprofessionalism of his mate McMoneyman and the failings of Souness as a manager. A fair bit of what he says is no more than an attempt to justify his own errors of judgment or those of others close to him.
As far as Nico Anelka is concerned, Sammy Lee, Thommo and Stevie G had nothing but good to say about him - even Houllier himself has since that said his decision was a close call and admitted that he got it wrong. Robbie is in a minority of one over this. Nico himself made it clear not only at the time but for years afterwards that he'd have crawled back to Anfield over broken glass to play for us again. Junking him was Houllier's first really serious blunder, compounded by signing the disaster that was Spit the Dog instead. Given how we played in those six months with Nico up front for us, I'm convinced we'd have won the league by now if that decision had gone the other way and we'd kept that momentum.
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=36011.msg949740#msg949740 date=1253789923]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=36011.msg949722#msg949722 date=1253789272]
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=36011.msg949720#msg949720 date=1253789165]
Didn't Fowler call Anelka a cock in his autobiography?
Anyway Owen, Bellamy, Anelka and Crouch are the ones that stand out. Losing Owen was the biggest blow out of them all.
[/quote]
really? I was made up when he was fucked off.
[/quote]
You were "made up" we lost the European footballer of the year and didn't come close to adequately replace him until Fernando Torres arrived?
Unbelievable.
[/quote]
Yeah, Owne didnt offer enough to the team. All he did was score goals.
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=36011.msg949722#msg949722 date=1253789272]
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=36011.msg949720#msg949720 date=1253789165]
Didn't Fowler call Anelka a cock in his autobiography?
Anyway Owen, Bellamy, Anelka and Crouch are the ones that stand out. Losing Owen was the biggest blow out of them all.
[/quote]
really? I was made up when he was fucked off.
[/quote]
You were "made up" we lost the European footballer of the year and didn't come close to adequately replace him until Fernando Torres arrived?
Unbelievable.
[/quote]
Yeah, Owne didnt offer enough to the team. All he did was score goals.
[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=36011.msg949813#msg949813 date=1253796401]
Robbie's book is an interesting read but (like many sporting autobiogs TBF) far from objective, and should absolutely NOT be taken as gospel. In it Robbie also refuses to face up to the dishonesty and unprofessionalism of his mate McMoneyman and the failings of Souness as a manager. A fair bit of what he says is no more than an attempt to justify his own errors of judgment or those of others close to him.
As far as Nico Anelka is concerned, Sammy Lee, Thommo and Stevie G had nothing but good to say about him - even Houllier himself has since that said his decision was a close call and admitted that he got it wrong. Robbie is in a minority of one over this. Nico himself made it clear not only at the time but for years afterwards that he'd have crawled back to Anfield over broken glass to play for us again. Junking him was Houllier's first really serious blunder, compounded by signing the disaster that was Spit the Dog instead. Given how we played in those six months with Nico up front for us, I'm convinced we'd have won the league by now if that decision had gone the other way and we'd kept that momentum.
[/quote]
I agree with you regarding Fowler's book. More interesting than most footballers' books but hardly reliable.
And you may be correct about Anelka, but this does not alter my point that AT THE TIME he was happy. He is always happy when he first goes to clubs. However, going by his record at other clubs you must accept that there is a good chance it would not have worked out for him long term at Liverpool and Houllier was right to have concerns.
As I said, buying Diouf instead was the big mistake in every sense. If we had bought someone else instead of Diouf then we probably wouldn't be considering Anelka as the 'one that got away' as much as we do now.
Robbie's book is an interesting read but (like many sporting autobiogs TBF) far from objective, and should absolutely NOT be taken as gospel. In it Robbie also refuses to face up to the dishonesty and unprofessionalism of his mate McMoneyman and the failings of Souness as a manager. A fair bit of what he says is no more than an attempt to justify his own errors of judgment or those of others close to him.
As far as Nico Anelka is concerned, Sammy Lee, Thommo and Stevie G had nothing but good to say about him - even Houllier himself has since that said his decision was a close call and admitted that he got it wrong. Robbie is in a minority of one over this. Nico himself made it clear not only at the time but for years afterwards that he'd have crawled back to Anfield over broken glass to play for us again. Junking him was Houllier's first really serious blunder, compounded by signing the disaster that was Spit the Dog instead. Given how we played in those six months with Nico up front for us, I'm convinced we'd have won the league by now if that decision had gone the other way and we'd kept that momentum.
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I agree with you regarding Fowler's book. More interesting than most footballers' books but hardly reliable.
And you may be correct about Anelka, but this does not alter my point that AT THE TIME he was happy. He is always happy when he first goes to clubs. However, going by his record at other clubs you must accept that there is a good chance it would not have worked out for him long term at Liverpool and Houllier was right to have concerns.
As I said, buying Diouf instead was the big mistake in every sense. If we had bought someone else instead of Diouf then we probably wouldn't be considering Anelka as the 'one that got away' as much as we do now.
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