Souness: Is he a twat?

[Y1]

[quote author=Vlads Quiff link=topic=37811.msg1011023#msg1011023 date=1260451035]
[quote author=Y1 link=topic=37811.msg1011010#msg1011010 date=1260450533]
[quote author=gkmacca link=topic=37811.msg1010974#msg1010974 date=1260447145]
Souness making a bid for the Sybil Fawlty Bleeding Obvious award? Well, okay, if this is his 'right', fine, but it's a step too far to present this as some kind of brave and principled punditry. Souness exaggerating the bleeding obvious for effect? No, I don't think that's worthy of anyone's respect, even if it does suit their mood of self-inflicted masochism. And his history of public snipes against his old club, from his Southampton days through his bickering with Houllier and on to today hardly demonstrates he's 'Liverpool through and through'. This 'enemy of my enemy is my friend' stuff is all too typical of the humbug on here these days.
[/quote]

Hear hear
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Come off it Y1, you understand Macca's last few high-brow posts even less than me

regards
[/quote]

Oh yes I understand what macca said perfectly.

 

[Judge Jules]

Could it be that Souness thinks something drastic needs to be done at LFC and that he thinks - however misguidedly - that this is the best way he can help that along? I ask because he's been a lot more supportive in previous appearances as a pundit and because, disastrous though his time as manager was, he was at least man enough to hold his hand up, admit things hadn't worked out, and walk. In fact he initially offered to do so about a year before he actually left. Had it not been for Moores persuading Souness to stay that time (prompting at least one resignation from the board in protest), the nightmare could have ended a whole season sooner.

 

[gkmacca]

That's a generous interpretation, JJ, IMHO. His previous effort, with a visibly thrilled Keys hanging on every word, was an attack on Benitez's transfer record. That's right: Graeme Souness, the manager who has always needed three or four more players wherever he's been, savaged Benitez's transfer record. I think he's just embittered about football in general at present, as his announcement that he's disillusioned with football management seemed to support. There are places and ways to make considered and constructive criticism of the team you purport to support, and, for me, next to Richard Keys on Sky is not an appealing option.

 

[Whaddapie]

[quote author=gkmacca link=topic=37811.msg1010842#msg1010842 date=1260439150]
He sat in a studio alongside Jurgen Klinsmann (yes, nice touch, that) and Richard Keys and behaved in the most naive way as the anti-Liverpool agenda cranked into action yet again. His hypocrisy when it comes to discussing bad dealings in the transfer market and being over-indulged by the board was stunning. The contrast to Dalglish's past behaviour on the same show was painfully evident.
[/quote]

Didn't get that at all, Macca - I thought that he was simply expressing the fears that many others have hinted at, without going into depth on...

He took no joy from anything he said last night. he's not enjoying this at all.

 

[gkmacca]

Who said he was enjoying it? He was his usual melancholic self.

 

[Juanito]

[quote author=gkmacca link=topic=37811.msg1010863#msg1010863 date=1260441119]


Souness was well on his way to a defeatist attitude when he took over as manager. He gave speeches to the sports hacks predicting that no team would be able to dominate the league as Liverpool had done before, he expressed doubts that Liverpool would be able to overcome the likes of George Graham's Arsenal, he failed to attract the best talents available, he bought some disgracefully inept players, he explained buying Julian Dicks as the result of a need to get 'a man,' he presided over the most shamefully shambolic performances I've ever seen - all whilst his mates in the media kept assuring people 'Souey will turn things around'. So, if someone who is now so jaundiced about the team wants to excuse the sewage stream that gushes from this S*n-loving mercenary's mouth because it happens to suit their own agenda, well, that's sad, but it's manipulative all the same.
[/quote]

 

[darkstarexodus]

Er, he said it would be the first time he can remember that the top players wouldn't want to come to Liverpool, not the first time we hadn't qualified for the Champions League.

He's still a moron. Probably a twat too. But not for what you guys are harrassing him on.

 

[gkmacca]

He's not a moron or a twat. He was a magnificent player, but his judgement stinks when it comes to choosing media outlets, and I can only assume he's being disingenuous or downright mischievous with these comments. Hansen makes plenty of criticisms but knows exactly how to present them. I'm sick to death hearing Souness acting like Keys' celebrity mouthpiece.

 

[SaintGeorge67]

I like Souness. A lot.

 

[SaintGeorge67]

And despite the S** incident, he's not a twat. Ridiculous statement.

 

[Vlads Quiff]

He apologised profusely over the S** thing, and has since said he realised now he felt he should have resigned over it, that would have been up to him. In most of the circles I move in that is more or less water under the bridge which only seems to be perpetuated on message boards
I don't think this is about Souness or what he had to say, or the stage on which he said it, it's just the affect of yet another realisation that we could very well be heading towards a very dark place, and under Rafa's stewardship, unless things pick up very quickly.
I hate reading the match reports in the Echo because they are generally too one sided, Tony Barratt was about the most open minded and honest local hack we have had for a while. Similarly I don't want ex red's toeing the party line just for the sake of it or fearing they will not be asked back for a free seat drinks all afternoon and a roast dinner.

regards



regards

 

[gkmacca]

I don't think anyone wants ex-pros toeing the party line. That isn't really a fair distinction.

 

[Y1]

[quote author=darkstarexodus link=topic=37811.msg1011352#msg1011352 date=1260477125]
Er, he said it would be the first time he can remember that the top players wouldn't want to come to Liverpool, not the first time we hadn't qualified for the Champions League.

He's still a moron. Probably a twat too. But not for what you guys are harrassing him on.
[/quote]

If I read the quote correctly, it refers to Champions League!

 

[Y1]

[quote author=gkmacca link=topic=37811.msg1011473#msg1011473 date=1260485787]
I don't think anyone wants ex-pros toeing the party line. That isn't really a fair distinction.
[/quote]

Yup, none of us want a blinkered ex player/pro/pundit... either for us or against us. All I would like to see is a balanced and reasoned comment/criticism.

 

[Vlads Quiff]

[quote author=Y1 link=topic=37811.msg1011549#msg1011549 date=1260498540]
[quote author=gkmacca link=topic=37811.msg1011473#msg1011473 date=1260485787]
I don't think anyone wants ex-pros toeing the party line. That isn't really a fair distinction.
[/quote]

Yup, none of us want a blinkered ex player/pro/pundit... either for us or against us. All I would like to see is a balanced and reasoned comment/criticism.
[/quote]
I didn't see the interview in question, but from what hear he gave his opinion , which is not a view shared solely by Graeme Souness, far from it. It seems to me that this is not an opinion shared by everyone, and people have taken exception to it, and have rounded on him for doing so...the truth sometimes hurts Y1.

regards


regards

 

[gkmacca]

Have you been living in a cave? It's an opinion that's been dominant on here since about September! It's hardly as if Souness stunned people with a spasm of truth-telling. And I did see the interview and, sandwiched between Klinsmann and Keys, only an idiot or an aimless publicity-seeker would have thought it prudent to give Sky the soundbites they so obviously craved.

 

[jexykrodic]

Souey's just building himself a media career having realised his motivation for management has waned.

I didn't find anything he said, or the company he was in; as particularly controversial.

We are playing poorly and have financial issues. We are a story for the press. It was speculation on Arsenal's mediocre season last year, it's us this year.

Only winning football matches will silence the critcs, turning in on our own isn't helpful.

 

[gkmacca]

He's GOT a media career, he doesn't need to build one. But look at his completely doom-laden comments about Scotland, too - it isn't really what hasn't been said time and again before, it's just now serving no constructive point to repeat it, other than to add to the pressure on those about whom he claims to care. But we can't be stubborn about this when it offends those who want to be left to be stubborn about their own opinions. That would be prima donna-ish.

P.S. That other noble teller of truths, Mark Lawrenson, is saying much the same thing in the papers today. As he's done for most of the season. Will he, too, be praised for telling it like it is?

 

[Jack D Rips]

I think hes been sitting beside Dunphy for too long.

 

[gkmacca]

He's normally great when he's alongside him. I think Dunphy can't forgive God for making Richard Harris. That was supposed to be his gig.

 

[Jack D Rips]

Yes he is great up against Dunphy. But on Sky he seems to play the Dunphy role if you know what I mean

 

[gkmacca]

Oh yes, I see. Sky just have a panel that's set up for these things. I mean, why on earth have Klinsmann there? I don't think they've used him for any other match, and then, all of a sudden, he's a regular for Liverpool crisis matches. It's lazily manipulative.

 

[jexykrodic]

Presumably they co-opted Souness because they knew he would provide the doomsday comments and Klinsmann knowing he was considered a replacement last time we were in trouble. Mixing the two means you play to prejudices and ratchet up the pressure on the club, anger it's fans and court controversy.

Perfect editorial job. But you must see through it, surely? Sky don't worry about context, just viewing figures. I'm sure they see themselves as the antidote to the BBC's often dull punditry.

 

[gkmacca]

I'm sure we all see through it. I see through the BNP, too, I still don't enjoy them being around. This is risibly trivial stuff, but, in the relatively trivial world of football, it's tiresome. I don't actually think Souey does go on these things to make predictable comments. But he seems startlingly oblivious to what a nasty little git Keys is and how his (perhaps) emotional response will be used. That's startling because he's a smart man, but, as his track record shows, he's fallible enough to show a baffling naivety in this area (although Brian Reade, for one, would argue that it's always been far more cynical than that).

 

[Y1]

Vlads, I am not afraid of the truth being told. We all know what LFC is now facing and how things are turning out at the moment but we do not need an ex player/manager piling on unreasonable pressure on the team and manager through public punditry and seemingly being untruthful about it at the same time riding on his high horses.

Kind Regards

 

[LarryHagman]

Souness has made mistakes re this club and I think he regrets them. I always find him a continuing aficionado, I guess some don't that's their choice & I respect it.

I didn't see what he said this week in context but if it was as reported;
1. we will struggle to sign players if we're not in the CL
2. we are in debt

I'm not sure what the issue is, it stands to reason both statements are fact.

 

[gkmacca]

So what did he say that you found new, pertinent and helpful?

 

[LarryHagman]

[quote author=gkmacca link=topic=37811.msg1011839#msg1011839 date=1260543842]
So what did he say that you found new, pertinent and helpful?
[/quote]

Nothing, who ever does on the telly? What can I say?
Maybe they should invite you on, it would save us all the bother of listening to details about how everyone else working in television & every other form of media is such a fucking bellend.

 

[gkmacca]

[quote author=LarryHagman link=topic=37811.msg1011849#msg1011849 date=1260544466]
[quote author=gkmacca link=topic=37811.msg1011839#msg1011839 date=1260543842]
So what did he say that you found new, pertinent and helpful?
[/quote]

Nothing, who ever does on the telly? What can I say?
Maybe they should invite you on, it would save us all the bother of listening to details about how everyone else working in television & every other form of media is such a fucking bellend.

[/quote]

You see, this kind of (non) answer sums up the silliness on here. You can't answer in a way that suits your bias, so you resort to stupid insults. Well done, Larry, well done.

 

[LarryHagman]

[quote author=gkmacca link=topic=37811.msg1011852#msg1011852 date=1260544810]
[quote author=LarryHagman link=topic=37811.msg1011849#msg1011849 date=1260544466]
[quote author=gkmacca link=topic=37811.msg1011839#msg1011839 date=1260543842]
So what did he say that you found new, pertinent and helpful?
[/quote]

Nothing, who ever does on the telly? What can I say?
Maybe they should invite you on, it would save us all the bother of listening to details about how everyone else working in television & every other form of media is such a fucking bellend.

[/quote]

You see, this kind of (non) answer sums up the silliness on here. You can't answer in a way that suits your bias, so you resort to stupid insults. Well done, Larry, well done.
[/quote]

What bias?