Liverpool FC Forum

[crazyhorse]

For a bit of fun I thought I would have a look back at the team than won the title in 1989 - 1990 and compare some of the key men with what we have today..

I have paired them all up and given them each a score out of 10... lets see if we can stir a little debate over the two teams of Kenny!

Goalkeepers

1989 - Bruce Grobelaar - Regarded by some as a liability, but his confidence, willingness to take responsibility and gymnastic-like ability made him the most successful club goalkeeper of his generation. Personally he was one of my heroes, a real character. 8

2010 - Reina. Possibly the best keeper in the league at the moment, and certainly the best we have had since Grob. Is prone to the odd error but solid and athletic. 8

Defence

1989 - Steve Nicol. Legend. Cant think of a better right back. Rarely gave the ball away and was good going forward. 7

2010 - Glen Johnson. What to make of this guy?. Capable of some astonishing football but more often frustrating going forward and cant tackle a fish supper!. Capable of much better things. 6

1989 - Alan Hansen. By this season he was coming to the end of his career and his knees had gone. Ahead of his time for a defender, a very good passer of the ball from the back and a rock in defence.  8

2010 - Carra. Has secured his place in club history and is regarded as a legend by most fans. He has so much guts and desire its untrue and is more versatile than Hansen. Similar in that he did not have the international career of Hansen. Now coming towards the end of his career and his legs are going. Technically not as good as Hansen but his heart and passion put him right up there. I cant split them. 8.

1989 - Glen Hysen. Remember this guy? He had a very good season and swapped places regulary with Gary Ablett. Reliable and strong he did well for us in this season but was always limited for pace. 6.

2010 - Dan Agger. Very unlucky with injuries and being played out of position of late. Was treated badly by Rafa. When he is fit and in form he is our best CB IMHO. He has a ferocious left foot as well and has often popped up to score important goals. 7.

1989 - Steve Staunton. Sometimes little remembered in his spells with us. A model professional with a good left foot could also play in the middle. Sometimes a little clumsy in his early years but he eventually matured into a very good player. 6.

2010 - Fabio Aurelio. Injury prone. Injury Prone. Injury Prone. such a shame as he has genuine talent. I will never forget the free kick against Chelsea in the CL and I wish Steven Gerrard would give him more dead balls. Has enough years left in him to do himself justice at the club. 6.

Midfield.

1989 - Ray Houghton. Busy and energetic little bugger who did very well here. Is not often spoken about but is one of the greats and just what the team needed. 7.

2010 - Dirk Kuyt. Also a forward but here as he plays mostly on the right. Game, spirited but limited as well. 6.

1989 - Ronnie Whelan. Another legend. Understated, unfussed and absolutley vital for us. This guy ran our midfield for years and was some of the catalyst for the great football this side played. One of my all time greats. 9.

2010 - Mereiles. New to the club but i think he is showing some early promise. Unfair to compare him to someone like Ronnie Whelan but he is going to be a player for us in the future. 6.

1989 - Steve McMahon. You think Skrtle is a hard git try this guy. Midfield enforcer. But also good on the ball and scored some memorable goals for us. 8.

2010 - Lucas. Our most improved player of the year. I have always seen something in this lad. Needs to keep his form up and the desire to improve. Kenny will get the best from him. 6.

1989 - John Barnes. Digger was immense. Strong, quick, skilful and a legend. Moved into the centre of midfield with great effect as he got older. 8.

2010 - Steven Gerrard. Our skipper is a modern legend. He has a lethal right foot and a great engine. Has virtually dragged us through the last 5 seasons on his own. Loves a tackle which can sometimes be his undoing, but I think he will be in dreamland working with Dalglish ever day. 9.

Forwards.

1989 - Ian Rush. The best forward we have ever had. Period. This guy was lethal. Pace and composure combined with the best work ethic. The tackles this guy used to make were astounding. By the time we got to 1989 he was getting towards the end of his powers but he still knocked 18 league goals in. 9

2010 - Fernando Torres. One of the best forward players currently out there in the world and for the last few years with Stevie has carried the team. Suffered from injuries and sometimes there are questions regarding his mental strength. If we keep him as he gets older this will get better. Far more flair than Rush but he looses out on workrate. 8.

1989 - Peter Beardsley. Great to have in the team in the "hole". This guy would chase anything and often won it. Again underrated by many fans but he played a big part this season. Unbelievably lost his place in the side to Ronnie Rozenthal towards the end of the season. 8.

2010 - Joe Cole. Showed so much promise as a young player and started to live up to it at Chelsea. Has come to us with a point to prove but again suffering from injury too often. On his day a world class player - we need to see more of him. 7.

Total.
1989 - 84
2010 - 77

The legends come out on top, as they should giving what they achieved that season. Try it yourself and see where you come out, it woul be interesting to see how we all differ in regard to this.... Looking back I know its easy to look with rose tinted spectacles but I cannot really see a weakness. Out of out current squad how many would get into that team? I am thinking 3 or 4 at a push.

[neil]

I've tried comparing them, but I cant, sorry.

[Bermenstein]

You should be giving Barnes a 10 and Beardsley a 9 imo....

[SouthCoastShankly]

Hysen the old silver fox.

I distinctly remember him giving away a penalty for handball one game. He pretty much jumped and caught the ball with one hand.

[Kukilon]

hehe it shouldn't even be possible to have as grey hair as he had.

[worcester_red]

hehe it shouldn't even be possible to have as grey hair as he had.

Very interesting thread but I think you are being a bit to generous to Kuyt and Lucas, they are very average players and I hope we get some replacements for them in the summer.

[red till i die!!]

You should be giving Barnes a 10 and Beardsley a 9 imo....

i'd give both a 10.
the two of them were a joy to watch.both were fantastic with the ball and scared the hell out of sides with there dribbling.barnes had a good eye for goal and was a good free kick specialist,as for beardsley one drop of his shoulder and players were dropping at his feet and he was gone.sharp little fox he was.
in 89 both were amazing and id find it hard to separate them.out of our current side only 2 players would make that team and it would be pepe and gerrard.

[kazza]

Shows us how much better the other teams have gotten.

[burjennio]

Its like comparing Mike Tyson from 1989 and 2011 ffs, with the exception of Reina, Gerrard and Torres I dont think any of todays side would get close to our last title winning side.

And Ronny Rosenthals impact that season was a massive in winning the league for us that year, he scored 7 in 8 games!

[laza]

Great post mate, one thing that stands out for me is Steve Staunton was around that early.

Bang on about Ronnie Whelan,like a lot of others I expect  I never forgot the curler against MANCS in 83 Milk Cup

Disappointed when we sold Beardsley, always felt that was just one of little things that helped us down the 90s slide

[dundreamin]

Apart from the 4 obvious ones reina Carra stevie and torres. The rest would be lucky to win the conference. AND I,AM NOT JOKING

[metalhead]

Disappointed when we sold Beardsley, always felt that was just one of little things that helped us down the 90s slide

biggest mistake souness ever did

[roberto green]

barnes was immense that year and beardsley was like Messi and that's no understatement

[LFC2007]

barnes was immense that year and beardsley was like Messi and that's no understatement

You mean overstatement.

[NANNY RED]

I myself havin seen all of them players in action on the pitch, there is only id say 4 present day players think about viaing for a position in that 89 team, because the 89 team were a footballing side, my only choices would be Riena, Agger , Gerrard and Torres,