Jump to content
I will no longer be developing resources for Invision Community Suite ×
By fans, for fans. By fans, for fans. By fans, for fans.

Boyhood reds

Spike

By Spike
in Liverpool FC

 Share

Recommended Posts

Spike

Spike

Posted
Posted

It's a term often used when the club sign a player and one which seems to excite the fans (see the endless threads in the past about Duff etc) as though it will add something extra to the signing in terms of will to win if he is one.

 

This season we have Bellamy and Pennant - both of which have yet to convince, and even in the past, players such as Spud were often the target of fan's disdain.

 

So I want to ask this question - how much does being a boyhood red actually mean when we sign a player? It's something that appears to make us want them more as if it's going to make them better for us.

 

However, I'd like to offer the following point.

 

It doesn't.

 

Perhaps by them being lifelong Liverpool fans gives, as supporters us a burden of overexpectation upon them, that they'll see and want things as passionately we do, and perhaps heaps more pressure on them when they fail to immediately deliver in their first season. After all they are fans and so perhaps our criticisms and moans at the match hurt them more than the heartless professional who'll look at things objectively, pick themselves up, brush themselves down and get on with it. It doesn't affect them as much.

 

Most boyhood reds who I can think of that have been successful, and beholden by the fans, have come through the ranks. We've even had several blues who have changed sides from their early years to when they signed professional forms - one of which is the epitomy of our club now.

 

Similarly, and I could be accused of being selective in the examples here, but in Kuyt we have someone that simply loves the game, whoever he plays for, and in Agger someone who admits beyond playing has no interest in the game.

 

So what really does boyhood red mean to you? Would you rather a cold hearted professional (the likes of solskjaer who despite being at them lot always delivers)?

 

Should we stop thinking of this as being no more meaningful than the fact that they support us and allow them to settle in?

 

Should we give scouse a chance?

Guest Kev

Guest Kev

Posted
Posted

Times have changed, unfortunately old c**** like me are still stuck there.

 

Boyhood reds were everywhere when I was a kid, these days we seen to have more boyhood blues :o

 

You have some good points there and maybe the 'tag' is designed for the fans to 'love' more. eg Bellamy £6m and Pennant £7m (you mentioned those), because they were given the 'tag' made us (or me) accept them more, because if they didn't have that 'tag' then maybe I would think they are after a hefty wage each month :unsure:

Kahnee

Kahnee

Posted
Posted

It can have one of two extreme effects IMHO - there's the Gerrard effect (game improves year on year, boosted by pride in shirt), or there's the Pennant/Bellamy effect (weight of expectation has a detremental effect on the players game)

Spike

Spike

Posted
  • Author
Posted

You have some good points there and maybe the 'tag' is designed for the fans to 'love' more. eg Bellamy £6m and Pennant £7m (you mentioned those), because they were given the 'tag' made us (or me) accept them more, because if they didn't have that 'tag' then maybe I would think they are after a hefty wage each month :unsure:

 

there's a lot of truth in that but it's performances that make them value for money not their allegiance. I must admit I was well disappointed when I read about Agger not caring about football, thought he was a bit of a c*** to be honest, for someone so gifted. Yet at the end of the day he delivers for the 90.

Kahnee

Kahnee

Posted
Posted

there's a lot of truth in that but it's performances that make them value for money not their allegiance. I must admit I was well disappointed when I read about Agger not caring about football, thought he was a bit of a c*** to be honest, for someone so gifted. Yet at the end of the day he delivers for the 90.

 

admired him for saying that - at a new club in a new country, and still strong enough to admit that football is just a job and he's not actually a fan? Shows a certin strength of character

Kahnee

Kahnee

Posted
Posted

I know Kahn, but it kind of proves my point. At the end of the day their allegiance means s*** all.

 

Been the case for a while now, mate. Just look at Rooney (as a recent example)

Guest Kev

Guest Kev

Posted
Posted

OK. let's pick a team of boyhood reds then (not all current Liverpool players)- modern day:

 

G. ???

RB. ???

CH. ???

CH. ???

LB. Ste Warnock

RM. Jermaine Pennant

CM. Kevin Nolan

CM. ???

LM. Harry Kewell

F. Craig Bellamy

F. ???

floyd

floyd

Posted
Posted

OK. let's pick a team of boyhood reds then (not all current Liverpool players)- modern day:

 

G. ???

RB. ???

CH. ???

CH. ???

LB. Ste Warnock

RM. Jermaine Pennant

CM. Kevin Nolan

CM. ???

LM. Harry Kewell

F. Craig Bellamy

F. ???

G. Tony Warner

RB. ???

CH. Anton Ferdinand

CH. Rio Ferdinand

LB. Ste Warnock

RM. Jermaine Pennant

CM. Kevin Nolan

CM. Steven Reid

LM. Harry Kewell

F. Craig Bellamy

F. Solskjær

floyd

floyd

Posted
Posted (edited)

isn't Neill a red? or am i making that up?

nope, think your right, it's the Craig "skippy" Johnston effect

Most of the players last night, could of done with half his energy

Edited by floyd
Guest Kev

Guest Kev

Posted
Posted

Little known CM called Steven Gerrard? ;)

 

Nah, he's a boyhood chav :rolleyes:

 

G. Tony Warner

RB. ???

CH. Anton Ferdinand

CH. Rio Ferdinand

LB. Ste Warnock

RM. Jermaine Pennant

CM. Kevin Nolan

CM. Steven Gerrard

LM. Harry Kewell

F. Craig Bellamy

F. Solskjær

Spike

Spike

Posted
  • Author
Posted

OK. let's pick a team of boyhood reds then (not all current Liverpool players)- modern day:

 

G. ???

RB. ???

CH. ???

CH. ???

LB. Ste Warnock

RM. Jermaine Pennant

CM. Kevin Nolan

CM. ???

LM. Harry Kewell

F. Craig Bellamy

F. ???

 

:D you did that on purpose didn't you :lol: turning my thread into a formation one :P

 

Murphy

andymac

andymac

Posted
Posted

Play David Thompson out of position at rb.

 

Thought he was supposed to be Blue.

 

Wes Brown (I believe)

Wayne Routledge (or at least he was being touted as red when we were linked with him)

Chris Kirkland

Emile Heskey

Leighton Baines

Theo Walcott

Phil Jevons

anny road

anny road

Posted
Posted

leighton Baines is ridiculously red

 

Alan smith, both ferdinands, Solksjaer, Wes Brown, Kev Nolan, Spud, Heskey, Litmanen, Pennant, Gerrard, Warnock, Thierry Henry :D

 

Craig Bellamy is CArdiff

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

Home

Notifications

PMs
×
×
  • Create New...