John Barnes

[Tommy Cockles]

Nice compilation this.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmAo0uiarvA

 

Was at almost all of these games, it was a pleasure to see the man play. At his height almost superhuman.

 

Shame we never got to see him in Europe.

[Doyler3000]

Astounding close control and shooting off either foot.

Magical.

[Case]

What a player. He was unbelievable at Anfield against QPR when he scored those 2. My happiest day on the Kop.

[kop205]

I'm just a bit too young to have really seen (or at least been able to fully appreciate) Dalglish at his peak.

 

Barnes, for those first couple of years, is the best Liverpool player I've seen, bar none.

 

What the first part of that compilation also shows is the quality of moevement from other players around him - though admittedly it is easier to find space when you've got one man pulling 3,4 or 5 players out of position all the time.

 

And HeWonItFromBrock is one of my favourite poster names.

[Mike]

*wipes tear from eye*

[upallnight]

so bias aside who is better barnes or giggs?

[Mike]

f*** off

[Sion]

so bias aside who is better barnes or giggs?

 

Giggs has been steadily good with a few great moments.

Barnes was steadily great with a few good moments.

Edited September 18, 2010 by Sion

[_00_deathscar]

*wipes tear from eye*

 

Which eye? And I don't mean right or left...

[Cunny]

a poignant reminder that there used to be a football club at Anfield

[Stevie H]

giggs is a brilliant footballer who has had a hell of a career.

 

john barnes was a f***ing genius.

[Atticus Finch]

Giggs has longevity - 20 years in the top flight - plus a sack full of medals in his favour. His peak however was nowhere near the level of sustained brilliance achieved by Barnes.

 

That clip sums it up - could score with either foot or head, quality crosses, close control when dribbling, very good turn of pace as well. What a difference he would make to the current team.

 

Barnes every time

[Lark]

barnes is the best player i've seen in a red shirt and the best winger i've ever seen. Had loads of arguments with manc work collegues over who was better barnes or giggs. Barnes without any shadow of a doubt. As said giggs has had longevity. 30 games a season for the best part of twenty years is some feat but the longevity is aided by the mancs profiting from sky money, being the richest club during giggs career, and the resulting effect of united having the biggest squad of players and the ability to rest n rotate em all. If giggsy had started in the 80's like barnes and played on some of the mud heaps and against the likes of vinny jones types giggs career might not have spanned so long. Barnes s***s all over giggs in terms of what he could do on a football pitch. Barnes was equally able with his right foot as he was with his left, check the number of goals scored with his right peg (sorry mancs but giggs is predominately left footed). Barnes scored what 28 goals for us in the league in a single season, something giggs has never got close to in any season. Running with the ball with either foot (giggs runs with the ball on his left peg) ability to cross a ball with either foot (giggs has never been able to consistently deliver decent crosses from the left wing on his left peg never mind deliver a cross with his right foot ) in this respect barnes beats giggs all ends up, barnes could deliver a decent cross when running with the ball at pace or with pinpoint accuracy when swinging it in from deep. Abilty from deadball freekicks. Barnes wins handsdown. Headers barnes again, Strength. Barnes wins again. Not just physique but the mental strength to deal with racists, some horrendous tackles, and some boggy pitches.

 

Barnes was class.

[Stevie H]

i know it's not for us but look at this from 1984. f***ing genius.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jzx68fnZCQ&feature=related

[upallnight]

f*** off

I was offering a comparison and don't try and make out its an absurd one.

[kop205]

I was offering a comparison and don't try and make out its an absurd one.

 

It is though, for all the reasons people have pointed out.

 

It is like comparing Callaghan and Best - their respective greatness rests on completely different qualitiies and so there can be no meaningful comparison really. .

[upallnight]

It is though, for all the reasons people have pointed out.

 

It is like comparing Callaghan and Best - their respective greatness rests on completely different qualitiies and so there can be no meaningful comparison really. .

Are you telling me it is ridiculous to compare giggs with Barnes. I think Barnes was better but not by much and I would probably prefer giggs due to longevity. Blind bias is a joke.

[kop205]

Are you telling me it is ridiculous to compare giggs with Barnes. I think Barnes was better but not by much and I would probably prefer giggs due to longevity. Blind bias is a joke.

 

Blind bias or not, I think a Liverpool fan w***ing over Giggs in comparison to Barnes - in a thread that was meant to be about eulogising the latter - the day before we play them is a joke.

 

And as I said above, I don't think they are particularly comparable. Giggs lasted way longer. Barnes was on a different planet in terms of sheer ability. They have completely different 'selling points'.

 

Did you see much of Barnes at his peak, out of interest?

[upallnight]

Blind bias or not, I think a Liverpool fan w***ing over Giggs in comparison to Barnes - in a thread that was meant to be about eulogising the latter - the day before we play them is a joke.

 

And as I said above, I don't think they are particularly comparable. Giggs lasted way longer. Barnes was on a different planet in terms of sheer ability. They have completely different 'selling points'.

 

Did you see much of Barnes at his peak, out of interest?

Aside from sitting in the same seat since 87 then no. Read Barnes autobiography and he even admits that giggs is the best wingers he has seen in the modern era. No w***ing involved nob rot

[kop205]

Aside from sitting in the same seat since 87 then no. Read Barnes autobiography and he even admits that giggs is the best wingers he has seen in the modern era. No w***ing involved nob rot

 

I can only assume it is one of the obstructed views in the Main Stand then?

 

And if you've been going for that long, and are presumably at least 23 years old, then you should have a word with yourself about that last sentence. 'Nob rot' indeed. f*** me, you come across as being about 14 - even more so when you start qouting footballers aoutobiographies at me to try and prove your point.

 

Anyway, enjoy cheering on your beloved Giggsy tomorrow.

[Kvarme Ate My Food]

I would probably prefer giggs due to longevity. Blind bias is a joke.

 

you're one of these people who think "the game is the most important thing", aren't you?

[Benzo-13]

Aside from sitting in the same seat since 87 then no. Read Barnes autobiography and he even admits that giggs is the best wingers he has seen in the modern era. No w***ing involved nob rot

It's respect from your peers kinda thing.

Giggs is more a kin to McManaman or Brian Laudrup.

 

John Barnes belongs on a higher up plane of footballing Godness.

[Falconhoof]

Are you telling me it is ridiculous to compare giggs with Barnes. I think Barnes was better but not by much and I would probably prefer giggs due to longevity. Blind bias is a joke.

 

f*** off.

[Logic]

2 things:

 

1. There's movement off the ball there. Haven't seen that for a long time...

2. Forwards making darting runs, diagonally, in behind the defence. Haven't seen that for a long time...

 

Oh and Barnes was one of the greats. Simple as that.

[Knox_Harrington]

The most valid comparison I can think of, if anyone wants to run around making them on this Saturday night, is Barnes/Henry.

Edited September 18, 2010 by Knox_Harrington