Author Topic: Emile Heskey  (Read 7338 times)

Offline Andy Hunter

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Emile Heskey
« on: July 25, 2016, 11:06:29 am »
Was watching the Premier league 100 club, he really did score some fantastic goals.

It got me thinking, he was sold at the end of Houllier's final season a month before Rafa came.

Do you think Rafa would of kept him if he had the chance? He was after him when he was at Wigan (albeit, H&G tightened the pursestrings).

I think he would of been an integral part in 04-05, especially Cisse's injury, Owen's departure and Morientes CL cup tied.

Was out of Rafa's hands as i'm guessing a decision was made higher up to sell him as Houllier was leaving, but i'm sure Rafa looked at that and thought 'I could of worked with him'. I doubt he would of been sold quickly like Murphy.


What do you guys think?
« Last Edit: July 25, 2016, 12:05:13 pm by SP »
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Offline paulrazor

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interestingly i remember him saying he thought Houllier had gone a bit stale, at the time i remember thinking "are you talking about yourself?"

If he had have stayed them we probably wouldnt have bought Garcia, think Parry said at the time if Owen stayed we wouldnt have got Garcia so maybe same case here, Owen would have carried on scoring but not sure about Heskey.

The treble season he was fantastic but he never kicked on from that, following season he scored one goal between the end of august and february.

02-03 he only scored 9 and again had a long drought at some point that season.

I remember his final season i think the last straw for many fans was at home to Man United he was clean through in the last minute and he just fell over and slid the ball wide.

We weren't seeing enough goals for him anymore or consistency, there was games (dont laugh) he was unplayable because when he had confidence he had some excellent close control, he was strong and quick and could score but i think he lost confidence too easily and he would be too easily muscled off the ball by someone half his height.

He never really got close to the treble season form again. Shame, he was bloody good that season
« Last Edit: September 11, 2019, 04:14:48 pm by Hellrazor »
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Offline Alf

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Re: Emile Heskey
« Reply #2 on: July 25, 2016, 06:42:39 pm »
I think Rafa would have got a lot more out Heskey but the decision was made to let him go long before Houllier went and it's not s difficult decision to argue with.

Offline whiteboots

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Re: Emile Heskey
« Reply #3 on: July 26, 2016, 01:00:46 pm »
A fine player- on his day.

When he was developing he was an aggressive, pacy, strong front man who wanted to score goals.

I always thought that in his time with us he changed in his own mind to a hold up player, bringing others into the game, and then lost what made him good in the first place.

Offline Hazell

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Re: Emile Heskey
« Reply #4 on: September 10, 2019, 10:26:43 pm »
Emile Heskey: ‘I was on the floor and started crying. Then I found a barber

The former England striker talks about homesickness in Liverpool, falling asleep during Gérard Houllier’s meetings and picks his favourite player from the ‘golden generation’

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/sep/10/emile-heskey-interview-liverpool-homesickness-leicester

Nice little interview with Heskey.
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Offline CraigDS

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Re: Emile Heskey
« Reply #5 on: September 11, 2019, 10:02:47 am »
Always quite liked Heskey. Wasn’t the greatest player ever, but almost always put a decent shift in.

Didn’t realise he had 7 kids though  :o

Offline newterp

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Re: Emile Heskey
« Reply #6 on: September 11, 2019, 02:11:27 pm »
Always quite liked Heskey. Wasn’t the greatest player ever, but almost always put a decent shift in.

Didn’t realise he had 7 kids though  :o

Wanted to start his own academy

Offline Fromola

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Re: Emile Heskey
« Reply #7 on: September 11, 2019, 04:12:37 pm »
Never really took to Heskey because you always felt he could do more.

When on his game he was unplayable and had everything a player like Drogba did but didn't show it enough. Whether it was confidence or what.

Those physical type old-style centre forwards don't tend to work with us in at least the Prem era (Heskey, Collymore, Benteke, Carroll all our record signings at the time and never really lived up to the billing).  He did work well with Owen though.
« Last Edit: September 11, 2019, 04:16:52 pm by Fromola »
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Offline Hazell

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Re: Emile Heskey
« Reply #8 on: September 11, 2019, 07:53:28 pm »
Never really took to Heskey because you always felt he could do more.

When on his game he was unplayable and had everything a player like Drogba did but didn't show it enough. Whether it was confidence or what.

Those physical type old-style centre forwards don't tend to work with us in at least the Prem era (Heskey, Collymore, Benteke, Carroll all our record signings at the time and never really lived up to the billing).  He did work well with Owen though.

I always thought Collymore wasn't as limited as those but other factors meant that he never quite fulfilled his potential.

Heskey I think did for the most part, even though like you, I felt he could have been more aggressive in his game. However, I think he succeeded here because he was good enough to give Houllier what he wanted and because of that, we were successful, albeit for a brief couple of years after he signed. So I wouldn't say he didn't work, it was just for a brief period, after which, for various reasons, mainly not down to him, things kind of fell apart until Rafa arrived and Heskey moved on.

Still have some good memories of him though and he played a big part in helping us win those cups in 2001.
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Offline blacksun

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Re: Emile Heskey
« Reply #9 on: September 11, 2019, 08:20:17 pm »
Never really took to Heskey because you always felt he could do more.

When on his game he was unplayable and had everything a player like Drogba did but didn't show it enough. Whether it was confidence or what.

Those physical type old-style centre forwards don't tend to work with us in at least the Prem era (Heskey, Collymore, Benteke, Carroll all our record signings at the time and never really lived up to the billing).  He did work well with Owen though.

I always likened Heskey to Bruno, both could have been monsters in their field but neither seemed to have the killer instinct to take them to the very highest level. Always liked Emile though, had to defend him so many times when he was playing for England to fans of other teams.

Offline Fromola

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Re: Emile Heskey
« Reply #10 on: September 11, 2019, 08:54:08 pm »
A wound up Heskey could dominate a game like Drogba in his prime (mostly he seemed to get wound up against Chelsea for some reason).

Most of the time he was just too timid and also lacked the killer instinct to score more. He could go 4 months without a goal and knock 6 in 5 games.

He was still a good team player. Just really frustrating unfulfilled talent. He spent his peak years (about 26 to early 30s) at Birmingham and Wigan and without injuries causing the downfall. He was starting for England in a World Cup at 24.
« Last Edit: September 11, 2019, 08:59:09 pm by Fromola »
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Offline paulrazor

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Re: Emile Heskey
« Reply #11 on: September 12, 2019, 08:51:29 am »
I always likened Heskey to Bruno, both could have been monsters in their field but neither seemed to have the killer instinct to take them to the very highest level. Always liked Emile though, had to defend him so many times when he was playing for England to fans of other teams.
pretty sure Bruno was actually his nickname funny enough
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Re: Emile Heskey
« Reply #12 on: September 12, 2019, 09:12:45 am »
He’s a bit like Crouchy, very likeable guy
If he's being asked to head the ball too frequently - which isn't exactly his specialty - it could affect his ear and cause an infection. Especially if the ball hits him on the ear directly.

Offline Smellytrabs

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Re: Emile Heskey
« Reply #13 on: September 12, 2019, 12:49:38 pm »
pretty sure Bruno was actually his nickname funny enough

He called 'Bruno' at Leicester but made it clear that he hated the nick-name. I remember when he came here some people would try to do the 'Bruno' chant but it was quashed by those who were aware of Heskey's dislike of it.

Good servant to club, but was also a time when we were becoming anti-football. I was so gutted when we sold Fowler - a mate of mine told me it would be okay because we had Heskey - I explained it wasn't the same. A good player to twat the ball up to get the flick on to a pacy forward who always put the ball in the net. It was effective for a time, but fucking horrible to watch - especially when we moving on players like Fowler and Litmanen.

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Re: Emile Heskey
« Reply #14 on: September 12, 2019, 03:21:12 pm »
The self-deprecating and / or self-confidence lacking ones usually are comfortable viewing from a distance.

Just seeing Heskey talk in an interview gives you clues on why he was never going to be the absolute best in a contact sport. That final bit of aggression / belief is missing.

He was useful for us no doubt, wonder what Rafa could've done with him over a few years. Iirc Rafa wanted to keep him but at that point the move away was already agreed... and we had Cisse as Houllier's 'parting gift', a player which I doubt Rafa would have ever signed if it was up to him.

edit: spelling
« Last Edit: September 12, 2019, 03:48:53 pm by surfer. Fuck you generator. »

Offline Fromola

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Re: Emile Heskey
« Reply #15 on: September 12, 2019, 08:28:29 pm »
He called 'Bruno' at Leicester but made it clear that he hated the nick-name. I remember when he came here some people would try to do the 'Bruno' chant but it was quashed by those who were aware of Heskey's dislike of it.

Good servant to club, but was also a time when we were becoming anti-football. I was so gutted when we sold Fowler - a mate of mine told me it would be okay because we had Heskey - I explained it wasn't the same. A good player to twat the ball up to get the flick on to a pacy forward who always put the ball in the net. It was effective for a time, but fucking horrible to watch - especially when we moving on players like Fowler and Litmanen.

The problem was Owen and Fowler never really gelled and Heskey worked well in a 442 alongside one of them, particularly Owen.

But after selling Fowler, we became completely reliant on Owen for goals (or Gerrard) as Heskey could go months without scoring. So when Owen had one of his injuries we couldn't win a game.
Could have done with Grujic and even Chirivella to tide us over this season

Offline Smellytrabs

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Re: Emile Heskey
« Reply #16 on: September 12, 2019, 09:47:56 pm »
The problem was Owen and Fowler never really gelled and Heskey worked well in a 442 alongside one of them, particularly Owen.

But after selling Fowler, we became completely reliant on Owen for goals (or Gerrard) as Heskey could go months without scoring. So when Owen had one of his injuries we couldn't win a game.

Footballing centre-forward's just didn't really fit into Houllier's style. I think the reason Owen and Fowler didn't gel is because in the way were playing, Fowler didn't really have a role as such. The sole aim of our play was to get Owen in behind opposition defences via a long ball. This didn't play to Fowler's strengths and left him a little redundant.  He doesn't have the pace to be chasing long balls - he doesn't have the height to be the one flicking on high balls  forward to Owen. I think if Rafa had taken over at the time Ged did, he would have looked to play Owen as the lone forward and Fowler as the number 10 - with the midfield looking to get the ball into Robbie's feet.

Had Houllier been manager in the early 80's he would have had a similar scenario with Rush and Dalglish. Rush would have suited Houllier's tactics absolutely perfectly - Dalglish would have been a bit of a spare part - he would have been better off cashing in on Dalglish and bringing in somebody like Mark Hateley to play with Rush.

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Re: Emile Heskey
« Reply #17 on: September 12, 2019, 10:54:27 pm »
pretty sure Bruno was actually his nickname funny enough

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Offline Smellytrabs

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Re: Emile Heskey
« Reply #18 on: September 12, 2019, 11:04:26 pm »
Anyone remember this outstanding performance by Emile?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzIUu8ORbzY


Offline Fromola

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Re: Emile Heskey
« Reply #19 on: September 13, 2019, 07:33:20 am »
Footballing centre-forward's just didn't really fit into Houllier's style. I think the reason Owen and Fowler didn't gel is because in the way were playing, Fowler didn't really have a role as such. The sole aim of our play was to get Owen in behind opposition defences via a long ball. This didn't play to Fowler's strengths and left him a little redundant.  He doesn't have the pace to be chasing long balls - he doesn't have the height to be the one flicking on high balls  forward to Owen. I think if Rafa had taken over at the time Ged did, he would have looked to play Owen as the lone forward and Fowler as the number 10 - with the midfield looking to get the ball into Robbie's feet.

Had Houllier been manager in the early 80's he would have had a similar scenario with Rush and Dalglish. Rush would have suited Houllier's tactics absolutely perfectly - Dalglish would have been a bit of a spare part - he would have been better off cashing in on Dalglish and bringing in somebody like Mark Hateley to play with Rush.

It said a lot that he couldn't find a place for Jari Litmanen at all.  He relied on a watertight deep defence and nick something on the break for the most part.
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Re: Emile Heskey
« Reply #20 on: September 13, 2019, 08:39:36 am »
It said a lot that he couldn't find a place for Jari Litmanen at all.  He relied on a watertight deep defence and nick something on the break for the most part.

Litmanen okayed a fair bit in the short time from when he joined to when he was ruled out for the season in Match in the first half season he was there.

He could have been used more in 01/02 although by that time Fowler was being ohased out and we had a definite first choice pairing.

As for Heskey, think a lot of what has been said already is true. Unstoppable on is day but felt too nice some of the time. Felt like he didn’t always relish the battle but when he was fired up he was so big and strong. I remember a game against Villa when Owen scored a hat trick but Heskey set all three up for him with his pace and power.

By the time he left I think it was the right move for everyone but he played a massive part in 4 trophy wins, scored iver20 in the treble season, was a great foil for Owen and seems like a good bloke so hard not to look back on his time here with fondness overal.

Offline God's Left Peg

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Re: Emile Heskey
« Reply #21 on: September 14, 2019, 08:44:49 am »
"The socialism I believe in is everybody working for the same goal and everybody having a share in the rewards. That's how I see football, that's how I see life."

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Re: Emile Heskey
« Reply #22 on: September 14, 2019, 10:34:52 pm »
Always liked Emile. Growing up watching him and Owen was fantastic when they were on form.

Nice to hear from him, that humility and self awareness should make his autobiography a good read.

Offline zabadoh

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Re: Emile Heskey
« Reply #23 on: September 16, 2019, 08:09:49 am »
Emily ;D

That should have been his nickname.  Darren was the best athlete out of the three though.  I wonder what happened to him?
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Offline Hazell

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Re: Emile Heskey
« Reply #24 on: September 16, 2019, 08:35:11 pm »
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/q9WPLDypxpo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/q9WPLDypxpo</a>

Came across this interview as well, well worth listening too, especially where he talks about the difference in coaching between Martin O'Neil and Houllier and how he felt the club was pushing him to leave. Also, interesting to hear him defend his career - I like others think he could have been better if he had more belief in himself but he's right in that he had a good one nonetheless.

The self-deprecating and / or self-confidence lacking ones usually are comfortable viewing from a distance.

Just seeing Heskey talk in an interview gives you clues on why he was never going to be the absolute best in a contact sport. That final bit of aggression / belief is missing.

He was useful for us no doubt, wonder what Rafa could've done with him over a few years. Iirc Rafa wanted to keep him but at that point the move away was already agreed... and we had Cisse as Houllier's 'parting gift', a player which I doubt Rafa would have ever signed if it was up to him.

edit: spelling

I always thought he left after Rafa came but obviously that's not correct. I think he would have been very good under Rafa as well, Rafa would have known how to use him without making us as one dimensional as we were under the last couple of years Houllier. A shame, I think they would have worked well together but wasn't to be.
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Offline Clayton Bigsby

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Re: Emile Heskey
« Reply #25 on: September 20, 2019, 01:00:08 pm »
Horrific scoring record for a striker.

176 goals in 784 games (1 in 4.5)

After Liverpool

58 goals in 336 games (1 in 5.8)

Rafa could have used him for sure but he would have go rid of him quickly enough.

I will always be thankful for 2000/2001 though

Addiionally, implying that Gerrard got Rangers job because he is white isn't really very helpful

« Last Edit: September 20, 2019, 05:53:57 pm by Clayton Bigsby »

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Re: Emile Heskey
« Reply #26 on: September 20, 2019, 02:56:36 pm »
i think he went stale and under rafa we would have had another season or two of him limping to ten goals and  being regularly knocked over by someone in the kop sneezing
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Re: Emile Heskey
« Reply #27 on: September 20, 2019, 05:48:01 pm »
Played a lot on the left wing in a 442 under Ged didn’t he?.

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Re: Emile Heskey
« Reply #28 on: September 23, 2019, 11:24:14 pm »
He was virtually unplayable first season or so, always liked him, even when he wasn't scoring enough he always gave 100%, was decent enough

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Re: Emile Heskey
« Reply #29 on: November 11, 2019, 04:01:00 pm »
A fine player- on his day.

When he was developing he was an aggressive, pacy, strong front man who wanted to score goals.

I always thought that in his time with us he changed in his own mind to a hold up player, bringing others into the game, and then lost what made him good in the first place.

Thats what baffles me. Did he lose a yard of pace or was it coached out of him ?