Topic: The Wisdom of Danny Murphy

[Victor]

An Article by Dan in the sunday mirror where he reckons we'll not win anything cos theres not enough englishmen in the team :-)  point 1 ..... where were all the trophies and plaudits for quality play last season when we had himself, heskey, owen, carra and gerrard in the team ?

Sunday Mirror story

point 2 ... if you look on his comments another way it  suggest he was only up for it against our big rivals whereas these new unknowing spaniards have a go at beating everyone wether theres a history or not !

[sirjames]

seams like sour grapes to me.
he mentions chelsea with lampard and terry - we have gerrard and carra also bringing in kirkland and warnock

[Kop4]

Nice to see Danny has mastered the art of talking bollocks so eloquently.

[hoonin]

6 weeks after he left, what exactly makes Murphy think he is best placed to judge the closeness of the dressing room he doesnt have access too?

He seems very bitter about being shunted out. Shame, because it will only make fans resent him when he sticks the boot in. The time is now, Murphy was yesterday. If he wants to slowly chip away at any respect Liverpool fans still have for him and his achievements then he's going about it the right way.

No mention of Warnock or Kirkland in there. The article is very wishy-washy, especially where he seems to try and justify Arsenal being the exception to his point. Players like Dudek, Sami, Kewell and Hamann have been at the club and in the PL league long enough to know EXACTLY what it means to beat Utd, especially given the fact that all bar Kewell witnessed first hand the experience of us beating Utd in a cup final.

[Victor]

with 8 points from a possible 18 the camaraderie obviously works well at Charlton 

heard he got booed off by charlton fans a few weeks back too

[ali]

http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/charlton/story.jsp?story=565809

I don't see anything bitter about Danny's words in either article. Yes he's hurt that he's not a Liverpool player anymore, who wouldn't be, but he's still a Liverpool supporter. In fact he makes it quite clear that he thinks we will do well under Benny. All he points out is that we have very few English players actually playing in the side, which is true, we have all heard of the various cliques at Melwood and how the Gaffer has been sorting that out.

He's got a brilliant footballing brain has Danny, unfortunately his feet weren't always as fast as his brain. No doubt one day we'll be watching him manage a decent club, or even on our staff.

Hope he gets a cracking welcome from ours next month 

[kopite77]

It's a tough call isn't it, Danny Murphy, Xabi Alonso or Luis Garcia Danny get over it, you were at best a Liverpool squad player, get over it and move on with all your new ENGLISH teamates you bitter and twisted

[Redsnappa]

Gutted we didn't have Spud to pop in his usual OT winner on Monday!

[Throxenby]

Gutted we didn't have Spud to pop in his usual OT winner on Monday!

but happy we had XA to spray the ball around yester
even when he got clattered second half he still found his little mate

[Redsnappa]

Yep, Xabi is a different class to Spud. We could have dropped Kewell or Finnan though to accommodate Spud, er, hypothetically 

[Mighty_Red]

It's a tough call isn't it, Danny Murphy, Xabi Alonso or Luis Garcia Danny get over it, you were at best a Liverpool squad player, get over it and move on with all your new ENGLISH teamates you bitter and twisted

Yep, after seeing the contribution that the two new guys that Rafa said "would be first team" I can't believe he can complain about anything.

Also, compare the below sentences:

Lampard and Terry are the English spine of the Chelsea team only because their performances in the last coupla years or so have been good enough to deem them as first team regulars - no other English players at Chelsea will play as many games as them.

Stevie & Carra are the English spine of the Livepool team only because their performances in the last coupla years or so have been good enough to deem them as first team regulars - no other English players at Liverpool will play as many games as them.

Spot the difference Danny 

[Drobs]

I have a massive amount of respect for Mr Murphy but i don't see why he has to keep commenting on us and the team spirit. Its disappointing really i thought he was above all that - sort it out Dan.

Oh and the comment ...."At Liverpool it was difficult because you had so many nationalities and cultures there, a lot of lads didn't play golf or didn't want to do go-karting." .....is just a tad bit silly now isnt it Danny boy.

Sort it lad.

[Botswana Red]

I vividly recall the night Liverpool lost the league title to a last minute Michael Thomas goal (1989, I was 11, going on 12) & though I didn't cry, I felt really down, like 'my' team had lost.  I'm sure Harry Kewell in Australia felt the same.   Even in "far-flung places," you do find Liverpool supporters who grew up passionately supporting the club, our childhood memory includes posters of Barnes and Rush adorning our bedroom wall, reading Shoot Magazine, collecting panini stickers; and today we're always meeting Man Utd & Arsenal fans at work, school & home.

But I guess it's the whole OOT/Overseas/'Glory-Hunter' thingy, that those of us who support from afar are never considered to be the same as 'local' fans.

Everyone knows Liverpool is a British club, and no one contests that it primarily belongs to the Scouse community of Merseyside.  But while it's nice for Liverpool to have local boys like Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, John Welsh, Jon Otsemobor, Stephen Warnock, Darren Potter, as well as boyhood fans like Chris Kirkland & Harry Kewell in the team, I don't think there's a team in the world which can be successful purely using local boys/boyhood fans.

I wonder if Arsene Wenger felt any emotion when Arsenal lost 3-2 to Luton Town in the 1988 League Cup Final?  Did he celebrate Thomas' goal in '89, did he support George Graham's "Boring, Boring, one goal to the Arsenal?"  Did Thierry Henry, Vieira, Lauren, Kolo Toure, Bergkamp, Pires, Leghman, Fabregas or Reyes?

I wonder, when did Benitez "dump" Owen and Heskey?  If the feeling among Murphy & perhaps the English cabal that it's "important to be around players and primarily staff" one can "communicate with" why did Michale Owen go to Madrid?

Xabi Alonso says his father told him about the great Liverpool sides of the 1980s/70s & I know players like Cisse and Baros also know what a massive club it is.  They may not have the same emotional attachment like boyhood fans or local lads, but if Liverpool is to challenge the likes of Barca in European competition and Arsenal domestically, as much quality as is possible is needed on the pitch and the dressing room. 
 
But there's no smoke without fire.   I seriously hope the camaradire problem alluded to by Murphy and Diouf is sorted out. 

[Sam]

Murphy said: "At Liverpool it was difficult because you had so many nationalities and cultures there, a lot of lads didn't play golf or didn't want to do go-karting.

 

Does this not suggest that maybe the clique was caused by English players? "What do you mean you dont want to go go-karting? Do one then."

[Botswana Red]

Also, compare the below sentences:

Lampard and Terry are the English spine of the Chelsea team only because their performances in the last coupla years or so have been good enough to deem them as first team regulars - no other English players at Chelsea will play as many games as them.

Stevie & Carra are the English spine of the Livepool team only because their performances in the last coupla years or so have been good enough to deem them as first team regulars - no other English players at Liverpool will play as many games as them.

Spot the difference Danny

Campbell and Cole are the English spine of the Arsenal team only because their performances in the last coupla years or so have been good enough to deem them as first team regulars- no other English players at Arsenal will play as many games as them .

[Coady]

How can he say that, its Hullier who brought most of the foreign dead wood in. Rafa is keeping it Spanish, not every European country going. Also he said Arsenal and Chelsea have 2 English players, so what is Kirkland, Gerrard and Carra

[Mighty_Red]

Campbell and Cole are the English spine of the Arsenal team only because their performances in the last coupla years or so have been good enough to deem them as first team regulars- no other English players at Arsenal will play as many games as them .

Got it in one, was gonna do that one as well but couldnt be arsed to cut n paste again 

[Gnurglan]

Didn't read it as sour grapes from Murphy. He wanted to play, he wanted a clear role and Rafa couldn't hand it to him, so he left. No worries. And he's got a point about local players.

Don't think all players need to hang out together when training is over. You can't just buy players who likes to play golf. Team building is important, but it's not just a case of sharing the same ideas and interests. They all play football and that's what they are supposed to do together. I don't think it's a problem if there are groups within the squad. It only becomes a problem if those groups can't work together.

[Paul Tomkins]

I like Danny, but I don't like the idea that the new lads don't care or don't understand what big games mean. It's patronising and makes me think he's a Little Englander. Garcia played for Barca against Real Madrid, FFS.

Arsenal only got away with it because of their quality? Well, Alonso was claimed by Stuart Hall yesterday to be the best midfielder in the world - we can see that even if that's an exaggeration, it's not by much.

Garcia is a revelation also. Houllier got his (latter day) foreign signings totally wrong. But Danny's inference was that Benitez is going down the wrong path with Spaniards - the Brits know best, etc. Frankly, our Spaniards have looked as good as anyone in the league, and for all the raving about the impressive Christiano Ronaldo, he's not been any more effective than Garcia, and arguably less given Garcia's goals and assists. Garcia has been one of the stars of the season, along with Reyes, Henry... and very few Englishmen. Ledley King is the one who's stood out.

I agree with some of Danny's comments, and I'm glad he cared about beating the Mancs, etc, but overall think he's missing the point of the wider picture. It's quality, not nationality - and even Shanks said that 35 years ago. ("I'd play someone from Mars if he was good enough"). Garcia looks hungrier for the ball in the final third than any Red I've seen for a long time. Same with Alonso in midfield - both want the ball all the time.

I'd rather have Alonso and Garcia than the decent but ultimately under-performing players we let go in Murphy and Heskey. Any single day of the week, any week of the year.

[Shaded Red]

How can he say that, its Hullier who brought most of the foreign dead wood in. Rafa is keeping it Spanish, not every European country going. Also he said Arsenal and Chelsea have 2 English players, so what is Kirkland, Gerrard and Carra

You forgot Warnock & Potter, while Harrison was no. 2 GK for a while

[wild_rover]

The way the players bundle together to celebrate goals shows there is a unity developing between them. Danny does have a point when it comes the practicalities of communication but that can be solved in time. Its a shame he took such a derogatory tone in his comments.

[Hamstrung]

I'm English and I have no interest in Go Karting or Golf 

[The Bill Hicks Appreciation Society]

Big games are great, and we all look forward to them and gutted when we dont win them but i think anyone would take defeats at OT, Highbury and Stamford Bridge in exchange of getting results that we expect everywhere else.

[Alf]

Its sour grapes.  I'll be interested to see what type of response he gets from our supporters at Anfield in four weeks time.

[Benitez]

Oh and the comment ...."At Liverpool it was difficult because you had so many nationalities and cultures there, a lot of lads didn't play golf or didn't want to do go-karting." .....is just a tad bit silly now isnt it Danny boy.

and very badly timed, as just yesterday Steve Finnan mentioned in an intervew in the programme, how Rafa had arranged for them all to go-karting last week, followed by a meal, and what a good time they all had 

[Hugh]

"Now Jamie Carragher and Gerrard are really the only two left who know what it means to play against Manchester United.

"I would never disrespect the players who are there. But if you come from another country, it is nearly impossible to gauge the enormity of what it means to lose to Manchester United.

"Those lads won't know what it means to the fans every day at work. I'm not saying they don't care, of course they do, but they don't know what it means like I do.

"Similarly, the manager doesn't know what it means like I do. Benitez is a winner, he's proved that at Valencia and I'm sure he'll do a great job. but he hasn't got the upbringing that I've got.

"He couldn't tell me how Liverpool and United have got on for the last 15 seasons - I could. He couldn't tell me he's cried when Liverpool lost the league the night Michael Thomas scored his last-minute goal for Arsenal. I did. That's the difference.

"And when you lose too many of them, it has an effect."

That just fucking reeks of sour grapes as far as I'm concerned and shows total disrespect to Benitez and the likes of Hyypia, John Arne, Jerzy and some of the more longer serving foreign players who bust their fucking bollocks in every game for this club and know exactely what it means to beat the Mancs.

I've admired Danny and his performances in his last few years with us but he's acted an utter fucking tit since he left and he's played like one too. Hope Charlton do down.

[ratcatcher]

Murphy's talking complete and utter bollocks. Notice he didnt say anything about us playing a better passinggame and keeping the ball better after we got rid of the two worst players for giving the ball away cheaply. Yep, step forward Messer Murphy and Diouf 

[The Bill Hicks Appreciation Society]

It is sour grapes, couldnt help but feel sorry for him when he was unveiled at charlton, can't say he looked over the moon about going to the club then.

Sometimes people lash out when they're hurt, and i think that's what's happened here, he didnt want to leave the club, he asked Rafa for regular football Rafa said he couldnt guarantee it, that he could guarantee anyone it.

When Rafa first came to the club he remarked on gerrard, owen, carra and murphy being important to the club.

Two of them have gone and I think Rafa would have prefered to have kept them, but due to circumstances out of his control what with the Real coming in for Owen and the lack of funds available for players, with no investment forthcoming he made the best of a tough situation.

I truly believe had either of the investment deals been sorted and money made available then both Danny and Michael would have stayed, Danny going had an impact on Michaels decision somewhat imo.

Murphy played i think all the preseason games so i think he was part of Rafa's plans, especially with the understanding he was developing with Cisse. So i betcha he regrets the day he walked into Rafa's office and said he wanted to play every week.

[Shaded Red]

Its sour grapes.  I'll be interested to see what type of response he gets from our supporters at Anfield in four weeks time.

I hope he doesn't get a bad reception! He may talking crap, but i prefer to remember the winning goals against Mad Utd.

In anycase, no point slagging him and maybe prod a 1-0 winner out of him against us! He WAS boo-ed off the Anfield only to respond with the winning goal against the mancs.

Let's play Charlton off the park and then show how gracious we can be

[miffed]

We all know Danny's gutted because he wasn't good enough to finish his career with the team he's always loved.

His work ethic allowed his limited skills to provide us with some great results.

I understand his sour grapes and would still cheer him on his return.

He'll develop more grace as his wounds heal.

[Jimmy Conway]

What doesnt make sense is....
....he claims he knows what it means to the liverpool fans. Well why didnt he show it??
On many occasions I got the impression Murphy was just happy to collect his wages, and woo the ladies, telling them he's a Liverpool player.

Danny, I got news for you. You wouldnt have pulled that tasty bit of Mersey Beat if you had played for Charlton for the past 5 years!

[Rox]

Makes him sound terribly bigoted I think.  Sounds like he's trying to say "Them foreigners, coming over here and stealing my job."

You know what mate?  Before Shankly came to Liverpool he didn't have any ties to the club, either.

And of course you're right about them foreigners.  Them damn foreigners were damn lazy during the 80's and didn't know what it meant to win and Everton and the Mancs.  Did you see how they couldn't be bothered against those Bluenoses during the two FA Cup finals?  Disgusting.

Wake up Danny - you're struggling at Charlton for God's sake, what made you think you could demand a first team place at Liverpool anymore?  It's debateable whether you were ever that good - you had flashes, but were never consistent enough.  Perhaps your demands come because you're such a reknowned England International, eh?

Shankly, Paisley, Fagan and Dalglish were never interested in nationalities.  They bought who they thought were the BEST.  Thank goodness Parry and Moores are more broadminded than you, eh?  Otherwise we'd have Curbishley as manager and you'd still be demanding a first team place at Liverpool.

And you know, whilst Alonso, Garcia and Josemi are working hard and looking the business, you're still moaning about Liverpool and struggling for form. 

Grow up, Danny - and well done - you've proved beyond all doubt that you're Addick.

[AK47]

"Wisdom" and "Danny Murphy"  surely the biggest oxymoron of modern football 

[Mummy Spartacus (Mrs)]

Danny Murphy has only said what a hell of a lot of Liverpool fans have felt watching one Spanish player after another.... after another.... after another.... join the club.

It’s comical to hear people have ago at Danny when 12 months ago many would be saying the same about a good few of Ged’s players…… but now all of a sudden nationality is irrelevant, well I’ll remind you of that next time you start on a French player…..

I don’t care what anyone says and I don’t care how good said players turn out to be - at the time when they arrived and bearing in mind that many of us didn’t/don’t know much about them a few of us felt a little concerned at the thought of this "new" Liverpool, I certainly don’t ever want to see a Liverpool team playing without a Liverpool heart….. and before some jump up and down that heart does not mean scouse, you can be from the moon and have that Liverpool heart….. Fuck maybe even from Spain !

[hoonin]

Or Bootle?

*run awaaaaay*

[Mummy Spartacus (Mrs)]

Or Bootle?

*run awaaaaay*

Gareth, Bootle is a given.... we have Carra 

[Paul Tomkins]

It’s comical to hear people have ago at Danny when 12 months ago many would be saying the same about a good few of Ged’s players…… but now all of a sudden nationality is irrelevant, well I’ll remind you of that next time you start on a French player…..

Nationality IS irrelevant if the players are good enough.

If they are not, then maybe it's something people can criticise. The trouble with our Frenchmen was that they weren't like Vieira, Pires or Henry. Some were the David Unsworths of French football. 

Our Spaniards, however, appear to be the real deal. And with three scousers featuring regularly this season (until Gerrard was injured), there are more scousers in the team at one given time than there was throughout the 70s and 80s.

No one has a problem with Hyypia being Finnish, but the French and Spanish appear to get criticised as the last two managers have been French and now Spanish. It leads to accusations of favouritism, but frankly, the local lads have to prove they are good enough. So far from the Academy since 1998, only Warnock is hinting at that.

[Mummy Spartacus (Mrs)]

Nationality IS irrelevant if the players are good enough.

I've not said nationality is relevant, what I said is many here are criticizing Danny when THEY were saying the same 12 months ago about some of our players, the fact that these players were not good enough is the only thing that matters but for some it was the combination of them not being good enough AND French that was the problem.

I want Liverpool players who I feel give their all and are playing for the shirt, that man could come from the moon and I wouldn't care.

[America's Sweetheart]

Nationality IS irrelevant if the players are good enough.

And the manager is good enough.

And the cosmopolitan collection of individuals can be shaped into an invincible red machine destined to conquer Europe all over again.

[Rushback]

About his comment on playing against teams like man u, I agree, we played absolutely terrible, we didn't work for every ball players went missing completely. As for his other comments, I would'nt put it past the Mirror (or where ever it was from) to do a little cut n paste job on this interview

on a side note about charlton, they've let go the best player they've had for decades and he was Italian, see how well they do without DiCanio