Topic: how good was Steve McMahon

[..Bruiser..]

What happened just before Italia '90 started? I seem to remember McMahon calling for England fans to behave and didn't he score an own goal on purpose in an England warm up game that was 10-2 to make a point that hooliganism won't be tolerated?

My memories of him are the same as has been said, I used to kick the ball away from me towards the end of the garden and try and keep it in like him against Arsenal. That summed him up as that midfield inspiration. I hated seeing him injure his knee v Everton in the 0-0 at Anfield before the 4-4 replay. At 11 even it was obvious he'd be a massive loss to the centre.

[Fitzy.]

What happened just before Italia '90 started? I seem to remember McMahon calling for England fans to behave and didn't he score an own goal on purpose in an England warm up game that was 10-2 to make a point that hooliganism won't be tolerated?
 

Yes, I remember that. I even discussed this with a mate recently and he was convinced I was making it up. Thanks for settling the matter!!

[Hinesy]

thread stopped cos of cockery.

[Hinesy]

cleaned it up. You're all welcome to your opinion so allow others to have theirs without being personally abusive. Thanks.

[Alf]

Steve McMahon was a cracking player. Strong in the tackle but far better in the attacking sense than Masch was. More comparable to Gerrard and Souness IMO. I remember him elbowing Gazza in the face when we won 3-1 at Spurs and getting caught winking live on TV almost immediately afterwards.

[Mad Men]

Steve McMahon was a cracking player. Strong in the tackle but far better in the attacking sense than Masch was. More comparable to Gerrard and Souness IMO. I remember him elbowing Gazza in the face when we won 3-1 at Spurs and getting caught winking live on TV almost immediately afterwards.

Have to agree Alf. Closer to Gerrard for me...better touch and pass than Souness.

But Gerrard, with respect to Souness and McMahon is just that little bit more special in quality.

[Godmadebloodred]

He's one of the few or only person to have captained us & Everton.

[Danny_]

Even though we didn't play well that day I always think we were robbed that day. The Beardsley incident still pisses me off now over 20 years later!

To me that game and the 2007 CL final are the 2 biggest missed footballing oppurtunities in our recent history.

In terms of the original topic, Steve McMahon was a great player. Wasn't as good as Souness but was an able replacement alongside Whelan/Molby. As others have said he was a bit of an all rounder, who could put his foot in when necessary but also could get us playing in midfield. Also had goalscoring ability, mainly through a hammer of a right foot.

Hard to compare him with today's midfield players since tactically moidfields are set up slightly different now. What you can say about McMahon though is that with his playing ability, his stamina and determination to win he'd have the skill set to have been a top player in any era.

What he said! Just want to add that the comparisons of McMahon to Lucas are nothing short of sacrilige.  Let Lucas actually do something first before we start making stupid comparisons like that.     

[adi1986]

Pundit in our parts of the world. You can see from some of the stuff he says that he had a taste for hard tenacious tackling. Another good thing about his punditry is that he really riles up them mancs here  .

That said he  is quite in tune with the infamous Sky Pundits and was a big time Rafa basher.

Wait that's not what this thread is about. Apologies

[Les Willis]

A great player. I didn't appreciate him at first as I saw him as a bluenose. But over time, I realised what a great midfielder he was for us. And also, he played double the number of games for us that he did for Everton.

[hitnrock]

What he said! Just want to add that the comparisons of McMahon to Lucas are nothing short of sacrilige.  Let Lucas actually do something first before we start making stupid comparisons like that.   

True .. i mean i love lucas but that is just stupid

[kavah]

Great player but wasnt there some doubt about his supposedly hard-man image?

Definitely not a shithouse but no souness or Tommy Smith. Had a brawl famously in Halewood labour club at the height of his fame (which we all thought was a good thing at the time, didn't think he was above rolling round the floor of a boozer on a Sunday afternoon over who was next on the pool table, just a normal lad:D) Almost certainly the best player who went to our school, although his brother wasn't bad in all.

[Lolo]

The way he kept that ball in play against Arsenal for Aldridge to score !
Brilliant !
Great player !

I remember that........fabulous player. One of my favourites from a team   squad full of favourites.

[hitnrock]

The fella is a tool. And that other fella called Masefield. Both have not got a clue.

yeah but that Shebby Singh guy is really good at score predictions
its unbelievable how correct his score predictions are

[tony new mexico]

Yeah , he was a good midfielder alright, but not a patch on their Maria.

[kavah]

Yeah , he was a good midfielder alright, but not a patch on their Maria.

Ha ha, remember when chris was on Granada reports ?

[nocturnalvin]

we dont seem to hold any grudges towards him playing for the blueshites ?

[tony new mexico]

Ha ha, remember when chris was on Granada reports ?

Yeah , he said he wanted to work in Bunners hahaha

[TheTeflonJohn]

He was just a powerful all round player who was great to watch

[jed the red]

He was quite dirty, I remember a few things he did..

Him and Graham Sharp arguing with the ref, McMahan held up two fingers to suggest to the ref that something had happened twice, when the ref turned away the two fingers went in Sharpes eyes.

Kicked Mark Hughes (I thnk?) around the pitch, until Hughes got sent off, turned and winked to the TV cameras.

I can also remember a horror tackle on vinny jones, payback after Jones clattered him in the 88 cup final.  Jones needed a tonne of stitches on a big gash in his leg.

good.

[TheTeflonJohn]

Definitely not a shithouse but no souness or Tommy Smith. Had a brawl famously in Halewood labour club at the height of his fame (which we all thought was a good thing at the time, didn't think he was above rolling round the floor of a boozer on a Sunday afternoon over who was next on the pool table, just a normal lad:D) Almost certainly the best player who went to our school, although his brother wasn't bad in all.

No shithouse who liked to put his foot in but I do remember him going missing in the Wimbledon FA cup final when Vinny Jones twatted him within a copuple of minutes of the game kicking off

[jed the red]

i still think of mcmahon as a tough, motivated midfielder, one of my favourite goals is aldo's against arsenal when stevie kept what appeared to be a dead ball in play, went and had a brew in the paddock and set up aldo! fantastic. if some of our more recent signings had half the heart or passion of him we would be in a whole lot better position than the europa league and hoping for chelsea nd spurs to slip up for 4th!!!!

[Mad Men]

Pundit in our parts of the world. You can see from some of the stuff he says that he had a taste for hard tenacious tackling. Another good thing about his punditry is that he really riles up them mancs here  .

That said he  is quite in tune with the infamous Sky Pundits and was a big time Rafa basher.

Wait that's not what this thread is about. Apologies

He is not "in tune" with the infamous sky pundits.

He disagree's 75% of the time with Paul Masefield and his side kick Shebby Singh and ends up having arguments with them on live TV.

Seen enough of the latter two to figure out neither one has a clue about what they are talking about.

[Robbo1980]

Great player, quick, strong, great engine, could tackle, could score, got into the box, great work rate, just a good all round player, more complete than Mash but obviously there are comparisons due to size and all round all action style.
He scored a good goal in the 9-0 over palace, think it was the 3rd? chipped the keeper after breaking from midfield if my memory is right??

[fowler9_god]

A different sort of player from mascherano. Wish people would stop being so bloody emotional about the manner in which mascherano left us.

McMahon did exactly the same. Thing to Everyon so he was not perfect either.

McMahon made the midfield tick. I would compare him to Gerrard because their gun ho, tally ho, and come on lads...up and at em style in the middle of the park and his non stop running gave the team a ball winner and a player who could make a deft pass or score a class goal.

Legend for me. Loves the club. Loves the supporters.

Think he is in Asia as epl pundit.

Loves the club, you can see how gutted he is after we lose. And calls a spade a spade. You may not agree with him, but you know there is no hidden agenda behind.

Called Roy average and the only one to question his tactics amongst the Liverpool ex players early on.

[Mad Men]

we dont seem to hold any grudges towards him playing for the blueshites ?

Nah. A local scouser. He was good.

[paulrazor]

Great player, quick, strong, great engine, could tackle, could score, got into the box, great work rate, just a good all round player, more complete than Mash but obviously there are comparisons due to size and all round all action style.
He scored a good goal in the 9-0 over palace, think it was the 3rd? chipped the keeper after breaking from midfield if my memory is right??

2nd if being picky but it was quality!

jesus he is possession of some belters. anyone remember the week before hillsborough we beat sheffield wednesday 5-1, he scored the opener from about 30 yards

buried it

[hitnrock]

Loves the club, you can see how gutted he is after we lose. And calls a spade a spade. You may not agree with him, but you know there is no hidden agenda behind.

Called Roy average and the only one to question his tactics amongst the Liverpool ex players early on.

yeah talked a fair bit about how the team should press more..and pass and move etc
the best was when at the end of everton vs liverpool roy gave a smirk.. and macca sat and bashed him for about 10 minutes

[shravan.satya]

Loves the club, you can see how gutted he is after we lose. And calls a spade a spade. You may not agree with him, but you know there is no hidden agenda behind.

Called Roy average and the only one to question his tactics amongst the Liverpool ex players early on.

True mate. Only thing is that he did not call Roy average. He called him shite

He sometimes used to address him as 'granddad Roy' when his frustration reached its peak.

[Sangria]

2nd if being picky but it was quality!

jesus he is possession of some belters. anyone remember the week before hillsborough we beat sheffield wednesday 5-1, he scored the opener from about 30 yards

buried it

For some reason, out of all the great goals that he scored, the one that's made the greatest impression on me was the winner against Chelsea at Anfield in the 87-88 season. Chelsea went ahead relatively early on, then Liverpool absolutely besieged them for the rest of the game, culminating in a 20 yarder from McMahon a few minutes from the end. Not a particularly significant match, and McMahon's scored better goals, but for some reason that goal sticks in my mind.

[paulrazor]

For some reason, out of all the great goals that he scored, the one that's made the greatest impression on me was the winner against Chelsea at Anfield in the 87-88 season. Chelsea went ahead relatively early on, then Liverpool absolutely besieged them for the rest of the game, culminating in a 20 yarder from McMahon a few minutes from the end. Not a particularly significant match, and McMahon's scored better goals, but for some reason that goal sticks in my mind.

think that was a tap in

houghton and barnes were involved with a back heel in there somewhere

[Sangria]

think that was a tap in

houghton and barnes were involved with a back heel in there somewhere

It was definitely scored from distance. A bit like Smicer's at Istanbul if I remember right, from a similar distance and position.

[Fazakerley Red]

ten times the player Mascherano was, is, or ever will be. A box to box, all action, old style centre mid who could do everything,

fabulous player.

100% correct plus scored goals

[Xabisfeet]

I remember that........fabulous player. One of my favourites from a team   squad full of favourites.

Manic on the Kop that day.  Had to wait until MOTD to see the goals!  Great days........

[gatcliffe]

He was a hard nut in the true sense of the word a great player who in my opinion when one considers some of the players to have worn the red shirt over the last 10 years who been have called legends he is more than worthy of being called a legend can remember him scoring a goal against blue noses in 86 around September time in a inter cup match we had against them in kop end that flew in never hear many talking about this goal but it was a screamer anyone remember it ?

[sheff-jim]

McMahon was a very very good player. Didn't quite reach the great level. He could score goals, tackle and pass the ball.

McMahon had the reputation, but the hatchet man of the team in the late 80s was really Ronnie Whelan. He just never shouted about it. One minute you had the ball, the next Whelan had done you.

[John C]

I glad this is open again - not sure why it needed cleaning as I can't fathom why people would argue over McMahon. He was a fantastic, fantastic player for us.

[jaffod]

He was a hard nut in the true sense of the word a great player who in my opinion when one considers some of the players to have worn the red shirt over the last 10 years who been have called legends he is more than worthy of being called a legend can remember him scoring a goal against blue noses in 86 around September time in a inter cup match we had against them in kop end that flew in never hear many talking about this goal but it was a screamer anyone remember it ?

He scored with a header from about 20 yards against the bitters in the Screen Sport Super Cup. Probably the best headed goal I've ever seen. It was a pretty low-key competition, that's probably why the goal doesn't get much of a mention.

I glad this is open again - not sure why it needed cleaning as I can't fathom why people would argue over McMahon. He was a fantastic, fantastic player for us.

the thread was hijacked by a beaut.

[ALANM]

It was definitely scored from distance. A bit like Smicer's at Istanbul if I remember right, from a similar distance and position.

Barnes back heeled to Houghton who pulled it back for McMahon to drive in from just inside the area.

My favourite McMahon goal was on his debut for us at Goodison of all places. He got massive abuse from the home fans that day, but hit a 30 yard daisy cutter into the Gwladys Street net just before h/t to put us 3 up, although it finished 3-2 after they fought back 2nd half. I was stood behind that goal with 6 Evertonian mates!! It tends to get overlooked because Dalglish scored after just 18 seconds (and missed two sitters in the last 10 minutes!!).

Great player. On a par with Souness in my opinion, but not quite as good as Gerrard.

[Fazakerley Red]

in the rank of centre mids for liverpool i says 1.souness 2.gerrard.3 mc mahon  but not much between 2 and 3 but for me both are still behind souness .