Topic: Why did Peter Beardsley leave all those years ago? What would he be worth today?

[paulrazor]

People forget that until he scored THAT goal against the Blue Shite, he was being labelled as Britain's most expensive flop. Sound familiar? Can you imagine this forum around that time time if it was about? The parallels between he and Carroll would have been spooky

I have a book at home which he kept a diary of his first season.

He said he remembered a headline at the time "peter the plonker". Dalglish just said to him if Beardsley wasnt doing a job he wouldnt be picked, simple. Manager picked the team not the press. Just as well !

[Fuzion6]

I do wonder that with the current vogue of 4231 or 433 where the likes of Beardsley or say Baggio would play these days. I think both would have been shifted out wide...and not been nearly as good as they were. There are some players (Suarez included) around whom you just build a system around...

[barnseysleftpeg]

There were rumours at the time that Kenny got completely fed up with Beardsley's wife who would be on the phone demanding more money for him every 5 minutes, every time a new player was signed and every time she heard even a whisper in the press that another player was on more money than him.

EDIT:
I never heard rumours along those lines!

His wife being very pushy is what I've heard as well from my dad mostly. Apparently it really put a strain on his and Dalglish relationship

[MichaelA]

Please leave the scurrilous and slanderous rumours out of the thread. Thanks.

[MichaelA]

[cornelius]

If I remember rightly, from Souness' book The (mis)Management Years, one of the reasons he gave for selling Beardsley was because he needed some cash to fund one of his signings, I can't remember which, and we agreed to sell Staunton but Staunton ummed and arred and decided he didn't want to leave so Souness sold Beardsley only for Staunton to leave not long after. It's clear from reading Souness' book that the-times-they-were-a-changing and a number of our long established players seemed to be more interested in earning a bigger wedge. I'm not blaming them as it's only natural that if big money starts flowing into the game as you enter your twilight years then you're going to try and grab as much as you can but there are so many mitigating factors overlooked when it comes to making an assessment of Souness' time at Liverpool. Yeah he made some unforgivable mistakes but I think it was also a case of being the wrong man, in the wrong place, at the wrong time. It's easy with hindsight to say this of course because plenty of us thought at the time he was the ONLY appointment and I'm not sure just who would have been the right man. My overrall feeling is that we were probably a victim of circumstance, huge shifts in the game coinciding with a decline of the team. Could anyone else really have arrested that and kept us on top? I'm not sure to be honest.

[Sangria]

If I remember rightly, from Souness' book The (mis)Management Years, one of the reasons he gave for selling Beardsley was because he needed some cash to fund one of his signings, I can't remember which, and we agreed to sell Staunton but Staunton ummed and arred and decided he didn't want to leave so Souness sold Beardsley only for Staunton to leave not long after. It's clear from reading Souness' book that the-times-they-were-a-changing and a number of our long established players seemed to be more interested in earning a bigger wedge. I'm not blaming them as it's only natural that if big money starts flowing into the game as you enter your twilight years then you're going to try and grab as much as you can but there are so many mitigating factors overlooked when it comes to making an assessment of Souness' time at Liverpool. Yeah he made some unforgivable mistakes but I think it was also a case of being the wrong man, in the wrong place, at the wrong time. It's easy with hindsight to say this of course because plenty of us thought at the time he was the ONLY appointment and I'm not sure just who would have been the right man. My overrall feeling is that we were probably a victim of circumstance, huge shifts in the game coinciding with a decline of the team. Could anyone else really have arrested that and kept us on top? I'm not sure to be honest.

I thought we sold Staunton because we needed to anglicise the team as per the new rules. 2 non-England qualified players max.

[The Bill Hicks Appreciation Society]

when it comes to making an assessment of Souness' time at Liverpool. Yeah he made some unforgivable mistakes but I think it was also a case of being the wrong man, in the wrong place, at the wrong time. It's easy with hindsight to say this of course because plenty of us thought at the time he was the ONLY appointment and I'm not sure just who would have been the right man.

Indeed, can't remember anyone wanting anyone else, but since we're playing the hindsight game then don't think you can look past Evans.

[coct3au]

For those not around at the time, having Barnes, Beardsley and Aldridge in the same team was basically like having Ronaldo, Messi and, erm, Mario Gomez, maybe?

Seriously. It was fucking brilliant.

[The Bill Hicks Appreciation Society]

For those not around at the time, having Barnes, Beardsley and Aldridge in the same team was basically like having Ronaldo, Messi and, erm, Mario Gomez, maybe?

Seriously. It was fucking brilliant.

I'd have said Klaas Jan Huntelaar

[paulrazor]

For those not around at the time, having Barnes, Beardsley and Aldridge in the same team was basically like having Ronaldo, Messi and, erm, Mario Gomez, maybe?

Seriously. It was fucking brilliant.

it was that good!

Indeed, can't remember anyone wanting anyone else, but since we're playing the hindsight game then don't think you can look past Evans.

make yous wonder, evans managed us much better.

I thought we sold Staunton because we needed to anglicise the team as per the new rules. 2 non-England qualified players max.

it was 4, and the end of the previous season we had Grobellaar, Hysen, Molby, Nicol, Gillespie, Speedie, Rush, Houghton, Whelan, Staunton and Rosenthal on the books.

Hysen was largely bombed out, Gillespie, Staunton and Speedie sold. Mind you we did then sign Saunders and Kozma.

[Dubred]

For those not around at the time, having Barnes, Beardsley and Aldridge in the same team was basically like having Ronaldo, Messi and, erm, Mario Gomez, maybe?

Seriously. It was fucking brilliant.

Miss those days so much

[rafathegaffa83]

Clough didnt replace Beardsley, Beardsley left in 1991, Clough signed two

Saunders was the one bought to replace Beardsley. I heard rumours only recently about rows with Dalglish though Beardsley denied this, i think what alarmed some was after February in his last season he never scored

I didn't suggest Clough was bought to replace him. Although to be fair to the poster that did, I think a lot of people wanted Clough to be the new Beardsley

[Fuzion6]

If I remember rightly, from Souness' book The (mis)Management Years, one of the reasons he gave for selling Beardsley was because he needed some cash to fund one of his signings, I can't remember which, and we agreed to sell Staunton but Staunton ummed and arred and decided he didn't want to leave so Souness sold Beardsley only for Staunton to leave not long after. It's clear from reading Souness' book that the-times-they-were-a-changing and a number of our long established players seemed to be more interested in earning a bigger wedge. I'm not blaming them as it's only natural that if big money starts flowing into the game as you enter your twilight years then you're going to try and grab as much as you can but there are so many mitigating factors overlooked when it comes to making an assessment of Souness' time at Liverpool. Yeah he made some unforgivable mistakes but I think it was also a case of being the wrong man, in the wrong place, at the wrong time. It's easy with hindsight to say this of course because plenty of us thought at the time he was the ONLY appointment and I'm not sure just who would have been the right man. My overrall feeling is that we were probably a victim of circumstance, huge shifts in the game coinciding with a decline of the team. Could anyone else really have arrested that and kept us on top? I'm not sure to be honest.

Yeh I remember Souness was the automatic choice as he had won everything with Rangers (who weren't too bad in Europe either if I remember). I was only 10 at the time but I remember Alan Hansen was being touted for the job also? (or was that after Souness left?)

[lionel_messias]

Whenever we are needing new attacking players my template is basically: get a John Barnes, get a Peter Beardsley.

We've never signed a John Barnes, McManaman was good though, cutting in. I like Suarez a lot and he slaloms like Beardsley.

[BUSHMILLS]

People forget that until he scored THAT goal against the Blue Shite, he was being labelled as Britain's most expensive flop. Sound familiar? Can you imagine this forum around that time time if it was about? The parallels between he and Carroll would have been spooky

Beardsley was a different proposition to Carroll entirely. By the time he came here he was already a proven top-class player at the highest level, and had been one of England's best performers at the '86 World Cup. It was never a question of 'if' he would come good at Anfield, but 'when'.

Some interesting comparisons with other players mentioned on this thread: he was no Messi, but David Silva is a good shout.

[LincsRedbob]

Quite simply he was the bollocks for us. Such a clever player simply fantastic link up with Barnes. Loved watching him play.

And scored in the cup final v Wimbledon when the ref stopped play for a free kick instead of playing on. Heart broken that day.

[CHOPPER]

He was as superb player, but he was no Paul Stewart thats for sure.

[Farman]

Quote from: Redwhiteandnotblue on Yesterday at 11:24:53 PM
There were rumours at the time that Kenny got completely fed up with Beardsley's wife who would be on the phone demanding more money for him every 5 minutes, every time a new player was signed and every time she heard even a whisper in the press that another player was on more money than him.


No way can that be true.

Beardsley has a wife?!

[davidg]

He could have played for any Liverpool team ever. A fabulous fabulous player. A pleasure to watch, frequently breathtaking.

He was a one off and none of the players mentioned above (Litmanen/Silva/Suarez) are fit to lace his boots.


Fuck off Souness.

[XabiLuis]

had number 7 sewn into my old candy shirt as he was my fave player i was only 8

[kennedy81]

a great player Beardo was, could turn a game with a pass.
had a great shot on him too.
I'm not sure I'd compare him to Messi but he certainly had some Messi-like qualities and must have been a nightmare to play against.
the hatrick against the Mancs stands out, as well as the 5-0 over Forest.
it's such a pity that side never got to compete in the European Cup, we could easily be sitting on 6 or 7 wins now instead of 5.

[sinnermichael]

barry davies: "beardsley. oh that's a lovely goal. that's a lovely goal"

[LincsRedbob]

Such a shame Europe didnt see him shine

[Redshadow]

I always called him PB, even before this type of abbreviation becomes a trendy thing as it is now. Two of my favorite players during that era: Ablett and PB. Ablett because he was not as skilful as others, but he gave his all and Beardsley; how come a little man could be so good (remember at that time there were not many little players as excellent as he was, especially in English Football). 
Always thought that "mad-manager" Souness had something to do with his leaving LFC and as for his worth today? In his prime, 30-40 mil sterling, I guess is a fair estimation

[Redshadow]

Quite simply he was the bollocks for us. Such a clever player simply fantastic link up with Barnes. Loved watching him play.

And scored in the cup final v Wimbledon when the ref stopped play for a free kick instead of playing on. Heart broken that day.

Oh, why do you have to bring this up? Now you ruin my mood; don't know if I could finish my work, now. Damn the Iinternet!

[beardsley4ever]

I've loved him since he was a Vancouver Whitecap in the late 70s (he and Bruce Grobelaar both played for the Whitecaps when I lived there).  Was devastated when we sold him.  Should have been with us forever.

[barbudo]

MichaelA...you're right--watching Messi is like watching Beardsley rejuvenated; similar physique and running style, phenomenal ball control and obviously very humble lads who work for the team, not themselves.

I watched Beardsley play for the first time when he joined the Vancouver Whitecaps in the NASL (1982?). He had a trick then that I've never seen anyone else use. Sort of a dead-leg stepover fake that almost always sent defenders the wrong way. Anybody know of a video that shows that? It was a thing of beauty.

[rednile]

One of the worst decisions player wise the club has ever made , and selling him to Everton crazy . Great Liverpool player ,loved watching  him slide in defense splitting passes . Sold him about 5 years too soon .

Just been looking at his stats , only 59 Caps !  Says everything about England that , criminal .

[Fruity]

beardsley was pivotal in my favourite liverpool side. Barnes, Beardsley, Aldridge were something else.

I think due to the fact that Barnes was so good and Aldridge was firing goals in for fun, beardsley was possibly the lesser of the 3. But he was a real quality player and rarely does England (Britain) produce players of that quality. Technically gifted and Skillful. I can see the comparisons of Silva, Benayoun etc but during that era he was more consistent then both. Very special player.

[howman]

barry davies: "beardsley. oh that's a lovely goal. that's a lovely goal"

"He even got a kiss from a man in a blue and white scarf"

Favourite commentary ever!

[Qcase1977]

I thought we sold Staunton because we needed to anglicise the team as per the new rules. 2 non-England qualified players max.

It was British and Irish players. Players from the British and Irish islands were regarded the same.

[۩ Imperator ۩]

The English Franck Ribery. Whatever Ribery is worth, that's what Beardo would be worth.

[Callaghan.]

Great player quasi was, I heard a rumour the problem with him and Souness was when Graham found out they wanted Peter for the Boys in the Blackstuff first and Souey was second choice!

Graeme.

(Just keeping you on your toes!)

[paulrazor]

It was British and Irish players. Players from the British and Irish islands were regarded the same.

i dont think so. ray houghton was classified as a "foreigner" as were Rush, Nicol and Saunders

[Callaghan.]

Little fella but absolute giant of a football-player.

...

Brilliant player, stunningly good.

Really.

Just unbelievably good. Staggering.

I was lucky enough to be at the 5-0 Forest game.

What someone needs to find - please please please - is the BBC HIGHLIGHTS (not the full 90 minutes) that Des Lynam introduced before the 1988 Cup Final.

Des said, "Now, lets's see how Liverpool really CAN play" and they rolled the tape.

5-nil against the 2nd best team in the land - and Beardsley hit the woodwork about three times!

It's much better than watching the full 90 minutes because, well it just is, don't slag me off, just someone find the thing, PLEASE! I so wish I hadn't lost my old VHS tape of it. I've watched it a million times.

Loved Beardsley.

[Callaghan.]

I'd say he's worth about 10 to 15 million today.

You might think it should be more but you've got to remember he's 51 years old.

[paulrazor]

I'd say he's worth about 10 to 15 million today.

You might think it should be more but you've got to remember he's 51 years old.

yeah but hes out of contract

wage wise he would be probably the highest paid at the club

[Callaghan.]

yeah but hes out of contract

Fair point!

[koptician]

Ah Beardo, Barny and Aldo, those were the days. If only we were in europe as well during those days!!!!!

I reckon we missed out on at least 2-3 more European Cups because of that.