Topic: Steve McManaman - Legend or big time charlie????????

[RedSince86]

Brilliant player, remember being gutted he was on the brink of going to Barcelona, was so glad that moved never happened, he was pretty good that final season, didn't begrudge him going to Real.

Was so good with the ball at his feet, he loved that free role Roy Evans gave him, such a pity him and Fowler didn't win more trophies together.

[Crosby Nick]

Brilliant player, remember being gutted he was on the brink of going to Barcelona, was so glad that moved never happened, he was pretty good that final season, didn't begrudge him going to Real.

Was so good with the ball at his feet, he loved that free role Roy Evans gave him, such a pity him and Fowler didn't win more trophies together.

Weren’t Barca dicking him and us about a bit? Think they signed Rivaldo but used their interest in him to get the deal done. And we may have been open to accepting the money. All a bit hazy now!

[Funky_Gibbons]

Weren’t Barca dicking him and us about a bit? Think they signed Rivaldo but used their interest in him to get the deal done. And we may have been open to accepting the money. All a bit hazy now!

From what I remember, we agreed a £12m fee with Barcelona but Macca couldn’t agree personal terms. I think he knew he’d be able to leave on a free in the summer so he was expecting the kind of wages a free signing could request.

[Crosby Nick]

From what I remember, we agreed a £12m fee with Barcelona but Macca couldn’t agree personal terms. I think he knew he’d be able to leave on a free in the summer so he was expecting the kind of wages a free signing could request.

Think that was the summer of 97 so he stayed another 2 seasons with us.

[Alan B'Stard]

He was my favourite player along with Fowler and Rob Jones.
His creativity and ability to carry the ball was so effective for that team. That mid 90s team really was talented and I'd say on par with Utd. We just wasn't as consistent as them and massively underachieved.

[ToneLa]

I don't like any pundits

[Pistolero]

shitbag and a snide

A 15-year-old post that's aged remarkably well....

[Fitzy.]

Far from it. Underrated by many in my opinion. In that mid 90's team he was electric. Both him and Fowler were unplayable.

Yes. I’d like to see someone’s workings on the ‘overrated’ shout.

[oojason]

I don't like any pundits

Nor did McManaman...

"I would just hate to see myself up there like a lot of them are now, sniping and criticising. I think it's absolutely awful. And the fact that they do it for a few quid just irritates me." - Steve McManaman in 2003.

^ To be fair it was 5 years before he decided to snipe and criticise Liverpool fans for simply protesting against Gillet & Hicks.

Or 4 years before he, as 'Setanta Chief Pundit', told the viewers he didn't want Liverpool to win the '07 Champions League Final... as he grew up a blue, and didn't want us to win things... apart from maybe for his mate Robbie Fowler, who was back with us at that time.

Seems the further lure of the punditry £$£s somehow changed his mind, and heart, since then.

[Fitzy.]

Nor did McManaman...

"I would just hate to see myself up there like a lot of them are now, sniping and criticising. I think it's absolutely awful. And the fact that they do it for a few quid just irritates me." - Steve McManaman in 2003.

I was got access to the Riverside Players lounge after a Liverpool match against Middlesbrough - it was around 1995 and Liverpool lost 2-1 due to the brilliance of Jouninho. While in the lounge I collected autographs - I was about 15 at the time. I always remember McManaman criticising the in-house club commentator who you could hear on the TVs as the match was being replayed. He was chatting to Fowler and they were laughing at the poor quality of the commentary.

[bradders1011]

Was on Josh Widdecombe's 90s football podcast this week. Was the usual stuff, inoffensive until he said "Liverpool and Real Madrid are the same type of club."

[KloppCorn]

He was always a snake. Who cares he never drops gems or tactical breakdowns. All he does is speak in cliches like those other three rats Owen,Murphy and Carra. I actually like that tool G Nev over them he’s actually a weirdo tho. Only commentator I like is Ian Wright really and truly.

[Fiasco]

His commentatING is really annoyING, isn't it Fletch? What was that, someone just chokeslammed Mo Salah in the box? Nope, nothing wrong with that Fletch, that's fine by me.

[Garlicbread]

From the "Liverpool confidental" piece on the Daily Mail it mentions:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-13154787/Liverpool-confidetial-Ruben-Amorim-Jurgen-Klopp-successors-Xabi-Alonso-Egypt-Mohamed-Salah.html

MCMANAMAN TAKES HAND-ON ROLE

Former Liverpool academy graduate Steve McManaman has emerged as a key voice around the academy, with the Anfield legend and ex-Real Madrid star often acting as an advisory figure for youth coaches.

McManaman often attends youth matches, such as the FA Youth Cup match at Leeds last week, and gets involved with training sessions in Kirkby.

He deals regularly with the likes of Under 18s boss Marc Bridge-Wilkinson and youth analyst Scott Mason.

The TNT Sports pundit joins in with sessions with a hands-on approach - if he can still keep up with the players! - and offers advice and opinions to youth coaches on how to deal with the personal side of getting the best out of the up-and-coming starlets

He also talks about it a little in an interview with "Sign Up" here too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HE2KiUZqE14

[Pistolero]

DepressING.

[newterp]

For a guy that never seems to be able to outright praise Liverpool when he is doing games - this seems weird.

But - there is no doubt that as an Academy success story - his voice may carry some (good) weight for players and coaches alike.

As long as he isn't contradicting the message from the top (though it will be a new message soon).

[Paisley79]

Eh? Why are the press making out this is a new thing?

He's being doing this since October 2013. So has Rob Jones - who works with the full backs. Orignally Fowler worked with the strikers too.

I've said on various threads several times that it just makes his attitude to the club in commentary even more bewildering.

[Samie]

This ain;t new. He's been an advisor to the youth kids for about a decade. 

[Redbonnie]

DepressING.