The Liverpool FC Forum > Liverpool FC Forum

We Are The Scousers

(1/1)

treble2001:
In a league full of foreigners only here for a ride, and home-grown youngsters watch from the sidelines, Liverpool have always had a strong English presence in their team.  But the ones who we all like to see make it is our very own.  The kids from Liverpool council estates, who stood on the Kop (or in recent years the Gladwys Street).  McManaman, Fowler, Carragher, Gerrard and Wright to name just a few.  At the moment we have Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and Stephen Wright carrying the torch of scousers playing for the Reds.

Jamie Carragher grew up in Bootle and actually grew up as a Blue (surprise!).  Carra isn’t the most elegant on the ball, but is a defender is his own league.  When we come up against tricky wingers, Carragher is always the one who will nullify that threat.  He is as hard as nails, but as he doesn’t go around and act hard like the Keanes and Bowyers, Jamie just laughs out empty threats from opponents.  There always seems to be a place in the team for Carragher.  When Ziege and Babbel came you’d be forgiven for thinking that this could be the end of Carra.  But, asked to fill in at the left back role, Carra proceeded to keep German international left back Ziege out!  

After starting his Liverpool career in midfield, Carragher has played across the back-line.  He scored against Aston Villa on his debut, but since that the only goals of note were the two own goals he scored against Man U!  People critise him sometimes for not being an attacking left back.  I’d rather him be a great defender but a crap attacker, rather the other way around.  The critism he gets sometimes is absolutely amazing.  Because he isn’t taking people on down the line or scoring 30-yard free-kicks, people see him as an easy target.  

Another reason why he is like on the terraces (by most) is his actions off the field.  None of your suits crap for Jamie!  Carra is seen in town regulary with a LaCoste trackie on!  Whenever a player is asked ‘Who’s the joker in the dressing room’ Carragher always seems to be the ‘clown’!  According to Owen he is “a typical scouser, taking the mick out of everything, and anyone!”  With Carragher out there it’s like having one of us. The big names don’t faze him, and the players who are disliked on the terraces (and that’s putting it lightly) are the ones usually launched five feet into the air by Carra.

Stephen Wright is another Bootleonian (is that a word?!).  He was brought up from the academy by GH, and found it hard to make that breakthrough to the first team.  He became Reserve team captain and was a regular for the ‘ressies’ in the centre back role.  Last year he made his senior bow when he replaced Markus Babbel at half time at the Britannia Stadium against Stoke.  While his team-mates ran riot and hit the Potterers for 8, Wright never had a chance to shine in that game.  Against West Ham at Anfield, a Fredric Kanoute mis-timed (by four years) tackle led to Markus Babbel’s departure after twenty minutes.  Wright came on and impressed immensely, even setting up Robbie Fowler for his first of the afternoon.  Wright and another debutant Greg Vignal, played great in the full back areas, and all talk after that game was about them (well, and that Fowler’s 3rd goal should’ve been allowed).

With the Reds facing a potential banana skin against Merseyside rivals Tranmere, Ged turned to Wright to fill in the right back role after Markus Babbel was covering the injured Stephane Henchoz.  Wright was steady and assured and looked like he’d being playing there all his life.  One of the pictures of the treble season was of Wright gleefully hugging the UEFA Cup, with a massive grin on his face.  It meant so much to him.

This year Wright has played an even bigger role with Markus Babbel’s unfortunate illness.  With the arrival of Xavier. Wright could find his appearances limited, but his versatility, like Carra’s, makes him invaluable to the squad.  He’s played left back and right back this year for the Reds, and is more at home in the centre of defence.  A great defender, who can also attack, Stevie looks like he’ll be here for a time to come.

Steven Gerrard.  That name is now said alongside the Vieira’s and Emerson’s of this world.  He can tackle, pass, shoot, run, head and well do most things.  From the awkward teenager that saved us three points in the Derby three years ago, to the international midfielder he is, Gerrard has always shown true commitment for Liverpool.  Stevie seems to relish playing against ‘big-names’ and 99% of the time coming out on top.  I remember last year, Roy Keane being outplayed by Stevie.  Keane, typically, dived in on Gerrard, expecting a retaliation.  Gerrard shrugged him off, and carried on, but their next encounter ended up with Gerrard ‘crunching’ him and winning the ball too.  

Gerrard’s passing range is absolutely superb, as the likes of Michael Owen and Emile Heskey have found out to their gain.  Right foot, left foot, inside of boot, outside of boot, Gerrard does things that amaze you.  Gerrard was born in Whiston hospital and grew up on the Bluebell estate in Huyton.  He made his break in the Liverpool first team in the already doomed UEFA tie against Spaniards Celta Vigo.  Gerrard never got a chance to shine really, but he did enough to convince GH he was part of his plans.  He showed so much potential, Ged let go of the ‘Anfield Mole’ and gave Stevie a better chance to succeed.  

After the 1999/00 season most television ‘experts’ dismissed Gerrard on the grounds he never scored enough.  Last year he showed he worked on his goal tally, chalking up 10 goals, including memorable strikes against Southampton, Man U and Arsenal.  Stevie G also gave some huge performances against the likes of Barca and Man U, and was a major part of the Liverpool success.

This year Gerrard has shown the true sign of a great- when the going got tough, he got going!  He was having a bad time and had faith in himself, dragged himself up and started from basics.  He’s not too big to look at his mistakes and recify them.  In Stevie’s own words he’s not the finished article.  But he’s a damn well close to it!

Although each player who puts on the Red shirt isn’t Czech, Polish or Finnish but a Liverpool player, there’s nothing like seeing a local lad come good.  If ever a major example was needed to the youngsters in the Academy, Phil Thompson has won everything there is to win, and is now an influencial member of the Red renaissance.  Phil, Kirkby born, has shown that GH isn’t your average foreign manager.  When GH came, you expected nancy, diving footballers.  We have a squad full of fighters and it’s one for all and all for one.  Whether English, Norweigen or Finnish.


That said though, if Liverpool become Chelsea, and the Scouse core of our side is broken, that will be a sad day indeed.  

Mark Piercy

 

Wilbur:
Tremendous post.

Navigation

[0] Message Index