Almost a legend for Liverpool Football Club. He can't really be classed as a legend as we won almost nowt with him. But still, he was our most dynamic and effective player when he was at the club.
A easy scapegoat for our failure post 89-90. Such sentiments are unfortunate, as those failings were largely institutional and cannot alone be blamed on our most gifted player of that era. He almost single handedly kept the team in contention and produced some memorable and exciting football. The current crop has not yet come as close to a title as McManaman did. And until they do, those who are hyper critical of McManaman need to give pause.
The Blue and Bosman attacks are bitter. I am surprised this sentiment pervades here so strongly as it does. Big time Charlie? What a horrible insult to one of our great players. So what. He supports Everton. So does Jamie Carragher. The club made a balls up when it came to managing their players in the early Bosman era. The club may have been able preempt this move if it had the foresight and executive skills. But if the end the lad decided on life in Madrid. Good for him. It's a great town.
In the end he was a Legend for Real Madrid. His contributions to their European Cup victories cannot be dismissed. He could have been a Legend for Liverpool. One must wonder what we could have achieved had he stayed.
Give me him over any or most of the usual twats we are generally bombarded with in the football media. I wish well in his future work, and I will never forget the enjoyment I got from watcing him play football.
Here's a belter he scored against Arsenal...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsvVRJQtkFMAnd here's one the Bhoys will never forget even if some here do....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzZ0k8fZZTg