Souness criticism of my playing career ‘not fair at all’

Former Liverpool midfielder John Barnes has informed William Hill’s new podcast, Up Entrance with Simon Jordan, that Graeme Souness’s criticism of his Liverpool profession is “not honest in any respect”, including that the previous Reds boss was too abrasive in his method at remodeling the membership’s tradition throughout his unsuccessful managerial stint at Anfield. 

Showing on William Hill’s Up Entrance with Simon Jordan, a brand-new podcast hosted by the previous Crystal Palace proprietor who speaks to sports activities stars and celebrities and challenges their opinions while scrutinising their careers, Barnes was requested by Jordan if Souness’ notion of the previous England midfielder being “in his armchair” and “not the participant he ought to have been” throughout his time on the membership was justified.

Barnes responded: “I don’t assume his perspective of me is honest, not honest in any respect. When Graeme [Souness] first arrived on the membership, we went out collectively and we talked about how he was going to construct the crew round me and the way nice it was going to be.

“I then began having accidents – this was in 1991. Graeme then felt annoyed in me as a result of I wasn’t in a position to do the issues that I used to have the ability to earlier than. After I ruptured my Achilles tendon, they thought I’d by no means play soccer once more – the physician truly informed me this after I retired. He stated that not solely did it rupture, it shredded, which suggests once they tried to place it again collectively they needed to lower it shorter. On the time I used to be simply glad to be again enjoying, I wasn’t noticing that I couldn’t run, I used to be simply glad to be again on the sector.

“I perceive Graeme’s frustration as a result of rapidly, I wasn’t in a position to be the participant he anticipated me to be. If, for instance, Teddy Sheringham ruptured his Achilles tendon, it’s not going to have an effect on him as a result of he doesn’t depend on tempo. Due to this fact, the participant Graeme wished me to be, I couldn’t bodily be that. I needed to be within the crew as a result of we had no one else and that’s why I sympathise with him a bit, however from my very own private perspective I used to be simply questioning about whether or not I used to be ever going to play once more!”

Liverpool employees resisted Souness’ method 

Barnes then mirrored extra broadly on Souness’ managerial stint with Liverpool between 1991 and 1994, suggesting that even members of the teaching employees had been reluctant to stick to his rules, leading to a “troublesome” interval for the membership.

“Liverpool’s approach was all the time concerning the senior gamers, and I believe Graeme ought to have understood that,” stated Barnes. “When Graeme and Kenny Daglish performed and had been the principle gamers, they had been those that disciplined the gamers and sorted every thing out. They’d that energy within the altering room.

“When Graeme arrived as supervisor, a variety of the senior gamers left, and he introduced in a variety of youthful gamers who’ve Graeme to thank for his or her careers. The senior gamers then didn’t have that energy anymore – as soon as the Bosman rule got here in, the youthful gamers turned extra vital, and the senior gamers turned surplus to necessities. That meant that the entire Liverpool approach of coming in and studying from the senior gamers was fully gone. It was a troublesome time for Graeme, for Liverpool, and for me as effectively.

“I’ve a variety of empathy for Graeme as a result of he was proper in attempting to alter that tradition, however he was doing at a time when there was a variety of resistance in the direction of it – even from the employees. On the time, Liverpool had been steeped within the Bob Paisley and Kenny Daglish custom of ‘we exit, we get drunk, then all of us play collectively.’ They didn’t even have correct coaching periods, they only performed 5 a aspect!”