bocatuna
17 Apr 2003, 06:04 PM
First off there's no reason behind this thread, I really don't care if nobody reads, or if fails to spark any discussion at all. I just have to do it ,partly after the following post by Matt:
"And then there's Barnes. World Class - easily better than Giggs or Pires are now. In fact, he was an almost perfect amalgam of the two - Gigg's speed and balance, Pires' close control."
And partly after a discussion I had with my dad after watching one of those "fans meet their favourite pop star" shows on MTV. I was taking the piss out of these loony fans who have posters all over their wall and who start hyperventalating at the very mention of their idol. I claimed that I had never been that obessive about anything, ever, when my dad turned around and said " What about John Barnes"
Suddenly it all starting flooding back to me. The time at primary school when I hit my best friend and got sent to stand at the wall during playtime because he said that Barnes was rubbish. The time at the barbers when I asked to have a hair cut like Barnes, only for the barber to turn around and say I couldn't because I wasn't black. The times I cursed God for not making me left footed.The time I cried when saw him in the black and white of Newcastle.
I was pretty much obessed by the man ever since I saw him steal the ball on the halfway line and waltz through the QPR defence in his first season. I was lucky, I got see watch Barnes in the flesh in the late 80's and early 90's when he, IMO, was the best player in the world.
Van Basten ? Guillt ? Maradona ? bollocks , they had nothing on Barnes. I've never seen Van basten score a goal like Barnes's chip vs Millwall. I never seen Gullit score a header like Barnes's vs Everton. Maradona never produced a moment of wizadry that could match Barnes's back heel for McMahon vs Everton. As for the those curling shots from the corner of the area , like one he scored against Villa, not even Pele in his prime could produce such skill.
Of course after '91 Barnes suffered injuries which robbed us of his talent, though there were still moments of magic. The backheel v Crewe, the overkick v Blackburn, the 'la bullet canon' v Spurs. Some of fondest memories were watching Barnes playing a hold position in his latter years, controlling play, constantly probing , using his vision and experience.
Barnes was, and always will be, my favourite player of all time, and a personal hero. Here ends my tribute to one of the greatest English players ever.
Obessive? Just a tad.
"And then there's Barnes. World Class - easily better than Giggs or Pires are now. In fact, he was an almost perfect amalgam of the two - Gigg's speed and balance, Pires' close control."
And partly after a discussion I had with my dad after watching one of those "fans meet their favourite pop star" shows on MTV. I was taking the piss out of these loony fans who have posters all over their wall and who start hyperventalating at the very mention of their idol. I claimed that I had never been that obessive about anything, ever, when my dad turned around and said " What about John Barnes"
Suddenly it all starting flooding back to me. The time at primary school when I hit my best friend and got sent to stand at the wall during playtime because he said that Barnes was rubbish. The time at the barbers when I asked to have a hair cut like Barnes, only for the barber to turn around and say I couldn't because I wasn't black. The times I cursed God for not making me left footed.The time I cried when saw him in the black and white of Newcastle.
I was pretty much obessed by the man ever since I saw him steal the ball on the halfway line and waltz through the QPR defence in his first season. I was lucky, I got see watch Barnes in the flesh in the late 80's and early 90's when he, IMO, was the best player in the world.
Van Basten ? Guillt ? Maradona ? bollocks , they had nothing on Barnes. I've never seen Van basten score a goal like Barnes's chip vs Millwall. I never seen Gullit score a header like Barnes's vs Everton. Maradona never produced a moment of wizadry that could match Barnes's back heel for McMahon vs Everton. As for the those curling shots from the corner of the area , like one he scored against Villa, not even Pele in his prime could produce such skill.
Of course after '91 Barnes suffered injuries which robbed us of his talent, though there were still moments of magic. The backheel v Crewe, the overkick v Blackburn, the 'la bullet canon' v Spurs. Some of fondest memories were watching Barnes playing a hold position in his latter years, controlling play, constantly probing , using his vision and experience.
Barnes was, and always will be, my favourite player of all time, and a personal hero. Here ends my tribute to one of the greatest English players ever.
Obessive? Just a tad.