Barnes calls for Kop fans reality check

Liverpool legend John Barnes has told Liverpool fans it’s time to take a reality check and ­accept they are only a top 10 club.

Defeat in Manchester today will end any hope of winning a trophy this season – but Barnes thinks fans should accept the club’s decline.

Hodgson has been axed after a disastrous reign but Barnes said: “You have to be realistic in terms of what you expect. Liverpool now are not the Liverpool of the 1980s, or even 1970s.

“Liverpool fans still think they should have another Bill Shankly – or a Jose Mourinho. But they have to be realistic. In terms of money and squad, they are just a top 10 club. They have been in a transition for 10 to 12 years.

”

Not got a job in the new set up John?

You must be joking John not in a million years will we accept it ,we"d never crawl out of this dark hole if we think that way.

How do we need a reality check John? We know full well where we stand.
He is selling us short by saying we are only a top 10 club, we are only in this position because of the yanks. Now we can rebuild, AND I FULLY EXPECT US TO GET BACK CHALLENGING FOR TITLES!!

Sounds as if there's a bit of the "Green eyed Monster" in there somewhere. 

F**k me barnsie what are you f**king at. Another lad deluding himself it wasnt roys fault. We are three players away from winning a championship

The hasn't ended yet. Where are you quoting this from?

"Defeat in Manchester today will end any hope of winning a trophy this season"

Well, apparently the Europa League counts for less than nothing?

I love Barnes and one of my all time favourite players but he is taking absolute s***e here.

We are way better than a top 10 club and to say the club has been in transition for the last 10 to 12 years is ridiculous. We may not have been winning the title but we have won the FA cup twice, League Cup twice, Uefa Cup once, Super Cup and best of all the 5th European Cup in that period.

I'm sure a hell of a lot of clubs would like a transition period like that!

"Defeat in Manchester today will end any hope of winning a trophy this season"

Well, apparently the Europa League counts for less than nothing?

Was just about to say that. Barnes : Have you listened to what John W. Henry said ? He have not said anything about the last 10-12 years, but he has spoken a lot of the future and maybe you should rest your focus on that as well.

"Defeat in Manchester today will end any hope of winning a trophy this season"

Well, apparently the Europa League counts for less than nothing?

was gunna say i dont remember being knocked out of europe

Digger's right in the sense we're not the team of the 70s or 80s. But lets be honest no side today is the side(s) we had back then.

Are we only a top ten club? No, we're a title winning side waiting to happen.

”

Where are you quoting from?

We probably lack a few players to effectively challenge for all the honours every season but to say we are just a top 10 team is really out of order.

We are way better than.

Are we only a top ten club? No, we're a title winning side waiting to happen.

I love your attitude with us going into every game DLS. Like me you always expect us to go out and win and that's what I believe any manager should be doing.

If too many people listen to all the s**t about our so called decline then some players and others within the club may start to believe it.

The likes of John Barnes should no this better than most.

I love your attitude with us going into every game DLS. Like me you always expect us to go out and win and that's what I believe any manager should be doing.

If too many people listen to all the s**t about our so called decline then some players and others within the club may start to believe it.

The likes of John Barnes should no this better than most.

If they believe we're on the decline mate, then they should F**k off cos it's that attitude that will bring decline. If the players, managers and fans don't believe we'll win every game then we won't.

And like I said, Digger did have a point about us not being the side we were. The sides of the 70s and 80s were almost untouchable. But this side, is still much more than "just" a top ten side. We are top ten side, because we're top of the top ten. But we're not "just" a top ten side by any stretch of anybody's imagination.

Poor old Barnes - trying to get off ch5 and get a better job with sky.

bless him.

If they believe we're on the decline mate, then they should f**k off cos it's that attitude that will bring decline. If the players, managers and fans don't believe we'll win every game then we won't.

Exactly.

The manager should be instilling a winning mentality within the club and Roy simply did not do this. Kenny on the other hand will expect the very best out of every player in the squad as he has the best interest of the club at heart.

And like I said, Digger did have a point about us not being the side we were. The sides of the 70s and 80s were almost untouchable. But this side, is still much more than "just" a top ten side. We are top ten side, because we're top of the top ten. But we're not "just" a top ten side by any stretch of anybody's imagination.

He does have a point as those sides were truly brilliant but I really do believe with the right manager and attitude this squad with a couple of quality additions can challenge sooner than most people think.
  

We're not that far behind. Get 2 world class players and couple top player we will be competing for the title. It's not about how much you spend, its how you spend it.

Exactly.

The manager should be instilling a winning mentality within the club and Roy simply did not do this. Kenny on the other hand will expect the very best out of every player in the squad as he has the best interest of the club at heart.

He dose have a point as those side were truly brilliant but I really do believe with the right manager and attitude this squad with a couple of quality additions can challenge sooner than most people think.
 

Spot on mate on both fronts.

Kenny won't stand for any of the modern day footballer's sh*t. He won't stand for ego, reputation or wage packet. He'll simply put them in their place. And Kenny will always win that battle. If you're not pulling your weight, F**k off out the side. Kenny's attitude and one I wholeheartedly agree with.

And the second point about us being a few quality additions away is true. Although some of our players aren't good enough - period - some of them simply aren't good enough to be regular starters for this club but would be ample as squad players. Kuyt being the prime example in that for me.

I don't think Barnes is that far from the truth. Take Gerrard and Torres out of our team and sadly we probably are just a top ten team. Thankfully we still have Torres and Gerrard so what Barnes says isn't true. Although the way Torres has played this season has made Barnes statement truer than we would like.

In the last couple of years we have lost 3 of our best players (Sami/Alonso/Masch) who have not really been replaced by similar quality, Carra has reached a stage where maybe time is catching up with him, while Cole has been a disappointing replacement for Benny so far, and our buys have in the main been poor for a while ,mainly swopping journeymen for journeymen and when we have gambled big money(Keane /Aquilani/Johnson) they havent really been the unqualified success's we hoped for.

I think to expect anyone to come in and overnight turn us back into a top 4 side nevermind a title winning side without bringing in at least 3 top quality players is unrealistic. Certainly we are better than our position would suggest, and I hope against hope that the return of the King inspires the team to new hights of effort and achievement, but we still need investment if we are to get back to where we were a couple of seasons ago nevermind the teams of the 70's and 80's.   

   

I don't think Barnes is that far from the truth. Take Gerrard and Torres out of our team and sadly we probably are just a top ten team. Thankfully we still have Torres and Gerrard so what Barnes says isn't true. Although the way Torres has played this season has made Barnes statement truer than we would like.

In the last couple of years we have lost 3 of our best players (Sami/Alonso/Masch) who have not really been replaced by similar quality, Carra has reached a stage where maybe time is catching up with him, while Cole has been a disappointing replacement for Benny so far, and our buys have in the main been poor for a while ,mainly swopping journeymen for journeymen and when we have gambled big money(Keane /Aquilani/Johnson) they havent really been the unqualified success's we hoped for.

I think to expect anyone to come in and overnight turn us back into a top 4 side nevermind a title winning side without bringing in at least 3 top quality players is unrealistic. Certainly we are better than our position would suggest, and I hope against hope that the return of the King inspires the team to new hights of effort and achievement, but we still need investment if we are to get back to where we were a couple of seasons ago nevermind the teams of the 70's and 80's.   

   

So it is all Rafa's fault then?

So it is all Rafa's fault then?

Did I say that?

Nah mate, some is but most can probably be laid at the door of H&G. Players get older (Sami/Carra) and if you don't replace them you suffer. Players leave (for whatever reason) and if you don't replace them with similar or better quality the team suffers.

Just trying to be objective about where we are NOW mate, not trying to blame anyone. 

I don't think Barnes is that far from the truth. Take Gerrard and Torres out of our team and sadly we probably are just a top ten team. Thankfully we still have Torres and Gerrard so what Barnes says isn't true. Although the way Torres has played this season has made Barnes statement truer than we would like.

In the last couple of years we have lost 3 of our best players (Sami/Alonso/Masch) who have not really been replaced by similar quality, Carra has reached a stage where maybe time is catching up with him, while Cole has been a disappointing replacement for Benny so far, and our buys have in the main been poor for a while ,mainly swopping journeymen for journeymen and when we have gambled big money(Keane /Aquilani/Johnson) they havent really been the unqualified success's we hoped for.

I think to expect anyone to come in and overnight turn us back into a top 4 side nevermind a title winning side without bringing in at least 3 top quality players is unrealistic. Certainly we are better than our position would suggest, and I hope against hope that the return of the King inspires the team to new hights of effort and achievement, but we still need investment if we are to get back to where we were a couple of seasons ago nevermind the teams of the 70's and 80's.   

   

Take a couple of players out of any team, and you could say the same, and drop them a few places.

Look at chelski...

Take a couple of players out of any team, and you could say the same, and drop them a few places.

Look at chelski...

I agree that was my F***ing point

How can he say we've been in a transition for 10 - 12 years for us to become a top ten club, when two seasons ago we finished 2nd with the most points that's ever not deserved a premier league tittle, complete rubbish.

No offence John but your standard of good is bringing teams like Celtic and Tranmere to the mire.

How can he say we've been in a transition for 10 - 12 years for us to become a top ten club, when two seasons ago we finished 2nd with the most points that's ever not deserved a premier league tittle, complete rubbish.

I am presuming he means we have been taking 2 steps forward one step back, alternating it every couple of seasons with one step forward two steps back for a long time now. One title challenge in god knows how long doesn't mean you are a success mate. Challenging for the title most seasons would.

I think it's funny to see the correlation between the people who disliked Rafa, and the people who say Roy wasn't to blame.

Some people don't have the balls to change their mind and admit they might have been wrong about something. Shame it's another of our former greats.

Where are you quoting from?

Sunday Mirror

Yawn.

Who's arsed? Topic for the summer I reckon.

Might have his nose put out because he's not getting a job. After all he has a lot of mouths to feed!!

I am presuming he means we have been taking 2 steps forward one step back, alternating it every couple of seasons with one step forward two steps back for a long time now. One title challenge in god knows how long doesn't mean you are a success mate. Challenging for the title most seasons would.

I understand it doesn't make us a success but surely you cannot think we have been transitioning in the last 10 years to a top 10 club, 2 bad seasons and its like we were never in the top 4.

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Liverpool-legend-John-Barnes-tells-Kop-fans-it-s-time-for-a-reality-check-in-the-aftermath-of-Roy-Hodgson-s-sacking-article667413.html

This is where I found the article.

I think it's funny to see the correlation between the people who disliked Rafa, and the people who say Roy wasn't to blame.

Some people don't have the balls to change their mind and admit they might have been wrong about something. Shame it's another of our former greats.

I just find it sad that people seem more concerned about possible slights to a previous manager than the problems now facing the club..
   

I don't think he is saying that at all mate. I think he is saying we have been in transition for 10-12 years not that we have been a top 10 club for ten to 12 years.

What he is saying (in my opinion) is that we are only spending money like a top ten club and our squad NOW is only top ten standard.

Thats my reading of it anyway mate...

I don't think he is saying that at all mate. I think he is saying we have been in transition for 10-12 years not that we have been a top 10 club for ten to 12 years.

What he is saying (in my opinion) is that we are only spending money like a top ten club and our squad NOW is only top ten standard.

Thats my reading of it anyway mate...

Fair enough, maybe i miss interrupted it because if what your saying is true, then i agree all the same.

Yawn.

Who's arsed? Topic for the summer I reckon.

I like it 

We are way better than a top 10 club and to say the club has been in transition for the last 10 to 12 years is ridiculous. We may not have been winning the title but we have won the FA cup twice, League Cup twice, Uefa Cup once, Super Cup and best of all the 5th European Cup in that period.

I'm sure a hell of a lot of clubs would like a transition period like that!

To be fair, we're not EVEN a top 10 club at the moment so he's hardly selling us short.

I would maybe agree with this if H&G had took us down into administration, but I simply cannot accept that fact. We've got John Henry who's a clear winning mentality kind of guy, we'll see what Kenny can do with the team and investments and we'll take it from there.

YNWA clearly means nothing to you Johnny Boy

Did Barnes sleep over in Andy Gray's house last night? Because that's the kind of sh*te you would hear comin from him!!

HAHAHA.

A lot can change in a couple of years, John. Not long ago we finished second in the league. With one or two top class players and a manager that is settled, who knows what could happen.

Liverpool fans are allowed to dream - Istanbul '05 - You'll Never Walk Alone.

I'd like to pretend that I cared what Barnes thinks but. ... meh.

HAHAHA.

A lot can change in a couple of years, John. Not long ago we finished second in the league. With one or two top class players and a manager that is settled, who knows what could happen.

Liverpool fans are allowed to dream - Istanbul '05 - You'll Never Walk Alone.

John Barnes isn't talking about IFs and BUTs - he's talking about currently. In the last few years we have finished 2nd, 5th, 7th and are currently 12th. If that doesn't make us an "also ran" I don't know what does.

"Barnes thinks fans should accept the club’s decline."

Oh do be serious, Johnny.

Jonh barnes has his opinion, he also need to eat and it's the recession for everyone..

HE knows that we are not a 10th place football team, but because the stability was not there, we messed up and found ourselves in this position.

But..... looking at today performance, the body languages of players, the fans... you can feel that something is in the air..something which wasn't there when roy arrived..F*S, even Gerrard get a red card today..what that does tell you about  team's hunger..??

Jonh Barnes will not be the only one to eat his words in 6 month times..

All these so called football experts have been going on about Roy not being given enough time and unfairly dismissed. Funny they didn't say anything when Rafa wasnt allowed to see his vision blossom. Double standards. Fergie had 7 or so years before he won anything

When Shankly told Ron Yeats with him in the side we would win the league were were in the 2nd division but he meant winning the first division title and he was right.
Its got to be a time for taking the positives out of every game we may be a top 10 side but with the supporters behind them we can do much better than that.
Looking forward to Balckpool and I havent been able to say that for a long time.

And if my mate who has just been tiling his bathroom in Heswall is right then he is an absolute F***ing minge bag as well as a gob sh*te!!

Can rap though.

John Barnes isn't talking about IFs and BUTs - he's talking about currently. In the last few years we have finished 2nd, 5th, 7th and are currently 12th. If that doesn't make us an "also ran" I don't know what does.

So thats why you're on minus 10.

Anybody in a high profile position and is an ex liverpool player who tries to belittle our club should be banned from entering the ground.

yes agree with some statements here the reds are in decline gerrad is past his best now,and torres  might never regain his scoring touch in numbers like we have seen in the past. we need a franchise player same caliber as stevie but young. we have to rebuild with younger players who have natural skill sets. i watched  stevenage play newcastle and was absolutely impressed by there skill and passion. those players were running like greyhounds not like the epl at training ground speed.  then the maanger come on and explained  the high level of fitness at the club and the hard work.the culture so different from the epl

Quote from The Mirror eh? Enough said. I wouldn't believe a word them cu*ts print.

'Liverpool legend John Barnes has told Liverpool fans it’s time to take a reality check and ­accept they are only a top 10 club.'

Sorry John , great player , nice bloke but totally wrong. We don't need a reality check we know the damage that has been done to our club by H&G but the day we accept that we ' are only a top 10 club ' is the day I'll pack in !!

John Barnes''legend''of a player. Like many ''legend'' ex-player's they don't half speak sh*te.

I  don't understand why people have such a problem with our ex-players giving their opinion. It's just an opinion, and as long as they are giving it honestly, to me there is no problem whether I agree with them or not. Certainly doesn't make me think less of them as the player or legend that they were anyway.

 I wish ex-players wouldn't take the pieces of gold, just to give certain media organisations the quotes they love to here..

F**k this s**t hole... Just wait and see

If you go by wage bill and even current market value of the squad we are top 5, maybe behind Chelsea, United, Arsenal, and the emerging Man City.

Teams like Spurs, Sunderland, Newcastle, Bolton may have more points on the table right now than us but their wages and squad values are way lower.

Many other Prem league teams including those mentioned are also playing better passing football than us right now with cheap players.  Many of the managers are getting more out of their low cost players than Roy, and even Rafa towards the end of his reign were getting out of ours more expensive players.

An example Wolves have a guy from my home town club Gillingham, (Matt Jarvis) who cost them buggar all, and he is ripping teams apart down the wings.

We have people who cost 10x as much doing sweet fanny adams.

If the motivation, tactics, training etc all improve then we will be top 4 material again.  If 3 or 4 quality players are added as well then we would be a title chasing side.

lovely how this little piece of journalism completely ignores the europa league.

as for John, he should know better that Liverpool fans will never get used to it.

what I find intriguing is how a squad that changed so little since last season was then expected to finish in the top 4, and the manager heavily criticized, is now seen as just average.

football pundits... they are all prophets of what has already happened.