My Childhood Team

It's throwback Thursday, I'm a bit bored, so what I've decided to do is put together a team of some of my favourite/best players from my childhood. I've set the cut off point at World Cup 2002, when I was 13 years old, for the players in the team. So basically they had to have been playing before 2002 to be in the team, it's okay if they carried on playing after, but they had to have been around before then. And if anyone else fancies getting involved in this (look at me trying to start something) I just used the world cup as cut off because it was convenient, but if you just do it to the year when you turned 13 that's a fair way to do it I think #MyChildhoodTeam

My team is going to play a 4-4-2 diamond, because that's my favourite formation at the moment, and also it's the best way to fit in all the players I want. So here we go...

Goalkeeper: Angelo Peruzzi

In the 1990s Italian football was almost as important to me as the English game. I still have fond memories of James Richardson sitting outside a cafe in the sun with a cappuccino, and I think everyone around my age still remembers the Football Italia theme tune (GOOOOLAAAZOO!). Juventus were my favourite team, and as a one time aspiring goal keeper I used to think Peruzzi was great. I'd still say that he's the best goalkeeper I've seen in my lifetime, although he will probably be overshadowed in history by his successor Gianluigi Buffon. As far as goalkeepers go though, Angelo Peruzzi will always be my childhood number 1.

Right Back: Cafu

Another player choice influenced by my early attraction to Serie A, but my memories of Cafu, as with a lot of other players throughout this team, also come from the 1998 World Cup. Cafu is the model of what would be considered the perfect right back. Many have tried to be like him, but they have not succeeded. An excellent defender who also bombed forward time and time again. He never looked tired at any point in his career, even when he was about 40 he still played the same way he did when he was 20.

Centre Back: Lilian Thuram

Again, a selection entirely influenced by my interest in Serie A and the 1998 World Cup. Thuram was as solid a defender as you will ever see. A rock at the back yet he was also mobile and versatile enough to play as a rampaging right back or in midfield. Not only that, the Frenchman could score goals, and very important goals at that, as seen in the 1998 World Cup semi final when he scored the two goals that allowed France to beat Croatia after being a goal down.

Centre Back: Marcel Desailly

Another solid defender who won the World Cup with France in 1998. Of course, my main childhood memories of Desailly come from his time at Chelsea, but as hard as it is to believe now Chelsea were actually quite a likeable team back then, when they weren't backed by a Russian Billionaire, had a lot of good and fair players, and didn't win anything important. I think in a partnership with Thuram in defence this team would have been hard to break down.

Left Back: Roberto Carlos

Cafu's partner in crime, and just like his compatriot he seemed to spend more time in the opposition's half than his own. However, when the time came he new how to defend. Again, a player who would probably be considered the model for a modern left back. He's probably most remembered for his incredible free kick's and shooting technique, a particular childhood memory of mine being the famous swerving free kick he scored in the 1997 Confederations Cup.

Defensive Midfield: Patrick Vieira

Another member of the France 98 World Cup winning team, but I also got to watch him on Match of The Day every week playing for Arsenal. In his role in midfield he was integral to both of them teams, and they were both great teams, I'd argue that Arsenal's 98 double winning team was even better than their invincible one. One of the original box to box midfielders, he also operated successfully in a more defensive role. In this team I think he'd work well playing in front of his two international team mates.

Central Midfield: Zinedine Zidane

Part of the great France team and also the great Juventus team of the late 90s. I still feel it's one of the greatest crimes in football that Juventus lost the 1998 Champions League final with the team that they had. Zidane was central to the creativity of that team, and also his national team. Not much else needs to be said about this man, as there aren't many people who wouldn't put him in their best team.

Central Midfield: Rivaldo

Another member of the 1998 Brazil squad, but my best memories of Rivaldo are of him playing as part of a fantastic Barcelona team. I saw him live in 2001 when he played a huge part in Barcelona destroying Liverpool, and he returned to Anfield in 2004 with Olympiacos and he still hadn't lost it. His creativity, vision, versatility and goalscoring ability would make him a dangerous addition to this team.

Attacking Midfield: Dennis Bergkamp

My early memories of Bergkamp come from the 1996 European Championships and 1998 World Cup, where he scored some ridiculously good goals, and also being part of that fantastic Arsenal team I previously mentioned. A creative player who never seemed to score a scrappy goal, and not only that he'd make the most important of goals look beautiful. Bergkamp retired after Arsenal won the FA Cup in 2005 and they didn't win another trophy for 9 years, which says a lot about how important he was to them.

Striker: Ronaldo

Not just one of the greatest players of my childhood, but one of the greatest players of all time. Strength, power, speed, skill and unrivalled goalscoring ability. Ronaldo was the perfect striker. He plied his trade at some of the biggest clubs in Europe, at Inter Milan during the golden days of Serie A, then he became a symbol of the Galacticos era at Real Madrid. Again, anyone my age would not be leaving Ronaldo out of any team.

Striker: Alessandro Del Piero

My first hero in football. He burst onto the scene as a teenager in the 1990s and became a huge part of Juventus dominance of Europe and domestically. Creative and clinical, I think he would have been a great partner for Ronaldo, and would work well in this team after already proving he had an excellent understanding with Zidane, My childhood team wouldn't be complete without my first favourite player.

So that's my childhood 11, here's how they'd line up on the pitch:

Honourable mentions (substitutes):

David Seaman

Ivan Campo

Fernando Hierro

Michael Laudrup

Edgar Davids

Marc Overmars

George Weah

Like I said at the start, this was just a bit of fun whilst I was bored, but it might spark a bit of nostalgia amongst some. Let me know what you think of the team and if you'd do it differently what would you do? Thanks for reading.

@adamheath

The Liverpool Way

For the first time in nearly five years Liverpool are playing in the European Cup tonight. The European Cup is a huge part of the history of Liverpool Football Club, and has played a part in their traditions and culture - both on and off the field of play. From Olympiacos, to Saint-Etienne, right back to Anfield in 1965 when the Kop broke out into a musical chorus of "go back to Italy" - at a time when other English fans were still coming to terms with chanting their club's name and clapping - the legend of Anfield has been defined by it's European nights.

Liverpool beating Inter Milan at Anfield in 1965

I decided to write this blog after it was announced by the club that Jordan Henderson is the new vice-captain of Liverpool. To me, this is something the club has done that is very right. Jordan Henderson, with his hard work, determination and commitment to cause, as well has his humility and down to earth nature, is everything a Liverpool player should be in the mode set out by Bill Shankly and continued by the Boot Room tradition. Bill Shankly would have liked Jordan Henderson, and for a Liverpool player there is no higher praise than that. However, whilst I was thoroughly pleased with this decision, I then thought there is one negative to come from this, and that's the way Jordan Henderson's name will be read out by Peter McDowell before tonight's match. I am expecting something along the lines of "and please give a huge, momentous, fantastic, LFC family warm Anfield welcome to your new vice-captain, Joooooordan Hendeeeeeerson!"

"For a player to be good enough to play for Liverpool, he must be prepared to run through a brick wall for me then come out fighting on the other side."

I have nothing against Peter McDowall. I've met him when he did a seminar at my uni and he is a really nice bloke. But he is not from Liverpool, he is from the Wirral and supports Tranmere Rovers. I'm not sure how much of his pre-match team reading is off his own back and how much is instructed, but sometimes I wonder whether he truly understands the Liverpool way. The epitome in difference of this for me came before the 2005 Carling Cup final when Liverpool played Chelsea. The pre match announcers from both clubs were going to read the teams of their respective clubs then introduce the club songs. First the Chelsea announcer came out, he looked like the DJ from a kids party, and he acted like one as well. He conducted the Chelsea fans as he read out the teams, ad libbing different titles and credentials to different players to get a certain reaction. Then on came Blue Is The Colour, the perfect example of a modern football song. Then out came George Sephton, dressed smartly in a suit and tie - it was a cup final after all - and he read out the Liverpool team, the same way he had at Anfield for the past 40 years. Every name read in the same tone, no special treatment for any player. They all play for Liverpool and are all of equal importance, we are a team and no one player is bigger than the club. Then on came You'll Never Walk Alone, probably the most iconic symbol of the history and tradition of Liverpool Football Club. The Liverpool Way. That is the difference.

The voice of Anfield George Sephton

This may seem silly to some people, but to me, someone who has been going to Liverpool games for 18 years, George Sephton reading out the teams before a game is almost as important a tradition as You'll Never Walk Alone. Before the first game of this season against Southampton, Peter McDowall was not present for whatever reason, and George took over his duties and read out the teams. It was so refreshing to hear him again, and it gave me the feeling that only an Anfield matchday can. That was until a man in a giant bird suit ran on to the pitch and started frolicking around on the sacred turf.

George Sephton has never been a player, or a manager, or done any sort of job at Liverpool that people may deem important. But he is a scouser who has been at the club for half a century, and in the role he does he makes sure he keeps it in fitting with the philosophy laid out by Bill Shankly. Bill Shankly once said "This is a team of skill and character, with men eager and ready to do any job if it's for the benefit of the club". Jordan Henderson fits this, George Sephton fits this. We, as fans, should try and fit this. I mentioned before how the Chelsea announcer was like a DJ at a kids party, and football seems to be increasingly more like a kids party. It started with Soccer AM and is now continued by the 'football banter' pages on twitter. The clubs organise childish activities for the fans, and the fans respond with their childish chants and songs and general behaviour. During the summer when Liverpool were being linked with Real Madrid's Isco, these football banter pages I mentioned where posting the lyrics to what they said could be Liverpool's new song if they signed him. It went "Let's all have a disco, Sturridge, Sterling, Isco... Lallana-na-na..." and a lot of our fans seemed to think this was brilliant. I swear if I ever would have heard that song at Anfield I would have given up going the game. Again, that is the difference between what other clubs deem acceptable matchday behaviour and what I'd consider to be the Liverpool way.

It may seem archaic to some for me to suggest the club and fans continue to function in ways set out by Bill Shankly and the Boot Room, but to me it's important so I don't lose the club I love. At the end of last season I felt more connected with Liverpool than I have for a long time, the style of play on the pitch being matched by the spontaneous mass gatherings outside Anfield to welcome the team, the vast amount of flags and banners inside the ground, and the atmosphere in general. We were doing the things the Liverpool way. Yet so soon after that a few slight incidents have started to make me feel like the club is slipping away a bit. £59 for a ticket to see Ludogorets, Mighty Red being given a matchday role, and this even started to make me worry about the new stand we are building. I'm worried we will have a middle tier hospitality section that is empty for half the game whilst the corporates indulge in their complimentary meal. Just like Wembley, just like The Emirates. I am worried we are becoming like everybody else.

These men told us how to do it, why change?

A lot of people did not see the whole Mighty Red thing as an issue. They then tried to turn it into a local vs none local fans debate. Well personally I feel if you think men in big animal suits have a place at football you epitomise everything scousers already feel about wools. A mascot has no place at Anfield. Bill Shankly wanted Anfield to be a fortress. He wanted teams to see the "This Is Anfield" sign then be greeted by the roar of the Kop. He wanted his captain Ron Yeats to wear all red and look like a colossus. What do you think Bill Shankly would have said if they'd asked his colossus to stand next to a man in a big bird suit? 

This Is Anfield... and here's some cock in stupid suit

Sometimes I feel like there is someone at the club who knows nothing about Liverpool, but is making decisions on what we do. "Have you heard the way Chelsea get the fans going when they read the teams? Why aren't we doing that?" "Have you seen the way Manchester United and Arsenal have mascots in stupid costumes like the match is taking place at Disney Land? Why aren't we doing that?" I don't know if they think they're going to make the matchday experience more fun and exciting for everyone, but I don't think they've considered the fact Anfield is the way it is for a reason. We like it that way, we like it our way. We like it the Liverpool way.

Tonight we return to the European Cup. Anfield returns to the European Cup. The place where it made it's name, the place where it's legend was created. Are we going to act like we're at a children's party, having our cheers orchestrated by the club? Or are we going to do what we used to do, what we've always done, and create our atmosphere The Liverpool Way? 

@adamheath

England Again... It Didn't Take Long

As I start to write this I only intend it to be a short blog, so we'll see how that goes. The reason it's short is because I didn't get to properly watch the England v Norway game tonight as I was working, but I got the gist of what was going on from what I saw.

As some of you may have seen, I have written a few blogs about England over the past few months, and as expected tonight just proved that whilst there is great talk of change and building for the future and all that sort of stuff, nothing has actually changed.

Under Roy Hodgson England are still far too defensive. They're still playing a 4-2-3-1 formation. And most annoyingly, they're still accommodating Wayne Rooney. Worse than that, they've even made him captain. I've said on many occasions that right now in football to be a top team it is integral that you are playing two strikers. I've said it about Liverpool that it's not even that important who they are, as long as you are playing two. People argue in Rooney's favour saying that he is not being played as a striker and that's why he's not performing, but in all honesty that doesn't even matter. Rooney can not play that strikers role anyway. Rooney's game, as I've said many times before, consists solely of dropping deep to get the ball, playing a long diagonal ball to the wing, then getting in the box for a cross. That's all he does.

I'm not saying that Rooney was not, at one time, a good striker. I am not saying that Rooney was not, at one time, a good player. But now that his game consists solely of dropping deep to get the ball, playing a long diagonal ball to the wing, then getting in the box for a cross, he is not good enough to play for England. Players have to adapt their game as they get older, just look at Steven Gerrard having to become a holding midfielder for Liverpool, but the way Rooney has developed his game into what it is today there is no way he can be adapted to fit the team. He can not play as a striker, and there are better players than him in midfield who would have to miss out just to accommodate him in that position. Doing what Rooney does now he is nowhere near the best player in the England squad in his position. Rooney is average and a lot of players can do what he does. Someone like Joey Barton could do what Rooney is doing now and do it just as well.

Sticking with Rooney is just moronic, and the view some fans have is detrimental to the national team, believing Rooney deserves his place in the team based on the chance he may do something special, even though there's no evidence to suggest he will. As I said, Rooney's game has changed now he's got older and to believe he may somehow become the player he was in 2004 is just stupid. Especially picking him for a team, actually accommodating him in a team and leaving out other players for him.

As I said on twitter tonight, people are still clinging on to the idea that Rooney is a good player. England is clinging on to the idea that Rooney is a good player. And this is what is stopping them from moving forward.