Liverpool Legends game was a timely reminder of how lucky we are – and have been – to see some of the greatest players in their pomp…
“THE older order changeth, yielding place to new. God fulfils himself in many ways.”
I’ve never been to one of those Legends matches, always preferring to see the international break as time off to release the pressure-valve rather than indulge in nostalgia, but they always look fun. Seeing Jürgen be Jürgen again without the anxiety of a competitive game was lovely too. How can anyone not adore him?
But there’s often a touch of cynicism around these things. Reading the comments under the footage of the Legends 2-2 draw with Borussia Dortmund, the overwhelming topic seemed to be that Thiago Alcantara, who scored a glorious goal, could and should be in our current side ahead of Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch.
A throwaway joke, of course, but one that’s indicative of human nature. The same people at similar friendlies would probably have replaced him with Xabi Alonso or Ronnie Whelan a few short years ago. Alright, maybe not Dusty, but Thiago drew his own critics from time to time. The past is often glimpsed through the rosiest of tinted specs.
Me? I was wondering why Jay Spearing wasn’t taking shots like that in 2012. I never knew he had it in him. What’s more, I’m not sure he did either.
What these games do is remind us that we’ve had some of the best players in the game at Anfield and they all love coming back and reliving the past. How lucky are we to have seen them in their pomp, and how silly does it seem now to have given them stick when they weren’t doing so well?
I suppose the game goes through phases like this. The doldrums, to thinking we’ll never win anything again, to numerous false dawns and, every now and then, glory and a massive dominance. The only difference is you still think your current lot are capable of winning time and again, because that’s what we do. Have to do. Otherwise, what’s the point?
That’s been a real eye-opener with TAW Rewind. Watching an old game through modern eyes and wondering just how the hell I thought a central midfield of the almost permanently injured Jamie Redknapp and ageing John Barnes were capable of winning the league against arguably United strongest ever sides.
That’s because we had no knowledge of a Gerrard-Alonso-Mascherano middle three or a Fabinho-Henderson-Wijnaldum triumvirate. You can only support what’s in front of you. You can only believe in them too. With experience comes a knowledge of sorts.
You look back with affection, nonetheless. You applaud even though they couldn’t deliver.
The post Slot league winning side looks like a return to darker days, but that’s the game. They might win the FA Cup and Champions League too at this point, so don’t give up just yet. The 2004-2005 side were terrible in the league, and they played the greatest match in our history. You never know.
You can’t always judge the present on the past. It’s unfair to all parties.
The highlight for me was seeing Stephen Wright play. No doubt some younger Reds headed to Wikipedia to see who he was, but for me he’ll always be the local lad who scored with his shoulder in the Champions League against Dortmund. He didn’t do much else for us after that, but that memory and celebration will always make me smile.
Nostalgia, eh? It isn’t what it used to be.
