"When Liverpool players are put out to pasture, it is not uncommon for them to be given a warm Anfield send-off, a ceremonial microphone and a high-profile media platform from which to endlessly pontificate. Such has been the proliferation of old boys in the punditry ranks since Alan Hansen famously announced you can't win anything with kids, it now seems nigh on impossible to sit through any major Premier League or Bigger Cup match without hearing at least one Liverpool alumnus chipping in from the sidelines."
"Whether it's Carra or Crouchy or Didi or Danny or Jamie or Robbie or Souey or Macca or Coley or Stephen Warnock, this feedback loop can prove a source of great irritation to the sensitive ears of other clubs' fans."
"So incensed was Dietmar Hamann by Mo Salah's decision to walk like an Egyptian as Mauro Junior cantered past unchallenged in the early buildup to the Dutch side's second goal, that he labelled the winger's indifference disgraceful. A regular guest on Irish broadcaster RTE's coverage, Hamann suggested that Arne Slot, standing no more than a couple of yards away from the scene of Salah's latest dereliction of defensive duty, now has a big decision to make."
Former Liverpool players now populate sports punditry, frequently offering outspoken commentary on current matches. Their ubiquity frustrates supporters of other clubs and creates a persistent feedback loop of opinion. Liverpool have endured a dramatic slump, losing nine of 12 matches and suffering consecutive three-goal defeats, including a second-half collapse at home to PSV. High-profile alumni have reacted angrily to visible defensive lapses, with particular focus on Mohamed Salah's apparent lack of defensive commitment in key moments. Former players have publicly questioned managerial and player accountability and suggested consequential decisions now rest with the club leadership.
Read at www.theguardian.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]