29 May 2020 22:16:14
Hi ed 001,
Would love to heard your thoughts on hyypia and henchoz?
Many thanks.

{Ed001's Note - excellent defenders, just lacked so much pace that it required the team to sit deep. Perfect for Houllier and Rafa's style of play though. Hyypia was technically excellent, such a good player, if only he had been quick too!}

1.) 29 May 2020
29 May 2020 22:22:12
Thank you for the reply.

2.) 29 May 2020
29 May 2020 22:24:13
Thank you.

3.) 29 May 2020
29 May 2020 22:52:18
Hyypia, possibly the best piece of business that Liverpool have ever done?

4.) 30 May 2020
29 May 2020 22:43:56
Sorry I have some more . Been playing championship manager 01/ 02
Babbel
Gary Mac
Berger
Smicer
Biscan
Heggam
Also what happened to a young LFC player called something prince . Was on a bbc1 documentary with Alan Hanson playing football in the car park against him. Early 1999 or 2000 I think
Thanks again.

{Ed001's Note - I absolutely loved Babbel before we got him and more once he signed for us. Wonderful player and we were lucky to have him at that time with the state of the team he joined. Such a shame about his illness, it destroyed the career of a truly world class player.

I remember Gary Mac playing against us for Leeds and he was class then. He was still class for Coventry but I did fear we brought him in far too late and he would not be able to step up. He proved me completely wrong and he was class for us. He earnt every single penny he was paid with that free kick against the Toffees imo!

Berger I have to say is wonderful with great hair or me ma will kill me as she is in lust with him. He did have one hell of a left peg on him and was a skilful player, it is just that the team he joined was not really playing a way that really got the most out of him.

Smicer had so many injuries, which he later found out, after leaving us, were down to dental problems. He joined a French club (Lens iirc) and they routinely do dental checks at their medicals, they discovered a problem that was leading to his niggling injury problems. If only we had been taking proper medical checks on our players too, we might well have seen what he was truly capable of. As it was he just seemed a bit of a lightweight, always crying off injured, but it was actually no fault of his own.

I quite liked Igor, but he suffered with massive confidence issues, I believe down to the way Ged handled him. He certainly could play, he put in a few exceptional performances, but they were so few and far between. Most of the time he just looked lost. I don't think it helped that Carra and Gerrard were around then ruling the roost for his chances of making it with us. Some players need the kick up the backside treatment, Biscan clearly just needed an arm around his shoulder when he arrived. It was just a step too far for him joining us.

Heggem is an odd one, he was one of the original flying wingbacks. In other words a failed winger who got moved to fullback and constantly charged forward. If he had to defend he was always going to struggle but going forward, on a good day, he was breathtaking. Trouble was the game we played restricted him too much to make the most of his talents. If he played in Klopp's team, he would have been fantastic. I can remember one game I was at Anfield to see him go on a mazy run into the box. I think he scored but it was just the way he went at them that I really remember. He was the wrong player for that team. Bit weak as well, which could have been sorted in today's game, but back then we were a bit backwards in training methods.

I don't know what BBC documentary you are on about and I have no idea who you could mean. There are hundreds of kids in the youth teams every year, it could be anyone. I would need a bit more info to even try and find out who you mean, let alone what happened to him.}

5.) 30 May 2020
30 May 2020 00:24:55
Outside of Millner.

6.) 30 May 2020
30 May 2020 01:08:40
Hypia is a Liverpool legend. In the top 5 Liverpool cbs for sure. Possibly top 3 behind hansen and van djike.

I was really worried when houllier signed sami and stefan but they complimented each other perfectly. I get what ed01 is saying about their pace but with ged and rafa they were always going to sit deep anyway.

Sami was near on impossible to dribble past. If he put in a tackle he won the ball. And probably the best defensive header of the ball we've ever had. Awesome player.

7.) 30 May 2020
30 May 2020 03:03:54
Hyypia's technique was top notch. His goal against Juve in 05 was class.

If you look up "Bullet Header" in the dictionary, his goal against arsenal in 08 comes up.

8.) 30 May 2020
30 May 2020 07:37:58
I always thought hyypia was so far ahead of the game he didn't need pace always in the right place at the right time.

9.) 30 May 2020
30 May 2020 10:22:39
Also Henchoz was also a decent goalie 😀👍.

10.) 30 May 2020
30 May 2020 11:02:27
Brilliant reply Ed 001.

{Ed001's Note - cheers JJ, though I think Irish Rover's was better!}

11.) 30 May 2020
30 May 2020 11:56:33
Been rewatching a fair few 80s games and Mark Lawrenson’s speed was amazing. He started at FB, with Thommo and Hansen at CB, and then graduated as Jocky’s partner. He seems to get a bit of stick on these pages, but I liked him.
He could definitely play these days too, unlike Hypia, Henchoz and even Hansen would struggle with the speed of the game now.

12.) 30 May 2020
30 May 2020 14:15:27
Hyypia was still playing in the Bundesliga in 2011 at nearly 38 years old, Juicer. I'd say at his peak he'd handle the pace of the game in 2020. Mightn't be ideal for us because we play a high line, but he'd still be well able in a team that played a little deeper.

13.) 30 May 2020
30 May 2020 14:59:37
Lawrenson was a brilliant defender.

14.) 30 May 2020
30 May 2020 15:16:09
I loved big Sami and I get your point Something Red, maybe a defensive system like Wolves would be ok for him, playing that Conor Coady role. Though Hansen would be ideal there. So, yeah, fair point.

15.) 30 May 2020
30 May 2020 16:24:11
Totally agree berg. Glad you're alright mate. Can't wait to see the devil fingers in live chat when we cross the line! (if)

16.) 30 May 2020
30 May 2020 17:31:14
Don't understand how Smicer's dental problems affected his injuries?

{Ed001's Note - they can affect bone growth, cause infections etc. It is very common apparently. Though I have to admit I never knew of it until I heard Smicer talking about it.}