08 Aug 2020 07:57:34
Hello eds and everyone, hope you're having a good weekend.

I tried searching and couldn't find full detail so apologies if I missed it but I'd be super interested in eds opinion on Anelka - mainly in terms of as a player whilst at Liverpool and any insight as to why perhaps he was never signed permanently?

Thanks.

{Ed001's Note - it probably last got discussed a very long time ago mate, so no wonder you couldn't find it. While Anelka was with us, he was a very nice lad, though a bit on the quiet and shy side, and well liked by other players. He performed brilliantly on the pitch at times, but he liked to give input into tactics and Houllier was simply unable to cope with people around him with a mind of their own. What he wanted were yes men, who did what he ordered without question. Anelka wanted to discuss things and understand why Houllier wanted him to do what he did. So instead Ged spunked a stack of cash on El Hadji Diouf. It is a shame because Anelka was a step forward, while Diouf dragged us into the gutter and never deserved to wear the shirt.}

1.) 08 Aug 2020
08 Aug 2020 08:54:47
Ed001 have you ever done an article on Diouf. Not that I like the guy as he was terrible and a disgrace but I could imagine it would make good reading. More to do with off the field antics than achievements on it.

{Ed001's Note - I haven't yet, but I have added it to the list.}

2.) 08 Aug 2020
08 Aug 2020 09:01:37
Amen too that ed, salif daio and diouf was a backwards step I was tearing my hair out for anelka at the time proper shame!

{Ed001's Note - to be fair, Daio was never an issue unlike Diouf, he was only brought in to be Diouf's mate and help him settle. He was never expected to be anything other than a fringe player, which is exactly what he was. He did give his all every time I saw him play, something that could not be said of Diouf.}

3.) 08 Aug 2020
08 Aug 2020 10:40:55
Diouf instead of Anelka is 2nd only to the idiot who wanted to replace Alonso with Gareth Barry.

4.) 08 Aug 2020
08 Aug 2020 10:43:21
Once had to ask Diouf to move from my reserved seat on a train back from London. Think he was playing for Leeds at the time and had been sent of playing at West Ham. You can imagine his response, horrible man.

5.) 08 Aug 2020
08 Aug 2020 11:20:51
My mate worked in a hotel on woolton road that is now closed he said diouf got up too some wild antics there, complete waste of space anelka would of took us too the next level . I remember diao scored a winner at leeds but his career nose dived after that .

6.) 08 Aug 2020
08 Aug 2020 13:08:14
Anelka always looked a top class player, his movement, decision making and awareness of his teammates was light years ahead of what we saw from Diouf. Baffling decision not to sign him.

7.) 08 Aug 2020
08 Aug 2020 13:22:07
There isn't a footballer that I despise as much as Diouf. Really cannot stand him.

There's always players that I don't particularly like because of their long affinity with a club that I don't like, but I'm mature enough to know that is why I don't really like them and would never say that I "hate" them our their club (which I see too much of from Liverpool fans and fans of other clubs) . But Diouf, I can actually say that I hate the guy.

I remember Colin saying he was a sewer rat, then said "but that would be insulting to sewer rats" after Diouf broke Jamie Mackie's leg and stood over him and shouted "F*** you and your f**king leg".

Absolutely vile human being.

8.) 08 Aug 2020
08 Aug 2020 14:01:24
Thanks for the in depth reply Ed, much appreciated - have a good weekend!

{Ed001's Note - very welcome Jj.}

9.) 08 Aug 2020
08 Aug 2020 14:34:58
Isn’t he Mane’s hero?

10.) 08 Aug 2020
08 Aug 2020 15:43:33
WarMachine, every Senegalese footballer growing up will have idolised a premier league Senegalese player. Doesn't mean he models himself on him as a person.

Most British people I know have respect for utterly trash immoral heroes of the British empire, due to their achievements, doesn't mean they grow up to be like them. (Churchill anyone? )

11.) 08 Aug 2020
08 Aug 2020 19:32:23
Anelka's finishing goes under the radar a bit. Scored some crackers. There was this one at Brighton, but I won't go onto that.

12.) 09 Aug 2020
09 Aug 2020 06:38:19
About 4-5 years ago, I met Anelka at a watch exhibition in Mumbai (of all places! ) . He looked so fit and could have put in 90 minutes on the field easily. And very soft spoken and slow, I could barely hear him talk. Nice memory.

13.) 09 Aug 2020
09 Aug 2020 11:18:09
spot on, Irishman. Some of the dumb decisions that have happened at this club thru out our 30 year wait for the title should be put on a Wall of Shame at Anfield cos the Diouf instead of Anelka alongside Barry instead of Alonso, should go down as two of the stupidest decisions (and there is a plethora of such shocking decisions) ever made.