I was not at all enamoured with the thought of Phil Thompson at Villa Park, but I must admit that was a knee jerk reaction
Just got this from thisisanfield :
Phil Thompson's biography
This isnt just a boring autobiography about an ex-Liverpool player. It isnt just one about one of the most successful players of all time. It’s a fairy story about a Liverpool lad who loved his team so much, and went on to fulfill every dream a Scouser could have about his beloved Liverpool. This is the real Roy of the Rovers. What strikes me is that this book is written by a fanatical fan, not an ex-player.
http://www.liverpool.is/myndir/legends/euro81Tommo.jpgIt is structured well, starting in the middle where he returns to anfield after a long absence as Gerrard’s assistant, but doesn’t linger there long. It going back to his start at Liverpool and works his way forward. The obligatory boring family part is actually at the end of the book!
What do people think of when they see Thommo?
Most people think of the Fowler incident when God was badly treated or the fact he was the man who did the dirty work of disciplining whilst Houllier picked the team. The fact he has a big nose.
But it is time to shine a light on all that he did achieve for this great club. He is as integral a part of the club as Emlyn or Yeats or the Iron. He was part of Paisley’s (not Holland’s) vision of total football: Midfield players as centre halfs.
Its like a real Roy of the Rovers. The local Kirkby lad, the last of Shankly’s proteges, his future told at 18 (he would captain Liverpool and England). Replacing Larry Lloyd and keeping the Anfield Iron out of the team. Winning the Championship at 19, captaining Liverpool to league and cup success, then finally, climbing the steps in Paris, after beating the legendary Real Madrid in the CL final, to collect “big ears” as Captain of Liverpool: What more could any red Liverpudlian want?
His career spanned from Shankly to Ronnie Moran. He won everything there is to win. He became a member of the legendary bootroom after his playing career ended.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/liverpool/content/images/2004/07/21/alt_lfc_diy_mid1_150x200.jpgAs Liverpool’s star waned under Souness, mistakes were made. Thommo was sacked. But like all comic book hero’s, he got on with his life, til the day a phone call came through. His Liverpool career was ressurected. He returned in triumph to take part in the legendary treble, and to forfill the last of his dreams: He managed Liverpool as Houllier fought for his life.
If you want to pick holes, you could say “well, he never won the title as a trainer.” But, really, after all he has been through, after all he has achieved with the club, isnt that rich? It’s like blaming Dalglish for resigning, without accepting everything else he did for the club as player and manager.
He was the first Liverpool born lad to raise the Champions league trophy. After the legendary Tommy Smith he was the next Liverpool born captain. He was a real Roy of the Rovers . He loved what happened to him, he couldn’t believe his luck, but he was talented, determined and lived up to his early promise. If anything, he has a lot in common with Gerrard. The only difference, his medal haul is massively bigger !
In the book you could also get the idea he wears his heart on his sleeve or he takes some decisions against him to heart: But, then again, those moments that hurt him were losing the capaincy of Liverpool, not being allowed on the European Cup winners pre final bus, getting sacked from the bootroom by Souness without knowing the truth. I think any Liverpool born and bred person, who gave their life to the club would feel hurt in these moments.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40505000/jpg/_40505571_wonleague_73_emp300200.jpgI think we should thank him for being Houllier’s assistant. Without him we may never have got rid of the Spice boy label and may have dissapeared downwards, losing money, players and status. It may have taken 25 years to recover. Thompson took on the hard job of disiplining a squad who were dictating to the manager. He did what Shankly did when he first came to Liverpool, he put the pride back in wearing the red shirt. We can all praise Benitez, but, he would have had a harder job if Thompson hadnt preceeded him.
One of the most underrated, undervalued players of all time at Liverpool, but, in actual fact, you cant find many better.
So it appears he has done a good job, is immensely qualified and played a big part in turning Liverpool round. I have an open mind....
