John Barnes, Digger [Goals & Skills]

"Players like John Barnes come along just once in a lifetime." (Sir Tom Finney about John Barnes)
Music: Michael Cassette - Moonlight runner

[@Stripe263]

As a Liverpool fan who's only in his 20's, I've only ever heard about how good John Barnes was. As I've just seen, he was fucking incredible.

[@paulleach3612]

Now, imagine England sides with him, Lineker, and Shilton in it...

[@JR-xo5jp]

Your not wrong son

[@eduardomatoso8751]

Would I be wrong if I said he was the greatest English player of all time? would it be absurd

[@HiGuys-vj5di]

Are we watching the same video?

[@wr19hty]

As a LFC fan in his 40's that season we signed Barnes, Beardsley and Houghton (1987 i think) was superb. Barnsey was unstoppable. My favourite Liverpool player for sure.

[@jiggaflo1]

One of the greatest ever. Madly underrated

[@markwhittaker6866]

Mr. Positive PREACH!

[@nasto5]

The greatest Ever The best to ever play for england.

[@fraseraitken1837]

Agree. Had the lot. Unplayable on his day maybe a slight criticism that he wasn’t quite as good for England but I’m splitting hairs. Class

[@obamasleftshoe2312]

Im 14 and im meeting him next week his coming to norway

[@HafeezKhan-pj6nj]

By who not by the people who understand football

[@dariolivaja978]

I am from Croatia and not many people here know who John Barnes was on a football pitch… For me, Barnes is one of top three best English players of all time… He had it all, not a weak spot in his play, amazing player, truly a football legend!

[@Leo-wz4nh]

all born in 60s & 70s in Split, who played football, know about Barnes.

[@dariolivaja978]

@@Leo-wz4nh mislija sam na ove ispod 30 godina, pojma nemaju ko je bija John Barnes

[@davidmorton2630]

I’m a Watford fan. And I was absolutely gutted when he left Watford for Liverpool. He was brilliant for Watford but a genius and maestro for Liverpool.

[@sa1boxfitboxercise271]

Graham Taylor bought him for a brand new kit for Sudbury Utd!

[@IrishRed-ns1vn]

The reason why I fell in love with LFC. Criminally under rated. One of the all time greats. And a gentleman.

[@gurm187]

100% 👍🏼

[@cariocabassa]

He was one of a kind indeed

[@KittiusThings]

@dogs aren't dangerous no one talks about him

[@KittiusThings]

@dogs aren't dangerous No one talks about barnes anymore people say that mane was our best ever lw Shame how our legends are being forgotten

[@KittiusThings]

@dogs aren't dangerous I don’t hear about him often it’s good if he is getting talked about the guy was unbelievable

[@ljose007]

He is the reason why I became a Liverpool fan

[@jonblazeinc]

Me too

[@scouserrr]

I became red the same season we bought him. He is still my favorite ever player to this day.

[@stavrosavgousti8887]

Same

[@septic1502]

Me too!

[@marctierschge1809]

Me too.

[@joseperez1085]

Barnes was what made me a Liverpool fan decades ago in Chicago. A legend…

[@GodlessScummer]

John Barnes had mad skills. I think he's one of the most criminally underrated players in history.

[@rauoool80s23]

This man was like Ortega on speed.

[@waynefarrellvoiceovers]

Absolutely incredible player. You were so lucky to have him. Humble, low profile and let his talent do the talking: a proper sportsman.

[@drwugong]

Proper sportsman - spot on.

[@krishnendubasu5936]

Absolutely.

[@glenfordgreen3277]

John Barnes and Peter Beardsley were an amazing partnership,

[@wg3063]

Total agree

[@markwhittaker6866]

They certainly was.

[@tulani99]

Yessss … agreed!!!

[@nicoloormelli8707]

Players like Barnesy should have so much more recognition nowadays, mediocre players now are so often praised as huge talents when they aren’t actually doing anything better or newer than what has been done by these legends many years ago. Give credit to who deserves it!

[@Grandmastergav86]

Cough Harry Kane, Jack Grealish, Jadon Sancho cough cough.

[@tcsl7764]

The maon difference between football then and now is hype.Now everything is hype.everything.They've even invented something called,assists.......as though that hasn't been happening since year dot.

[@painterbythesea]

@@tcsl7764 Also so silly - with their theatrics and red, green, white, purple, yellow, orange boots - such a sight to cause an eye sore. Play football with black boots like real men used to play.

[@oliverhargadon2316]

@@Grandmastergav86 kane is brilliant, the others are average tho

[@leeeastwood6368]

@@painterbythesea, I played in purple boots back in the early 70s at school. another kid played in bright orange boots. so not really a new thing!

[@alisenemar8494]

One Of 3 The Reasons Why My Depression Is GONE John G.O.A.T Barnes

[@mattinterweb]

My favourite Liverpool player ever. Untouchable 87-90.

[@AlexPaulMason-nl8yk]

He was fantastic after that too. That injury he had after his PFA didn't help but he evolved his game and played up to his mid 30's ..proper draining pitches back in the day. Took it's toll. Sad when he finally left us.

[@tsmay4598]

What I liked about John Barnes was that he never did tricks for the sake of them. He was a very disciplined player. Steve Nichol once said that Barnes made his job easy.

[@steviec8370]

One of the best players I ever had the pleasure to witness live. Superb footballer- utterly superb, often in a league of his own on the pitch - a really great guy and a Liverpool Legend!

[@DKNY707]

Greatest player of his generation, criminally underrated

[@Ohanftbl]

Not better than maradona

[@CamEraFitnessChannel]

My favourite player when I was a kid. He had almost everything!!!!

[@kenrickcolbourne5447]

He'll definitely be in my top 5 of Liverpool's greatest players

[@montybrewster7]

What a player & a true icon & inspiration for young black kids growing up in the 80's.

[@moulosify]

Great video. As a kid, I was mesmerized by John Barnes and the way he played. I begged for a Liverpool kit!! As an adult, my admiration is even greater. You watch videos like this and realise just how brilliant he was. Complete package. England should've built their team around him in his heyday. Even at Newcastle I remember him scoring great goals! I wish he was on t.v. more these days, he will always command respect. A true legend of the game

[@masterend573]

I love this guy, so proud to be a Liverpool fan

[@gunnyakdo1653]

non liverpool fan but barnes,rush and beardsley were great

[@markwhittaker6866]

PREACH!

[@markwhittaker6866]

@@gunnyakdo1653 PREACH!

[@knowledgeispower9241]

I was a kid during his time, i remember my dad would talk about John Barnes all the time he would rush home just watch Liverpool play! John Barnes was amazing for sure💯💯

[@cariocabassa]

He was one of a kind, i really enjoyed him playing alongside Ian Rush during his " Reds " stint. Was a deadly combination

[@Lee_yourboylee]

So smooth, he was The Man in English football in the late 80s, a class apart.

[@sargent_mahoney5278]

Absolute wand of a lefty ,, was my favourite player when i was a kid . was so good to watch

[@titi8137]

Thank God I’m old enough to remember when he played I was a little boy but I remember my dad used to love John Barnes a lot we would rush home on a Sunday to watch the game good ol days!!!

[@markwhittaker6866]

PREACH!

[@phily33]

If various England managers knew how to use him, and the England football fans of the day less rascist, he would have been an England legend

[@superlex611]

phily33 true, but Barnes was respected in general

[@phily33]

alex kanyima By right minded people he was

[@CCCoNeTiMe]

Cunts didn't deserve him

[@MrJmobes]

Dumb comment. He is a legend.

[@nasto5]

phily33 He is whether the sickos like it or not

[@jbahlool]

John Barnes one of the best Liverpool fc players of all times

[@niallmaca5670]

What a player. One of Liverpool's best.

[@rauoool80s23]

The Italia '90 logo is class

[@pgm1972]

what a gifted player, absolutely mesmerising. Football is about the ball, everyone who has touched it has struggled to control it, Barnes comes the closest. He lives our dreams out for us. If I practised day and night, I would still never have got there.

[@ihateyoumother-fucker3204]

I work with a Liverpool fan, he's 21 years old. He once asked me, "was John Barnes really that good?" I almost shed a tear over the boys ignorance. I'm 41. I don't remember K.Keegan and a bit too young to remember Dalgish. But in my life time, John Barnes is THE BEST player I've ever seen for LFC. It is well known and accepted that back in the 80's only C.Waddle and G.Hoddle (other than J.Barnes) had any kind of flair and technique that was level above anyone else. Factor in the state of pitches, though tackling and racial abuse he faced week in week out, to perform and play like he did is beyond comprehension considering "50% of football in played out in the head" - SAF quote. So sorry, but S.Gerrard wouldn't have cried and wanted to go home if he had to have worn J.Barnes boots during this era. Still the best player I've ever seen turn out for LFC and a real BAD reflection on LFC that they have allowed this man's name to (almost like ) fade away into obscurity, unlike others!

[@michaelpachuau3885]

Great comment. But pretty sure Beardsley had as much technique, if not more in terms of dribbling, as Hoddle, Waddle and Barnes 😊

[@pgm1972]

@@michaelpachuau3885 and Gascoigne maybe ?

[@michaelpachuau3885]

@@pgm1972 Gazza is the obvious one there 😄 Probably the 5 most naturally gifted Englishmen in terms of pure technique in the dribble, then you have Le Tiss who is only excluded because he didn't have the pace to beat too many people on the run, though his technique was godly as well

[@AlexPaulMason-nl8yk]

Barnes was better than Gazza

[@jeanpierre.durrant]

My nickname is Barnesy! He was my boyhood hero & I always wore the number 10. My best friend played against Liverpool at Anfield & he introduced me to John Barnes in the players bar after the game! Great man. He always remembered me when we met at other grounds! Top Man! YNWA

[@XabiAlonso-x3e]

John Barnes was out of his own league. There wasn’t any players like him in his own era of playing the game. 1984 - 1991 was Prime Barnes

[@tonysmith3832]

I'm 43 now and I just about remember John Barnes. In terms of sheer brilliance over a couple of seasons, I rate him and Luis Suarez as the best two Liverpool players I have ever seen.

[@golden.lights.twinkle2329]

Stan Colleymore was the best.

[@johnwalsh8507]

There is only one John Barnes brilliant winger great trickery top class footballer nobody in our team is better than him

[@DKNY707]

“And it’s true, Barnes scared the shit out of us” Diego Maradona

[@boodgebutton]

My favourite player I never got to see in his prime. The touch and finish he had was sublime

[@chopperharris9789]

I think players back then were just better generally. It was a really physical game, the pitch conditions were awful by todays standards and players just had more grit and raw talent. The John Barnes Story honestly changed my life. Unbelievable player and a very humble man.

[@britturk123]

He looked so casual on the ball like a ballet dancer he had this wonderful charm over the crowd and the ball. For me he is easily the most entertaining club player I have ever seen up to Zidan.

[@sundijohnson552]

One of England's first and best black footballers... Star of the late eighties and nineties..

[@cariocabassa]

Lol let's just call him a fantastic player lol...

[@stavrosavgousti8887]

1:05 Out of this world. Quick feet and what a finish. Amazing goal.

[@Grandmastergav86]

The era I grew up in was awesome - football wise (89-2000). My personal favourite for English football.

[@lancashirebomber9744]

best England goal of all time

[@cariocabassa]

Could be agree

[@marcogarofalo6343]

That goal against Brazil though holy moly

[@joseantoniobravocaro7796]

Fue un jugador extraordinario,de una clase superior,uno de los mejores jugadores de su época. Saludos de Sevilla,España.

[@pink43560]

Barnesey used to light up Match of the Day, he was unplayable at times. Underrated talent for sure.

[@woodyarts73]

The most underrated footballer

[@bobstermaher]

Best oppo player I've seen at Elland road. Tore us to shreds especially in the 1st half during a 4-5 home defeat to Liverpool in 91.

[@robrobinson9944]

The greatest England player

[@avfc_d.p.c2146]

Blind and biased

[@johnrockyryan]

Bro why has nbody told me how fantastic Barnes was like my God he was like R9 before R9 out of this world phenomenal

[@ihateyoumother-fucker3204]

He's the best midfielder LFC have ever had since I've been watching football.

[@noahcamara515]

Saw this video, still ain't sure if he's right or left footed

[@samspade3203]

You must be a little blind then.

[@gulistanaaz3480]

@@samspade3203 That Would Be You.

[@samspade3203]

Zona Ali oh yeah, Care to take me through the logic moron?

[@gulistanaaz3480]

@@samspade3203 He Could Shoot From Outside The Box With Both Feet, Could Dribble With Both Feet, And Could Cross The Ball Near The Penalty Box With Both Feet. Who Is Blind Now?

[@samspade3203]

Zona Ali let me see, still you and op, thanks for trying tho

[@Nhamo3]

He was a great player.

[@tree78254]

I have seen him in some of the Liverpool matches.. but i didn't know that he was excellent in everything!!!!!!!!! Those dribbling.. OMG... Thanks for the video

You're welcome

[@jperez1910]

Karthikeyan K the great John Barnes...

[@tankbardisary8001]

Just watched this with my son to educate him about a footballing icon & legend!!

[@caspera3193]

How have I never heard of this guy? He is truly amazing. It took me a while to find out that he is left footed.

[@luisrolandolopezvazquez6824]

Those Ronaldinho moves for dribbling you only see in a few players today. He remembers me a lot of Vinicius (specially now that Vini is finally smashing it), but he was even stronger. What a player. Definetely a starter in my Liverpool All-time team.

[@robmcmullan5732]

My favourite footballer. Watched him from his early days at Watford. So gifted.

[@alexl5010]

I had never heard of him but just realized he has been so important for Liverpool, and your video displays his technical greatness. Thank you!

[@yotest3697]

Fantastic video with a fantastic musical selection for a fantastic player

[@mohsdef]

Had a bad injury, achilles tendon rupture, which affected his pace, a lot of people dont realise that.

[@sa1boxfitboxercise271]

John Barnes will always be a hero to so many football fans. His England career is often overlooked. He scored 11 goals in 79 games. 1 in 10 for a supposedly peripheral figure. Played in 2 World Cups and a European Championship, where they reached a QF and SF, where he was an integral part of the squad.

[@toeknee7887]

my hero, peak John Barnes is as good as it gets.

[@championsoundrecords]

Barnesy would be worth £300 million in today's market plus the European cups that team would have won if English clubs weren't banned at the time.

[@rauoool80s23]

And AC Milan definitely wouldn't have won as many European Cups as they did during that era

[@AhmadSafty96]

@@rauoool80s23 R u kidding me? Milan at that time would have fucked liverpool literally

[@AhmadSafty96]

@Cool Dude lol you're the dumb here man.. Milan was the best team in the world back then in the 80s/90s they even fucked Madrid 5/0 and Barca's Cruyf team 4/0

[@bywyjimma]

@@AhmadSafty96 fuck off Liverpool 1987/1988 was the best team in Europe that year

[@Delboy0]

John Barnes is one of greatest under appreciate players of all-time. He was the original Christiano Ronaldo, a winger that scored many goals, that could take stunning free-kicks, long shots, pass and cross and destroy a team on his own. You know John Barnes was a good player when Kobe Bryant and Xavi both said he was the first sporting idol. Barnes was just extremely unlucky that he picked up a massive injury in 1991 just before EPL started and coverage of football exploded in England and the world, because he lost his pace due to the injury and was only half the player he was at his peak in the EPL so he not remembered as much as say Eric Cantona when at his peak he was a much better player. And because Liverpool were banned from Europe, the world didn't get to see John Barnes play against the best at his peak.

[@yacobz]

Literally thought he was right footed till I saw him scoring free kicks with his left. Very impressive two footedness.

[@Delboy0]

John Barnes is one of greatest under appreciate players of all-time. He was the original Christiano Ronaldo, a winger that scored many goals, that could take stunning free-kicks, long shots, pass and cross and destroy a team on his own. You know John Barnes was a good player when Kobe Bryant and Xavi both said he was the first sporting idol. Barnes was just extremely unlucky that he picked up a massive injury in 1991 just before EPL started and coverage of football exploded in England and the world, because he lost his pace due to the injury and was only half the player he was at his peak in the EPL so he not remembered as much as say Eric Cantona when at his peak he was a much better player. And because Liverpool were banned from Europe, the world didn't get to see John Barnes play against the best at his peak.

[@jonblazeinc]

Wow I never knew Kobe said that.... Americans rarely knew about football players other than Pele back in those days. Says a lot about magnitude of Barnes

[@RhetoricalMuse]

Best left footer we ever had

[@MrTovudu]

The reason why I became a Liverpool fan

[@kiedistidus]

By the time I was old enough to watch football Barnes was in his last few seasons for Liverpool so I never really got to see just how brilliant he was, watching this video I can't believe he isn't mentioned in the same breath as some of the greatest of all time. Barnes looks like he would breeze into any team today at club or international level.

[@shamadam1]

Between 87 and 89... I kid u not even Maradona acknowledged Barnes was up there with the very best. After his Achilles injury he lost his acceleration but prior to that, he was top 3 players in the world and for me Liverpool's best player ever

[@themeanzone7571]

When people hype up mbappe and you see barnes man many legends were robbed back in the day.

[@sanzleaso2553]

John Barnes is better.

[@frostycone2931]

You do know that modern day ligue 1 is the equivalent to division one right?

[@linopierre6395]

FINALLY A GREAT TRIBUTE TO BARNESY>...thanks to the arrangement with the audio..barnes is by far better than Sadio BARNES + BEARDSLEY +STAUNTON the reason I love LFC till this day

[@pbosustow]

Barnes, LeTissier, Hoddle, Robson, Beardsley. My favourite England players of that era. Barnes was a genius.

[@lifeisblessed4802]

Waddle and Gazza as well cant leave them out

[@Dead-Ball-Situation]

He was the inspiration (plus Beardsley) for my game as a young teen in the late 80's. I literally tried to copy him on the pitch and it worked. I went on to play at county level.

[@checktheskies5040]

Underrated imho. His injury took a yard of his pace but wow.❤

[@Aarwizzy]

Amazing.

[@PaulDavies-r5w]

A true one off, he was wasted by England countless if they had built a team around him they would have benifitted greatly.He was absolute class I watched play a lot at Anfield never saw one opposition player ever take the ball off him once even tight on the touchline . He was pure box office but humble with it realised he was in a great team and played for them .

[@bagherghasemi]

as a Man United fan I have to say that this guy is a legend !!!!

[@kulh1962]

All the grief he got... and he was still THE BEST

[@lesdooley3362]

87/89 unplayable greatest player I ever seen live 10 times the player gazza ever was not a player to touch him in those first couple of seasons at Liverpool

[@varunsubramanian9226]

All those goals were just so much class.

[@ryanmurphy5943]

World class

[@bagherghasemi]

1:27 This is my favorite moment. Just Amazing!

[@waz3128]

He never blasted the ball. Always placed it delicately. Pure class . Only Maradona was better in my opinion

[@teekay3468]

So your saying Barnes is better than messi?

[@ihateyoumother-fucker3204]

TeeKay: Messi is obviously Barcelona through and through. He's (almost) one of there own. John Barnes is NOT from Liverpool and was always reminded that's he's BLACK, faced vile racist abuse, played on shit pitches with much more contact being allowed than what is today. Always remember, "50% of football is played out in the head" SAF quote. Please put Messi in John Barnes boots, in the same scenario and let's see how he performs and how long he lasts in La Liga, never mind the old English 1st division. For the record, Messi is obviously a class player. But one must be brave and ask how would he perform under similar circumstances. Interestingly, Maradona (for most, "the best EVER") seriously struggled at Barcelona due to tough tackling from the opposition. Unlike Barnes, Maradona only flourished in an environment (Naples) where he was loved by the fans and protected via refs. Once again, "50% of football is played out in the head"."

[@tossmonsieur]

@@teekay3468 I would also be inclined to say Barnes is 'better' for the same reasons. Dunno, if they were Messi goals people would be creaming themselves. Messi's fantastic, but there's a fair amount of hype and he plays in a piss easy league. With modern fitness/training regimes, I personally think Barnes would be better.

[@byGaaB]

@@tossmonsieur "if they were messi Goals people would be creaming themselves" lmao this comment. First of all people dont cream over Messi Goals cause it's messi, he obviously made a name for himself, he is known for scoring extraordinary Goals (dribbling through the whole team and scoring) which barnes hasnt done once in his career quite like messi, class player but to compare him with Messi is a joke, even if he played now, in laliga he wouldnt touch messi with the amount of Goals, assists, pure skill and football iq ,magic and the consistency Messi has

[@tossmonsieur]

@@byGaaB Ah, the Messi fan-boys and girls. So predictable and brainwashed. Where was the greatest player ever at Anfield? Nowhere. He choked. Fabulous as Messi is, he's not a good as you cheerleaders think.

[@dawzee72]

The very definition of ambidextrous.

[@kevinsingh7936]

2:20 went well with the music 👌

[@bosnaEdis]

wow, im following football since ever and i never knew about this guy. he was absolute brilliant, great video.

[@nasto5]

Cisqo you why bcoz he was playing in england and for england

[@Nooroodin84]

Wow. I didn’t know he was this good.

[@sammyboyjnr5520]

What a player

[@beckenbauerfranz9073]

Pure Class! Brightest Liverpool's star in 1990s.

[@uzairdakri880]

Beckenbauer Franz wonder of a left it's just a shame he didn't do good for England natinal team

[@gabrielegilli9209]

With Michael Owen in the second half of 90s

[@rauoool80s23]

This geeza was lethal, if they weren't banned, they would've challenged Milan and won a few more European Cups.

[@EnglishforFOOTBALLFANS]

@@rauoool80s23 True - Milan were lucky the English clubs were banned.

[@EnglishforFOOTBALLFANS]

@@uzairdakri880 'A wand of a left-foot' - I teach English football vocabulary on my channel... please take a look.

[@ДанельХалель]

wow, he is absolutely top class player!

[@liquidgold]

Greatest Liverpool winger of all time.

[@Csense-se5ke]

Until the arrival of Mo.Salah 11 of course. 32 goals in a 38 match league

[@Trudon]

mane is the new barnes

[@markwhittaker6866]

PREACH!

[@markwhittaker6866]

@@Csense-se5ke Salah is a great player, but HE'S NO JOHN BARNES.

[@markwhittaker6866]

@@Trudon A ways to go for him to even get close. Mane is a fabulous player, BUT HE'S NO JOHN BARNES.

[@How2UseDis]

Wow brilliant player

[@MrMurph73]

He should've been used from the start at Mexico '86 World Cup instead of bieng on the bench almost all the time. When he came on he made a huge difference and set up a goal for Lineker

[@painterbythesea]

He should have started against Argentina, rather than coming on late as a sub.

[@jonblazeinc]

True Barnes scared the Argies even Maradona admitted this

[@Averifiedperson7712]

I once met John Barnes. I went with my friend who was wearing a Chelsea kit. Barnes was savage and told me to get new friends

[@jamessalkilld8549]

My favourite

[@jacobforsberg8087]

His FIFA Icon is criminally underrated

[@kezou2112]

His card should be 91

[@matthewfrench2343]

And should have 5 star weakfoot

[@ChristopherPatrick777]

I have had great success with his 86 rated card.

[@jacobforsberg8087]

RANDOM LO-FI cool, but I still just think he should be like 88-90-92 instead of having one of the worst ratings.

[@ehwassupdoc7901]

Jacob Forsberg something like that maybe 89 91 86

[@d8456]

Not even a liverpool fan but this guy is twice the salah is

[@joshuakithyoma9575]

Mane is a great world class player , but this guy is an alien 👽👽👽 John Barnes 10

[@capell123]

@59 that's poetry right there. That's the beautiful game.

[@SabanAmbar-g3t]

John Barnes technical specifications are good 🏆⚽