We Are Liverpool Podcast S01, E02. John Barnes | 'He knew the problem but wouldn't tell us!'

[@billybasu3900]

John Barnes, a total Liverpool legend. His influence hopefully continues in the club.

[@mkh705]

^^

[@asadashraf2128]

When people ask me why an East Londoner like myself supports Liverpool, my answer is always John Barnes.

[@realnesx]

Me to I'm half carribeon I'm 42. He don't get the recognition he really deserves in the football world

[@jota55581]

​@@realnesx in out city for us he was and always be inmortal .

[@Aktavist1]

Since the age 5 until 45 John Barnes has been my hero and always will be!

[@mkh705]

^^

[@geezalee1677]

John Barnes and Ian Rush are the reason I have been a Liverpool FC fan.

[@UncleB52]

​@@geezalee1677 They were both my idols growing up

[@crasherkid7954]

Barnes in full flight down the wing, in that red Candy shirt in the late 80s was what made me fall in love with football

[@GMBethHarmon]

First footballing idol for me. His stepovers, the deft touches and jinking feet, and let's not forget the iconic rap haha. Absolute legend.

[@mkh705]

^^

[@dudebro3250]

I used to love Barnes. Then he turned into a crybaby race warrior.

[@Leornianæfre]

Glad Barnes is back at the club in an official capacity.

[@mkh705]

^^

[@rakbhogal3293]

Long overdue. Ynwa

[@MrDMc1981]

so what does he do?

[@rakbhogal3293]

@@MrDMc1981 He has a club ambassador role, just like Rushie.

[@MrDMc1981]

@@rakbhogal3293 yes but what does he actually do for the money?

[@muhammedrahman7013]

John Barnes, Hero of The People, King of The Kop, Legend of ANFIELD Forever! YNWA

[@etiennebunbury1285]

As a black man that loved Rush it filled me with so much joy watching this Great man running from the half way line or deep in his own half to score. One of the greatest Liverpool players ever!

[@Longchain69]

Agree with both. Rush just edges it, but Barnes one of first names in best 11.

[@etiennebunbury1285]

@@Longchain69 John Aldridge. Barnes played a different position and arguably shone and drove us forward when we were beginning to decline. I’ll never forget that season when he was put in midfield with Michael Thomas, a young Robbie Fowler upfront and we just missed out on the league title. Michael Thomas and Barnes were formidable in the middle. Yep the same Thomas that killed us in 89. Incidentally I’m from Highbury N5 live two minutes from the Arsenal! Yep my hearts in Liverpool.

[@Mk-ed4rg]

Mancs 😂

[@j606ywt]

As a white man it filled me with joy too 🤣 What a player he was!

[@mojebi3804]

"as a black man" seems completely irrelevant but ok, John Barnes was a great player for sure

[@shahliker1095]

John Barnes....not just a footballing hero but also a very intelligent man.

[@BlahBlahBlah50]

40 years supporting Liverpool. My favourite.

[@treadstone1970]

Digger was one of the finest players I ever saw to grace the hallowed red shirt on the pitch. Totally mesmerising to watch him perform such magic.

[@gregadkins2483]

American Red here, this is UNBELIEVABLE. I never thought I would hear Bsrnes be this honest. Amazing pod

[@jaisolart]

"'Players like John Barnes come along just once in a lifetime,' - Sir Tom Finney. May I add, his awareness and ability to articulate his experiences in football and beyond add to Johns legacy x

[@davrothelegend]

My favourite player of all time.

[@shabbirballim5535]

Barnes and Beardsley One of the best combination in English football, maybe in the world. They were poetry in motion

[@davidstakun4773]

As someone who was born on the other side of the 'iron curtain' in communist Poland, I'd fallen in love with John's football when he played for England and than it natrually transformed into love for LFC that lasts 'till now. Thank you John.

[@heartofcinema3454]

Barnes my favourite LFC player of all time.

[@tribalpeacock]

Love this podcast. John Barnes is a legend. Can't wait for Robbo

[@Myviewoftheworldful]

For all the pleasures over the years watching the likes of Gerrard, Torres, Salah, Rushie etc etc. No one gave me as much excitement in a Liverpool shirt as watching John Barnes. That peak John Barnes between 87-90 was incredible. Every week, every game he seemed to do something memorable, went past players with such ease, wonderful memories. An incredible natural talent and an intelligent, humble man. My first and remains my only true football hero.

[@kay_justme]

our very own Liverpool Hero John Barnes 😍 i can listen all day long when John Barnes talking, Fantastic player, very honest human being.

[@JW-be8wf]

John Barnes, a great footballer and an even better man.

[@DeeDee-mf3jt]

Barnes is a real boss, love this guy ❤ ynwa

[@remmytonui220]

Glad to see and hear John Barnes talk about Liverpool fc squad in the past and looking at the present. He had so much deft touches and an absolutely great style. An icon of Liverpool fc forever.

[@mkh705]

^^

[@Rayk76]

John Barnes: on his day the best player in the world, genius left foot, very good right foot, could dribble past anyone majestically with power and pace, a brilliant footballing brain, and he was great in the air, and of course those free kicks and other spectacular goals, my favourite all time LFC player, im 47, digger was and still is my idol

[@rakbhogal3293]

Barnesy and Robbie together on a podcast, my favourite two players growing up. 😁

[@robertesellers]

Johnny barnes Johnny barnes my hero My best ever Christmas present when I was a kid “the John barnes story “

[@ziadmutasim1235]

Music was terrible in that video 😂😂😂

[@robertesellers]

@@ziadmutasim1235 the pointer sisters absolute class 😄

[@yallahyallah4220]

I'd love a podcast with Barnesy and Jürgen, just the two of them talking LFC history and how the game and everything around it changed. John could tell him so much about old LFC, the greats and the struggles the city of Liverpool went through aswell. Having a beer ofc :)

[@johnxxx5085]

John Barnes was without doubt one of the greatest English players ever ( who else can´t forget that goal against Brazil in the Maracana!) but his humility and over-riding belief that no-one is bigger than the team is what shines through. Amazing free spirit on and off the pitch ... would like to see a podcast with him and Roy Keane.

[@gomey70]

Great interview. Always great to hear from John. Barnes at his best in the late 80s was arguably our greatest ever player in one of our best ever teams.

[@ivorheadache]

Great interview. Love the podcast. Growing up I was always John Barnes on the wing.... Also love the Jimmy Case mention. Always used to drink with him in Villamartin before he went dry. Great fella. Great times.

[@saifuddinahmadable]

Never seen a pure natural talent like Barnes. He made me love Liverpool as a kid watching him on the VHS tapes

[@darrengarside2106]

I remember watching John Barnes at Anfield what a LEGEND and what a lovely bloke ....... John Barnes and Stevie G my hero's

[@gryphongryph]

What a great sit down, two of my heroes, Barnes and Robbie, what fantastic players they were, we sure could need them now in their prime 😜

[@Forever4God]

Loved absolutely every second. Respect to my 🇯🇲 brother

[@padraiglocke8844]

One of the best moments of my life was seeing him in restaurant in Liverpool when I was a 9 year old , visiting from Ireland on my birthday present from my mom , couldn’t get tickets to the match but saw my idol near our hotel , I told my wife and friends in a dinner party in New York recently what was one of the best moments in your childhood, I saw seeing John Barnes at a restaurant, that’s how much I loved him as a kid !!

[@philarnold115]

A true legend, gentleman and all around nice guy. Love John Barnes ❤

[@Charlie-sr6dv]

What a great podcast. Just how good and illuminating a talker is John Barnes? A class act on and off the field. Respect!

[@burnbrae6948]

Everyone loves a bit of Barnsey... the footballing voice of reason.

[@richardburford1850]

What a great player he was, one of my favourites of that era, and what a nice man he seems to be.

[@RyanMK666]

Gotta love John Barnes ❤️

[@Simko21]

i like to listen john barnes.a gentleman,personality and real man. legend of liverpool fc. i was a kid in germany in year 1990 in germany,when i saw on tv at sunday liverpool with ian rush or him. in 1990 we only had one football programme at sunday with 50 minutes football from germany,italy or england. only one match. since 1990 i am a liverpool man.

[@Thereallenin76]

"I always wanted to be remembered as a member of a Liverpool team" Sorry Digger, never going to happen, you'll always be remembered as one of our greatest players, greatest wingers. I know I'm a Liverpool fan, but your goal in the Maracana actually made me cry as a kid, I never expected an English player to be that good, only South American's were supposed to do that. So much love for this man

[@aramskaef6955]

well he came from Jamaica lol

[@Thereallenin76]

@@aramskaef6955 Jamaica isn’t in South America, you know that, right?

[@Lee_yourboylee]

He's lying, anyway.

[@Thereallenin76]

@@Lee_yourboylee make this make sense, please

[@Lee_yourboylee]

@@Thereallenin76 Despite what he says I don't believe Barnsey wants to be remembered as just one member of the team, no more celebrated than the others. I'm sure he enjoys being thought of as the most skillful and the most thrilling to watch. I do believe he thinks all of his team mates were great and did their important jobs well. I just don't believe he just wants to be remembered with no more fondness and no more awe and be no more celebrated than, say, Steve Staunton (his example).

[@stetomlinson3146]

I really enjoyed this when I watched on LFCtv. Something that stood out for me was when he talked about being “a Liverpool player”. He’s right. There are some brilliant players who, if they played for us, would never be a “Liverpool player”. I think Christiano is a football genius, but would never be a Liverpool player. Messi would because it’s a mindset. You can be a football genius and still play for the team. Christiano plays for one person. Himself. Salah is a genius who recognises his abilities, but he plays for the team. So did Sadio. I don’t think Mbappe would fit in here either for the same reason. It’s in our DNA as LFC.

[@thequizportal]

absolutely loved this one (tbf I love them all lol) - Digger gave me so much pleasure watching the mighty reds back in the day

[@tatilbury]

Digger , pure class on & off the pitch. A class act - what a player .....legend.

[@IanEckert1977]

John Barnes was the Man back In the day Boys and Germs...

[@acko13]

The heroes' hero. What a treat. Thanks guys

[@alanstewart4745]

John Barnes will always make an ALL TIME Liverpool eleven in my book. Best Player in the best Liverpool side I have ever seen. The European ban prevents people from realising how good that side was. I truly believe that only the great Arigo Sacci Milan side with the likes of Baresi, Maldini, Costacurta, Ancelotti, Gullit, Rijkaard & van Basten were on a par with the Dalglish side of 87,88 & 89.

[@garyjohnnuznyi736]

Digger was a genius , left foot was a wand , free kicks and I remember a goal v QPR Kop end went past 2 defenders and slotted home , better than Giggs on his day and tbh can't think of a BETTER traditional left winger than him , he was proper....John Barnes thankyou 4 the memories

[@murdoch691]

When digger said Liam Brady I fell of my perch I can see the similarities dropping the shoulder and gliding past people,I've met digger twice and he always made time to be with people,in my top 5 of legends of Liverpool

[@chenyl0525]

At one point, John Barnes was the greatest footballer alive.

[@fitzroysimpson8645]

John the legend, one and only 👍🏾🇯🇲

[@iangrierson4414]

Absolute legend. 24:58 “We ran 10 miles, lifted weights and fought each other”😂😂😂

[@kem1036]

Barnes is a great speaker

[@ivrishcon-abarth38]

During otherwise devastating childhood and teen years, Liverpool FC was my brigth light and source of happiness, and John Barnes was one of the most vital parts of that club and the team at the time. When Liverpool won, everything was fine for a while, I felt happy and powerful, and as long as we had player like Dalglish and Barnes and McMahon (player like whom I would´ve wished to be as a player) and all the rest, there was going to be a lot of wins. What little stability and "safety" I had in life was produced by those lads.

[@krish3441]

Such a touching text... Hope your still watching LFC...best team around...

[@donrebel1340]

John Barnes. A true great for our club..!

[@ant777live]

The first football team that I ever supported was Liverpool, and it was partly because my favourite colour is red and they seemed to win all of the time. I was only about 6. And my favourite player was John Barnes. It was mainly because of his smile and body language, and the way he moved around the pitch. I knew he was a cool guy when I was 6 years old. Children are psychic for sure

[@ant777live]

And the combination of Jamaican and scouse accent is amazing ; )

[@bobbyorange3]

One of the many legends of the club and a top bloke if you ever meet him we need a part 2!

[@karlerasure]

It was also a great combination Barnes and Aldridge together. The only game made me sad and shocked was the final game at Anfield in 1989 when Liverpool lost the Championship to Arsenal by ONE goal. Nowadays Var would have disallowed that goal of Alan Smith 😊

[@DavidSmith-fs5qj]

What people don't talk about is the number of games Liverpool played that final week. First came the cup final, two hours in blazing heat on the energy sapping Wembley pitch and the emotion of winning it, next came West Ham on the Tuesday. West Ham were fighting for their lives and set off like an express train, but we ran out five to one winners. Finally, came the titanic clash with Arsenal on the Friday. Why Friday, just a little over two days after west Ham? The players were mentally and phisically shattered, it's not taking anything away from Arsenal, they won the title over the whole season, not juts that game, but the players had nothing left to give.

[@abomani21]

Barnes is absolutely spot on regarding Robbie!!!

[@rouman7]

Superb player John was I still Think Today he should of been offered a coaching job at LFC. A great player

[@eato]

Love John Barnes never seen him play in the Liverpool shirt but the stories I have listened to unbelievable player and human

[@AllAboutNat]

Best player to have ever pulled on the red shirt imo

[@jayd746]

One of the biggest influences of my footballing life. A rocket of a left foot with the finesse and grace to glide across the pitch.

[@Longchain69]

Legend.

[@AkiwFishing]

Liverpool "You'll Never Walk Alone"👍

[@Footballtifo]

One of my favourite Liverpool players when I started watching LFC in the 80s.

[@ziadmutasim1235]

My absolute idol was lucky enough to meet him in Sydney a few years ago.

[@leifreidarkvaale5300]

John Barnes, wonderful player and human. Met him twice in Norway.

[@hitnailhalfway2485]

I love hearing Barnes talk

[@LawNerdSoph]

John Barnes is the reason I'm a Liverpool fan. My dad's favourite player and growing up I was introduced to LFC and have supported ever since. UP THE REDS

[@danieladams9950]

This was brilliant. John so articulate and grounded.

[@serumq]

John Barnes, for me he is the best that i have ever seen.

[@kbyrne340]

John Barnes will forever be a liverpool legend and a genuine amazing person and robbie to 🤣 only jokin rob ..god 🙌❤️

[@clintonshawe5205]

John Barnes - My Hero 🙏🏿

[@garyjohnnuznyi736]

Hes in the all time greatest 11 imo

[@joecongrain7477]

When he speaks...it's just like he's singing & when plays...it's just like he's dancing...that's John Barnes...my all time hero

[@neilcaldwell9166]

An amazing player as well as an amazing person.

[@jcanyiam8309]

This Podcast could have been much BETTER had Barnes been asked HOW HE DELT with RACISM during his early days at Liverpool (KICKING THE BANANA) Barnes TRULY BROKE DOWN BARRIERS for Black Players- One of the REASONS I Fell in LOVE with LFC- THANK YOU Mr Barnes (YNWA)

[@T-T10]

John Barnes and Ian rush were my 1st 2 favourite player's rush 4 his goals and Barnes 4 his skill absolute LEGEND 💯 OUR97🙏YNWA

[@lynchy5050]

Johnny Barnes, put a good few years more onto our success, without him, we,d have fell off before we did! It’s why we live him still

[@colinbrooks6290]

Respect John Barns…. Keep talking….. your talking History 👍

[@PadreDePato]

Nice to have a pod that doesn’t stop every 10 minutes to flog ball trimmers or mattresses! 😅👍🏼

[@pjduff7577]

That bit about the chippy order before the game had me howling 🤣🤣🤣

[@MarlUnit]

What an insight. Loved every second of that!

[@jonteknik]

I could listen to John Barnes all day. Such an inspirational man.

[@davidmackeown9318]

When I was on primary school team here in Ireland , I played left wing. My hero was John Barnes. A TRUE LEGEND and what a player.

[@bayokehinde4440]

Great interview, what a guy Liverpool truly ingrained in his heart.

[@nathanthompson9584]

Gutted I am too young to have seen John Barnes play live, but I could listen to him, his stories and views/opinions all day!

[@nanakwabena61]

LFC Forever Family, legend

[@flexwilliams3783]

This guy was the real deal. John Barnes in his pomp was unplayable. He was a Superstar.

[@Cozzy1306]

Earlliest memories of footie for me are early 80s onwards and in my footie watching lifetime, he's the most skilful player I've ever seen at Liverpool. So skilful he would have walked into most Brazilian teams at his prime. Above all, that what a classy down to earth good guy. A true Liverpool legend

[@shanelbannerman5166]

Love barnes as a kid he is an adopted scouser!😍

[@TXKorea]

Not even a Liverpool fan but Barnes is an absolute legend. Respect.

[@richardjackson9725]

My favourite player of all time

[@jojomorrix8793]

Loving these podcasts so excited for future presentations YNWA 🔴

[@comedychannels]

John Barnes ........ so much more than a Liverpool FC legend

[@MrTerryb1956]

One of the best players to have worn a Watford shirt, I was so lucky to have met Mr Barnes at Crewe Railway Station 2 years ago what a legend

[@paulibaby2825]

John Barnes talking about his England career is spot on. He was never allowed to be himself and play his real game for England (apart from THAT goal against Brazil). Liverpool really did get the best years out of him

[@alcoyne3333333333333]

Barnes ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️