its been a busy time for reading lately, what with golden past..the miracle of istanbul, robbie fowler (halfway through,its good) rafa benitez by paco lloret and now phil thompson's effort due out next week..phew!
anyway it certainly looks a good read. however im a bit worried over the 'lee bowyer' story
in terms of parry etc willing to sanction such a deal. you'd have to ask serious questions over his judgement in allowing baggage like that in.however well bowyer may have been performing at the time....anyway, here are a few related items ( i know a couple are from ####talk) but the source is still the pages from the book...
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Former Liverpool assistant manager Phil Thompson has revealed that the club were that confident of landing Lee Bowyer from Leeds United that they had a shirt numbered up and ready for him to use during pre-season training.
Writing in his book, Thommo said: "Gerard offered Leeds £8m which was a lot of money and Bowyer came over to talk to us. He arrived with a mate and his agent. I had to take care of him in the players' lounge at Melwood where Bowyer and his pal played umpteen games of pool while the agent discussed terms with Gerard and Rick Parry.
"When that meeting broke up I asked how things had gone. The response surprised me. 'We are still far apart,' said Gerard. We thought Lee Bowyer would be keen to move on his career with a club like Liverpool and I thought a deal would be struck quickly.
"Rick said: 'We are still miles apart on the salary.' Bowyer left and a series of phone calls followed between the club and his agent. It finally appeared that we were close to agreeing a deal. We went as far as having his new kit numbered up in anticipation as we prepared to leave for our pre-season training camp in Switzerland.
"As things moved on I rang the player and said: 'Get yourself ready. Once the deal is done and dusted we will fly you out to Switzerland.'
"He was saying 'Yeah, okay.' But there was no emotion from him to suggest that a deal was imminent. Rick and Gerard had another meeting with the agent, but they still failed to agree terms.
"I spoke to Bowyer again, once again asking him to be ready to travel should everything be sorted. His response was: 'I don't know where my passport is,' and added: 'I'm not in Leeds, I'm in London.' He was with Rio Ferdinand.
"I said: 'This is all wrong. It's clear he is not committed to us and this must be getting through to our fans. To me, we need to pull it before Lee Bowyer and his agent come back and say the move is not right for them.'
"Rick and Gerard decided that we would tell the Press that night. I couldn't believe Lee Bowyer had not jumped at the chance to play for Liverpool FC. Better players than him would have walked all the way to Anfield. We had made a big commitment on our side, but it had been all one way.
"His career went down the pan after that. In the end it was the right decision for us."
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cristiano ronaldo
Former Liverpool assistant manager Phil Thompson has revealed that he and former boss Gerard Houllier nearly choked on their food when news broke that Cristiano Ronaldo had snubbed Anfield for Old Trafford.
What shocked the pair was the fact that Sporting Lisbon were desperate to offload him and that they only wanted £4million to allow him to move to Liverpool. When United became aware of our interest, they stepped in but they stumped up in excess of £12million for the player!
Writing in his new book, Thommo said: "I was sitting in a lounge at Anfield having some lunch and looking at the big TV screen. Up came the news United had signed Ronaldo from Lisbon for £12.2m. Gerard and myself nearly choked on our food.
"Gerard said: 'Contact Tony Henry,' and I went straight out and rang him. I said: 'what happened? More importantly, what happened with the price?' He said: 'After you had been with me, I got a phone call the following week and was told to drop everything on the deal. Hand on heart, I really don't know what happened.'
"I went back and told Gerard the story. What happened, God only knows. For the fee to jump from £4m to £12m, especially as they seemed so desperate, was surprising to say the least."
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We made move to land Shearer and £4m Ronaldo fee saw United offer £12m
By David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
PHIL THOMPSON has played alongside, coached and managed the greatest players in Liverpool's history.
Team-mate of legends like Kevin Keegan and Kenny Dalglish, he helped nurture talent like Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen Steven Gerrard.
But Thompson, whose autobiography is out next week, can also provide an insight into players who came close to pulling on the red jersey.
Story continues
Chief writer DAVID PRENTICE reports...
Alan Shearer
WE needed an immediate impact at the start of that 2003/04 season and one player who came to our attention was the opposite of our two young hopefuls Florent Sinama-Pongolle and Anthony Le Tall-ec," Thompson explains.
"He was a tried and trusted superstar, one of the great players in the game and a man whose stature could give everyone a lift - on and off the pitch. His name was Alan Shearer.
"Of course, Alan was still a god at Newcastle, but he had not signed his new contract. Gerard (Houllier) came to me and said: 'Do you fancy Alan Shearer?' I said 'Of course!' although I felt there was little or no chance of securing his services because of his ties to the North East.
"Gerard felt he could be another Gary McAllister for us, a great pro who could spark things with his approach, attitude and quality.
"It would also have revived the Alan Shearer/Michael Owen partnership that had ben so successful for England in the past. The boss said that he had this feeling that
Alan would come to Anfield. "Contact was made, although Newcastle were obviously not keen to let him go.
"We said we would like to be kept informed, aware that it would be a major coup to capture someone of Shearer's stature. We also knew that it would be a massive negotiation, but early indications were that he would come.
"Nothing happened over a period of 10 days and then all of a sudden the Geordie hero got the contract at St James' Park that he had wanted.
"That had been my only fear, that his advisers might have used Liverpool's interest to force Newcastle's hand, but Alan Shearer is as honest and down to earth as they come and Gerard was convinced that his interest in joining us was genuine.
"The boss had been in talks with Bobby Robson about a possible deal and we know that Shearer didn't use us. In the end it was his sheer love of all things Geordie that kept him in the North East."
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I'll never forgive Souness for giving me the bullet
By David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
PHIL THOMPSON stood on the Anfield terraces as a gangly kid. He graduated from the Kop to become captain of the club he adored - and made 466 appearances for the Reds.
After a trophy-laden playing career, Kenny Dalglish turned to Thompson to join his coaching staff - where he became one of Anfield's most trusted lieutenants.
He helped bring more glory to Anfield. Then Graeme Souness sacked him for disloyalty.
It is a decision Thompson still can't forgive - despite returning to the club six years later as assistant manager to enjoy further success - and he has vowed never to speak to Souness again.
Thommo relives the full sad story in 'Stand Up Pinocchio,' his autobiography published next week. Chief sports writer DAVID PRENTICE reports . . .
I SAID: 'I know you have brought in Phil Boersma, but where do you see me fitting in?' "Graeme said: 'I see you as my young Ronnie Moran. I want you with me.'
I thought: 'Fair enough. He seems to have confidence in my coaching ability and what I might offer.' I felt it was a step in the right direction and settled back into my job . . .
"There was a little bit of an undercurrent, but life went on with Ronnie, Roy and Phil Boersma running the first team while I continued with the reserves . . . "
At the start of the 1992-93 season, however, that undercurrent became a tidal wave of emotion.
"One of my jobs was to number all the kit up for the new season," Thompson recalled. "I had gone into Anfield and Roy (Evans) and Ronnie (Moran) were there. I said: 'Have you had your bonus?' As a coach you got an end-of-season reward that was better if a trophy had been won. Of course, the club had claimed the FA Cup.
"They said: 'Yes, we have had ours.' It was a shock and I wondered if I should see Peter Robinson. Maybe something had happened. In fact, I was convinced.
"I said: 'I'll tell you something. I'm out of here. I'm a gonner.'
"I felt they knew something was going on. My head was spinning. I came across Peter on the balcony at the top of the stairs in the Anfield main entrance and took the opportunity to ask the obvious question. 'Ronnie and Roy have had their bonus,' I said. 'Is there a problem?' He choked on my words and said: 'You will need to see the manager.'
"I went downstairs and said: 'I'm finished here.' For the next couple of hours I rang Graeme's house, his mobile and other numbers on which I thought I might get him.
"Even though nothing had been confirmed I said to Marg: 'I'm finished at Liverpool.'
"I continued to ring and ring and finally got hold of Graeme. I said: 'Peter Robinson has said that I'm not getting a bonus.' He replied: 'Come in and see me on Monday.'
"It was only Thursday and I said: 'There is no way I can leave it like this all over the weekend. I've got a terrible feeling about this. My mind
has been in turmoil and I have a wife and young family to consider. If you have bad news for me I need you to tell me now. I'm not coming off this phone until you tell me what is going on.'
"He said: 'Okay, you are out.' "I said: 'Finished? Why?' and the
response was: 'I'll tell you on Monday,' but I pressed him further. Finally he said: 'You have been rollicking the young lads in the reserves too much.'
"I couldn't accept this. Yes, they got the verbals at times, but I had a great relationship with them. I felt
they needed to know how to take criticism and still be positive. If they were ever to progress into the first team with Ronnie, they would know what a tongue-lashing was. He could also be relentless with it.
"I said: 'I am not having that,' but the reply was emphatic. 'That's the
way it is,' said Graeme. I just said it was a load of
and that I would be in on the Monday to see him. I can remember Marg looking through the patio window and her head dropped. She knew by my face what had happened.I was in tears.
"Kevin Dooley and myself went to the meeting on the Tuesday. I saw Graeme, but we didn't speak.
"I waited outside in the directors' lounge with Kevin. While they were in discussion I put my ear to the door. Syd Moss was saying to Graeme Souness: 'You have enough problems. You cannot do this. You will have to re-think.'
Graeme said: 'I want him out. I want him to leave and I want you to back me.'
"Kevin Dooley said: 'Thommo, get away from that door.'
"I moved away and ten minutes later Peter Robinson came out to call me in.
"The chairman was sitting at the head of the table with Graeme Souness next to him. He said: 'Phil, we have had a discussion and chatted about the situation. We are all in full agreement that we have to back the manager's decision over this.'
"I said: 'Fair enough, but what is the reason for my dismissal?'
"They said: 'We will give it to you in writing.' I said that the reason the manager had given me for my sacking was that I was shouting too much at the younger lads.
"I added that I was not accepting that as the real reason. I said: 'You know and I know that this is personal. It is wider than this and you are not going to tell me.'
"I added: 'I would like to thank you for all the help you have given me. I have had a wonderful time as a player and a coach. I've done things with dignity and always done my job as well as I can.'
"The chairman said: 'You have done your bit. Thank you for your efforts.'
"Graeme Souness did not look up as I went out of the room.
"Twelve months later I would speak to Alan Kennedy and David Johnson and tell them that I could not accept the reason I was given for my departure. I was surprised when they said: 'We can tell you.'
"Apparently, when the team beat Manchester United 2-0 at Anfield when Souness was ill, I am supposed to have said something to Brian Kidd in the boot room about Graeme changing things too much at the club. I am alleged to have said: 'This club is not the same. There is not the same closeness.'
"Whether I had said those words about Graeme, I don't know. However, Brian is said to have told Alex Ferguson, he told Everton coach Archie Knox who told manager Walter Smith. Walter, of course, had been with Graeme at Rangers.
"The suggestion was that this was the route by which Graeme picked up on my supposed words. Whether they were misconstrued, I don't know, but Alan and David relayed this chain of events to me.
"I was always behind him and supportive of him while I was a coach. Even if I did say those words, surely a rollicking would have been enough. Why did he have to give me the sack?
To this day I don't know.
What I do know is that it caused me tremendous personal grief and affected all of my family, not least my sons.
"I always think back to the Monday after being told by Graeme that he wanted me out. I had to tell my two older boys what had happened. I said: 'You know we have had a good time at Liverpool. I have to tell you that your dad has been sacked.'
"The older one said 'why?' and I said: 'I don't know.' He said: 'Does that mean you won't be going back and coaching the players?' I said: 'No, that is the end of it', and the two of them started crying. They were hugging each other and sob-bing and I vowed at that moment never to talk to Graeme Souness ever again.
"Even now my wife Marg says: 'You were good team-mates. Why can't you sit down with him and ask if he got it wrong?'
"I just have these pictures in my mind of my boys being so broken-hearted and the answer is: 'No, never again.'
"I'm still uptight all these years on that he never gave me the chance to explain those 'alleged' words. Even in the months immediately after ending my third spell at Liverpool with Gerard Houllier, the subject came up in a conversation with one of the guys down at SKY. I repeated my
view that it was over a petty decision about my so-called conversation with Brian Kidd.
"He said: 'Graeme told me that you were after his job.'
"After all of those years, this was the first time I had heard this comment. Was this the real reason why he sacked me? The simple fact is that I could never have done his job at that time. I was never ready at that point to manage Liverpool.
"If he was questioning my loyalty, why didn't he ask me about it? People who understand my character know I am not disloyal.
"The same chairman who officiated over my sacking, David Moores, would eventually give me the opportunity to come back under Houllier. I was invited back for my loyalty, my ability and my honesty. I feel this says everything about who was right and who was wrong in the Graeme Souness affair"
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SYNOPSIS
Phil Thompson is steeped in Liverpool FC. He was the proud young Kopite who became Bill Shankly's last great prodigy.
As the sorcerer's apprentice, he was destined to become club captain, hold the European Cup above his head and win every honour in the domestic game. He would play for and captain England. He would become a proud member of the famous Liverpool Boot Room team, only to be sacked by Graeme Souness.
Like a red phoenix from the flames he would storm back to become Gerard Houllier's Assistant Manager and later act as caretaker boss as his new mentor prepared for a life-saving heart surgery.
This is a remarkable football story will make you laugh and make you cry. Forget the sky-high salaries and cynicism that dogs the modern game. This is a real football story that will make you laugh and make you cry.
"Stand Up Pinnochio". You've heard the chant. Now find out about the real Thommo. It's the story that takes you right inside Anfield for over three decades.
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http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec....5318233
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