Liverpool FC Forum

by **account deleted by request** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 1:26 am

Daily Mail

Since arriving in the Premier League, Liverpool FC player Andrei Voronin has been conspicuous mainly for his blond ponytail and his spectacular lack of success on the pitch.

But the 27-year-old Ukrainian has finally managed to make a name for himself - as an outspoken critic of Britain in general and the city of Liverpool in particular. Despite earning an estimated £30,000 a week, he says that he was forced to take his young son back to Odessa for treatment to a skin allergy because the NHS was not up to the job.

He condemns the UK as a cultural backwater with poor health care and high crime rate.

Although his 24-year-old wife Yulia was recently named the worst-dressed soccer WAG after wearing a leopard-print velour tracksuit, he says Britain is far less sophisticated than Germany.

And in a rant which will do nothing to increase his popularity among the Liverpool fans, he ridicules the Scouse way of talking.

He says foreigners struggle to understand home-grown team mates such as captain Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher because they "speak with some peculiar local accent".

Voronin, who moved to Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen in Germany at the beginning of the season, makes his indiscreet remarks in an interview with a Russian newspaper.

"Compared with Germany, England is far behind in terms of comfort and culture," he says. "Five out of the seven houses near us are occupied by footballers.

"Steve Gerrard was burgled recently so a police patrol car comes into our compound fairly often. "We hear police sirens all the time. Leverkusen, by contrast, was so much quieter."

He goes on: "The medical services here are poor. When I was in Germany, there were lots of good clinics and doctors.

"It is nothing like that here - when our child had a skin allergy we waited hours for the doctor to see him. "When we finally got to see a doctor, he said he didn't know how to treat children and to try rubbing in this ointment.

"That was it. I was stunned. As a result my wife had to go back to Odessa with him and took a full set of tests there."

On the language barrier, he says: "I study English twice a week with a teacher and I have made some progress in it.

"But English isn't the main problem. The main thing is to learn to understand the local players like Gerrard and Carragher.

"They speak with some peculiar local accent and sometimes I have absolutely no clue what the guys are saying.

"Many foreign players have the same problem."

However it seems he has no trouble-communicating with some of the other non-English speakers in the squad.

"I've taught my teammate Fernando Torres a few dirty words in Russian and he has taught me to swear in Spanish." Voronin's attack drew a contemptuous response from Richie Pedder, chairman of Liverpool Supporters Club.

"I think it's a load of rubbish," he said. "He can hardly speak English himself, so what right has he to criticise anybody else?

"I think his views are over the top and I wonder what axe he's got to grind.

"Hopefully though, most people will just take it as a joke and ignore it."

by **Kharhaz** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 1:34 am

But the 27-year-old Ukrainian has finally managed to make a name for himself - as an outspoken critic of Britain in general and the city of Liverpool in particular. Despite earning an estimated £30,000 a week, he says that he was forced to take his young son back to Odessa for treatment to a skin allergy because the NHS was not up to the job.

He condemns the UK as a cultural backwater with poor health care and high crime rate.

Not wrong so far....

by **Kharhaz** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 1:38 am

"I think it's a load of rubbish," he said. "He can hardly speak English himself, so what right has he to criticise anybody else?

Lets be honest. Us Ooters have trouble understanding a scouse on a full scale conversation, it starts off ok then your finding yourself saying "whoah whoah whoah, back up !"

He is simply pointing out the obvious, check out the "Get it off you chest thread", similar opinions are there !

by **hello_red** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 1:54 am

The scouse accent is easy to understand. However what he says about England basically being a bit of a dump is all correct in my opinion.

by **112-1077774096** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 2:12 am

s@int wrote:And in a rant which will do nothing to increase his popularity among the Liverpool fans, he ridicules the Scouse way of talking.

He says foreigners struggle to understand home-grown team mates such as captain Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher because they "speak with some peculiar local accent".

how is this ridiculing the scouse accent?

some reporters are total idiots

by **laza** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 2:44 am

I reckon Scouse accent is very easy to understand. When I was England in 80s my aunties actually have too fully translate for me some of my relatives conversations from Cornwall and Norwich. Cant believe such a small place has so many distinct dialects, anyway back on topic

Bit of :censored:

stirring article and if he made those remarks after the season he has had. Its probably best he doesnt look for a career in the diplomatic corp after his footy days are over

by **Bad Bob** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 2:56 am

Taxi for Andriy.

by **Toffeehater** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 4:06 am

, being a clown as ussual

by **maguskwt** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 5:07 am

I think the article is over-dramatising it...

by **Emerald Red** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 5:36 am

I wonder what he'd think about this city I live in. Whatever it would be, I'd agree and then some.

by **skatesy** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 6:30 am

I think he forgot to talk about Britain's dental problems....you know with the English and their crappy teeth :;):

by **bigmick** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 6:36 am

Well he obviously doesn't have a problem with the grub, nor with the hairdressers either by the looks of him.

by **ruskiy playmaker** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 6:54 am

s@int wrote:"I've taught my teammate Fernando Torres a few dirty words in Russian and he has taught me to swear in Spanish."

They're just like school children, I'd love to hear Torres swear in Russian. The part about him learning English is worrying for me though. I hope that he moves on next season, unless he drastically improves his game.

by **66-1112520797** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 7:37 am

Well f.uck off back to Germany you ungrateful kunt.

England are far behind Germany with their creature comforts, obviously its the opposite when it comes to fashion. I mean not only is his misses a piece of mutton, but he resembles Goldie locks, and that look went out 15 years ago, the p.rick.

F.uck him off.

by **Ace Ventura** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 7:54 am

Not sure how much i would read into all of this, it doesnt sound great but he may have been taking the p!ss about the accent and that.....obviously when read it sounds like he is having a go, but am not convinced, we all know what the media can do.

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Voronin's thoughts on england - Bit of a t0sser but probably right lol

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