Since time out of mind, every club seems to have a number, or in some cases numbers, worn by players who are revered above all others.
In many cases it is easiest to say the number 9 is the best, for the forward who scores the most goals – and who could argue, looking down the line of strikers who have plundered goal after goal wearing that number on the back of their Liverpool jersey? Ian Rush, Robbie Fowler and Fernando Torres to name but three.
But in Anfield folklore, the number 7 is often held in especially high esteem, thanks in no small part to the man pictured, a certain Mr. Kenny Dalglish. These days a squad number is not just a squad number, it seems to be more of a measuring device. Will this player live up to the one who wore this number before him? Does a 1 to 11 number mean the player is first choice?
Liverpool have been without a number 7 since the departure of Robbie Keane in January 2009, after he failed to shine in his short spell at the club. Presenting Keane with the number 7 shirt drew the inevitable comparisons with King Kenny, after all he was being paired up-front with our modern day number 9, Torres, who was representing the other half of the Rush-Dalglish combination played so long ago.
Some argue that the number didn’t help Keane, some argue that you should EARN the number 7 before you wear it, but the fact is it’s been quite a while now since Liverpool have had a successful number 7.
Before Keane we had Harry Kewell; talented but always injured a frequently missing when we needed him most. Vladi Smicer showed class at times but was another one on the treatment table far too often to show his true class. Arguably Smicer’s best moment in a Liverpool shirt, the second goal in Istanbul, was while wearing the number 11, which he switched to upon Kewell’s arrival.
Going back even further, Steve McManaman’s departure to Real Madrid in 1999 was the last time we really had a great player “worthy” of the number 7 shirt. 11 years later and we are arguably still waiting for his successor.
So many names are mentioned with Liverpool each transfer window and, while numbers such as 7, 11 and (before Cole’s arrival) 10 are free there are fierce debates about which player should get which number.
As fans, we can only hope that sooner or later a true legend-to-be will possess the number 7 at our club and help us return the sort of glory we seemed so close to only a year and a half ago.
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Leave it vacant until someone deserves to wear it. Pacheco might be a canidate if he fullfills his immense potential.
arda turan enough said
I would say if we can bring in some good wingers in Jan then they could be given 7 and 11. Mata and Turan would be my choices.
in about 12 months time with a bit of luck we might have a lad named toni silva worthy of the shirt.
Numbers dont make ledgends. Its the ledgends that make the number. It will be a long time coming?
Number 7 should be a playmaker
I would go for Adam Johnson the next superstar
Of British footy
Who cares? Shirt numbers don’t matter anymore except for some players being superstitious. When Kenny played numbers 1-11 were typically starting numbers but these days the guy wearing number 25 is just as likely to start (Especially the guy wearing 23).
Bottom line sentimentality about shirt numbers is a relic from an age long gone, when the club used to be run differently and players were chosen on form and not reputation. Those numbers could just as easily be taken away as given and having been given one did not mean you had won the fight to get it but rather you were about to start the fight to keep it.
Only thing worth caring about now is how the players perform, when the yanks are gonna leave, and if we are going to get a decent manager before we get a serious amount of money to spend.
Bring back Michael Owen in january transfer… wear number 7…
Number 7 give to Steven gerrard…ha ha ha ….
Ashley Young for 7 and Keisuke Honda for 11
we miss something.. iff we can mevo david villa… no 7 is not difficult…
now i like to see :
………………….. 25……………………
…………37……………………5………..
….2……………….28………………3…..
……….(7)honda……8……….10………….
…………..gomez(11)…….9……………….
the question : who is no 7 ??
a) cristiano ronaldo
b) honda
c) forlan
d) mouluda
e) bryan ruiz
f) suarez
g) owen…………. 0=====o ,,
h) young
i) matta
j) bastian schweinteiger
k) Mario gomez
1)……ok…. now rating honda around 12-14 mil … swoop with babel around 8 – 10 mil
++ 5-6 million
2)……mario gomez rating at 15 – 17 mil
marsherano 24 mil
mirales – 12 mil
balance 12 mil
++ budget 5 mil
= 17 mil
>> 5 million << its a roy felt budget !!!
now we budget more 10 mil and we get a superstar from germany & asia.. its a good buisness.. how many money we can get.. t shirt & spansorship.. tv show and live sport chanel… wows….
King Kenny.You’re the Great.