As part of NIVEA FOR MEN’s ‘The Great Football Experiment’ , former Reds Rob Jones and Mark Wright played in a team of England legends against Sunday league side Ivory FC. They were kind enough to give us an interview before the match. – (ed)
What are your favourite memories of your time at Anfield?
Rob Jones (RJ): I think, for me, just signing really. From being at fourth division Crewe to joining the team I supported as a little boy was just amazing. Just to get the opportunity to play for Liverpool – made my debut, Manchester United away at Old Trafford, it just went better and better.
I think, I had a few – I mean FA Cup medals and England caps. I couldn’t really pick one. But I think the main thing for me was actually signing for Liverpool and getting the opportunity to play for them.
Mark Wright (MW): Playing every game. To turn out for Liverpool was a privilege – every time. Especially playing at home – to come out at Anfield, touch the badge, see the Kop and have the privilege to play in front of them every time was fantastic for us.
You wouldn’t pick out any one game but if I had to I’d be looking at winning the FA Cup, lifting it, when we beat Sunderland. Playing in the cup final against Manchester United [in 1996], even though we got beat. I think you remember more of the second time you play in it then when you play in the first one and actually win it!
I think some of the games we played, like against Paris St-Germain when we got beat 3-0 away and then we beat them 2-0 at home. You know, games like that when you played in Europe were fantastic occasions, but just to be able to play and say you’ve played for Liverpool. Playing for Liverpool fans – that’s the honour.
There have been some pretty big changes at Anfield in the last year or so – what do you make of the progress the club has made under Kenny Dalglish?
RJ: I think a good impact, yeah. I was made up when he got given the job, I think the main thing, what Liverpool needed and what he’s given, he’s given – he’s good at tactical stuff, but also, round the changing room, he gets on with everybody. And he’s got the team together, they want to play for the manager, you can just see it. I went to Melwood a couple of weeks ago, you could just see that all the banter was back and it was a good atmosphere back there, so he’s brought that back as well.
MW: Kenny knows his stuff, you know? Having spent a lot of money, some of the Liverpool fans may expect a little something too soon. But I think the building blocks are in place – Enrique has been a really good signing. If you ask me, I think Downing too, although I don’t think he’s played as well as he can, I think he needs a bit more time to settle in. And those two on the left-hand side will be a big big plus for Liverpool Football Club.
When you’re talking about Suárez – everybody knows about Luis Suárez and what he can do and what he can’t. I think it’s finding the ideal partner for him because everyone keeps chopping and changing, they put Dirk Kuyt up front, who I think has played very well up there and holds the ball.
And then you’ve got the big boy Carroll, who hasn’t pulled up trees, but there’s a lot of pressure on his shoulders for me, for a young kid, you know? And don’t forget he hasn’t been in the Premier League that long – I think he’ll come good. You’ve got to throw balls in the box to see the benefit of him.
But then you’ve got Bellamy, who I think is very good. The signings that they’ve made have been good – Henderson they’re saying is one for the future, so you know; you have to wait and see with that one. But I think they’re steadily getting there – today [against Manchester City] will be a big test.
Over the last couple of years we’ve seen quite a few Academy players make their first-team breakthroughs – how important is it for Liverpool to produce their own players?
RJ: Course it is, yeah. You only have to look at Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, but before that, Robbie Fowler and Steve McManaman you know, local lads. You’ve always got to have a few there, just to keep the changing room going. It’s not just about that – they’ve got some good lads coming up at the moment, you know including Kelly who seems to be coming ahead of most of the others at the moment.
There’s a few more just underneath him – maybe in two or three years time, you know could have five or six pushing for a first-team place.
John Flanagan and Martin Kelly both play in your position – how highly do you rate them?
Good. And I mean. You’ve got Glen Johnson there, who is doing brilliantly at the moment, but if there’s an injury you’ve got a player who’s going to go in at right-back who’s just as good. You need a good squad – United have had it for years. Say five years ago, two or three Liverpool injuries and you were knackered. There was no-one else to bring in and that’s why the side was doing badly. Now, you get Steven Gerrard injured and Liverpool can cope without him at the moment – obviously it would be great to see him back but they’ve got players that can go in there.
MW: One hundred percent. Very, very important and I think Kenny knows that as well. I know he knows it. To go and get players coming through the Academy instead of buying them would be a major, major plus. They’ve got a good coach – Mike Marsh is in charge now for the under-18s or the reserve side I think, it’s fantastic. I think he wants to play football, because that’s what Marsh is about. He’s not about spoiling the game and defending everything, he’s out there playing. So that’s how you develop people.
So I think that’s a positive move, and if some of them, two or three of them come through it’s a major, major plus for the football club. I mean you’re not going to produce ten that come through, but two or three doesn’t half make life easier if you’ve got exciting young players coming through the Academy.
Kelly’s done exceptionally well; he’s a big, strong boy and maybe one who’ll step into the middle in the future. The young boy Flanagan, and Robinson on the left-hand side. So they’ve got people coming through – Jay Spearing has come through the ranks although he’s playing as much as he’d probably like to at this moment in time. But they’ve got people coming through for sure.
Rob Jones and Mark Wright were speaking at NIVEA FOR MEN’s ‘The Great Football Experiment’ match between Ivory FC and a team of England legends.
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