Danny Murphy was on his soapbox today and young Liverpool striker Rhian Brewster was pulled into the debate.
The debate started after Man City had an appeal for more Premier League winners medals rejected. Pep Guardiola slammed the five-game rule that meant a lot of his young players missed out.
Murphy said Pep was wrong and that young players should earn their medals or they become meaningless.
The rules are different for the Champions League and Brewster got a winners medal despite not having played a single minute of senior football.
One Liverpool fan called into the show (Jim White Show, talkSPORT, Thursday, 11am) and said that he agreed with Murphy and that he’d seen Brewster parading his winner’s medal on Instagram and Twitter.
Murphy said, “That’s ludicrous. What you’re talking about is the mindset of any young player.
“You can control certain elements of a young player’s development. Giving them winner’s medals now isn’t going to help them.
“It’s not going to create a problem not giving them medals. You’ve got to incentivise people getting in the team. Is it just personal pride left?”
Brewster showed off his medal on Twitter and it also appeared on Instagram after he was spotted wearing it while getting his hair cut.
Something for the 9??6??. ?? pic.twitter.com/ilWequ7QxT
— Rhian Brewster (@RhianBrewster9) June 2, 2019
OPINION
Brewster got his medal after he made the bench twice in the Champions League last season, against Barcelona and Spurs. Is being part of the matchday squad enough or should the medals only be given out to players who have actually made it out onto the pitch? We can understand what Murphy is saying. These medals are supposed to be the things you’re striving for in your career. The ultimate reward for hard work on the pitch. The five-game rule in the Premier League seems harsh. We’d be in favour of medals going out to players who have contributed to the cup win or league triumph, no-matter how big the contribution. If a player plays four games and is injured it would be tough not to get a medal. Brewster hasn’t done anything wrong – he’s proud of his medal and as a 19-year-old it must be a real buzz to get it – but it does seem a bit odd given that he hasn’t played a minute in the Liverpool side.
