George McCluskey talks about Souness

***Carheenlea*** · 16-01-2017 09:20 PM

George McCluskey talks about that kick from Souness.

https://twitter.com/bbcsportscot/sta...10049523298309

***superfurryhibby*** · 16-01-2017 10:17 PM

Quite enjoyed listening to McCluskey. He told some good stories during the interview. I liked hearing about the Stein -Fallon double act when trying to persuade the young George's parents that Celtic were the club for him to sign for ( at a time when other suitors were sniffing around).

McCluskey also said that John Greig advised him he was going to break his legs on his debut in an old firm game and then retracted the statement afterwards, saying it's all about the psychoogical edge and not personal.

Decent player McCluskey was in his prime, the version we saw at Hibs possessed a lot of skill, but was as slow as a carthorse. Given that he was still in his 20's, I suspect his lifestyle wasn't exactly comparable to that of a modern day player.

**truehibernian** · 16-01-2017 10:21 PM

Originally Posted by Superfuddyhibby

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Quite enjoyed listening to McCluskey. He told some good stories during the interview. I liked hearing about the Stein -Fallon double act when trying to persuade the young George's parents that Celtic were the club for him to sign for ( at a time when other suitors were sniffing around).

McCluskey also said that John Greig advised him he was going to break his legs on his debut in an old firm game and then retracted the statement afterwards, saying it's all about the psychoogical edge and not personal.

Decent player McCluskey was in his prime, the version we saw at Hibs possessed a lot of skill, but was as slow as a carthorse. Given that he was still in his 20's, I suspect his lifestyle wasn't exactly comparable to that of a modern day player.

He's bang on about Souness - pretend hard man, only reserved it for the pitch where there was a referee. Like Roy Keane - played on the ego and reputation. Both great players but can't help thinking because the hype made other players stand off.

Souness in particular wouldn't stand a chance with a Doug Rougvie for example - he'd run a mile !

**NAE NOOKIE** · 17-01-2017 12:01 PM

It was a cowardly kick and far from the first or last time Souness took advantage of a helpless opponent ..... I cant name the game, but one where he was on the ground and deliberately near enough two footed an opponent in the face was an incident I remember, how the hell he wasn't sent off only the ref will know, he never thought twice about going over the ball either.

His talent was never in doubt, the fact that he was a nasty little thug on the park isn't either IMO. Football has been full of hard men over the years, but not too many who were as nasty, sneaky or malicious as Souness.

***Scouse Hibee*** · 17-01-2017 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by truehibernian

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He's bang on about Souness - pretend hard man, only reserved it for the pitch where there was a referee. Like Roy Keane - played on the ego and reputation. Both great players but can't help thinking because the hype made other players stand off.

Souness in particular wouldn't stand a chance with a Doug Rougvie for example - he'd run a mile !

Considering he broke a players jaw in the tunnel during a European tie, I think you will find that statement is incorrect. Souness was a hard man no doubt about it.

**Lofarl** · 17-01-2017 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by Scouse Hibee

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Considering he broke a players jaw in the tunnel during a European tie, I think you will find that statement is incorrect. Souness was a hard man no doubt about it.

Nope. That just reinforces my opinion that he's a coward too. He strikes me as one of those kids you used to see at school that would start something within eyesight of an authority figure, knowing full well they'd break it up.

**NAE NOOKIE** · 17-01-2017 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by Scouse Hibee

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Considering he broke a players jaw in the tunnel during a European tie, I think you will find that statement is incorrect. Souness was a hard man no doubt about it.

Probably kicked him in the face when he bent down to tie his laces.

***tamig*** · 17-01-2017 12:11 PM

Originally Posted by NAE NOOKIE

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Probably kicked him in the face when he bent down to tie his laces.

Exactly. A guy broke my nose once by hitting me with a haymaker from behind me. I turned round and he was halfway down the road. Just because you break a guy's jaw in the tunnel doesn't make you a hard man. Souness was a sly individual and would never go in fair to a 50/50. Cowardly is the correct word.

**green with envy** · 17-01-2017 12:13 PM

His most cowardly tackle for me was when he broke Siggi Jonsson's leg during a 1-0 win for Scotland in Reykjavik in 1986.

**NAE NOOKIE** · 17-01-2017 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by tamig

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Exactly. A guy broke my nose once by hitting me with a haymaker from behind me. I turned round and he was halfway down the road. Just because you break a guy's jaw in the tunnel doesn't make you a hard man. Souness was a sly individual and would never go in fair to a 50/50. Cowardly is the correct word.

Yeh .... reminds me of playing footie up the park when I was 15, there was a guy playing who we all knew but didn't usually play football with us, the game hadn't been played in a bad spirit or anything, but as I bent down to pick up the ball to take a throw in he deliberately booted me straight in the face, I still have a scar on my lip from it ...... I suppose some folk are just born bloody nasty.

**Stewboy** · 17-01-2017 12:18 PM

Sparked a riot in turkey when planting a flag in the middle of the pitch

Not bad for a coward!

***tamig*** · 17-01-2017 12:18 PM

Souness at his snidey best

https://youtu.be/ygVgxYa3mlo

***KeithTheHibby*** · 17-01-2017 12:22 PM

Originally Posted by Stewboy

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Sparked a riot in turkey when planting a flag in the middle of the pitch

Not bad for a coward!

Whilst surrounded by riot polis.

**NAE NOOKIE** · 17-01-2017 12:29 PM

Originally Posted by Stewboy

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Sparked a riot in turkey when planting a flag in the middle of the pitch

Not bad for a coward!

Fenerbahce v Galatasaray, one of the most vicious and hate filled derby matches in world football ..... for a guy who had played in the Old Firm derby he would have been far from unaware of the consequences such a provocative action could have when it comes to a rivalry like that, not only a coward but stupid with it then.

***JimBHibees*** · 17-01-2017 12:39 PM

Originally Posted by green with envy

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His most cowardly tackle for me was when he broke Siggi Jonsson's leg during a 1-0 win for Scotland in Reykjavik in 1986.

Numerous terrible tackles usually over the ball which couldnt be more cowardly. I see the youtube one against Kiev I think it was. Can also remember an atrocious tackle on Peter Nicholas V Wales. Also remember a melee in an Everton derby where he sneakily booted one of the everton players from behind and scuttled away. Some very cowardly actions IMO.

**NAE NOOKIE** · 17-01-2017 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by JimBHibees

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Numerous terrible tackles usually over the ball which couldnt be more cowardly. I see the youtube one against Kiev I think it was. Can also remember an atrocious tackle on Peter Nicholas V Wales. Also remember a melee in an Everton derby where he sneakily booted one of the everton players from behind and scuttled away. Some very cowardly actions IMO.

Think that's the one I was on about, deliberately booted him in the face, as you say absolutely atrocious.

***Scouse Hibee*** · 17-01-2017 12:46 PM

Originally Posted by tamig

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Exactly. A guy broke my nose once by hitting me with a haymaker from behind me. I turned round and he was halfway down the road. Just because you break a guy's jaw in the tunnel doesn't make you a hard man. Souness was a sly individual and would never go in fair to a 50/50. Cowardly is the correct word.

Just out of interest how many time have you watched Souness live in his heyday? I can tell you that Souness was a hard man on the pitch, never shirked a tackle, looked after his team mates and could still play a bit too. Your coward reference is laughable.

**NAE NOOKIE** · 17-01-2017 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by tamig

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Souness at his snidey best

https://youtu.be/ygVgxYa3mlo

What is surprising about that clip is the lack of reaction from the victims team mates, if you saw a tackle like that on a team mate your first reaction would surely be to pile into the bugger.

***JimBHibees*** · 17-01-2017 12:50 PM

Originally Posted by Scouse Hibee

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Just out of interest how many time have you watched Souness live in his heyday? I can tell you that Souness was a hard man on the pitch, never shirked a tackle, looked after his team mates and could still play a bit too. Your coward reference is laughable.

While he was no doubt a physical hard player, he was absolutely cowardly in many of the tackles he put in. Couldnt be much more cowardly than going over the top of the ball when the other player is going for the ball.

**NAE NOOKIE** · 17-01-2017 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by Scouse Hibee

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Just out of interest how many time have you watched Souness live in his heyday? I can tell you that Souness was a hard man on the pitch, never shirked a tackle, looked after his team mates and could still play a bit too. Your coward reference is laughable.

Even if you are prepared to accept that Souness wasn't a coward there is no defence of some of his actions, there's a difference between imposing yourself on an opponent with a hard challenge or coming to the defence of your team mates and deliberately setting out to injure a fellow professional, some of his attacks on opponents in matches have had the possibility to cause career threatening injuries .... look at the challenge in the wee clip posted on here, 6 inches lower and he could have wrecked the guys knee.

***HibbyAndy*** · 17-01-2017 12:58 PM

Originally Posted by tamig

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Souness at his snidey best

https://youtu.be/ygVgxYa3mlo

A BOOKING ?? That was a ****ing jail sentence !!

***Scouse Hibee*** · 17-01-2017 01:02 PM

Originally Posted by NAE NOOKIE

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Even if you are prepared to accept that Souness wasn't a coward there is no defence of some of his actions, there's a difference between imposing yourself on an opponent with a hard challenge or coming to the defence of your team mates and deliberately setting out to injure a fellow professional, some of his attacks on opponents in matches have had the possibility to cause career threatening injuries .... look at the challenge in the wee clip posted on here, 6 inches lower and he could have wrecked the guys knee.

I didn't say there was? I said he wasn't a coward.

***tamig*** · 17-01-2017 01:05 PM

Originally Posted by Scouse Hibee

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Just out of interest how many time have you watched Souness live in his heyday? I can tell you that Souness was a hard man on the pitch, never shirked a tackle, looked after his team mates and could still play a bit too. Your coward reference is laughable.

In his heyday - and not counting the hun days - I only saw him in the flesh on Scotland duty. I saw plenty of him on the telly though going into many 50/50s where he would hold back slightly then go over the ball into the opponent. That isn't hard. It's the mark of a coward. Your biased defence of the man is the most laughable aspect of this thread.

***Scouse Hibee*** · 17-01-2017 01:06 PM

Originally Posted by JimBHibees

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While he was no doubt a physical hard player, he was absolutely cowardly in many of the tackles he put in. Couldnt be much more cowardly than going over the top of the ball when the other player is going for the ball.

So the hardmen of bygone eras are all cowards now are they or just those you choose to dislike? Tackles like that were commonplace then.

***Scouse Hibee*** · 17-01-2017 01:07 PM

Originally Posted by tamig

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In his heyday - and not counting the hun days - I only saw him in the flesh on Scotland duty. I saw plenty of him on the telly though going into many 50/50s where he would hold back slightly then go over the ball into the opponent. That isn't hard. It's the mark of a coward. Your biased defence of the man is the most laughable aspect of this thread.

Oh the irony!

***tamig*** · 17-01-2017 01:10 PM

Originally Posted by Scouse Hibee

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Oh the irony!

Why would I be biased in favour of calling him a coward? I had that view way back before he was involved with the hun. Coward of a man.

***Scouse Hibee*** · 17-01-2017 01:14 PM

Originally Posted by tamig

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Why would I be biased in favour of calling him a coward? I had that view way back before he was involved with the hun. Coward of a man.

Sure you did, you don't like him so that's where your bias comes from, I do like him, so you are suggesting that's where mine comes from.

Souness one of my heroes, but not one of yours. I get it. Let 's call it a draw

***tamig*** · 17-01-2017 01:17 PM

Originally Posted by Scouse Hibee

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Sure you did, you don't like him so that's where your bias comes from, I do like him, so you are suggesting that's where mine comes from.

Souness one of my heroes, but not one of yours. I get it. Let 's call it a draw

No worries. I actually don't mind Souness's punditry and quite like him. My views are on the player and based on what I saw both live and on the box. And I do understand it can be hard to find too much fault with heroes. We all do it.

***lapsedhibee*** · 17-01-2017 01:18 PM

Bob Crampsey one of my heroes, and he spoke words to the effect that Souness was the dirtiest player he ever saw, because of the number of opposing players' careers which were ended by his 'tackles'.