‘It’s back and this time it is 05/06. 12 years ago since that summer, 12 years have passed but Mike Nevin, Rob Gutmann and Steve Graves are here to send you back.
Back to an time where Liverpool are European Champions, no one has put a contract in front of Steven Gerrard and it hasn’t been decided whether or not Liverpool will defend their trophy yet.
12 years, man. 12 years.’
For some reason I had already mentally ticked this season off the “what we call history” checklist. What a lovely surprise!
Great show. I have pick Steve Graves up on this suggestion that Ballack may have been one of those great foreign stars who underperformed in the premier league. Ballack’s contribution was understated but immense. Lampard had his most prolific seasons playing alongside Ballack. (21, 20, 20 & 27 goals). Ballack’s goal contribution was less (7,9,4 & 5); but take 6 penalties a season from Lampard and give them to Ballack and the tallies are much closer. Ballack’s greatest contribution may be that he allowed Lampard to be Lampard. A great midfield player who went unnoticed because he rarely took two touches. And what a great referee! Never more that a few yards from the ref ; constantly in his ear telling how well or how badly he was doing. Only one league title (runner up twice) , three FA cups, a league cup and a penalty kick away from a champions league.