Was John Barnes Just Too Good For England ?

John Barnes. Never did a player divide opinion as much during the ’80s and ’90s as Barnes. Ridiculously talented and ruthless for Liverpool but for some, benign and toothless for England. In conclusion, was John Barnes just too good for England?

The truth of the matter is that English football wasn’t ready for John Barnes. A talent as great as his needed to be nurtured and grown. Unfortunately, due to one night in the Maracana, he never got the opportunity to grow. For some, he was already the finished article. As a result, he would never really hit the heights they perceived he should.

A Dribbling Mastermind

The 80s for a football fan was a time of aggression and violence off the pitch. Subsequently, on the pitch, the majority of fans demanded the same attributes in the players and teams they supported. John Barnes didn’t fit this model. He was all about trickery, finesse and exhibitionism. He was a throwback to Best, Matthews and those dribbling masterminds of the ’60s and ’70s.

Barnes’ ability to dribble and dangle the carrot to opposing defenders just enough to then skip past them at ease was a joy to watch. Balance, poise and power are all in synchronicity. His mobility across the midfield for Liverpool and linking up with the forwards were almost Brazilian-like in its execution. Nothing he did was ordinary. His skill and ability just made it look ordinary. His goals were always of the highest quality. Passed into the net or placed with precision and power. They were never just slashed aimlessly. There was always direction and meaning. He just oozed class every time he pulled on the red shirt of Liverpool or initially the yellow of Watford.

Dream Debut

Following an amazing first season with Watford, where he helped earn them promotion to the First Division scoring 13 goals he followed with 10 goals in his first season in top-flight football. His displays earned him a call-up to the England squad and so began the love-hate relationship between fans on Barnes’ effectiveness for his country.

Facing Brazil in the Maracana was a dream debut for Barnes. In later years it would transpire that it became his biggest nightmare. After scoring that goal with a mazy 35-yard run past the Brazilian defence expectations rose every time he put on the Three Lions shirt.

“It changed people’s perceptions of me, It also changed people’s expectations of me every time I played for England after that.”

John Barnes

To say it changed perceptions and expectations was an understatement. Fans wondered if Barnes could do this to Brazil what could he do to Spain, France, Italy etc.

Unrealistic Expectations

Every time he pulled on the England shirt memories of the Maracana would become the benchmark for his performance. Of course, these were unrealistic expectations. Under the rigid 4-4-2 that England employed in the 80s Barnes was never given the freedom to express himself. At Liverpool, the play was built around him. He was the catalyst. Allowed to roam and find space with Aldridge, Beardsley and Co providing movement to aid his immense ability.

With England however, Barnes would often find himself wide left and asked to play a stereotypical wide role. There was little chance of moving infield to look for the ball and dictate the pace of the game. Under England’s strict formation, this was not an option. He simply didn’t receive the ball enough.

A Pale Imitation

As a consequence, England never saw the John Barnes of Liverpool. They saw a pale imitation of the player who terrorised defenders week in / week out in the First Division. To many, this was Barnes’ fault. He was to blame. Not the manager, not the formation. The fan’s attitude towards him changed as a consequence. The goal in the Maracana had become a millstone around his neck. One he never really broke free from.

In retrospect, England never got the best out of Barnes. Above all, the lack of European football due to the ban imposed following the Heysel disaster for England’s biggest club teams didn’t help. The inexposure to the foreign game was plain to see in the rigidity of England’s game. Technically and tactically they were left behind. It’s not that England didn’t have talented players. The likes of Barnes, Hoddle, and Lineker were all top-class performers. We just didn’t know how to utilise them to the best of our abilities. Often going for the safety of a 4-4-2 formation when a dynamic 4-3-3 or 4-1-3-2 would have been a better option.

Glimpses of Magic

Barnes did go on to make 79 appearances for England. However, there are few appearances that stand out in the memory. Aside from his debut against Brazil, Barnes essentially played the same 1 game for England 78 times.

There were glimpses of magic. His run and cross against Argentina for Lineker to score in the quarter-final loss made famous for Maradona’s “Hand of God”. And his pin-point free kick against Holland in the 1st minute of a World Cup Qualifier in 1993.

Was John Barnes Just Too Good For England?

In any other national team, Barnes would have flourished. He would be the focal point of the attack. Teams would have been built around him, not just contained him. English football just wasn’t ready at the time for a player of Barnes’ ability. They didn’t know how to use him, how to incorporate him in the line-up. In summary, they just “picked” him and expected him to deliver regardless of the formation.

John Barnes was far too good for this. He wasn’t a player to be pigeonholed. He needed to be allowed to roam, to get on the ball in positions where he could hurt teams. What Barnes needed was to be given the freedom that Liverpool gave him. More than that he needed a fanbase to realise this. At the end of the day was John Barnes just too good for England?