KopTalk.com Forums Football Liverpool FC Forum Souness V Robson

Guys

I’m having a debate with a Man Utd friend about who was the better player Graeme Souness or Bryan Robson.

Of course we both biased but I think it’s a close one:

I remember Bob Paisley saying that Souness was the most important player in his team and Graeme certainly has the medals to prove how good he was.

Robson was also a fantastic player but he did not win the league until the end of his Man Utd career when he was no more than a bit part player. Also, he was injured a lot throughout his playing days.

Any unbiased views on here?

Hard to say both pretty much neck and neck but robson injured more and I would imagine souness more intimidating both on field and dressing room so maybe souness just shades it but only for those reasons

souness all day long

Both top players, I would say Souness was better as he was injured less, Robson missed allot of time at his peak, Souness also delivered allot more trophies, same argument people using against Gerrard.

Souness for me - the enforcer in midfield that you don't get today, 15 trophies in 6 years says it all!

Not really fair I think souness shaded it but they were both very close in ability it’s more injury record that separates

Souness played for Liverpool 1978 - 1984

Robson played for Man Utd 1981- 1994

If we look at what each other won in their time at each club:

Souness:-
5 x First Division Titles
3 x European Cups
3 x League Cups
3 x Charity Shields
Total = 14

Robson:-
2 x Premier League Titles
1 x European Cup Winners Cup
3 x FA Cups
1 x League Cup
2 x Charity Shields
Total = 9

Souness also did win a personal European Cup Golden Boot in the 80/81 season.

History sees success through trophies / medals, so on this basis Souness should be considered the most successful player.

Souness spent 5 seasons at Liverpool racking up 5 more trophies (also a european golden boot = 6) than Robson who spent 12 seasons at Man Utd.

The better individual player aspect can be argued, however times changed in the period both players where at their clubs. Just on success Souness was the better player.

You can also add that technological advances where much better in Robson's time at Man Utd than Souness's at Liverpool.
Transportation was hideous in the 70's & early 80's but it changed dramatically in late 80's into the 90's.

Then you have the advances in fitness / training /diet of players.

So physically and psychologically Souness had it much harder than Robson which makes his greater success all the more profound.

It's a great dilemma. I'd give it to Souness, simply on less injuries but there's not much in it. He couldn't half ping a ball too.

I think Robson was the most overrated player of the 80s.