Ron Yeats interview

[Arnie]

I interviewed Ron Yeats at the Living Room on Victoria Street and it was a very interesting discussion...

 

btw... I omitted a question about Liverpool's Academy... his reply to my academy question was "no comment" and not a very happy expression, but otherwise he was very forthcoming...

 

This is the second time I've interviewed him, a few years apart, as I consider him a remarkable person in Liverpool's history... Shankly's captain and he's also worked with managers Dalglish, Souness, Evans, Houllier and Benítez.

 

http://www.lfchistory.net/redcorner_articl...?article_id=558

 

Hope you enjoy...(posted with YNWA.tv's blessing)

 

If you have any questions regarding the interview I will answer them here...

 

Cheers, Arnie editor of LFChistory.net

Edited August 14, 2007 by Arnie

[muleskinner]

Cheers Arnie, a good read.

[RP]

Nice one Arnie.

 

Have you ever asked him his opinion of Smicer?? (Don't tell Hels)

[honourablegeorge]

Story at the end is brilliant.

[Stevie H]

thanks arnie.

 

love the one about shankly at the yeats unveiling, inviting the press to 'come and walk round him'.

[lawrie]

I find myself stood right next to him before a game last season - quite an experience for a 5 foot nothing pip squeek - he's enormous.

[Arnie]

Nice one Arnie.

 

Have you ever asked him his opinion of Smicer?? (Don't tell Hels)

 

Thanks for your kind reactions...

 

No I haven't asked him about Smicer, I had actually a few words with Smicer at Melwood at the time and I thought he was a great guy, he is constantly smiling, very talkative and has a very good "vibe" about him. I think he must have had a good relationship with the staff, Yeats included.

 

Another matter is his ability as a player. His injuries hampered his progress, but I think he never was suited for the English game, injuries or no injuries. He was the most talented player often in training but in the rumble of the premier league he was found wanting.

 

I remember as well Phil Thompson walking behind Smicer, both walking towards me, and taunting him with his name, singing "siiiimmmmcchhhheennnn", Smicer just shook his head at me, indicating Tommo was a complete lunatic.

 

I didn't, of course, include in my interview Yeats' views on Houllier I heard him express off record, which are far more straightforward and let's say... more brutally honest than those expressed in the interview.

[Maldini]

What did you ask him about the Academy?

[RP]

He does seem to allude to things about Houllier that I have feared for some time.

 

As for Smicer, the word "coward" may come up quite a lot.

 

Yeats is a great guy but I think his moving on was part of the much needed improvement in professionalism throughout the Club that was well due.

[R A Softlad]

Nice one Arnie.

 

Have you ever asked him his opinion of Smicer?? (Don't tell Hels)

 

He told me once when we were drinking in Niagara Falls.

[Arnie]

What did you ask him about the Academy?

 

Just how well he thought the academy had served the club...

 

He clearly thought something was wrong, but didn't want to get quoted on it.

[Guest rome 84]

Brilliant that Arnie. Nice one.

Only one question, who paid for the ale in the Living Rooms?!

[Arnie]

Brilliant that Arnie. Nice one.

Only one question, who paid for the ale in the Living Rooms?!

 

lol .. .good question... he was drinking orange juice and I drank coke (and I paid of course)...no ale that day.

 

Actually on my way to the Living Room I bumped into Xabi Alonso and his girlfriend and they liked the fact I thanked them for Xabi's autograph in Spanish, "muchos gracias, señor!" That accounts for almost all my knowledge of Spanish I'm afraid..

 

In the words of Borat: Xabi's girlfriend is "very nice".

[cymrococh]

I had a left foot I could fish up legs with and balls.

What does that mean?

[Eiler99]

What does that mean?

 

That he had a left foot that could open a can, probably.