When the Spice Boys descended upon Anfield, they were either redefining the standard view of modern masculinity, or ruining a long Kop tradition, depending on who you asked. The metrosexual escapades of Jamie Redknapp, David James, Robbie Fowler and co - which saw them spending more time looking stylish, driving expensive cars and going clubbing than focussing on actually playing football, according to tabloids of the time - seemed slightly at odds with the history of footie-obsessed hard men that had played for Liverpool over the years. It's one of those often contested truisms that back in the "good old days" football was populated by "proper players", which usually means they were mildly psychopathic alcoholics. Both of which are traits which, to be honest, does actually go a way to making you a more effective player: or, at least, a more terrifying one. The annals of Anfield's past especially are chocka with hardline defenders and strikers in every sense of the word. There have been more than enough tough guys at the Kop to make up for the Spice Boys: players who didn't take any nonsense, who would never dream of diving, and whom probably broke a leg or two in their time (woops). There are the ten hardest men that ever played for Liverpool.
Tom Baker is the Comics Editor at WhatCulture! He's heard all the Doctor Who jokes, but not many about Randall and Hopkirk. He also blogs at http://communibearsilostate.wordpress.com/
