BLACKPOOL GAME THREAD

[Bring Back Pires]

I always assumed everyone raves about Eboue in an ironic sense. Almost a "so bad it actually makes him good", cult hero-esque kind of way.

[LDB]

I always assumed everyone raves about Eboue in an ironic sense. Almost a "so bad it actually makes him good", cult hero-esque kind of way.

It did start that way, mainly because he became an unfair scapegoat for the teams ills (blame it on eboue) but having suffered the ignimony of being booed by his own fans he has put in the hard work when it would have been easier to have wrangled for a transfer away which he would have been well within his rights to do so.

So for me anyway, he has earned genuine respect even if he is no world beater.

[goonersid]

I always assumed everyone raves about Eboue in an ironic sense. Almost a "so bad it actually makes him good", cult hero-esque kind of way.

It did start that way, mainly because he became an unfair scapegoat for the teams ills (blame it on eboue) but having suffered the ignimony of being booed by his own fans he has put in the hard work when it would have been easier to have wrangled for a transfer away which he would have been well within his rights to do so.

So for me anyway, he has earned genuine respect even if he is no world beater.

Perfectly put sir.

[Robsy]

Thought the atmosphere was okay on Saturday, but I sit in an area that is relatively noisy.

The problem is the shape of the ground. It doesn't carry sound very well. Meaning the Clock End can't hear the North Bank and downstairs can't hear upstairs (although upstairs can hear downstairs!)

Also, I don't know of - and didn't hear - any decent new songs.

Flags are now permitted in the ground...but it hasn't really taken off and I always forget mine!

[goonersid]

Thought the atmosphere was okay on Saturday, but I sit in an area that is relatively noisy.

The problem is the shape of the ground. It doesn't carry sound very well. Meaning the Clock End can't hear the North Bank and downstairs can't hear upstairs (although upstairs can hear downstairs!)

Also, I don't know of - and didn't hear - any decent new songs.

Flags are now permitted in the ground...but it hasn't really taken off and I always forget mine!

Shouldn't this be on Bren's TV show thread.

[Robsy]

[mikeyb772001]

Thought the atmosphere was okay on Saturday, but I sit in an area that is relatively noisy.

The problem is the shape of the ground. It doesn't carry sound very well. Meaning the Clock End can't hear the North Bank and downstairs can't hear upstairs (although upstairs can hear downstairs!)

Also, I don't know of - and didn't hear - any decent new songs.

Flags are now permitted in the ground...but it hasn't really taken off and I always forget mine!

Yeh agreed mate. This is also down to the amount of people chanting at one time. People are way to spread apart. Even in block 5 and 6 you get various small groups of people singing and only a few chants catch on that really get sang by a big majority.
No new songs to write home about, shame Nasri’s wasn’t playing as his song was quite good. Also heard a few people starting a song for Clichy….. “Pass to Clichy on da left hand side; pass to Clichy on the left hand sideâ€

[marcengels]

I remember different players for different reasons.

I dont see what the purpose of being so hard-nosed about it is. Eboue tries hard, has come through some rough patches and has something about him that most footballers nowadays lack. Surely you can appreciate that without having to elevate it above players like DB10?

What's hard-nosed about it? I'm being straightforward. I appreciate something different in footballers. I think you are elevating Eboue into a position above that which he deserve, therefore making an icon out of an average footballer. I am merely stating that fan worship should be reserved for those who truly deserve it for what they do on the pitch.

The true triumph of being a character - over someone of substance.

Are you not capable of appreciating different qualities in different players? Correct me if im mistaken but your insinuation (sp?) seems to be that because i have a soft spot for Eboue's work ethic and unique character that i somehow dont appreciate players of substance? I do not see the two as diametrically opposed.

Besides, you call it fan worship, I call it recognition.

.

Long after Eboue has retired and left the club he will be remembered not for his diving but as a proper character in a team that was severely lacking them.

I can only reply to what you say as above LDB, not about Eboue's work ethic, which in turn really does not have anything to do with him being a "character". Or does it for you? Perhaps you could explain? Just throwing it in there as something that I am commenting on, when I am not, is a little unfair.


Has Eboue improved his work ethic? - yes

Has he come back after being at a very low ebb? - yes

Do I applaud his efforts to even become a professional footballer? yes


I will also correct you as above because I am not insinuating anything of the kind, as I am merely addressing this issue.

I like this topic because for me it is a wider, more interesting look at what fans see in players, and what that says about them, the club, and the times. Just to repeat, what is important for me, and for others I know, in terms of who is remembered, is something different to Eboue - however much he has come back from adversity.

[augie]

...Long after Eboue has retired and left the club he will be remembered not for his diving but as a proper character in a team that was severely lacking them.

You think so? Well, by you and people who think that this is important.

Better to have character than a team of characters.

It is important, maybe not now but when people look back on this period and think of our stand out players, eboue will be among them for that reason. I would bet my house on that.

Its a similar thing with charlie nicholas, despite being frankly shit for most of his time at the club and having just one pot to show for his time here, he is still looked upon as a shining light in a thoroughly shit time for the club, largely because he was a character.

Of course charlie had a bigger hype attached to his arrival and even though he was arguably a more gifted footballer the comparison still holds some relevance i think. In my head atleast

Seriously ldb you cannot compare charlie nick with eboue.....they are streets apart when it comes to talent and ability. I agree totally that charlie didnt fulfill the potential and hype with us but as natural talent and ability goes eboue isnt in the same galaxy as him and that is no exaggeration. Eboue has gained respect again for his work ethic (something charlie didnt have enough of) and kudos to him for that but it should not and does not disguise his limitations as a footballer.

I also cannot let this go without commenting on your statement that eboue will be one of those remembered fondly from this team in years to come............... Yes this team is nowhere near that of it's predecessors and yes we do not have enough top quality players but if you think that will be enough to lift eboue up to that level of reverence then you are totally totally delusional buddy cos most fans will remember him as a diving cheating *word censored* that could not even be a regular in a team that is 15-20pts behind it's main rivals

[psychoangus]

On a separate note, I found this whilst bored:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LK1gvcEMXcs

Comes across as a top fella, and actually made me stop and count myself lucky I have this team.

[Bendtners Drinking Buddy]

I always assumed everyone raves about Eboue in an ironic sense. Almost a "so bad it actually makes him good", cult hero-esque kind of way.

It did start that way, mainly because he became an unfair scapegoat for the teams ills (blame it on eboue) but having suffered the ignimony of being booed by his own fans he has put in the hard work when it would have been easier to have wrangled for a transfer away which he would have been well within his rights to do so.

So for me anyway, he has earned genuine respect even if he is no world beater.

Spot on.

That, and the fact he is actually a decent player - by far the best player at driving forward with the ball and is a good option on the right, one better than Walcott in my opinion.

Squad player when everyone is fit - but a very useful one.

[augie]

I always assumed everyone raves about Eboue in an ironic sense. Almost a "so bad it actually makes him good", cult hero-esque kind of way.

It did start that way, mainly because he became an unfair scapegoat for the teams ills (blame it on eboue) but having suffered the ignimony of being booed by his own fans he has put in the hard work when it would have been easier to have wrangled for a transfer away which he would have been well within his rights to do so.

So for me anyway, he has earned genuine respect even if he is no world beater.

Spot on.

That, and the fact he is actually a decent player - by far the best player at driving forward with the ball and is a good option on the right, one better than Walcott in my opinion.

Squad player when everyone is fit - but a very useful one.

Thats fine and I agree with you but does that not also back up the view of many (inc myself) that he has done nowhere near enough to earn the status and acclaim that he gets from many fans ? Tbh I find it really really embarassing (not sure if I have said that already) that the fans treat this squad player with a superstar-like reverance

[Bendtners Drinking Buddy]

There has always been a player that bonds with the fans - with varying abilities, from Groves to Wright to Parlour to Edu to Eboue!

As i say, Squad player but a very useful one - and one that appreciates the fans and how lucky he is. I think it is a strong sign of a man that really wanted to prove to the fans his worth and he has done that - he is far from being an awful player, he is also reliable and trustworthy on the pitch to get the job done efficiently - which wasnt always the case as we all know - he works for the team, unlike others, and is a greta outlet at breaking teams down at home, as well as being solid in tough away fixtures (hence his preference over Walcott at Anfield).

The diving is at a minimum now, he goes down a bit easy - but every team has one of those and it hasnt held back Drogba, Torres, Ronaldo, Xavi or Iniesta, but he isnt on the floor every five seconds anymore.

All he needs now is stop getting a nosebleed when he see's the penalty area and we will be ok!!