Rabu, 4 April 2012

Top Ten: Hated By Their Own Fans


10. Morten Gamst Pedersen

Pedersen is something of a highlights player, occasionally smashing in a wonderful free-kick, but more often than not causing all sorts of frustration for Blackburn fans. Indeed, the majority of Rovers supporters opine that Pedersen's best days are long behind him and that apart from the 2005/06 season - in which he scored several crackers and both goals in the 2-1 league win at Old Trafford - the midfielder hasn't been very good. At the end of Blackburn's recent defeat to Bolton, Pedersen was the subject of wild vitriol from several members of the travelling crowd. It's a shame, because he seems a perfectly nice chap.

9. Zat Knight

Bolton fans breathed a sigh of relief when the club signed Tim Ream to replace Gary Cahill in January, knowing that the alternative was to continue with Knight on the path to relegation. Knight is alarmingly error-prone and Wanderers supporters understandably bemoan his inability to read the game. In Bolton's defeat to Man City, Knight was constantly out of position and yet he was still ordering teammates around, as if organising the defence. Ream on the other hand has proved a more than worthy replacement, forging a solid partnership with David Wheater. With Bolton having won three games in a row for the first time since 2006, Knight looks set to remain an outcast.

 
8. Nile Ranger

A precocious talent who has been given plenty of chances to learn the error of his ways, Newcastle fans can't tolerate Ranger because he just won't learn. After Andy Carroll was sold to Liverpool in January 2011, the 20-year-old striker had a huge opportunity to impress. The club were desperately short of strikers and Ranger made 28 appearances as Alan Pardew looked to develop his skills. However, instead of kicking on this season, the young forward has been more interested in pursuing an active nightlife, getting involved in some rather unfortunate incidents. Already amassing 49 appearances for Newcastle, Ranger's chance has been and gone and many of the Toon Army would be glad to see the back of him.

 
7. Michael Carrick

Carrick polarises opinion like no other player in the Premier League. For some Manchester United fans, he's the key to success, dictating play as a metronomic presence in the middle; to the rest he's a pariah, not fit to wear the shirt. Carrick is perhaps the subject of much disdain because although a first-team regular for the last six seasons, he's not a patch on his predecessor, Roy Keane. Swapping guts for guile, Alex Ferguson splurged £18million on Carrick in 2006, but many of the Old Trafford faithful think he needs to run around a bit more and make a few more tackles to be considered worthy. Carrick is never going to be that sort of player though, so he'll continue to be loathed by some despite United's trophy march.

 
6. Theo Walcott

Another marmite player, Walcott is as irritating as a yeast infection to some Gooners and a potential star to the rest. The England international was the subject of jeers earlier this season as Arsenal started in terrible fashion, but has since improved and played a key role in the seven-match winning run. The winger's two goals in the 5-2 thrashing of Spurs earned him a reprieve from the hecklers, but to a number of fans Walcott will never be good enough, as they know that another poor run of form is just around the corner.

 
5. Joey Barton

Wasn't it Nietzsche who famously wrote 'Haterz gon' hate'? And how apt that Joseph Barton should live by the maxim as he courageously braves the baying masses. While the statistical masturbators on Twitter have wound Mr Misplaced Passes up something chronic, QPR's boo-boys have really found his weak spot, letting Barton know that they're distinctly unimpressed with his performances this season (tut tut, the #bells). As Barton cries a #singletear on Twitter, there is little sympathy to be found at Loftus Road. Victory over Arsenal brought some respite, but it won't be long until bigmouth strikes again.

 
4. David Bentley

A former Gunner and Tottenham's record signing at £16.9million, Bentley had his work cut out to impress Spurs fans when he joined in 2008. It didn't help that the season started with Spurs picking up just two points from eight matches (as Harry Redknapp will have no trouble reminding you) which resulted in the sacking of Juande Ramos. 'Arry has never been Bentley's biggest fan, but initially the midfielder looked as though he could work his way into the new manager's plans, scoring a wonder-goal in the 4-4 draw with Arsenal at the Emirates. As he slipped out of the first team, though, fans blamed his work-shy attitude as Bentley big boots thought he deserved to be picked without trying. A move to the MLS has been mooted, with Bentley knowing no-one wants him at White Hart Lane.

 
3. Charlie Adam

Although the cheapest of Kenny Dalglish's struggling acquisitions, Adam is by far the most despised. There were concerns in the summer as to whether he could make the step up to playing for a 'big club', and the Scottish midfielder has done little to appease the doubters since his £7.5million move from Blackpool. With his left-foot wand looking more like a hoof, Reds fans have become increasingly frustrated with Adam. Sir Alex Ferguson said last season that the midfielder's corners are worth £10million alone, yet most Liverpool supporters would be happy to see the back of the 26-year-old. Ponderous and wasteful, Adam has grown to symbolise Liverpool's major faults this season and as Roy Hodgson knows, once Liverpool fans have taken a disliking to you, it's not easy to win them over.

 
2. Roger Johnson

They hate you, Roger. They look at you and they see the Championship. They see 1-5 against West Brom, 68 goals shipped so far, Kevin Davies taking the ball around someone for the first time in his career. It's fair to say Johnson's spell at Wolves hasn't gone well, but when the defender signed for £7million in the summer it initially looked like a good deal. What has become apparent, though, is that we were all duped into thinking Johnson and former teammate Scott Dann were a good pairing, despite Birmingham dropping through the trap door. While we've now learnt that they're both awful, Johnson edges it in the fans' hatred stakes by being a shambles both on and off the pitch, turning up to training after a few too many Marston's in the middle of a desperate relegation battle. Boo!

 
1. Alex McLeish

By far the most hated man on this list, McLeish has done little to placate the Villa fans who were outraged by his appointment in the summer. The football has been dire, his best signing has said it's the worst season of his career, Gabby Agbonlahor is begging for the campaign to end and the team are teetering just above the relegation pack. It's no wonder Villa supporters are protesting. Indeed, many are still scratching their heads over why McLeish was ever given the job in the first place. Not only was he manager of the club's arch rivals, he also wasn't a very good one, taking Birmingham down into the Championship. Twice. There's clearly no way forward under Big 'Eck and the torch and pitchfork brigade will only grow more vociferous unless he scarpers this summer.




source: http://www.football365.com/faves/7647727/Top-Ten

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