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The World Cup 2010 Awards

Trevor Cassidy — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 06:27:21 +0000

The awards are being doled out early here at Footy Factor as we recognize some of the players who have made an impact during the first couple of weeks of the World Cup. Take a bow, boys. You’ve earned it.

England’s Goalkeeping: Never Been Worse?

Trevor Cassidy — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 07:13:28 +0000

Either it’s a harbinger for the misery to come or the prologue to one of the greatest sports upsets ever, but England will arrive in South Africa next summer brandishing new lows in their quality of goalkeeping. Never before have the Three Lions been represented at the World Cup by a keeper who has just finished the season with a side that got relegated. But that streak looks set to be broken.

The Number 1 shirt is currently being contested by three men: veteran David James, who is playing for relegation-certainties, Portsmouth; Robert Green, who plays for West Ham United, currently languishing one place above Portsmouth in 19th; and Ben Foster, who will be demoted to the Manchester United bench as soon as Edwin Van der Sar regains fitness.

Not exactly a group that inspires confidence, eh?

Where have all the great English keepers gone?

Nine men have kept goal in England’s 12 World Cup appearances since 1950. Peter Shilton, who is the only English goalkeeper to play in three World Cups, went to Italy in 1990 having just finished in 16th place with Derby County. And in 1950 keeper Gilbert Merrick represented England having just finished the season with Birmingham City, who were in the then-First Division.

2006 Paul Robinson (Spurs, finished 5th place the season before)
2002 David Seaman (Arsenal, 1st)
1998 David Seaman (Arsenal, 1st)
1990 Peter Shilton (Derby, 16th)
1986 Peter Shilton (Southampton, 14th)
1982 Peter Shilton (Notts Forest, 12th)
1970 Gordon Banks (Stoke, 9th) & Peter Bonetti (Chelsea, 3rd)
1966 Gordon Banks (Leicester, 7th)
1962 Ronald Springett (Sheffield Wed, 6th)
1958 Colin McDonald (Burnley, 6th)
1954 Gilbert Merrick (Birmingham, 7th in First Division)
1950 Bert Williams (Wolves, 2nd)

Most Hated Men in Football – Part 8

Stan Hughes — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:22:00 +0000

Emmanuel Adebayor – Man City

Most Hated Men in Football

Emmanuel Adebayor had been on the fringes of our list of Most Hated Men in Football for quite some time, but his recent behavior in the Manchester City – Arsenal match now demands his inclusion. There is no doubt that the Togo player is a talent. When he’s motivated, there’s no more lethal a striker in the world. But when he can’t give a toss, Adebayor is mediocre at best. All too often he can be a brooding, taciturn force that sucks the spirit out of his teammates – which is the epitome of selfishness in a team sport like football. And that’s why Arsenal fans were glad to see the back of him this summer when he bid adieu to the club that he owed so much to and went north to Manchester City in search of greater riches.

Of all the parties involved, you’d think it would be Arsenal who were relishing a bit of comeuppance when the two clubs first met again – but it was the moody striker himself who showed up for last Saturday’s match keen on exacting some sort of revenge. He almost had his wish, scoring the goal that put City ahead for good. But then, in a deliberate attempt to incite his former fans, Adebayor celebrated his goal by sprinting the length of the pitch. He later (accidentally?) stamped on the head of former strike partner Robin Van Persie – following it up post-match with a rather hollow apology. It was a performance that not only solidified Arsenal fans’ fury, but the rest of league’s as well.

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The other Most Hated Men in Football: