08 Apr 2019 08:01:37
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Sporting Villains 3: David Beckham
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08 Apr 2019 14:03:04
Great read Ed! I was only 3 years old in 98 so my memories of beckham are only positive one. I remember a superstar that was adored and worshipped. To think he was enemy number one is something I really struggle to grasp. Thanks for outlining it for me. Hope all is well with you.
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{Ed001's Note - I did wonder if those too young to remember would find it possible to picture. It is one of the biggest turnarounds in public opinion I can remember. In fact no, it is the biggest.}
08 Apr 2019 16:05:31
The abuse was horrible. I remember a picture of Becks going to take a corner at Upton Park and you just saw hate in the faces of the West Ham fans. He was a top top player with a world class delivery. Madrid got a bargain at 25 mill even back then.
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08 Apr 2019 20:03:14
It's mad that all the hate seemed to be aimed at becks, none of it seemed to be apportioned to someone. Another massive turnaround in public opinion was Ronaldo, I thought he would never be able to play in England again after the wink, but he rode it out, I guess that's in the make up of a great player, adversity doesn't get to you, you just get beeter through it.
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{Ed001's Note - I remember that day, I happened to be wearing a Portugal shirt as I lost a bet. Lots of people gave me evil looks but only one person actually said anything to me about it and I ended up with her number because of it. So I quite liked Ronaldo for that wink!}
08 Apr 2019 21:02:45
Still remember that rag the sun printing a dartboard with becks face on it.
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08 Apr 2019 21:25:40
Ah out comes the ed's pulling stories.
I do blame the press. Print any old rubbish then stand back and deny they're the problem.
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08 Apr 2019 23:05:54
West Spam have always been plonkers though. One of those clubs where the fans really do them no favours.
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08 Apr 2019 08:01:32
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Sporting Villains 3: David Beckham
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08 Apr 2019 11:15:32
Top article Ed.
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{Ed001's Note - thank you mate. It is very reminiscent of the way Ozil has been treated in Germany to be honest. He has been scapegoated and pilloried by press and pundits there (and gets it here too for that matter), I wonder if the abuse would be the same if he played in Germany still?}
08 Apr 2019 12:08:21
Wow great article. I didn't kniw hr got that much abuse.
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{Ed001's Note - thank you mate. It was horrible mate, nasty, personal and brought his whole family into it. The dartboard with his face as bullseye also had his missus's face as one of the out segments.}
08 Apr 2019 12:50:32
Don't know if fans are over Ozil but his isn't as bad as Baggio's luck with Italy's fans after that Penalty miss. Only other player of the top of my head who had it worse than Baggio must be Andres Escobar : (.
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{Ed001's Note - I don't think Baggio's was the same as opinion was split on him. A large portion of Italian fans worshipped him mate. As for Escobar, that was insanity.}
08 Apr 2019 12:57:53
I remember it well Ed. I also remember an effigy hanging from a lamp post as well. And as you it wasn't just rival clubs. Liverpool, City and Leeds were expected but it was also other clubs. Even in the away games in the cups at sides united never play it was the same. And the media wonders why united fans usually steer clear of England. It was around this time as well you had the idiots with their Torquay and Hereford flags starting off 'stand up if u hate man u'. With 4-5 united players on the pitch. Embarrassing.
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{Ed001's Note - good point. Though I remember the stand up if you hate man u prior to that and finding it laughable when half the team was United players. Hardly going to help England play to their best when their own fans are screaming hatred of half of the team!}
08 Apr 2019 14:57:25
I knew Fergie wasnt too happy with Beckham being linked to Posh and he thought Beckham was distracted by it and then sold him to Madrid.
The thing about the media hate is absolutely shocking and no wonder England disnt win anything when they had all these good players and shouldve done better.
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08 Apr 2019 17:56:39
It was one of the reasons why United fans sang “Argentina” and had Argentina flags because the abuse Beckham and most England supporting United fans got. I went to England games back then and you almost had to keep quiet about your club side. The hate, the vitriol after Beckhams sending off was a disgrace, orchestrated by the media as well. I was also at OT when Beckham scored that free kick against Greece, they loved him by then though!
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08 Apr 2019 22:49:49
I remember the abuse well.
I went to a few away games they following season and the bile and hatred was terrible. I mean there is no need to start on his family at all, or him to be quite frank. He did well to cope and I think handled it very well, which made a lot of people respect him afterwards.
Thanks for the article interesting read.
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08 Apr 2019 07:29:01
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Review Of The Day 8th April 2019
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08 Apr 2019 10:25:59
With what Rabiot is going through, I wonder what punishment Choupo-Moting will get for that incredible stunt last night.
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{Ed001's Note - that was a world class piece of defending to be fair.}
