Youri Djorkaeff
Kevin Davies – A true Legend
Tuesday, October 5th, 2010 | BWFC Goals, BWFC News, BWFC People, Eidur Gudjohnsen, El-Hadji Diouf, Football Association, Gary Megson, Ivan Campo, Johan Elmander, Kevin Davies, Nat Lofthouse, Nicolas Anelka, Owen Coyle, Premier League, Youri Djorkaeff | 2 Comments
Legend: it’s a word thrown round all too readily it appears these days. Scrolling down my news feed on Facebook last week, I found one friend bestowing legendary status on Javier Hernandez following his late winner for Manchester United away at Valencia. I’m sure he was caught up in the moment, or at least I hope so, and I imagine in the cold light of day, he wouldn’t be quite so keen to put Hernandez up with the ‘Kings of the Stretford End’ such as Cantona, Law and Charlton just yet although, considering the fact that the guy probably couldn’t find Old Trafford with a sat nav and more than likely believes that football was invented in 1993, nothing would surprise me.super
A proud moment for Super-kev
It’s not just fans of other clubs who seem keen to claim certain questionable players as ‘legends’. El Hadji Diouf has achieved legendary status to some Bolton fans, despite the fact that his consistency could often be called in to question and, regardless of his ‘love’ for the club, he felt the overwhelming urge just prior to our biggest match of the season at home to Sunderland to announce to the national press that, irrespective of the result of said match, he would be leaving Bolton for a big club on the continent. Now, I’ve visited Sunderland in the past and, while it does seem like another country, and sometimes another world, it sure as hell isn’t in Spain!
So what does constitute a legend? Well, in my humble opinion, in order for the word legend to have the impact it deserves, it has to be limited to certain players who have had a profound impact on the club. We have had some world class players grace the famous white shirt of Bolton Wanderers, particularly over the last ten years: Jay Jay Okocha – so good they named him twice; Youri Djorkaeff – World Cup winner in 1998 and European Championship winner in 2000; Ivan Campo – two time Champions League winner; Fernando Hierro – three time Champions League winner and five time winner of La Liga; Eidur Gudjohnsen – two Premier League titles with Chelsea and a La Liga title and Champions League winner with Barcelona; Stelios Giannakopoulos – European Championship winner with Greece in 2004; Nicolas Anelka – Premier League, FA and Champions League winner with Arsenal and Real Madrid respectively prior to his time with us, not to mention adding further Premier League and FA Cup success with Chelsea following his time at The Reebok. In total; ten domestic league titles, seven Champions Leagues, two European Championships, two FA Cups, one UEFA Cup, one UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, one UEFA Super Cup, one World Cup and an Olympic Gold Medal. Not to mention, the small number of 457 International caps. In short, these guys have won it all. › Continue reading
Every Day’s a cup final for Mark Halsey….!
Thursday, April 22nd, 2010 | BWFC Goals, BWFC News, BWFC People, Football Association, Ivan Campo, Jay-Jay Okocha, Nicolas Anelka, Owen Coyle, Phil Gartside, Premier League, Premiership referees, Sam Allardyce, Youri Djorkaeff | 11 Comments
The support from football fans and ordinary people in the street has been inspirational
Click the link to listen to Mark Halsey’s Exclusive interview.
http://www.zshare.net/audio/751463426e948768/
Despite hailing from Hertfordshire, Mark Halsey has firmly established himself as one of Bolton’s favourite adopted sons. After spending 12 years playing non-league football for Cambridge City and Hertford Town he began his refereeing career in 1989 and a decade later refereed the famous 1999 Football League One Play-off Final between Gillingham and Manchester City at Wembley. The same year he was promoted to Premier League status and shortly after the FIFA List of referees. He quickly established himself as one of the most popular referees in the League.
Mark was kind enough to take time out of his schedule to speak Exclusively to Manny Road & bwfcforum’s Andi Walton. He started by asking him about his current health:
MH: Yeah I’m feeling very good, I seem to be getting stronger with every game I do and it’s a bonus for me because I never thought I’d be back refereeing again, so every day is a cup final and it’s really great to be back and the reception I’ve received from the two games I’ve done at Rotherham and Port Vale and Oldham and Bristol Rovers, the fans have been absolutely fantastic and it’s been very emotional and overwhelming for me.
AW: It must have been the furthest thing from your mind getting out on the football pitch when you were in the midst of your treatment but now you’ve got to that stage, it must be a real thrill.
MH: For me to come back and, you know, I suppose…for what I’ve gone through with all my chemotherapy and my radiotherapy…I mean if you saw me at Christmas, I was nowhere near the Mark Halsey of old, you know, but I’ve worked hard and a lot of people have helped me and it’s been great. The support I’ve received from people around the country – just ordinary football fans and ordinary people in the street. They’ve been inspirational to me and they’ve got to really pat themselves on the back for the way they’ve helped me and it’s down to them that I’m back where I am now.
Reebok Round-Up (06.02.09)
Friday, February 6th, 2009 | BWFC News, BWFC People, El-Hadji Diouf, Gary Megson, Kevin Davies, Mark Davies, Matt Taylor, Sebastien Puygrenier, Youri Djorkaeff | No Comments
What Manny Road has been reading about Bolton Wanderers over the last week or so
Desert Island Goals: Jay-Jay Okocha v Aston Villa
Saturday, December 13th, 2008 | Alan Stubbs, BWFC People, Bruno N'Gotty, Jay-Jay Okocha, Kevin Nolan, Stelios, Youri Djorkaeff | 1 Comment
Celebrating great Bolton Wanderers goals from history
In the absence of Alan Stubbs’ 1994 FA Cup winner against Villa from You Tube, this goal from the thrilling Carling Cup semi-final in 2004 was the obvious choice for today’s Desert Island Goal.
Recommended reading (15.11.08): Everybody loves Sammy Lee
Saturday, November 15th, 2008 | BWFC People, Blerim Dzemaili, Danny Shittu, Gary Megson, Heidar Helguson, Jay-Jay Okocha, Kevin Nolan, Sam Allardyce, Sammy Lee, Youri Djorkaeff | 1 Comment
What Manny Road has been reading (and thinking) Bolton Wanderers today…
- This interview with Kevin Nolan in which he follows in Gary Megson’s footsteps by lavishing praise on former Wanderers manager Sammy Lee (shame he wasn’t more supportive when Lee was his boss).
Recommended reading (4.11.08): Megson clings on for dear life at ‘unfashionable’ Bolton
Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 | Alan Cork, BWFC People, Fabrice Muamba, Gary Megson, Jay-Jay Okocha, Johan Elmander, Kevin Nolan, Phil Brown, Phil Gartside, Ricardo Gardner, Sam Allardyce, Youri Djorkaeff | No Comments
What Manny Road has been reading (and thinking) about Bolton Wanderers over the last few days…
- This amusing photo essay of Gary Megson’s career at Bolton Wanderers and, from the same site, a break down of the managers we shouldn’t get to replace Megson (not sure about Sam Allardyce’s inclusion, though).
Why the Reebok was the best move Bolton Wanderers ever made
Tuesday, August 19th, 2008 | BWFC People, Ivan Campo, Jay-Jay Okocha, Phil Gartside, Youri Djorkaeff | 1 Comment
Exhibit A: Oldham, Swindon, Barnsley…
Taking up the theme of yesterday’s post about attendances, Georgyw complains on The Bolton News forum that “it was a big mistake to build the Reebok out of town. He (Phil Gartside) must admit his error.”
Quite rightly, the responses take Georgyw to task, but I think it’s worth exploring this point further, particularly as the tenth anniversary of Bolton Wanderers’ move to the Reebok Stadium came and went last year without much song and dance made about just how important it was in shaping the club’s modern history.
If you want to know what Bolton Wanderers would be like in 2008 if we were still at Burnden Park, take a look at Oldham Athletic, Barnsley and Swindon Town, who all tasted the Premier League at one time or another but failed to upgrade their infrastructure to match their top flight status.
In contrast, look at Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Derby (OK they had a stinker last season but they’ll probably be back in the not too distant future), who like Bolton have all been in and out of the Premier League but have managed to avoid sinking without a trace after relegations.
And would Ivan Campo, Jay-Jay Okocha and Youri Djorkaeff et al have signed for Bolton if the first thing they had seen was the Normid Superstore? I think not.
Fireworks at The Reebok Stadium, courtesy of d.nuttall on flickr
It’s easy to criticise modern stadiums for being soulless, homogeneous mechano sets. Yes, they all come with corporate sponsorship and McDonald’s and KFC for neighbours. But it’s better than having a supermarket at one end of the ground, right?
The biggest problems we’ve had at the Reebok is the club’s futile attempts to create an atmosphere. You can have as many drummers, singing sections (not a great success against Stoke, according to this thread) and cheerleaders as you want (am I the only one who felt uncomfortable watching grown men drool over half-naked teenage girls?), but the fans just want exciting football and good results.
I never understood why they insisted on playing “I Feel Good” after the Wanderers scored. It’s the same with those ridiculously contrived celebrations they have at the Carling Cup Final. The one time you definitely don’t need encouraging to get behind your team is when they’ve just scored a goal or won a trophy. Playing “Rocking All Over The World” just ruins the moment.
This thread suggests things are getting better, and this blog indicates the club is doing pretty well in terms of offering value for money. But I still think fans would happily forego half-time entertainment for more entertainment during the game itself.
Don’t support Jussi Jaaskelainen’s testimonial
Tuesday, July 29th, 2008 | Ali Al-Habsi, BWFC People, Jay-Jay Okocha, Jussi Jaaskelainen, Ricardo Gardner, Youri Djorkaeff | 2 Comments
Wanderers’ goalkeeper should give his testimonial money to charity
Much debate on the forums today after the announcement that Jussi Jaaskelainen is to get a testimonial this season. Apparently it was part of the new four-year deal he signed recently.
Several people have pointed out that he’s got a bit of a cheek, given that he – or his agent Peter Harrison at least – has been threatening he’ll leave Bolton for the last two years.
Of course, testimonials for any player in the modern game are a joke anyway… hardly short of a bob or two are they?
So whatever you might think of Jussi or the prospect of some recent legends like Jay-Jay Okocha or Youri Djorkaeff coming back to play in the game, please don’t support this testimonial unless he agrees to give all the money to charity. You’ve given him enough money already.
As this Bolton Wanderers blog points out, Ricardo Gardner, who has been a Wanderer for the same amount of time, must be pretty pissed off that he’s not getting the same treatment.
Perhaps now we can see why players allow their agents to hold clubs to ransom, and why Peter Harrison is now employing the same scare tactics over Ali Al-Habsi. I bet Gardner wishes his agent had kicked up the same fuss.
I’ve always liked Jaaskelainen, who has consistently been one of the top five goalkeepers in the Premier League over the last few seasons. But I’m not the only one to think that Al-Habsi did enough at the end of last season for the Wanderers to have told Jussi where to stick his testimonial.
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