Come Back To What You Know
February 23rd 2010 17:37
As a City fan I am sure you are well aware that supporting a football club is no bed of roses and we all have our fair share of heartaches along the way.
Earlier this month Estudiantes de La Plata of Argentina headed off to Abu Dhabi to take part in the Club World Cup. They secured their passage to the competition by winning this year’s edition of the Copa Libertadores.
The starman for Estudiantes is undoubtedly Juan Sebastián Verón and the midfielder’s imperious performances have seen his hometown club hoovering up the silverware in the last couple of season’s.
Verón drove his team on to winning a league title on his return in 2006, was named South American Footballer of the Year in 2008 and was instrumental in Estudiantes victorious run in this year’s Copa Libertadores.
The lad has bad rep in England due to his big money moves to Manchester United and Chelsea yielding little value for money. One place which did see financial reward for these moves was Estudiantes’ training ground as Verón personally financed a full upgrade of the team’s facilities. A nice touch and very much at odds with the popular conception of superstar footballers.
The thing is Verón really has the club in his veins after he grew up hearing all about his father’s exploits playing for Estudiantes. Verón Snr was part of the golden age of Estudiantes de La Plata as he played his part in three domestic titles as well as three Copa Libertadores titles. The crowning glory of Verón Snr’s career was scoring the winning goal in the 1968 Intercontinental Cup against Matt Busby’s Best, Law, Charlton and co at Old Trafford.
The hype therefore in Argentina ahead of Estudiantes’ Club World Cup final against Barcelona centred on could Juan Sebastián Verón replicated his old man’s achievements.
Things started well as Estudiantes lead at half time but an equaliser at the death forced extra time. A winner from Verón’s international team-mate Lionel Messi eventually won the game for Barcelona and left fans of Estudiantes with dreams of what might have been.
The fact it was an Argentine who stole victory away from Estudiantes got me thinking about times when City have been on the end of a haunting.
The first name which sprung to mind was Buster Phillips and his antics against us in green a few short years after dazzling in the red and white of City. Watching the goal against Fulham on YouTube had me thinking that things weren’t actually always that bad.
Another haunting which popped into my head was Sean Canham’s unforgivable equaliser against us for Notts County last season. Sean was not one of the first names I expected to see on our return to the Football League but it was certain that he would come up with something once he played against us.
Then again I’m sure fans of Weymouth weren’t overly taken by Lee Elam’s hat-trick against them for us after we had just taken him off their hands. Fans of all clubs must have a whole load of players they either fear or enjoy coming up against.
I think a personal favourite of many Exeter fans has to be Chris Zebroski simply due to the number of times he has come up trumps for us. Paul Wotton aside, the missed penalty at Oxford and ending up on the losing side in our last game with Torquay. I’m sure Zebroski will come good against us one day but until then he remains my favourite player never to have turned out for City.
Up the City!
Tim
Really Long Link
Earlier this month Estudiantes de La Plata of Argentina headed off to Abu Dhabi to take part in the Club World Cup. They secured their passage to the competition by winning this year’s edition of the Copa Libertadores.
The starman for Estudiantes is undoubtedly Juan Sebastián Verón and the midfielder’s imperious performances have seen his hometown club hoovering up the silverware in the last couple of season’s.
Verón drove his team on to winning a league title on his return in 2006, was named South American Footballer of the Year in 2008 and was instrumental in Estudiantes victorious run in this year’s Copa Libertadores.
The lad has bad rep in England due to his big money moves to Manchester United and Chelsea yielding little value for money. One place which did see financial reward for these moves was Estudiantes’ training ground as Verón personally financed a full upgrade of the team’s facilities. A nice touch and very much at odds with the popular conception of superstar footballers.
The thing is Verón really has the club in his veins after he grew up hearing all about his father’s exploits playing for Estudiantes. Verón Snr was part of the golden age of Estudiantes de La Plata as he played his part in three domestic titles as well as three Copa Libertadores titles. The crowning glory of Verón Snr’s career was scoring the winning goal in the 1968 Intercontinental Cup against Matt Busby’s Best, Law, Charlton and co at Old Trafford.
The hype therefore in Argentina ahead of Estudiantes’ Club World Cup final against Barcelona centred on could Juan Sebastián Verón replicated his old man’s achievements.
Things started well as Estudiantes lead at half time but an equaliser at the death forced extra time. A winner from Verón’s international team-mate Lionel Messi eventually won the game for Barcelona and left fans of Estudiantes with dreams of what might have been.
The fact it was an Argentine who stole victory away from Estudiantes got me thinking about times when City have been on the end of a haunting.
The first name which sprung to mind was Buster Phillips and his antics against us in green a few short years after dazzling in the red and white of City. Watching the goal against Fulham on YouTube had me thinking that things weren’t actually always that bad.
Another haunting which popped into my head was Sean Canham’s unforgivable equaliser against us for Notts County last season. Sean was not one of the first names I expected to see on our return to the Football League but it was certain that he would come up with something once he played against us.
Then again I’m sure fans of Weymouth weren’t overly taken by Lee Elam’s hat-trick against them for us after we had just taken him off their hands. Fans of all clubs must have a whole load of players they either fear or enjoy coming up against.
I think a personal favourite of many Exeter fans has to be Chris Zebroski simply due to the number of times he has come up trumps for us. Paul Wotton aside, the missed penalty at Oxford and ending up on the losing side in our last game with Torquay. I’m sure Zebroski will come good against us one day but until then he remains my favourite player never to have turned out for City.
Up the City!
Tim
Really Long Link
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