FFC Mariner said:
Phoenix, that was an interesting point of view and I guess that leads me to a question in general.
Why do some players achieve cult status and all clubs have 1 player who is "on the nose"
Ability isnt the determining factor but what did Gumps do to become a crowd hero whereas Hutch seems to be the public enemy No1.
This has not been a recent thing either, I recall him copping a fair bit at Pluim 2 seasons ago in the Charity Plate game but the more last season wore on, the worse it got
If anyone wanted to see the contrast, look at the response to Gumps as he came on as a sub in our last few games as opposed to the reception Hutch got after the last ACL game.
Now I am no great fan of his but he sure as hell wasnt the worst player on the park that night.
At Fulham, its currently Bobby Zamora copping it, when he leaves, it will be someone else and all clubs can identify the player the crowd gets onto.
So my question is, what do these players do (or not do) to get this treatment?
Haha! What a terrific question.
In regard to cult status, generally speaking to become a cult hero requires standout skills, legendary actions or long term service and being a good guy or a hard case is a bonus yes? That covers the bulk of cult heroes. But Scottmacs definition of on field charisma certainly plays a strong role. Fan love for Tevez v Berbatov? And in Gumps case I agree with Scottmac, he's a good player and no mistake, but he certainly hasn't been a standout in the A league or really even in the team... But hey... What a guy! Yes?
Charisma is definitely the major player in Gumps regard isn't it...
His enthusiasm clearly endeared him to the crowd. He's a battler and we all know how we revere battlers. He's also good looking, yet he doesn't look like a nancy so he appeals to the aussie psyche in that regard. Also in Gumps case, I think his OFF field charisma had a lot to do with his cult status. A real sanguine personality, positive attitude, smiles a lot, lol, I even watched him kiss a baby at a match once
the guys very easy to like... and his football clinics would have played no small part in his popularity either.
Gumps lovers don't get me wrong, he was/is a good player, but FFC is right, his cult status does not strictly speaking match up with his ability/performance. Something usually only reserved for the best who really distinguish themselves.
This probably wouldn't have cut it in a major club to achieve cult status, but with a start up club and league in a small community... It fitted the bill.
Interestingly there isn't always a cult hero - such as right now with the mariners - as to have one you generally need someone to be performing above and beyond. Danny was moving this way prior to V4 for us I think (and after the friendly against SFC may be doing so again this season!) Matty perhaps? But the "on the nose" player FFC? Your right. There is nearly always one... the only exception is when a team is dominating. We may still take the piss out of someone or something they did... but overall our appetite in this regard is quenched by our glory.
In short, I think it is human nature, or perhaps rather the nature of the egoic mind to attack whenever it feels threatened. And something causing it pain is definitely perceived as a threat. I know I get that feeling at games, when the team I love is losing or performing badly, it hurts and I feel that rush of anger and the need to attack or lash out at something to appease my pain... (ref, player, coach, all of the above :ashamed: ) but the thing about emotion, is that if the feeling is strong enough you doesn't really give a shit who you attack, sometimes it's even those you love. But hey... if someone conveniently sticks their hands or heads up at such a time then thats undoubtedly who will be attacked...
Hutch stood out... or you could say, Hutch stuck his head up at a bad time. We were hurting greatly from the loss of Mile, no exciting cover signing, then we watch our chances of winning the toilet seat slide past the seat itself and into the crapper... and hey presto. Satanic Hutch is born... Being...
Hutch, in an unbalanced team at that time, is out of form for a few noticeable weeks, in a role that has him playing unexciting safety first football right when we the fans are looking more and more desperately for some wins... and hey presto... Hutch 's head is well and truly sticking out of the trench at exactly the wrong time... people naturally begin to take fire... Then, being creatures of habit, regardless of previous or current form, we become firmly married to our aggressive opinions and lose our objectivity... We supporters even get to the point where our new most hated player can do nothing right and even a good day becomes... yeah alright, but your still shit overall.
What I'm really trying to say wombat, is that your only attacking Hutch because deep down inside you truly and deeply love him. :-*
(Serious obviously wants babies ;D)
No, what I'm saying is that in times of suffering, which for a football fan is pretty much any time unless you are kicking ass, you attack that which is most easily attacked. Such as your current example of Zamora FFC... it can happen to any player, but strikers heads are only hidden safely in their bunkers when they are scoring. At any other time they are the number 1 target for discontent. Defenders when they are copping goals will get stick, but even then, we will generally just say our defense is shit. But strikers? There's only usually a couple and they truly stick out, especially when we all love goals even more than clean sheets. Then you have the boring or defensive minded midfielder, when you want goals/need results, this also rubs strongly against the grain... and so here we are...
If your truly interested in being fair or a great supporter, I believe you probably need to try and judge players like a gaffer must. Week to week, match by match. Understanding that they are usually giving you their all. Never taking a poor performance personally or emotionally and tempering your opinion with the knowledge of what their role is to play and how their team mates and the other team contributed to the overall performance of that player - be it a positive or negative performance.
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