Season 2011-12
The Mail Bag
Let's face it fellers, everything below the waist is kaput!
Don't know if any/many of you ever read the book 'Full Time' - the Tony Cascarino Autobiography, but I have been reminded of it (or some of the stuff in it) watching Saha over the last couple of years.
Firstly I should say that the book is/was almost unique in that it was staggeringly honest and revealed all sorts of (mad) stuff that went on in Cascarino's head and possibly/probably goes on in the heads of a lot of strikers.
Certainly the book was a massive departure from the usual "me and the lads were gutted" shite that fills the 'Sports' sections in Waterstones or wherever.
review - http://www.wsc.co.uk/content/view/3489/29/
One of the things I remember was that right at the end of his career, Cascariono actually ended up putting black dye on his sideez to make him look younger.
The reason wasn't vanity, but to convince a (French) club that he still had another year in him.
When he DID get another year, he was happy with the money but admits he was more than happy to stay on the bench and had lost any real desire to actually play.
He admits to being scared of playing, scared of missing chances, scared of (particularly Celtic) supporters, racked with self-doubt, racked with all sorts of mad stuff footballers NEVER usually admit to.
He admitted he though the money was great, he was tired of football.
I look at Saha and think he doesn't look scared of much, but he does come across as someone who has one eye (at least) on the next part of his life and though he makes the right 'I want to play' noises, I get the impression running through brick walls to score goals for Everton isn't actually that high on his agenda.
Human nature perhaps but something a manager should spot and not be duped by, financially or otherwise.
Eugene Ruane, Posted 17/12/2011 at 12:44:25
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Next to Slovinskia (not quite a province of the former People's Republic of Freedonia).
Anyway, personally I think 'King' Louis has Cascarinoitis.
Cascarino is different from most footballers in that most footballers didn't lie about their nationality for years in order to play international football. Only when his book was going on sale did he decide to conveniently tell the truth. I wonder how much he questions himself over that...
But I think you've got a point, it is something that football supporters probably cannot comprehend as we would crawl over broken glass to wear the shirt, but a lot of ex-pros have voiced similar feelings-love the money, pissed off having to earn it. Saha's body language screams that he's had one too many injury, and like an old boxer doesn't want to put his body on the line.
He was a truely great footballer and showed flashes of it agianst Norwich, but the goals tally tell us everything and I've lost count of the number of times Baines has put crosses into the box and he & Cahill are MIA-it's not his or Cahill's fault they've just come up against their hardest opponent, old father time.
I certainly fuckin' wouldn't.
The game is dying and we can all see it right in front of our eyes.
Fellaini, Johnny the Madman, the Greek, the Argie etc have no loyality to Everton Football Club - no footballer 'cares' anymore.
After all if another employer offered you more cash for doing the same job, you'd leave. Why we expect footie players to be any different baffles me.
I think I see them (and the game in general) almost exactly as you do.
For me Saha hasn't looked arsed for a long time and Cascarino's experience offers an insight into why.
I AM curious to know why (apparently) this isn't/wasn't obvious to those who had the chance to offload him and...didn't.
It's one thing not to give a fuck, but at least Cascarino was prepared to PRETEND to give a fuck.
It's true he didn't know when he started playing international football. He did find out about his grandmother (whom he qualified to play for Ireland through) not being his biological grandmother a few years into his international career and chose not to reveal this fact. If that doesn't make him a liar, then certainly a fraud.
The fact that he decided to reveal this to sell a few books, thereby dragging others through the dirt with him, lost him a lot of goodwill and respect over here i.e. in Ireland
(That's for Euro '88)
In history!
As for (other) books by ex Everton players, would like to read 'Sayers Was My Downfall' (Billy Wright). 'Me And My Psychosomatic Limp' (George Telfer) and 'Absolutely Terryble' (Terry Darracott).
Also, Saha had a good game on Saturday.
:D Very good Brian.
248 career goals (yes many of them against shite) but if you add 19 at international level, it's not the worst record I've heard.
A 'donkeyish' looking forward certainly, but he banged a few
Saha may look 'cooler' but he's hardly set the world on fire himself (and the 'point' - "yeah but Saha had a good game on Saturday" - is rather weak).
Coming from Liverpool 8, the North End was somewhere in Lancashire
I still can't understand anyone who comes from anywhere north of Scottie Road
What is 'weak' is the view that he has "one eye on the next part of his life"! Are you a pyschologist?
By the way, Cascarino scored less than 30 goals in the English top flight in his entire career.
if I said I WAS a psychologist would it make any difference?
No it wouldn't, you'd be giving it..
"Well being a psychologist doesn't make you an expert.." blah blah.
Read it again, I said - "248 career goals (yes many of them against shite) but if you add 19 at international level, it's not the worst record I've heard"
You'll notice I DIDN'T say a genius (or as good as Jimmy Greaves)
You add something about only 30 goals in The English 'top flght'?
Well fine....but he scored loads for Marseilles, was known as' Tony Goal' and still is revered in Marseilles.
(think that's going to happen with us and lazy arse?).
For me the crime is Saha has more talent in his ball-bag than Cascarino, but I think his attitude has never been great and currently I think it's just about the cash.
As for him having more than one eye on the next part of his life, well in one way, it would be odd if he didn't.
My point is (unlike Cascarino) he doesn't seem that arsed about concealing it.
But you know what, it's Christmas so let's say YOU were right.
Let's say your argument was simply too good.
That informing me that Louis had a decent game on Saturday (without scoring) made you right and me...well, full of shit!
Happy Christmas!
(btw, my Christmas present from you was knowing you went off and counted up all Cascarino's goals and who he scored them for - POLTROON!)
By the way Einstein, "less than 30" shows exactly the opposite i.e. i didnt count his goals because i couldnt be arsed.
Happy Xmas.
Good to see you again...Mr desperate double-bluff!
Oooh, how clever, you post "I know you'll be coming back for the last word" then add something about 'insecurity' etc and I think "Oh darn, now I can't respond".
Well as Juliette said when Shylock Holmes tried it on in the Merchant of Vienna, 'as fucking if!'
You also suggest that I should have run and hid after comments from Hudson and Hollister?
Sorry but (like with your own attempts at savagery), I tend not to be put off after being mauled by dead sheep.
(you keep setting yourself up and OF COURSE i'll keep coming back 'for more').
You say you 'couldn't be arsed'?
Nob-head, you've been 'not arsed' THREE times on here alone and you were OBVIOUSLY arsed enough to check Cascarino's goal tally (or hey...maybe you didn't and..um..you just happen to have had Cascarino's career goals in your head - yes THAT was it!)
Anyway, now for my own double bluff!
Ahem!
Ok, ANY further response by you on this post is definitely, DEFINITELY your sly, coded way of saying you love me (in an arse way!) and agree with everything I've ever said...EVER (and you love Frankie Cocozza).
(crosses fingers!)
I did suspect it WAS some kind of 'Madeupistan,' but being both sad AND gullible, I Googled it to check!
.
As always from Eugene, a lively read.
She always (are you ready for this?)...
GOT HER MANATEE!!!
Ithangyew!
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1 Posted 17/12/2011 at 17:15:34
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