The England boo-boys’ XI

Ollie Irish

16th, October 2007

5 Comments

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With the Wembley crowd harrassing Frank Lampard against Estonia on Saturday, Pies looks at an England XI who have had to cope with being booed by their own fans. The message seems to be: don’t be an England midfielder if you’re not thick-skinned!


Gary Neville
Red Nev fell victim to the boy-boys when England’s travelling circus visited Anfield while the new Wembley was being built. His Manchester United club allegiances were not forgotten just because he pulled on an England shirt.
Phil Neville
Found himself being booed after conceding a silly penalty against Romania which saw England eliminated from Euro 2000.
Viv Anderson
Booed by racist England fans on his debut as he became the first black player to represent England.
Kieron Dyer
In trouble with the Newcastle United faithful after allegedly refusing to play on the right-side for the club, Dyer felt the force of the boo-boys when fate threw up an England match at St James’s Park against Ukraine a few days later.
David Beckham
Becks was booed with venom following his sending off against Argentina at France 98. He only really got himself back into good books with that free-kick against Greece.
David Bentley
Got the bird when he made a substitute appearance in England’s match against Israel last month. Fans had apparently not forgotten his withdrawal from the Under 21 European Championship squad earlier this year.
Frank Lampard
Booed against Estonia for not meriting his place in the side/stifling Steven Gerrard/embodying everything that is wrong with the modern Premiership football, depending who you believe.
Owen Hargreaves
Surely the best example of the fickleness of England fans. He was booed as recently as England’s 2006 World Cup opener against Paraguay before the boo-boys realised that football was played outside the Premier League and Hargreaves became a star of the national team.
John Barnes
Became a scapegoat for an underperforming England side and had to deal with boos on top of the racist taunts he often received while playing.
Chris Waddle
Singled out by England fans as a player who did not find his club form while representing his country. Cue the boos.
Peter Crouch
Surely not? Everybody’s ( Rafa Bentitez aside) favourite robot-dancing cult hero. Well, until he went on his pre-World Cup goalscoring spree Joe Public deemed Crouchinho so lacking in international class that he deserved the boo treatment.

Posted in Top 10s & lists

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5 Comments

  1. Sheps says:

    Lampard didn’t get booed on Saturday – McClaren did for bringing him on

  2. Jim says:

    I felt sorry for Crouchy, really out of order. Half the reason England underachieve, especially at big tourneys, is because of the fickleness of the fans and press. It must affect the confidence of the players, they’re human after all. Lampard should never be booed, he’s been a legend for england and chelsea over the past 5 years or so. He’s just going through a rough patch at the moment, it happens to the best of them. I predict he’ll be one of our best players next year at euro2008, after a dismal world cup he’ll be itching to show his class once more. Lets follow scotlands principle of getting behind the team and maybe then we’ll get somewhere. rant over.

  3. Shaw says:

    ‘Half the reason England underachieve, especially at big tourneys, is because of the fickleness of the fans and press.’
    Rubbish. If anything it should be pushing them harder. England fans are only living in reality. Your team sucks you don’t get behind them, you get on them. They aren’t children anymore.
    As for Scotland, they care less when their side isn’t doing as well.
    As for Lampard being a legend. You are having a laugh. What has he ever done to deserve such an honor? He’s a selfish bastard who’s done little for anyone except himself. The only place he’s a legend is in his own head and in the minds of the delusional.

  4. Shaw says:

    ‘Half the reason England underachieve, especially at big tourneys, is because of the fickleness of the fans and press.’
    Rubbish. If anything it should be pushing them harder. England fans are only living in reality. Your team sucks you don’t get behind them, you get on them. They aren’t children anymore.
    As for Scotland, they care less when their side isn’t doing as well.
    As for Lampard being a legend. You are having a laugh. What has he ever done to deserve such an honor? He’s a selfish bastard who’s done little for anyone except himself. The only place he’s a legend is in his own head and in the minds of the delusional.

  5. ze says:

    ‘Half the reason England underachieve, especially at big tourneys, is because of the fickleness of the fans and press.’
    england is loosing because they`re mentally shit. and `fickleness of the fans and press` maybe one of the reasons for it.
    “Rubbish. If anything it should be pushing them harder. England fans are only living in reality. Your team sucks you don’t get behind them, you get on them. They aren’t children anymore.”
    100% shittalk. some of then may think they should try harder, most of then will lost they`re confidence (its essential) and they will get kicked out of a tournament as always. Not to mention that you`re kind of supporting is – lets say ` foolish ` – cause if you`re winning u don`t need support, but you do when you`re loosing. who`s childish now ?

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