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No way, Shola’s first three seasons for us were far better than Mitro’s.

 

He scored 7 in 63 man. :lol:

 

I know a fair few would have been from the bench but he had the benefit of having Bellamy, Shearer, Robert, Solano, Dyer, Speed, even an experienced head in Kevin Gallacher when he first broke into the side due to Shearer & Cort being injured.

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Guest Howaythetoon

Cort was another who I thought had huge talent and looked a beast on his debut. Injuries, too much money too young and being called Shola every day in training did it for him!

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I've just googled Carl Cort as I have no idea what he's been up to since retiring (still don't), two observations:

 

1. He fucking looks like Rolando Aarons (is that why Aarons get's injured a lot...?).

 

2. He's also the half-brother of Loftus-Cheek.

 

 

 

 

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I absolutely love this "He's only not liked because he's local" crap  :lol:

 

On the contrary, the only supporters these type of players have is the one's who think being from the area means something special. They also stay well past when they should. Ameobi got far too many contract extensions when he should have been moved on. It was the same with Colback. Got his drum banged by the fans because he "loved the club".

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Guest firetotheworks

Aye, Mitrovic is obviously more talented than Shola ever was, as much as I love the guy.

Jesus Christ, man. [emoji38]

 

Give owa man  :lol: Cannit have a good word said about Mitrovic without popping up yee.

 

Course you can. I just never thought I'd be in a position where I'd think someone saying that a player is obviously more talented than Shola is absolutely ridiculous. But here I am, thinking it's ridiculous. :lol:

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Shola put his body on the line for the club.

 

This. His willingness to play through injury for the sake of the club meant that he was never able to fulfil his true potential.

 

Even then, he was better than most will give him credit for, but that's another story.

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Guest firetotheworks

Shola put his body on the line for the club.

 

This. His willingness to play through injury for the sake of the club meant that he was never able to fulfil his true potential.

 

Even then, he was better than most will give him credit for, but that's another story.

 

Shola's best form for us by an absolute mile was at the end of the 05/06 season under Roeder when he was playing through injury, so I'm not sure about the theory that injuries held him back.

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Shola put his body on the line for the club.

 

This. His willingness to play through injury for the sake of the club meant that he was never able to fulfil his true potential.

 

Even then, he was better than most will give him credit for, but that's another story.

 

:lol: was he fuck. He was largely shite with a purple patch (1 in 2 over about 12 games) every four years or so.

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Aye. For about 15 years one of the most common phrases in the stands was, "Ahhhh Shola, man" or similar.

 

Used to love the occasional moments where I (and everyone around me) would have been slating Shola all match only to have him score and then trot out the old "always rated him like".

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Shola put his body on the line for the club.

 

This. His willingness to play through injury for the sake of the club meant that he was never able to fulfil his true potential.

 

Even then, he was better than most will give him credit for, but that's another story.

 

Shola's best form for us by an absolute mile was at the end of the 05/06 season under Roeder when he was playing through injury, so I'm not sure about the theory that injuries held him back.

 

He was scoring at a goal a game in the Championship in 2009 as well before he got injured - was an absolute boss at that level, way better than anything we saw from Mitro.

 

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Aye. For about 15 years one of the most common phrases in the stands was, "Ahhhh Shola, man" or similar.

:lol: so true. Even then though, for many, with undercurrent of real affection. Like watching a friend/brother/son who you’re desperate to do well, but who just keeps falling short.

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I was always very impressed at how he reinvented himself after his hip problem. Absolute brick shithouse by the end of his time here. When you consider the rake he was during his first few seasons it's mental to think it's the same player :lol:

 

I spent years thinking he was absolutely shite, then towards the end of his time here I had done a complete 180. Not the most prolific striker in the world, but those last few years he played that target man role so well and you could tell he absolutely adored playing for the club.

 

His penalties too. Every single one in the side netting. Can't teach that sort of technique.

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Guest firetotheworks

Aye. For about 15 years one of the most common phrases in the stands was, "Ahhhh Shola, man" or similar.

 

My favourite that I remember was a commentator going "AMEOBI!.........Goal kick."

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Guest Howaythetoon

He’s going to have health issues when he’s older thanks to Souness and co and all those injections. He had to take injections just to train and then when he couldn’t train injections just to play. Compare how we treated Owen and Shearer with no expenses spared Dr Steadman to Shola’s chronic hip problem. A few ex players have lamented the club’s medical practices like which have always been dodgy IMO. Rafa seems to have a grip on this side, we have injuries, but nothing bad or long-term. He’s big on that side of things and knows what is needed. I think the likes of Souness regarded a player as a puff if he felt unwell and it’s easy to see why he’d tell Shola just to get an injection and play through the pain as that’s what proper men do and did back in his day. That man has a lot to answer for at this club...

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Guest Howaythetoon

And I certainly don't believe the significance of this 'he's played with pain for so many years' excuse! The older he got, the bulkier he became! Even now he still has a class physique. 

 

He bulked up to become a bit of a battering ram, if he couldn’t be mobile he could be physical. Even Pardew once put him in for that purpose alone, to rough defenders up and be our battering ram.

 

You can’t blame Shola for taking injections to play, he just wanted to play and we all know footballers are subordinate in the main so whatever their manager tells them, they’ll do.

 

I have never quite understood the stick he used to get. My own frustration come with the idiots who would continually play him or give him new deals and not the player himself who gave his all as limited as that often was.

 

Unlike many better players than him to have played for us, he gave us some great moments.

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Guest Howaythetoon

I can’t remember who it was against, but I remember a time when Shola brought down a long ball on his chest, dropped it to his feet, turned his man and then proceeded to basically fall over with the ball going back to the opposition. Claps to jeers in seconds,sums him up :lol:

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