Scapegoats through the years.

I never realised that he did get some racial abuse until after he'd left, even then I didn't understand why, he was born in Newcastle, then this guy said look at his name, he's Asian, my reply was WTF thats a bit tenuous, even now I don't get it, am I thick.

 

He is actually Asian mate, I just couldn't believe how a section of our fans use to have a go at him

 

Chopra is an Asian name

But why that should be an issue for anyone, goodness only knows.

 

I have just found out that he is half Indian half English. Just shows how blinkered I am, I never even thought about his race despite his name. He represented England as a young un, but I suppose that because he had the temerity to even consider playing for India because he was getting overlooked by England is enough for some people to abuse him. Sad.

 

Re: Chopra is an Asian name

I agree with Catalonian that Mike Sheron got some stick in his last two years ( of the four he played). Perhaps it was because we had shelled out £1.5 million for him before the administration era, perhaps it was because he wasnt a get stuck-in type, perhaps it was because his confidence was low and body language poor,perhaps it was because we expected more for the money. No,it was because he was crap for us and didnt put in a shift at a time the whole team was struggling. We were looking for a scapegoat and Sheron was a sitting duck.Boooooooooo ! I can hear it now as he trudged off,head down.

 

I've stated on ere quite a number of times that I actually rated sheron but I know I'm in a small minority.

 

To be honest t'owd man I never heard anything racially shouted at him, it was just there usual rubbish cos he wasn't banging the goals in at the time,

 

big eric tinkler

 

I agree bossman he started well but when the going got tough after administration he was one of many who didnt really graft when we needed it and he was going to be an obvious scapegoat,which is what the original question was asking. No worse than many others then.

 

Lets be right about this ..... The stick given to Chopra was PURELY about his work rate and nothing else. Yes he got booed even after scoring but I believe this is what turned him around and helped him to realise the fans only wanted 100% commitment when wearing the shirt .... When he realised this not only did the fans get behind him his efforts materialised into goals and he rightly got the recognition!
I'm fed up of everything having to have a racist angle at the moment ..... The only discrimination at the time may have been with his connection to dirty Leeds but lets be fair any of that is warranted! (Leeds Utd ....BCMA!)

 

What connection with Leeds United?

I'm not aware of any connection between Michael Chopra & Leeds.
I do remember him getting stick. But I was under the impression it was because he was getting selected by the unpopular Paul Hart, rather than the fans' favourite at the time Daniel Nardiello. Up to the home game with Doncaster, Chopra had only scored the odd goal, so a number of fans reasoned Hart was unfairly favouring him.

 

Danny Wilson and Neil redfearn both took dogs abuse early in their Barnsley days

More recently, maciavelly and colace.

 

Colace? I always thought he got off lightly.

 

Ray Mchale got loads of stick from what I remember

 

I agree about Nicky Eaden but why are the rest of these players scapegoats? A scapegoat is the one that the mob blames and vents their anger on for the general failings of, in this case a football team. And it generally exonerates (?) who is really to blame. As folk have said Chopra was singled out on race issues which, sadly would have been overlooked had he been scoring; Colace was disliked for being a unfaithful, self-serving lazy git and Macevilly was just generally crap. I wouldn't describe them as scapegoats.

Eaden yes, Danny Wilson when he first arrived deedar definitiely. And I think Darren Barnard was really unfurrly treated towards the end of his tenure with us and the start of the dark days. Maybe rooted in the penalty miss at Wembley where our fortunes turned on the kick of a football. Equally moronic as the Eaden bashing. I'm glad history remembers these two great players fondly and with the respect they deserve.

 

Virtually every player that came through the ranks at Oakwell

Ian Banks, Jacob Butterfield, Paul Cross etc etc.

Exceptions, Mick McCarthy, Andy Rhodes and Dave Watson.

 

Re: Virtually every player that came through the ranks at Oakwell

Macca certainly did, as posted earlier.

 

Wow. That appraisal of Hugo Colace is absolutely spot on Mr C.

 

Evening chaps, thanks for keeping me sane whilst i'm stuck in florida. Odejayi always put work in and scored some important goals (thinking of the watford away game) towards the end of the 2008 season, and the one v chelski.
Isaiah Rankin was lazy and bad but scored the goal that kept us in League One in 2003, I think. I doubt he's remembered much for that.