People that everyone hates but you quite like

[Lady Whistledown]

Was reading an article about Nicolas Anelka today, in which the writer lazily referred to him as The Incredible Sulk yet again, years after the whole Arsenal/Madrid saga.

I can't believe they still go on about his reputation, he's been good as gold for years now surely and appears to have matured. He's a great player, doesn't go giving it large around the sort of shitty nightclubs that a lot of Chelsea players frequent, nor does he go diving around the pitch like, say, Drogba. Yet gets a fraction of the limelight that Drogba does. In short, I rather like him.

Likewise (bit of a confession here) I also quite like Neil Warnock, though obviously wish he wasn't Palace. I can see why he winds people up, but he always seems to wear his heart on his sleeve, he says what he thinks and screw the consequences, and at least when he has a go at officials, he's doing it from the perspective of being a qualified referee himself. It's funny when he loses it, football needs people like that, not dull, fence-sitting automatons like Gareth Southgate and Chris Hughton.

Anyone else, football or otherwise, that you like while the rest of the world hates?

 

[Danny-Boy]

Anyone else, football or otherwise, that you like while the rest of the world hates?

Russell Slade?

 

[algie]

Robbie Savage for me.I find him funny.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

I quite like Pol Pot and never understood the criticism that he faced. For all his faults, he performed well on the international stage and triumphed through adversity.













He did a sensational rendition of Nessun Dorma for the final of Britains Got Talent.

 

[Mendoza]

John and Edward

 

[surrey jim]

Jeremy Clarkson,

 

[Common as Mook]

Gordon Ramsay

Yes he's obnoxious, but he has worked bloody hard to get to where he is today. He dropped down a career rung to go and live and work in France so that when he came back to the UK he was able to properly establish himself as one of the top chefs around. Considering he lived like a gipsy for his early years, his old man was an alcoholic who regularly beat his mum up and his brother was a junkie, he is a very impressive bloke.

 

[Whitterz]

Simon Cowell

 

[The Goon]

Jake Robinson

 

[defrocked priest]

Attila The Hun

 

[Austrian Gull]

Good call about Anelka.

I would add Nick Faldo - sure, he was a pretty poor Ryder Cup captain, not the most reliable of husbands and an at times dour golfer.

He was, however, a magnificent competitor who is easily the best British golfer of my lifetime. He has also tried to put something back into the game by training young players.

Christ, the British press even slagged him off for being (deservedly) knighted.

 

[Common as Mook]

Graeme Smith

A born winner and an excellent captain. If he was English he would be lauded by fans and press alike.

 

[algie]

Would also like to chuck in George Bush.

 

[Common as Mook]

Would also like to chuck in George Bush.

Chuck him into what?

 

[Withdean Wanderer]

Gary Neville.

Best right full back this country has seen for the last 15 years, has won everything, and served England well.

 

[Hannibal smith]

I've always thought Anelka was a twat especially after the Champions League Pen miss and comments. Of Course it wasn't your fault son.

And Anelka blamed under-fire Blues boss Avram Grant for his inability to convert during the penalty shootout against Manchester United on Wednesday night, insisting he was not given the opportunity to warm up before being sent into the fray.

“At no point did I think I was going to come on,” he said. “I was on the bench and suddenly I am asked to play, not even a minute after I was sent out to warm up.

“I don't know if that has ever happened in a Champions League final, that a player has gone on to the pitch without having warmed up.

“I was then asked to take one of the first five [penalty] kicks but I said: 'That is out of the question; I have come on as a right-back.'

“So I had to go in seventh, but Van der Sar pushed away my shot. All the better for him; that is the game.”

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

Robbie Savage

 

[perth seagull]

John Howard, former Prime Minister of Australia.

 

[strings]

Gordon Ramsay

Yes he's obnoxious, but he has worked bloody hard to get to where he is today. He dropped down a career rung to go and live and work in France so that when he came back to the UK he was able to properly establish himself as one of the top chefs around. Considering he lived like a gipsy for his early years, his old man was an alcoholic who regularly beat his mum up and his brother was a junkie, he is a very impressive bloke.

Top shout, his autobiography is well worth a read (althogh probably ghost written). He has another book called 'playing with fire', which is all about his advice for those running businesses. It isn't as good as his autobiography, but nevertheless interesting.

 

[house your seagull]

Alasdair Campbell, Peter Mandelson, Toby Young, Chelsea FC