the secret footballer

Years ago, if I said I played football, people would queue up to talk to me and buy me drinks. Today if I go out to see friends, I have to be on my toes. Everybody seems to be a reporter. If you meet a footballer and he comes across as a rude, arrogant #@&%!, the chances are that he is simply trying not to give anything away. Either that, or you have bumped into Ashley Cole.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2...premier-league

Pretty sure it's Dixie Dean

Joey Barton

enjoy his articles and will deffo buy that book.

Who is the well known wife in the pool incident? Alex Curran?

Love the Keane/Yorke/Cantona story. What a player Keane was.

Also like the Valencia story. Probably my fave Utd player ATM.

I have been drinking very heavily and eating excessively in a pathetic attempt to develop a gut so that they won't pick me any more.

Andy Johnson.

Kevin Davies

quotes from proust - it can only be that venerable continental journeyman, Guardian Subeditorio

http://www.whoisthesecretfootballer.co.uk/

Been reading through them all this week, interesting stuff.

David James

Originally Posted by bobbledinho

David James

nah, definitely an outfield player imo

Thought Sol Campbell but if they are still playing then

Originally Posted by bobbledinho

David James

There was one article about racism where he pretty much confirmed he's white.

So it must be Ashley Cole.

Originally Posted by Baron_van_Marlon

nah, definitely an outfield player imo

Thought Sol Campbell but if they are still playing then

Record signing for a club, back to back player of the year awards, still playing, English?

Wasn't it thought to be Danny Murphy at one point?

Originally Posted by dunk

Record signing for a club, back to back player of the year awards, still playing, English?

Wasn't it thought to be Danny Murphy at one point?

Was but I believe there were some internet detectives that worked out he was playing on the specific day TSF mentioned seeing something when watching a game live on the box.

Andy Johnson fits some of the clues, back to back POTY awards at Palace, England squad, record signing at Everton I think, promoted...

There's a school of thought that it's 3 or 4 players stories cobbled together.

http://www.whoisthesecretfootballer..../what-we-know/

- Loves Redknapp
- Played with a 'Paolo', probably di Canio
- Played or plays in a team with a load of French players
- Was once sent into the stands by Tony Valencia
- Married with at least one daughter
- Played under at least four managers, one of whom appears to have been a legend of the game
- Has completed a transfer on deadline day
- Not a goalkeeper
- Was one club's record transfer
- Hates pundits
- White

Scott Parker?

I wondered about James Beattie at one point.

I saw James Beattie in Bolton a few weeks ago. Bumped into Daniel Nardiello late night shopping in Prestwich Tesco recently too.

I'll say one thing, I wouldn't like to run into Tony V

I have no idea who it could be, they do make it sound like a tough life though.

Originally Posted by Zorg

http://www.whoisthesecretfootballer..../what-we-know/

- Loves Redknapp
- Played with a 'Paolo', probably di Canio
- Played or plays in a team with a load of French players
- Was once sent into the stands by Tony Valencia
- Married with at least one daughter
- Played under at least four managers, one of whom appears to have been a legend of the game
- Has completed a transfer on deadline day
- Almost certainly not a goalkeeper
- Was one club's record transfer
- Hates pundits
- White

Scott Parker?

I wondered about James Beattie at one point.

It's be John Moncur or somebody relatively anonymous.

Originally Posted by Zorg

http://www.whoisthesecretfootballer..../what-we-know/

- Loves Redknapp
- Played with a 'Paolo', probably di Canio
- Played or plays in a team with a load of French players
- Was once sent into the stands by Tony Valencia
- Married with at least one daughter
- Played under at least four managers, one of whom appears to have been a legend of the game
- Has completed a transfer on deadline day
- Almost certainly not a goalkeeper
- Was one club's record transfer
- Hates pundits
- White

Scott Parker?

I wondered about James Beattie at one point.

Michael Carrick don't think he's been a record transfer though...

Kevin Davies.

Looking at it, 'Paolo' was probably a red herring, he's definitely not a goalkeeper (talks about miscontrolling passes and scoring goals) and the 'daughter' may have been hypothetical.

Bloody love trying to identify TSF I do