Zero the Hero

[Sutekh]

Given the way Mr Blackman's season is unfolding and the fact he is now getting all the plaudits he deserves, and even a chant, it started me thinking have there been any other players on our books who have gone from zero/bit of a scapegoat after a full season or so to being a bit of idol.

I could't think of anyone, they've either been just a bit or have been poor and stayed put or have been pretty useful and stayed that way too and but I bet there are more than you'd think.... any ideas?

[tidus_mi2]

Jimmy Kebe.

[WoodleyRoyal]

kebe? he was shit for two seasons before he came good*
Shane Long ^ see above

[WAZZOCK]

Bobby Convey - High fee, absent first season, exceptional second season.

Shane Long - Went a bit shit and fat before McDermott came in and got him playing.

Shaun Cummings - Everyone's scapegoat for a while. Turned it round under Brian

[WoodleyRoyal]

Murty

[Geekins]

Emerse Fae... Or so he thought.

[WoodleyRoyal]

now if the op had posted from hero to zero we would be at 10 pages by now...

[floyd__streete]

Jimmy Kebe was sh*t for two seasons, good for about 5 matches, then reverted to being sh*t and disinterested. Consequently he is now unemployed.

I remember the days when Scott Taylor's name used to be booed when read out over the PA pre-match (yeah, not by me before some hilarious wag suggests it).

[LUX]

Ollie Kearns used to get laughed at à la Mass Sarr, even when he was scoring 25-30 goals a season (Div IV, natch). Tbf to the crowd, he'd miss three sitters, then score two gr8 goals.

He was a donkey, but he was our donkey and I loved him

[Maguire]

Not having that Kebe was only good for five matches. He completely won the crowd over.

Murty is probably the best example of someone who came very good after a poor start although I don't remember him being actively hated.

All just goes to show that football fans change like the wind and are the ultimate representation of short-termism. Which is fair enough I suppose, you're paying for 90mins of entertainment.

[Royalwaster]

Bobby Convey - High fee, absent first season, exceptional second season.

Shane Long - Went a bit shit and fat before McDermott came in and got him playing.

Shaun Cummings - Everyone's escapegoat for a while. Turned it round under Brian

Corrected for you.

[Whore Jackie]

Glen Little was atrocious during his loan spell from Burnley. It was a bit of toss-up as to who was worse out of him and Luke Chadwick. Think we probably made the right choice eventually.

Not sure many people would grant him hero status, but Mikele Leigertwood's first game was absolutely woeful. Struggling to think of a poorer debut since the halcyon days of Burns et al.

[tidus_mi2]

Glen Little was atrocious during his loan spell from Burnley. It was a bit of toss-up as to who was worse out of him and Luke Chadwick. Think we probably made the right choice eventually.

Not sure many people would grant him hero status, but Mikele Leigertwood's first game was absolutely woeful. Struggling to think of a poorer debut since the halcyon days of Burns et al.

Greg Halford didn't have a great first game.

[JC]

Glen Little was atrocious during his loan spell from Burnley. It was a bit of toss-up as to who was worse out of him and Luke Chadwick. Think we probably made the right choice eventually.

Not sure many people would grant him hero status, but Mikele Leigertwood's first game was absolutely woeful. Struggling to think of a poorer debut since the halcyon days of Burns et al.

Greg Halford didn't have a great first game.

Nor any other game

[donface]

Darren Caskey.

[genome]

Daniel Carrico

[Nameless]

Murty is the best example IMHO, although he was never really disliked it was more a question of no one actually knowing who he was for a couple of seasons.
Must be tough to have your own fans sing 'who are you' when you come on the pitch....

Anton Ferdinand must be another worthy of mention.

[Forbury Lion]

Glen Little wasn't amazing on loan, but was outstanding when we signed him permanently

Norwood and Ferdinand, neither were that great until this season.

Hal Robson-Kanu, to a lesser extent - he's actually playing much better this season.

None have really been in the same zero to hero as Blackman. Just goes to show what having the right manager and a run in the side can do for you.

[CountryRoyal]

Not sure many people would grant him hero status, but Mikele Leigertwood's first game was absolutely woeful. Struggling to think of a poorer debut since the halcyon days of Burns et al.

Completely disagree with that. I can't remember his debut when he came in on loan, but he was solid and key to us getting to the play off final in 10/11, and then subsequently promotion in 11/12. He was one of the weaker players in a pretty shit team in the prem but he was immense for one and a half seasons we had him. That'd definitely be in a hero to zero category for me.

[Pepe the Horseman]

He was pretty anonymous on his debut, but we then went on a nice unbeaten run iirc.