Yesterday Stan Collymore commented on a Spoiler story and requested a response. Here it is:
Dear Stan,
First, thanks for writing.
Second, The Spoiler very much enjoys your work on talkSPORT, although if you could occasionally let callers finish their remarks before reaching for the megaphone, you would be an even better broadcaster.
Third, the hat-trick you scored for Leicester against Sunderland was one of the finest three-goal efforts ever assembled, and one I’m not sure Sunderland have ever recovered from. Leicester certainly haven’t.
But that’s enough flattery. Let’s move on to your observations.
Just a small point, but you’re wrong about this being an anonymous blog. Every post has the name of the poster beneath it, right underneath all those mysterious hieroglyphics and after the date the story was posted. Furthermore, if you go to the very bottom of the site and click on “About Us” you can also see the names and contact details for the names of the people who run the site.
As for “The notion that you cannot be man of the match because one misses several chances is probably the most ludicrous thing I have ever heard,” well, where to begin? In your Mirror column you didn’t call Bendtner man of the match but “Hero of the weekend,” a weekend on which Steven Gerrard orchestrated an historic evisceration of Man United. Even within the Arsenal game, you would struggle to find anyone to agree that Bendtner played better than Arshavin. The Spoiler probably also suspects that if you took a moment to reflect, you’d have to admit that you have heard more ludicrous things before.
The Spoiler agrees that you can be guilty of mistakes and still be man of the match - our pick for MotM in the Champions League final, for example, was Michael Essien, who, you’ll remember, was having hallucinations at full back until he thought “I’m not having this,” and single-handedly took the game by the scruff of the neck and turned things round for Chelsea. Most other players would have just tried to do the best they could in the circumstances. To raise your game like that takes real vision.
Bendtner, in contrast, just tried his best in the circumstances. You say in The Mirror, “The striker was excellent for Arsenal, he just needs to sharpen up his shooting accuracy.” Surely you can see the weakness in your own argument. If we’d written “The goalkeeper was excellent, he just needs to make some saves,” you’d rightly berate us for writing nonsense.
And as for your one man campaign against the Arsenal fans’ “disgraceful” treatment of Bendtner, it feels like you’ve painted yourself into a corner here. No one doubts that you’re reporting what you heard and saw, but with so many Arsenal fans on your own phone in (and in general) disagreeing with you, I think you have to bow to the wisdom of the crowd, accept that what you saw and heard was not representative of what the majority felt, and just let it go.
One last small question - are we to infer from your comments that your energetic opposition to supporters booing their own players (a debate which is starting to get a little monotonous on your show, if we’re being honest) now extends to ironic cheering? Because that would be the most ludicrous thing we’ve ever heard.
All the best,
The Spoiler
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36 responses so far
1 Stan Collymore // Mar 17, 2009 at 1:29 pm
I have had an idea.Tonight i am presenting some monotonous football chat from 7 till 10pm with fellow former Aston Villa & Liverpool employee Ray Houghton.Maybe youd like to come on the show and share some fresh ideas with Ray,myself and the nation.Its a genuine invite,and a chance for the Spoiler to get a free plug,and share your exrtensive football knowledge with us mere mortals.
Stan Collymore
2 Mr. Chopper // Mar 17, 2009 at 1:43 pm
Brilliant! Just make sure to wear a nice shirt, as any Jamie Redknapp will tell you. Radio folk can SMELL class.
3 The Spoiler // Mar 17, 2009 at 2:43 pm
Invitation accepted. Stan, check your email.
4 Nicko // Mar 17, 2009 at 2:51 pm
I will be lsitening intently… however, is there a podcast available for this show Mr. Collymore?
5 terry bull // Mar 17, 2009 at 2:52 pm
Stanley,
Did I hear your beloved Villa fans ironically cheering Agbonlahor when he was taken off on Sunday ???
Surely not…
6 Big Vern // Mar 17, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Hi Stan,
Should we presume you will simply shout a lot and not listen to any comments in return as you normally do?
Cheers,
Vern
7 The Spoiler // Mar 17, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Still waiting, Stan…
8 soulrebel // Mar 17, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Ha! Is this for real?
9 Rob Parker // Mar 17, 2009 at 4:06 pm
Fantastic news for The Spoiler. Suggested question for Stan to pose: “Which other football blogs would you recommend?”
All the best, fellas. Hope this goes ahead for you.
10 jim // Mar 17, 2009 at 4:13 pm
wait - we have no reason to believe this is the actual Stan Collymore do we?!
11 Steph // Mar 17, 2009 at 4:25 pm
I will be listening, I read this blog everyday and I love it
12 The Spoiler // Mar 17, 2009 at 4:49 pm
Stan has surfaced - he was in his car. We’re on at 9.
13 dan // Mar 17, 2009 at 4:52 pm
please let us know if there is a podcast for your readers in the states
thanks
14 Steph // Mar 17, 2009 at 4:57 pm
I’ll be listening ;)
15 Jojoko // Mar 17, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Gerrard might have made Hero of the Weekend if only he’d stop diving. I swear L’Pool have the best diving school in the Pl and Gerrard and Owen are their two finest graduates. Not complaining, mind, they’ve both done England proud but it can get tiresome.
16 David Allison // Mar 17, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Brilliant. I’ll be tuning in tonight. As terry bull posted above, I would be interested to hear if Stan does have an opinion on / reaction to Agbonlahor’s somewhat unjust treatment by Villa’s fans, or section thereof.
17 Michael Lintorn // Mar 17, 2009 at 5:03 pm
dan, this is the link to listen to talkSPORT online. I’m not sure if you can access it from America but here it is if you want to try:
http://new.talksport.net/mediaplayer/media_player.asp?sListenLive=yes&c=&t=
18 stan collymore // Mar 17, 2009 at 5:22 pm
David Allison/Terry Bull.
Im afraid your excitement as to whether the treatment of Gabriel Abonglahor was treated with the same disdain as Arsenal/Bendtner is going to evaporate.
The Gabriel Abonglahor treatment was indeed talked about over the first 2 hours of yesterdays show,so im afraid your orgasmic delight in my squirming under my own hypocricy will just not happen.
Your in sport.
Stan Collymore
19 Mr. Chopper // Mar 17, 2009 at 5:28 pm
No, no. YOU’RE in sport, Stan.
20 Nicko // Mar 17, 2009 at 6:41 pm
Aren’t you lovely Stan! Is this available by podcast, im going out tonight instead
21 David Allison // Mar 17, 2009 at 8:39 pm
Stan,
There was no mention of being excited about the Agbonlahor topic; I was merely interested in any opinion that you may have had. Nor was there any suggestion that I would take great pleasure in hearing any possible hipocracies in your critique.
I express an interest in listening to your show tonight and, in no uncertain terms, I receive an onslaught of sarcasm. Nice to see I’ll be greeted with a warm welcome…
22 Ross Thompson // Mar 17, 2009 at 9:27 pm
Oh my God this is brilliant! I can’t believe this is happening! I’m a big Arsenal fan and I completely agree with the Spoiler on this argument. NB is an extremely average striker and not good enough to play for a great club like Arsenal.
No doubt Stan will be as cocky and as rude as always.
23 Brad Campagnac // Mar 17, 2009 at 9:32 pm
My God Stan are you going on and on, thank God your bullying tatics were not seen for long in a Palace shirt. You are just being a bully to the guest. You have just turned me off Talksport, get off and bring Danny Kelly on or give it to Ray Houghton!
24 David Allison // Mar 17, 2009 at 9:41 pm
Agreed, Brad. Ed is barely given an opportunity to answer the questions being posed. Similarly, poor Ray Houghton is suffering the same torment, even after Ed has left the studio. I’m not so sure that I’ll be tuning in to Stan’s show after tonight; his approach is very difficult to endure…
25 Jojoko // Mar 17, 2009 at 9:41 pm
Just listened to the broadcast. Collymore can be a pain in the fundament but he made some very valid points whether you like the manner in which he made them or not. At any rate it was good broadcasting and good blogging. Nothing like a little gentle controversy to get interest levels hyped.
26 danderhall // Mar 17, 2009 at 9:42 pm
I like Stan as a broadcaster - he has opinions and isn’t scared to express them and usually in an intelligent way.
I do disagree though that if you’ve never played the game professionally that your opinion cannot be taken seriously. There are a lot of ex-pros that clearly cannot pick a player - look at Ian Dowie.
27 Jojoko // Mar 17, 2009 at 9:46 pm
danderhall - I agree that you don’t have to have played the game to have a serious opinion, but Collymore said people like Henry Winter & Martin Samuel, who have never played the game, had valid opinions. And I can’t agree that someone who has played football professionally can never be a fan and know how a fan feels. A player or ex-player may have a deeper understanding of the game but he may also be one of the biggest fans ever.
28 Brad Campagnac // Mar 17, 2009 at 10:01 pm
Collymore is a bully I can now see why Sir Steve Coppell ( Well done Steve 1000 game tonight) got rid off. God think of the great Palace Team thank goodness Collymore was never part of our success all limited.
29 Bill Kinderman // Mar 17, 2009 at 10:03 pm
I’ve just listend to the Talk Sport show , and although I generally like Stan as a broadcaster, he lost it bit with the Spoiler chap and should have composed himself a bit more on live radio.
He’s much better with Danny Kelly who would have lightened the mood a little. Houghton is contemptuous of anyone who “hasn’t played the game” and can’t be taken seripously. Talk Sport pitch thier debates at “blokes in the pub” level so shouldn’t get upset when the odd bit of banter is bounced back their way.
30 Brad Campagnac // Mar 17, 2009 at 10:08 pm
By the way Stan no mention of you in the legends game at Selhurst:
Mark Bright Legends v Celebs
The latest celebrities and ex pro’s to take on a squad of Crystal Palace legends at Selhurst Park on Sunday March 29th have been announced.
The UK Cup Stars team for the Game of History event will include Neville Southall, Ralf Little, Ant Genn, Kasabian’s Serge Pizzorno, Danny Dyer, Tamer Hassan, Irwin Sparks and Al Sharland (Hoosiers), Omid Djalili, DJ Spoony, Ben Adams, Ant Costa, Austin Drage, Ray Panthaki, Nick Summerbee, Dean Holdsworth, Chris Armstrong and Mark Prince.
The Crystal Palace legends team is being assembled by Mark Bright and includes Ian Wright, Dougie Freedman, Nigel Martyn, Alan Pardew, Peter Taylor, Geoff Thomas, Chris Powell, Richard Shaw, Neil Shipperley, Wayne Routledge, Danny Granville, Alex Dyer, Bruce Dyer, Marc Edworthy and of course Mark Bright himself.
The game kicks off at 1pm on Sunday March 29th at Selhurst Park and tickets are available from the Crystal Palace Box Office on 08712 00 00 71.
31 steve Lewis // Mar 17, 2009 at 10:20 pm
What a bully you are Mr Doggingmore. Mind you i wouldnt expect any less from talk sport with the likes of Adolf Galloway ,Adrian ” i am always right “Durham and Mike “piggy” Parry there with you, the art of debate is to listen to people, not shout all over them and verbally intimidate them, i always used to be impressed with your tv and radio work as it seemed that for an ex footballer you had more than one brain cell…was i wrong ???.
32 Chris // Mar 17, 2009 at 10:42 pm
Stan, you dont even let people get their points across without shouting them down. You said that the article about Bendtner hasn’t affected you, but it clearly has.
As for your point about Wenger defending him, of course he would its one of his own players. He ain’t going to say he’s shit is he? Tell me one other person from outside Arsenal who has backed him. Even Adebayor thinks he’s shit!
I didn’t necessarily agree with Ed’s point about footballers being fans - Dave Kitson and Spurs for example - but how about you let the man get his viewpoint across without being interupted.
How about you reply to my points in writing here where you can’t try to intimidate me into submission?
33 Jeff The Hammer // Mar 17, 2009 at 11:01 pm
Dear oh dear,
You gave your boy ed the big build up,and he mumbled and choked on his big night.
spoiler? Should be called shitter.You been pwned big time by stanley
Leave the football to the big dogs(wuff wuff) and stick to chatting pony about Stephen Irelands wheels.
34 Jeff The Hammer // Mar 17, 2009 at 11:54 pm
and if mr ed is the editor of this crud,him saying that footballers cant be fans is about as laughable as it gets.
35 Ryan Failey // Mar 18, 2009 at 6:56 am
I’m sure you’re tired of my musings by now but the “hero of the weekend” column for Bendtface? My goodness. Just click on my nickname to see. Ahaha
Gerrard or Torres were the heroes. Brummy Nick was the zero.
What a great weekend it was though. See you in the imminent post about Fabreg-arse spitting on Hull while they’re down
36 Laura // Mar 18, 2009 at 8:59 am
I don’t think Mr Collymore is terribly au fait with the concept of a debate.
Perhaps if there was a robust discussion about dogging, that may have allowed for more group participation?