Live

Repeat: Off The Ball

02:00 AM-05:00 AM

Repeat: Off The Ball
Advertisement
Soccer

VIDEO: The Adebayor-Law scale of trolling and tempering former clubs

It's something we see a lot of in football nowadays. Player A comes up against his former club an...



VIDEO: The Adebayor-Law scale...
Soccer

VIDEO: The Adebayor-Law scale of trolling and tempering former clubs

It's something we see a lot of in football nowadays. Player A comes up against his former club and destiny decides that he is to score a goal.

Player A then looks sheepish and sticks both hands up as a form of apologising to the fans he represented for so long.

On one hand, it is understandable if a player had a special affinity with his former club (well, for some anyway). 

But some examples can be ridiculous. And then there are those players who go over the top like Emmanuel Adebayor, who famously trolled Arsenal fans.

On Team 33 this week, Joe Coffey shared a few examples of non-celebrating and over-celebrating goals, highlighting the reasons for each case (41 minutes 30 seconds in):

 

Denis Law's 'What the hell have I done?'

The ex-Manchester United great scores a backheel against his former club in 1974 for Manchester City which he believes has relegated the Reds. Law perfected the 'fist clenched, head bowed, trudge away' celebration:

 

Cristiano Ronaldo's 'Hands up, guilty as charged' 

In 2013, fate decreed that Cristiano Ronaldo would return to Manchester United with Real Madrid in the Champions League. Fate often decrees that this particular winger scores and unfortunately for him, he had no choice but to slide in at the back post and knock the ball into the net. Here he is with the very popular 'hands up, guilty as charged' pose: 

 

Frank Lampard's 'Walk away from the scene of the crime, while not looking suspicious'

After over a decade at Chelsea, it is understandable that Lampard did not want to celebrate while scoring in a lighter shade of blue this season: 

  

Wes Hoolahan's 'Respect the future bride'

As Joe mentions in the podcast, the Ireland midfielder's decision not to celebrate a goal for Norwich against Aston Villa last year was a bit strange (43 minutes 10 seconds mark).

 

 

Robbie Keane's 'I love you all equally'

Then there is the case of Robbie Keane who is reluctant to celebrate against any of his former clubs. In an unrelated sidenote, the Ireland captain has ten former clubs.

It's a pity he didn't want to celebrate this goal against Wolves for Aston Villa as it deserved one of his famous cartwheels:

But of course, a place is reserved in football hell or heaven - depending on your perspective - for those who troll their former clubs.

 

Carlos Tevez's 'Throw any insults you want, 'cos I can't understand a word'

The former United man crossed the Manchester divide and used his hands and ears to irritate those who were not of a City persuasion. His command of English used to be ropey enough so the celebration was a bit redundant as insults rained in from the terraces:

 

Frank Lampard's 'Screw You West Ham!' 

As we discuss in the podcast, unlike Michael Carrick, Frank Lampard will celebrate his goals against boyhood club West Ham.

 

Emmanuel Adebayor's 'I'll just park myself here, if that's okay?'

And finally, let us end on a moment that has become a Premier League classic ... Adebayor's first goal against Arsenal: 

Download the brand new OffTheBall App in the Play Store & App Store right now! We've got you covered!

Subscribe to OffTheBall's YouTube channel for more videos, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for the latest sporting news and content.


Read more about

Soccer