This page is no longer updated, and is the old forum. For new topics visit the New HOL forum.
Register | Edit Profile | Subscriptions | Forum Rules | Log In
Plane Bromley 21 Sep 14 11.24am | |
---|---|
Quote laddo at 21 Sep 2014 8.40am
Currently a lot of our play relies on quick wingers penetrating the oppositions defence. However, as much as I enjoy watching Wilf, Yannick and Punch I have noticed that their final ball isn't the best. In fact, a number of highly decorated tricky wingers have a final ball which is a little hit and miss. Which leads me to John Salako. I was a young teenager when I saw Salako play. As a result I never really watched him objectively, I just thought he was the greatest ever as I did too with Wright, Bright, Thorn and the rest if them. In fact I once wrote to the Croydon advertiser saying Darren pitcher should get called up for England! Call it the innocence of youth. But, from what I remember Salako had it all. Pace, trickery but more crucially a glorious final ball which he could deliver with his right or left foot. It would have been interesting to have seen how far he'd have gone had he not done his cruciate. Anyway, any older members of HOL who were a bit more objective care to share their opinions and observations of Salako. Where does he rank alongside Zaha, Routledge and co? Personally I think he tops them all but as I say, I was an impressionable teen in those days who hero-worshipped all those in red and blue. Edited by laddo (21 Sep 2014 8.42am) In his pomp Johnny was great, when he did his cruciate he was in superb form, he never regained that form, I think it affected him mentally more than other footballers. His crossing was good but it wasn't always like that, it took him a while. I remember he was running towards the oppo defence and tbh was farting about a bit, Wrighty was just ahead of him, Wrighty shouted at him "just give me the fvcking ball" which could be heard three quarters of the way up the Holmesdale, Wrighty didn't score unfortunately. Better than Routledge and not as good as Wilf.
|
|
Alert a moderator to this post |
Plane Bromley 21 Sep 14 11.27am | |
---|---|
Quote Willo at 21 Sep 2014 11.19am
Quote Plane at 21 Sep 2014 11.14am
Quote Willo at 21 Sep 2014 10.32am
Quote Southampton_Eagle at 21 Sep 2014 9.11am
his crossing at times was sublime. He is left-footed but at the time he was known as one of the best two-footed crossers in the game. I remember him playing in goal after Nigel Martyn was red-carded in an evening game against Wimbledon ! At that game I was seated right next to Dave Bassett who was the Sheff Utd manager - he was with his coach Geoff Taylor and they were having a look at us as they were due to play us on the Saturday. I'm certain that wasn't an evening game, I remember it well, it was my then girlfriend's, now my wife's first Palace game, she was hooked from that moment on I feel confident that it was - but at my age my memory could be playing tricks! Dave Bassett and Geoff Taylor were running the rule over us before the Sheff Utd game on the Saturday.I think we actually beat Sheff Utd 2-0 ! I seem to recall Salako making a good save at the Holmesdale End ! Yep, in the last few minutes of the game as well to, I think, preserve our lead. I still believe it was a Saturday game but let's not make the thread about us
|
|
Alert a moderator to this post |
rob1969 Banstead Surrey 21 Sep 14 11.36am | |
---|---|
A very good player and a delight to watch playing in a very good team. Wish we had as much talent mow. Wonder how that team transported magically to the premier league in 2014 would rate? - rather well I feel.
|
|
Alert a moderator to this post |
Willo South coast - west of Brighton. 21 Sep 14 11.37am | |
---|---|
Quote Plane at 21 Sep 2014 11.27am
Quote Willo at 21 Sep 2014 11.19am
Quote Plane at 21 Sep 2014 11.14am
Quote Willo at 21 Sep 2014 10.32am
Quote Southampton_Eagle at 21 Sep 2014 9.11am
his crossing at times was sublime. He is left-footed but at the time he was known as one of the best two-footed crossers in the game. I remember him playing in goal after Nigel Martyn was red-carded in an evening game against Wimbledon ! At that game I was seated right next to Dave Bassett who was the Sheff Utd manager - he was with his coach Geoff Taylor and they were having a look at us as they were due to play us on the Saturday. I'm certain that wasn't an evening game, I remember it well, it was my then girlfriend's, now my wife's first Palace game, she was hooked from that moment on I feel confident that it was - but at my age my memory could be playing tricks! Dave Bassett and Geoff Taylor were running the rule over us before the Sheff Utd game on the Saturday.I think we actually beat Sheff Utd 2-0 ! I seem to recall Salako making a good save at the Holmesdale End ! Yep, in the last few minutes of the game as well to, I think, preserve our lead. I still believe it was a Saturday game but let's not make the thread about us Just checked to see if I was spouting hogwash or not ! Game was played on Tue 27th Aug 1991 and the score was CPFC 3 Wimbledon 2.
|
|
Alert a moderator to this post |
Plane Bromley 21 Sep 14 11.43am | |
---|---|
Quote Willo at 21 Sep 2014 11.37am
Quote Plane at 21 Sep 2014 11.27am
Quote Willo at 21 Sep 2014 11.19am
Quote Plane at 21 Sep 2014 11.14am
Quote Willo at 21 Sep 2014 10.32am
Quote Southampton_Eagle at 21 Sep 2014 9.11am
his crossing at times was sublime. He is left-footed but at the time he was known as one of the best two-footed crossers in the game. I remember him playing in goal after Nigel Martyn was red-carded in an evening game against Wimbledon ! At that game I was seated right next to Dave Bassett who was the Sheff Utd manager - he was with his coach Geoff Taylor and they were having a look at us as they were due to play us on the Saturday. I'm certain that wasn't an evening game, I remember it well, it was my then girlfriend's, now my wife's first Palace game, she was hooked from that moment on I feel confident that it was - but at my age my memory could be playing tricks! Dave Bassett and Geoff Taylor were running the rule over us before the Sheff Utd game on the Saturday.I think we actually beat Sheff Utd 2-0 ! I seem to recall Salako making a good save at the Holmesdale End ! Yep, in the last few minutes of the game as well to, I think, preserve our lead. I still believe it was a Saturday game but let's not make the thread about us Just checked to see if I was spouting hogwash or not ! Game was played on Tue 27th Aug 1991 and the score was CPFC 3 Wimbledon 2. OK, I concede, the thing that was putting me off was it was light but as it was in August that would figure.
|
|
Alert a moderator to this post |
adrian b Landrindod, Wales 21 Sep 14 12.04pm | |
---|---|
Salako only seemed to play half games initially, which puzzled me and me mates. Then my best mates wife told me her best mate had a dog walker who's daughter was dating Salako. I met this woman at a party and she was very secretive about the whole thing (understandably) but did let slip Salako had a bit of a 'blood' problem. That would have affected his stamina. Only bumped into him once, on the forecourt of the local garage. Apart from a mutual nod we passed on our way. Don't know why mutual look but must have noticed me eyeballing him.
|
|
Alert a moderator to this post |
Elpis In a pub 21 Sep 14 3.11pm | |
---|---|
Salako ended up being pretty good but as I remember took a while to get there . Shame he got injured when he finally did .
|
|
Alert a moderator to this post |
Kermit8 Hevon 21 Sep 14 3.21pm | |
---|---|
Salako at his best - just before he as injured - was better than any flank player we have had since including Wilf. Only Peter Taylor was as good back in the 70's. Johnny would have fitted into any top class team back then such was his overall game. There were two things which stopped him just being a nearly player after a few seasons of being disappointingly lightweight up to 1989. He muscled up and became very physically confident unlike before and Coppell changed his position from out and out winger to an incredibly effective left wing back. He dominated that side of the pitch. Helped out in defence and attack and absolutely filled the role superbly. I was very near him at the front of the Holmesdale when he ruined his knee jumping too high for a ball at the wrong angle. When he landed my heart sank
Big chest and massive boobs |
|
Alert a moderator to this post |
thommo1 Peckham 21 Sep 14 3.33pm | |
---|---|
Played for my Sunday team of which my Dad was manager :-)Eversley Rangers, Obliviously head and shoulders above everyone else, and John was not to bad either ;-)
DJ John Peel once said: "Supporting Palace has a certain cult value, like pretending that some Peruvian rock band is the best in the world." |
|
Alert a moderator to this post |
martin2412 Living The Dream 21 Sep 14 5.06pm | |
---|---|
He came into the Cheery Trees a couple of times on his own during his time at Palace. I had quite a long chat with him on one occasion and got the impression he was a lonely bloke, and had come into the pub for some company. Brilliant player whose career was never the same after his injury.
|
|
Alert a moderator to this post |
PalacePhotoMan Wallington 21 Sep 14 5.32pm | |
---|---|
Great player. As others have said, took his time to settle, in the shadow of Wright & Bright for a season or two. But then he blossomed - quick, 2 footed, great heart & engine. Looked really good when he was called up for England too. Then he got injured and was never the same.
Zaha, Williams, Murray, Ambrose, Scannell. A 5-man forward line who scored 3 goals in 10 minutes on 27th September 2011 at ....................... |
|
Alert a moderator to this post |
adrian b Landrindod, Wales 21 Sep 14 6.18pm | |
---|---|
As I said, I do believe there was a question over his stamina, a blood thing, that inhibited his immediate development. I think he actually got injured playing for England, ran into a post trying to score, though it has been said the injury was at Palace. Don't want to start an argument, but what is confusing me?
|
|
Alert a moderator to this post |
Registration is now on our new message board
To login with your existing username you will need to convert your account over to the new message board.
All images and text on this site are copyright © 1999-2024 The Holmesdale Online, unless otherwise stated.
Web Design by Guntrisoft Ltd.