Having implemented the new poll whereby you’ve been able to submit your own suggestions when voting for ‘Other’, we now have a list of other possible candidates. 34% of votes were cast for ‘Other’ and below is a list of all of the suggestions you’ve made in order of the number of votes they’ve each had.
Those who don’t stack up with the checklist have the corresponding checklist number(s) to prove they’re not The Secret Footballer displayed in red.
The full result of the poll was:
Other 34%
Konchesky 29%
Euell 22%
Turner 15%
A new poll will be available later today with all of the current leading and possible candidates listed.
David James (14 votes) – 5,17,24
Joey Barton (9) – Back in the running after Di Canio clue taken out.
Danny Murphy (6) – 12,22
Kevin Davies (5) – Back in the running after Di Canio clue taken out.
Scott Parker (4) – 18,21
Carlo Nash (4) – 16, 17
Phil Neville (3) – Back in the running after Di Canio clue taken out.
Nigel Reo-Coker (3) – 24
Michael Owen (3) – 4,16,22
Joe Cole (3) – 12,22
Frank Lampard (3) – 2
Steve Sidwell (2) – Back in the running after Di Canio clue taken out.
Michael Carrick (2) – 21
Teddy Sheringham (2) – 5,16
Kevin Nolan (2) – Back in the running after Di Canio clue taken out.
Graham Le Saux (2) – 5,16
Sol Campbell (2) – 24
Darius Vassell – 24
Wayne Rooney – 8,9,18,21
Jody Craddock – Back in the running after Di Canio clue taken out.
Leighton Baines – Back in the running after Di Canio clue taken out.
David Beckham – 5,16
Robbie Savage – 1,5,12
Jimmy Bullard – 5
Gareth Barry – 16
George Elokobi – 24
Paul Scholes – 3,4,16
Glen Johnson – 22,24
Stuart Taylor – 15,16,17
Rio Ferdinand – 16,24
41 responses to “Poll results + your suggestions”
Re Balotelli article – Who was TSF referring to a couple of weeks back when talking about the Cantona/Di Canio type he’d played with? The guy he grew to love but who first struck him as unbearably arrogant? Who wouldn’t train, but won games single handedly? and was prone to nicking team mates cars? Who was this maverick? This could be a valuable clue.
Asprilla comes to mind.
Any other ideas out there?
Robert Prosinecki for Portsmouth?
Another tick in the box for the perma-crocked, perma-tanned and perma-poor ex Boro man Gary O’Neill.
Do you not think that the Guardian sports ed might not tweak a bit of background info to throw everyone off the scent of TSF? Something small like details od their wife/kid, After all, it is in their interests to both keep TSF’s identity a secret and everyone guessing + talking about it.
to talk about footballers mental illness and Enke’s suicide the day before Gary Speed’s is odd as its so un talked about normally
I know you’ve ruled him out, but my wife’s best friend is a Guardian journo, and she insists that TSF is Michael Turner.
Is it just me, or does anyone else think that authorship of TSF is shared by a group of players? That would explain the wide range of conflicting evidence. Nothing more mysterious than good old squad rotation.
I think it absolutely must be Joe Cole. He ticks all the boxes. Played for a newly promoted team (West Ham), played under Harry Redknapp, is white, has a contract under a PL club, although he is not playing for it now, has been transferred in the deadline day, has had a big transfer (to Chelsea or to Liverpool) followed by a small transfer this season, has a daughter, has grown up in Islington, a very multicultural neighbourhood, has played for Hodgson (who must have lost the dressing room)… If you look at it, there’s no-one else who is an ideal fit.
^ Joe Cole also got relegated with West Ham only to leave them next season
My guess is Frank Lampard. He mentions he has won the premier league player of the year title back to back. The only English player to do that is him
I would have thought Jimmy Bullard would warrant a bit more interest. E.g
– English
– Has a daughter
– Manager who was great and lost it – famously Phil Brown
– French players at Fulham (Malbranque, Quendrue, and others)
– Was still registered as prem player in Jan 2011 (Just)
– Ex West Ham youth
– In 2008/2009 Hull stayed up by 1 point, as Newcastle were relegated
– as for c/f who don’t run, don;t m/f players think that about almost all c/fs?
bobby zamora? won two successive player of the year titles with brighton and hove in 2001 and 2002
TSF said something in his book about smelling a ball before the game, I’ve seen a few players doing this in the tunnel, I wonder if that may be a clue
Has anyone considered Lee Bowyer yet?
I think its bobby zamora. He says about winning player of the year back to back… zamora did so with brighton.
Think it was clear that TSF isn’t racist.
It’s Craig Bellamy!
It’s definately Robbie Fowler. Ticks every single box. There are a few assumptions on the clues list I dont agree with, but couldnt find a spot to explain why. His club history, personal history, outlook compared with TSF’s writings perfectly syncronise. Hits everything including french players (houlliers youth academy and subsequently, LFC) his relegated side (Leeds) which was his last day there… his prem clubs (Man City, LFC) his lower league clubs (Cardiff City & Blackpool) and his problems with the England Squad (the whole spice boys taint). He’s left footed, got the 2 years consecutive as player of the year, accusations of drug dependency after an operation (whilst at LFC), Cardiff City playing LFC at Anfield during the FA cup run a few years ago (mentioned being there as an opponent of LFC and melancholy recently) …there’s more. It’s Robbie Fowler, watch this space.
Ian Wright possibly?
I know he misses a few of the criteria but any consideration given to it being Jamie O’Hara? Fits a lot of the clues but not all
TSF talks about playing at the Emerites. It’s not Robbie Fowler
Or even the Emirates stadium
Kevin Davies!!! Without a doubt!
How about Lee Bowyer?
https://www.whoisthesecretfootballer.co.uk/lee-bowyer/
Peter Crouch played eight times for IFK Hasselholm in Sweden in the year 2000. Zlatan Ibrahomovic played for Malmo between 1999-2001. So that would explain the recommendation.
He meets the other criteria – I’m sure its him.
Mark Rammond
1. Is he English? Yes
2. Is he currently married? Yes to Clancy
3. Has he played under at least 4 managers? Yes
4. Has he had a transfer between 2 Premiership clubs? Yes
5. Was he a Premier League player in January 2011? Yes
6. Has he played with a group of French players at one club? Yes
7. Has he played with a striker who refused to move unless the pass went exactly where he wanted it? Yes
26. Has been diagnosed with depression Don’t know
27. Played in the lower leagues at start of career Yes
28. Played against Liverpool for a lower league club
29. Was one of the best players in a very successful team
30. Played for a club that got themselves in financial trouble
31. Plays the Paul Scholes role
32. Played under a captain who will go down as one of most successful in the club’s history, without having earned it
33. Played under a stand-in captain wearing a large tubi-grip with a marker pen-written ‘C’ as captain’s armband
34. Has played as captain – Yes
35. Has played for a club who promoted their assistant manager to manager (and went on to get bad results) Yes – Southampton
36. Not a Liverpool fan
37. Played in a team that won promotion to the Premiership
38. Following on from clue 21: That team got relegated due to a goal going in at the other end of the country in the dying minutes of the final game of the season Yes – Southampton
39. Clue 38 was his last game for that club
40. His wage at the time of clues 38 and 39 was the best part of £100,000 per month
41. He went on to play in the Premiership again after the relegation in clue 388. Did he play for one manager for a considerable amount of time who was great before losing it?
9. Has he played for a manager who lost the dressing room?
10. Does he have a friend who plays for Liverpool?
11. Might he think Harry Redknapp is the Messiah?
12. Has he appeared as a pundit? (TSF probably doesn’t do so)
13. Did he have a long term girlfriend as a younger player?
14. Had/has a strong father figure.
15. Not an Arsenal or Man City player (at end of 2010-11 season).
16. Did he play a match at some point towards the end of March or first few days of April 2011?
17. Not a keeper.
18. Has a daughter.
19. He played with Paolo Di Canio -removed by public demand
20. Someone who’s got a chat about ‘another season’ coming up -see revealing tweet post
21. He’s been involved in a last day relegation battle
22. He’s played for a newly promoted Premier League club
23. Has been subject to a deadline day transfer
24. TSF is Caucasian
25. Has a good friend who is African and has played for a team in Russia
26. Has been diagnosed with depression
27. Played in the lower leagues at start of career
28. Played against Liverpool for a lower league club
29. Was one of the best players in a very successful team
30. Played for a club that got themselves in financial trouble
31. Plays the Paul Scholes role
32. Played under a captain who will go down as one of most successful in the club’s history, without having earned it
33. Played under a stand-in captain wearing a large tubi-grip with a marker pen-written ‘C’ as captain’s armband
34. Has played as captain
35. Has played for a club who promoted their assistant manager to manager (and went on to get bad results)
36. Not a Liverpool fan
37. Played in a team that won promotion to the Premiership
38. Following on from clue 21: That team got relegated due to a goal going in at the other end of the country in the dying minutes of the final game of the season
39. Clue 38 was his last game for that club
40. His wage at the time of clues 38 and 39 was the best part of £100,000 per month
41. He went on to play in the Premiership again after the relegation in clue 38
He mentioned that he preferred being on Soccer AM when it was good. One can assume that this was during the Tim Lovejoy era, 96 -June 07. TSF was clearly active during this period.
He has won (club, not FA) player of the year 2 years in a row, but he does not state that these award were won with same club, or whilst playing in the Premiership.
He has captained a pro team (maybe not in the premiership tho, and maybe just as a stand-in?)
Regarding the wag in the pool story – he gives a few hints. She’s famous of her own right (that must narrow it down?) and the hubby went on to be an England International (ie: he was not at the time, he may no longer be?) Maybe the wife of a very tall ex-Pompey and Spurs striker? I dunno, it gets us no closer to the TSF tho.
Has he ever been capped, I wonder? (not neccessarily for Eng)
I think it’s Jimmy Bullard played lower league football, was briefly with west ham when di canio was there. Won promotion with Wigan. Was a record signing for hull. Captained hull. Avoided last day relegation with hull. Was highest paid player at hull. Was a regular on soccer am. Played under hodgson at Fulham, Redknapp at west ham. Phil brown was the manager that did so well & lost it. Played under Barry Fry at Peterborough don’t need to say anymore about that. Had many injuries and it think he did a bit of punditry while he was injured. Think there was a story about methadone as well. I haven’t finished the book yet but from what I’ve read I’m sure it’s a midfield/wide midfield player. And he also mentions about having his hair pulled.
AC isn’t really what I’d call “very famous in her own right” she’s mainly famous cos of who she’s with and well thats all really.
Hello
Anyone thought about Ian Harte?
It’s dave kitson – read page 86 of the book, then Google ‘dave kitson hits back at pulis’
It all makes sense then
One name I have not heard suggested is Shaun Derry. He ticks so many of the boxes. He’s the right age group, has a daughter, plays a holding, passing midfield role, won promotion to prem with Palave and QPR, been captain, started in lower leagues, never really been a big star, with both Palace & Portsmouth when in financial trouble, avoided relegation with Palace on last day, played under Pulis at Portsmouth, and under Claridge when promoted from within, fell out with Wise at Leeds (who wouldn’t?), is self-admittedly a bit different, had a long spell out with injury.
The main points against I can see are that he was a trainee whereas he said he didn’t come through system (although he may have been picked up late) and also I don’t think he has ever played non-league.
The school in the secret footballer videos is chiswick in fulham,it’s murphy and the manager is Martin jol at tottenham then fulham
Anyone considered Francis jeffers ?
I don’t understand the reason for putting Wayne Rooney there because he says ‘I am no Messi or Rooney.’
This poll was from 2011 x
I personally think it’s John Terry because at the start of the book, it talks about John Terry’s blow to the face by Clint Dempsey. Or it could be someone that was with him in 2007. It might also be Clint.
I think Joe Cole makes sense
I cant think who the underrated captain would be
I dont recall him playing lowerleague football or getting promoted to the premierleague
Jose could have been the manager who lost it to
Kevin Nolan I think is quite likely also
My guess is Teddy Shewrringham though
I cant imagine Ferguson telling him he wasnt Scholes
maybe nicolas anelka ?
My money is on bullard or dyer anyone who goes on im a celeb and does them trials for a bit of money would have no problem bringing out a book in secret for money !
Bellamy is a liverpool fan so its not.