City skipper Zesh immune to taunts after years of abuse (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Well done Zesh Rehman it is only a mindless minority who have been giving this abuse,and you can rise above this and show them you are the better person.

tony e wrote:
Well done Zesh Rehman it is only a mindless minority who have been giving this abuse,and you can rise above this and show them you are the better person.

I'd be a lot ahappier if he showed us he was a better player.
He is very suspect as a defender, and I know that abusing your players is poor but this is his chosen profession, one where people pay pay to watch him work and therefore may have an opinion on it.
Go figure !

he is 2nd division trash( end of story"""""""""""""""
"""""""""""")

Lets hope he can continue to develop and grow in confidence under PT, best of luck to him.

casper1994 wrote:
he is 2nd division trash( end of story""""""""""""""" """""""""""")

Try putting your braincell into gear before posting.

I thought Rehman showed a lot of character coming back from the shambles of the Macclesfield game.Well done Zesh and the rest of the BCFC team for a good and hard working performance against Morecambe.

bcfc1903 wrote:

casper1994 wrote:
he is 2nd division trash( end of story""""""""""""""" """""""""""")

Try putting your braincell into gear before posting.

I thought Rehman showed a lot of character coming back from the shambles of the Macclesfield game.Well done Zesh and the rest of the BCFC team for a good and hard working performance against Morecambe.

Couldn't agree more bcfc1903.

Head up Zesh! and a few more goals wouldn't go amiss ;)

Meat Pie wrote:

tony e wrote: Well done Zesh Rehman it is only a mindless minority who have been giving this abuse,and you can rise above this and show them you are the better person.

I'd be a lot ahappier if he showed us he was a better player. He is very suspect as a defender, and I know that abusing your players is poor but this is his chosen profession, one where people pay pay to watch him work and therefore may have an opinion on it. Go figure !

Pretty harsh meat pie. He is a good player who has played a lot of games at a higher level. He has had several centre back partners which will always make it tricky and has also been asked to play left back and right back. He is also in a team where the midfield isn't the most mobile and this puts pressure on the Centre Backs.

Threlfall is clearly a good player but he looks much better when Luke O'Brien is playing in front of him and giving his some protection and the defence looked more solid against Morecambe because Bully broke up a lot of play in midfield.

The clear problem with Zesh is that there are those at VP who want him to fail because they are bigoted fools and he has Pakistani heritage. I don't see Threlfall getting booed when he misplaces a pass and I didn't see Ramsden get the same stick when he has made mistakes leading to goals being scored (Bury away for example). I bet most of the morons don't even know that Zesh played for England at U18s and U19s...

"Zesh Rehman has told the Valley Parade boo boys they are wasting their breath because he has put up with stick all his life"
More like "they are wasting their money" following the likes of him.

I do agree with Knight Mccall about the subtext of the hostility directed towards Zesh. OK, so he might not be the most briliant footballer who ever walked the earth, but he has always given 100% every time I have seen him.

KnightMcCall wrote:

Meat Pie wrote:

tony e wrote: Well done Zesh Rehman it is only a mindless minority who have been giving this abuse,and you can rise above this and show them you are the better person.

I'd be a lot ahappier if he showed us he was a better player. He is very suspect as a defender, and I know that abusing your players is poor but this is his chosen profession, one where people pay pay to watch him work and therefore may have an opinion on it. Go figure !

Pretty harsh meat pie. He is a good player who has played a lot of games at a higher level. He has had several centre back partners which will always make it tricky and has also been asked to play left back and right back. He is also in a team where the midfield isn't the most mobile and this puts pressure on the Centre Backs. Threlfall is clearly a good player but he looks much better when Luke O'Brien is playing in front of him and giving his some protection and the defence looked more solid against Morecambe because Bully broke up a lot of play in midfield. The clear problem with Zesh is that there are those at VP who want him to fail because they are bigoted fools and he has Pakistani heritage. I don't see Threlfall getting booed when he misplaces a pass and I didn't see Ramsden get the same stick when he has made mistakes leading to goals being scored (Bury away for example). I bet most of the morons don't even know that Zesh played for England at U18s and U19s...

If he was a good player, he ain't anymore.
Rather than provide a raft of excuses as to why he hasn't played very well, why not present a case for your statement that Reham is "a good player".....I for one would like to hear it.
You saying the "clear problem " is his Pakistani heritage and calling people "bigoted fools" is nonsensical and something that is your view, not a fact.....it also makes you the fool. I have been to every home game this season and many away games and have heard no-one boo Rehman, let alone mention his race or creed. Yes, there have been groans when he's made a mistake, but boo-ing and people being racist towards him? No, that hasn't happened. Where's your evidence if it's a "clear problem" - let's hear it?

KnightMcCall wrote:

Meat Pie wrote:

tony e wrote: Well done Zesh Rehman it is only a mindless minority who have been giving this abuse,and you can rise above this and show them you are the better person.

I'd be a lot ahappier if he showed us he was a better player. He is very suspect as a defender, and I know that abusing your players is poor but this is his chosen profession, one where people pay pay to watch him work and therefore may have an opinion on it. Go figure !

Pretty harsh meat pie. He is a good player who has played a lot of games at a higher level. He has had several centre back partners which will always make it tricky and has also been asked to play left back and right back. He is also in a team where the midfield isn't the most mobile and this puts pressure on the Centre Backs. Threlfall is clearly a good player but he looks much better when Luke O'Brien is playing in front of him and giving his some protection and the defence looked more solid against Morecambe because Bully broke up a lot of play in midfield. The clear problem with Zesh is that there are those at VP who want him to fail because they are bigoted fools and he has Pakistani heritage. I don't see Threlfall getting booed when he misplaces a pass and I didn't see Ramsden get the same stick when he has made mistakes leading to goals being scored (Bury away for example). I bet most of the morons don't even know that Zesh played for England at U18s and U19s...

yes but eastwood played for england at u18's and u19's and look how much of a shambles he was

i feel Rehman has been unfairly targeted. His abilities aside, other players have also lacked quality this season and made mistakes but have not suffered the 'verbal's', moans, and boo's.
He has taken over the mantle from Matt Clarke and to some degree Eastward.

the article above is perhaps alluding to his race but does not actually say it and a poster above also mentions this.
However I have personally never heard any mention of Rehman's heritage ever at a game and believe the 'stick' to have its foundations upon what have been some very inconsistent performances.
i also believe that the persistent rumours about his wages/contract have added to this. Why no-one from the club has responded to this and previously to the Eastward rumours only adds to this to the detriment of the player. If un-true then deny it. the counter argument that why should the club disclose contractual information is invalid. Indeed how many times do we see clubs openly disclosing transfer costs, wages etc.

I f have stated elsewhere that taylor initially dropped Rehman to the bench and even brought him on in the last minute of one game (thus if true his wages may have been saved). This though was whilst we still had a very outside chance of a play-off slot. Once that has gone Rehman is back in the side even playing out of position above Bateson. Was this sanctioned by the board?
You can argue that i am obviously adding to the conspiracy theory factor but my argument is solely that the club should just quash any rumours that are un-true, thus relieving any pressure on the player and preventing unjustified prejudice which turns into scape-goating when things don't go so well.

In sumation Rehman's Race has nothing to do with it.

Zesh has been singled out for a lot of his mistakes leading directly to goals, his massive blunder at Notts county was the main one, that made it 3-0 as i remember and the fans were absolutely livid. I also remember a gaffe when we played at Macclesfield when he let the ball bounce over him in addition to the home match against them. Lincoln as well scored from a ZR mistake. There have been others but i don't remember specifics.
.
I'm not a boo boy, but people should realise for a player who has played a few PL games and has played most of his games in a higher league, he should not be making so many basic, costly mistakes.

Rambo wrote:
Zesh has been singled out for a lot of his mistakes leading directly to goals, his massive blunder at Notts county was the main one, that made it 3-0 as i remember and the fans were absolutely livid. I also remember a gaffe when we played at Macclesfield when he let the ball bounce over him in addition to the home match against them. Lincoln as well scored from a ZR mistake. There have been others but i don't remember specifics. . I'm not a boo boy, but people should realise for a player who has played a few PL games and has played most of his games in a higher league, he should not be making so many basic, costly mistakes.

Of-course he has made mistakes. So have Clarke, Williams, Ramsden, Threlfall, O'Brien x 2, Eastwood, Glennon, Bullock, Evans, Daley, Flynn ad nauseum. Why do some get targetted whilst others are forgiven?

Football is a team game; individuals often make mistakes when they are not being backed up by their team-mates. Rehman is now the latest in a long-line of targets for at VP those who know very little about football. Some of it is definitely down to his race and Rehman implied as much in his quote about being "disappointed about some of the comments".

Some very short sighted nonsense on here today. A person who has played at a high level doesn't just become rubbish (unless perhaps you played for Leeds and are a fat Swede?). It stands to reason that playing around higher quality players means that you are used to concentrating on certain areas in a more focussed way - not looking out for rookies. I'd be the first to say that our defence have been pretty poor for the whole of this season and Rehman is partly to blame, but you'd be daft to single out any of them. And there's an obvious correllation between midfield playing well and the defence playing well. So whilst the racism angle might be there I'm not entirely sure it's demonstrable. I can only hope that whoever is in charge next season, we have a hardcore backline who can contribute to attacking set plays.

Meat Pie wrote:

KnightMcCall wrote:

Meat Pie wrote:

tony e wrote: Well done Zesh Rehman it is only a mindless minority who have been giving this abuse,and you can rise above this and show them you are the better person.

I'd be a lot ahappier if he showed us he was a better player. He is very suspect as a defender, and I know that abusing your players is poor but this is his chosen profession, one where people pay pay to watch him work and therefore may have an opinion on it. Go figure !

Pretty harsh meat pie. He is a good player who has played a lot of games at a higher level. He has had several centre back partners which will always make it tricky and has also been asked to play left back and right back. He is also in a team where the midfield isn't the most mobile and this puts pressure on the Centre Backs. Threlfall is clearly a good player but he looks much better when Luke O'Brien is playing in front of him and giving his some protection and the defence looked more solid against Morecambe because Bully broke up a lot of play in midfield. The clear problem with Zesh is that there are those at VP who want him to fail because they are bigoted fools and he has Pakistani heritage. I don't see Threlfall getting booed when he misplaces a pass and I didn't see Ramsden get the same stick when he has made mistakes leading to goals being scored (Bury away for example). I bet most of the morons don't even know that Zesh played for England at U18s and U19s...

If he was a good player, he ain't anymore. Rather than provide a raft of excuses as to why he hasn't played very well, why not present a case for your statement that Reham is "a good player".....I for one would like to hear it. You saying the "clear problem " is his Pakistani heritage and calling people "bigoted fools" is nonsensical and something that is your view, not a fact.....it also makes you the fool. I have been to every home game this season and many away games and have heard no-one boo Rehman, let alone mention his race or creed. Yes, there have been groans when he's made a mistake, but boo-ing and people being racist towards him? No, that hasn't happened. Where's your evidence if it's a "clear problem" - let's hear it?

Meat Pie; if you can provide some evidence to back up your "opinion" that "if he was a good player he isn't anymore" than I will happily reply.

As for evidence that people are being racist; I'm not sure where you sit at VP or how many away games you go to but the evidence is plain to see although it is just from a few individuals. Just because fans are less blatant about it; there are plenty of subtle comments about his race i nthe abuse that is directed at him. Rehman is also subtle in his quotes about his "disappointment" at some of the comments i.e. he accepts that in his chosen profession he will get some flack but when it is about his race it is disappointing. Did you hear him interviewed on Radio Leeds?

As for not hearing any boos; he was booed before kick-off when he was announced in the side on Tuesday night by a fair number of "fans" in the Kop.

I would like to put on record here my full support for Zesh Rehman. As long as he is wearing the City shirt he is entitled to our full support and booing your own players/manager in the midst of a match is not acceptable (in any situation!!) Zesh has had his problems at times this season but so have many other City players. Whether or not he stays at City is a matter for the manager and 'ZR'. I don't like to say this, but I suspect there is a touch of 'racism' in the way Zesh has been 'singled out' along with Omar Daley (at times) despite the fact a number of other players have made mistakes at times!
It made me proud to be a City fan when, after hearing the boos (from a minority of so-called fans), a larger number incl. me started to 'drown' them out with applause and shouts of 'Come on Zesh.' This made me feel that I was right in choosing support Bradford City as a football team all thses years (as I don't come from this city).
Don't let 'them' grind you down Zesh-the cowardly boo-boys who hide behind annoymity and wouldn't say 'boo' to your face!
All the very best for tomorrow v Barnet and in the future, wherever you play!

KnightMcCall wrote:

Meat Pie wrote:

KnightMcCall wrote:

Meat Pie wrote:

tony e wrote: Well done Zesh Rehman it is only a mindless minority who have been giving this abuse,and you can rise above this and show them you are the better person.

I'd be a lot ahappier if he showed us he was a better player. He is very suspect as a defender, and I know that abusing your players is poor but this is his chosen profession, one where people pay pay to watch him work and therefore may have an opinion on it. Go figure !

Pretty harsh meat pie. He is a good player who has played a lot of games at a higher level. He has had several centre back partners which will always make it tricky and has also been asked to play left back and right back. He is also in a team where the midfield isn't the most mobile and this puts pressure on the Centre Backs. Threlfall is clearly a good player but he looks much better when Luke O'Brien is playing in front of him and giving his some protection and the defence looked more solid against Morecambe because Bully broke up a lot of play in midfield. The clear problem with Zesh is that there are those at VP who want him to fail because they are bigoted fools and he has Pakistani heritage. I don't see Threlfall getting booed when he misplaces a pass and I didn't see Ramsden get the same stick when he has made mistakes leading to goals being scored (Bury away for example). I bet most of the morons don't even know that Zesh played for England at U18s and U19s...

If he was a good player, he ain't anymore. Rather than provide a raft of excuses as to why he hasn't played very well, why not present a case for your statement that Reham is "a good player".....I for one would like to hear it. You saying the "clear problem " is his Pakistani heritage and calling people "bigoted fools" is nonsensical and something that is your view, not a fact.....it also makes you the fool. I have been to every home game this season and many away games and have heard no-one boo Rehman, let alone mention his race or creed. Yes, there have been groans when he's made a mistake, but boo-ing and people being racist towards him? No, that hasn't happened. Where's your evidence if it's a "clear problem" - let's hear it?

Meat Pie; if you can provide some evidence to back up your "opinion" that "if he was a good player he isn't anymore" than I will happily reply. As for evidence that people are being racist; I'm not sure where you sit at VP or how many away games you go to but the evidence is plain to see although it is just from a few individuals. Just because fans are less blatant about it; there are plenty of subtle comments about his race i nthe abuse that is directed at him. Rehman is also subtle in his quotes about his "disappointment" at some of the comments i.e. he accepts that in his chosen profession he will get some flack but when it is about his race it is disappointing. Did you hear him interviewed on Radio Leeds? As for not hearing any boos; he was booed before kick-off when he was announced in the side on Tuesday night by a fair number of "fans" in the Kop.

He has gone from the PL to the 4th Division - is that enough for you?
He hasn't played well for us this season and I can't believe that anyone would comment otherwise - your reasons for this are just a load of excuses for someone who has played poorly - "Oooohhh, those pesky forwards keep trying to score in our goal, how dare they!" You also haven't explained why you think he is "a good player" - go on then, let's hear it!!!
And the evidence isn't "plain to see" about racism - your just saying these things and that doesn't make them a fact.
I would be appalled if anyone was being racist towards him and would never defend such behaviour and I do appreciate that some of the crowd at any football ground can be guilty of this appalling behaviour but as far as I can see it has not happened with Rehman.
And if you have heard such comments near where you sit, what have you done about it?
Have you reported this to a steward or teh police?
Have you done anything to help address this, if it is happening?
I sit in the Kop and I heard no boo-ing on Tuesday when his name was read out.

I couldnt care less whether one of our players are english, cuban, or orange with yellow spots as long as he demonstrates a good work ethic and plays for the team to the best of his abilities.
BUT.....Rehman is utter garbage as I've lost count of the number of very poor performances from him.
Get rid.

Don't tell me that the comments about putting up with abuse are a coded reference to perceived victimisation of muslims in this country. The one refreshing aspect about BCFC reporting in the T&A is that until now it had been the only aspect of Bradford life free of this.

My impression is that he was signed for a specific reason and not necessarily because he was a wonderful player. I don't rate him as a footballer. His race/religion has nothing to do with that assessment.

KnightMcCall wrote:

Rambo wrote: Zesh has been singled out for a lot of his mistakes leading directly to goals, his massive blunder at Notts county was the main one, that made it 3-0 as i remember and the fans were absolutely livid. I also remember a gaffe when we played at Macclesfield when he let the ball bounce over him in addition to the home match against them. Lincoln as well scored from a ZR mistake. There have been others but i don't remember specifics. . I'm not a boo boy, but people should realise for a player who has played a few PL games and has played most of his games in a higher league, he should not be making so many basic, costly mistakes.

Of-course he has made mistakes. So have Clarke, Williams, Ramsden, Threlfall, O'Brien x 2, Eastwood, Glennon, Bullock, Evans, Daley, Flynn ad nauseum. Why do some get targetted whilst others are forgiven? Football is a team game; individuals often make mistakes when they are not being backed up by their team-mates. Rehman is now the latest in a long-line of targets for at VP those who know very little about football. Some of it is definitely down to his race and Rehman implied as much in his quote about being "disappointed about some of the comments".

You think no one else has been targeted?
.
Clarke has been targeted in his time here, as has Eastwood when he was. Daley has been accused by many of being lazy and Bullock as generally doing nothing noticeable ( though you do notice when hes not playing...). Flynn was been labelled as annonymous when we had that awful run in the winter.
.
Threllfall, Williams and Evans have been let off any harsh criticsim due to their age and experience (and RTs only played about 10 games...). LOB has done much better now hes been moved and not being exposed due to players in front of him like Brandon and Daley wandering off
.
Evans has constantly been accused of failing to deliver an end product and gives the ball away, though his workrate goes some way to amending this. Flynn has been labelled as annonymous when we had that awful run in the winter.
.
"Know nothing about football?" Thats the cheapest argument you can throw at anyone. You don't need to know much to know you don't let a ball bounce in your own penalty area when an attacker is chasing it at pace, you don't mess around clearing a ball when an attacker is bearing down, and you don't miss easy headers when you're the last man. That has nothing to do with being backed up by team mates.
.
I want ZR to suceed as much as anyone. But regular defensive blunders that lead to goals will have the crowd on his back. Theres a difference between the odd error and one every few games that is absolutely basic.

Meat Pie wrote:

KnightMcCall wrote:

Meat Pie wrote:

tony e wrote: Well done Zesh Rehman it is only a mindless minority who have been giving this abuse,and you can rise above this and show them you are the better person.

I'd be a lot ahappier if he showed us he was a better player. He is very suspect as a defender, and I know that abusing your players is poor but this is his chosen profession, one where people pay pay to watch him work and therefore may have an opinion on it. Go figure !

Pretty harsh meat pie. He is a good player who has played a lot of games at a higher level. He has had several centre back partners which will always make it tricky and has also been asked to play left back and right back. He is also in a team where the midfield isn't the most mobile and this puts pressure on the Centre Backs. Threlfall is clearly a good player but he looks much better when Luke O'Brien is playing in front of him and giving his some protection and the defence looked more solid against Morecambe because Bully broke up a lot of play in midfield. The clear problem with Zesh is that there are those at VP who want him to fail because they are bigoted fools and he has Pakistani heritage. I don't see Threlfall getting booed when he misplaces a pass and I didn't see Ramsden get the same stick when he has made mistakes leading to goals being scored (Bury away for example). I bet most of the morons don't even know that Zesh played for England at U18s and U19s...

If he was a good player, he ain't anymore.
Rather than provide a raft of excuses as to why he hasn't played very well, why not present a case for your statement that Reham is "a good player".....I for one would like to hear it.
You saying the "clear problem " is his Pakistani heritage and calling people "bigoted fools" is nonsensical and something that is your view, not a fact.....it also makes you the fool. I have been to every home game this season and many away games and have heard no-one boo Rehman, let alone mention his race or creed. Yes, there have been groans when he's made a mistake, but boo-ing and people being racist towards him? No, that hasn't happened. Where's your evidence if it's a "clear problem" - let's hear it?

I'm guessing you didn't attend the game at Accrington then if you haven't heard any racist abuse directed at Rehman.

Can anyone out there tell me if they ever boo or shout insults at City players, and tell me how that helps our players or Team. Did it ever help Conlon, Colbeck, Eastwood, Clarke, Daley, Brandon and is it helping Rehman put in better performances? I am confused, please explain.

albion wrote:
"Zesh Rehman has told the Valley Parade boo boys they are wasting their breath because he has put up with stick all his life"
More like "they are wasting their money" following the likes of him.

Ah albion!, I didn't know you went down to watch City play. Come to think of it, I haven't seen you comment much on the City players performances BEFORE either. Or is this more to do with him being Asian-ish? I am just going by your comments on other issues relating to 'Asians', Muslims etc. I could of course be wrong -I sometimes are. Please tell me I have mis-understood another one of your enlightening contributions.

As I mentioned in a post after the last home game, ZR is a classy centre half on his day but lacks consistancy. It's difficult to be consistant when your playing centre half, left back, right back and on the bench. Consistancy comes from a run of games and good coaching on training pitch. ZR should be judged when he's been given a run in the team with the required good coaching. I for one would like to see him here next season proving a few peoples judgements to have been rash. As for racist abuse, I haven't heard it and don't condone it.

As Sven Goran Erikson put it - If there's no mistakes in football there'd be no goals.
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A certain section of VP always wants a target to boo. Was Bazza, then Colbeck, now Zesh. If Zesh wasn't there they'd just target someone else..

i think he's played crap, most of the team has or we would be in the play offs.
knight mccall is a tosser for playing the race card, you play crap you get booed.
simple as that, hang your head in shame knight mccall.
people pay the money, entitled to an opinion. get over it.
don't try analyse me either, you dont know ****.

Let him go sell illicit wares round the streets of manningham like the rest

Rehman came to the club in a blaze of publicity, with a percieved mandate to try and drum up more asian support, which led cynics to question the motives for his signing, particularly when he was given the club captaincy ahead of what seemed more suitable candidates like Flynn and Ramsden.

Consequently, while I'm not saying I agree with it, that's why I think he gets a bit more stick than the others.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but perhaps we shouldn't have heaped this public pressure on Zesh, and quietly let him get on with what appears to be the excellent work he does in the community, so he would've been judged on his footballing ability alone.

Well done to Zesh although he won't shut the boo boys up completely because some of them aren't booing because of his footballing prowess anyway. Are you boys?
I must admit when he scored I gave a few choice hand signals to the Kop! I know it's only a minority but chuff em. The good citizens in the Kop should 'eliminate' them!

I found the stick Rehman got at the Macclesfield game a disgrace,having made the mistake Glennon let the softest of shots in yet recieved no criticism at all.I believe with a confident keeper like McLaughlin behind the defence everyone will play better including Rehman.CTID

dannbradfc wrote:
i feel Rehman has been unfairly targeted. His abilities aside, other players have also lacked quality this season and made mistakes but have not suffered the 'verbal's', moans, and boo's.
He has taken over the mantle from Matt Clarke and to some degree Eastward.

the article above is perhaps alluding to his race but does not actually say it and a poster above also mentions this.
However I have personally never heard any mention of Rehman's heritage ever at a game and believe the 'stick' to have its foundations upon what have been some very inconsistent performances.
i also believe that the persistent rumours about his wages/contract have added to this. Why no-one from the club has responded to this and previously to the Eastward rumours only adds to this to the detriment of the player. If un-true then deny it. the counter argument that why should the club disclose contractual information is invalid. Indeed how many times do we see clubs openly disclosing transfer costs, wages etc.

I f have stated elsewhere that taylor initially dropped Rehman to the bench and even brought him on in the last minute of one game (thus if true his wages may have been saved). This though was whilst we still had a very outside chance of a play-off slot. Once that has gone Rehman is back in the side even playing out of position above Bateson. Was this sanctioned by the board?
You can argue that i am obviously adding to the conspiracy theory factor but my argument is solely that the club should just quash any rumours that are un-true, thus relieving any pressure on the player and preventing unjustified prejudice which turns into scape-goating when things don't go so well.

In sumation Rehman's Race has nothing to do with it.

Here you go again. It's like listening to a broken CD (I don't have records anymore)!

If Lawn or Rhodes had to come out and dispell rumours each time one is bandied around, they would never get anything done. You are as guilty as most and your, 'brought him on as sub' was plain daft. I don't think he was an active sub in the Darlo home game or the Aldershot away match, despite 'still having an outside chance of getting into the play-offs'! In fact wasn't it just the away win at Rochdale where, having just gone 3-1 up, Taylor swapped young Threlfall for Zesh? Wasn't it also a fact that Threlfall was playing his first senior game for months and was looking extremely tired? I'm bored of your conspiracy stories now!!!!!

As for never hearing any racial language aimed at Zesh, I can only add that you are lucky. I was almost involved in a fracas during the Macclesfield game due to some biggotted fools targetting Rehman with some unsavoury words!!!!

If it has nothing to do with his race, how come Bateson has not come in for some 'booing', as his performances have been far worse!!!

Meat Pie wrote:

KnightMcCall wrote:

Meat Pie wrote:

KnightMcCall wrote:

Meat Pie wrote:

tony e wrote: Well done Zesh Rehman it is only a mindless minority who have been giving this abuse,and you can rise above this and show them you are the better person.

I'd be a lot ahappier if he showed us he was a better player. He is very suspect as a defender, and I know that abusing your players is poor but this is his chosen profession, one where people pay pay to watch him work and therefore may have an opinion on it. Go figure !

Pretty harsh meat pie. He is a good player who has played a lot of games at a higher level. He has had several centre back partners which will always make it tricky and has also been asked to play left back and right back. He is also in a team where the midfield isn't the most mobile and this puts pressure on the Centre Backs. Threlfall is clearly a good player but he looks much better when Luke O'Brien is playing in front of him and giving his some protection and the defence looked more solid against Morecambe because Bully broke up a lot of play in midfield. The clear problem with Zesh is that there are those at VP who want him to fail because they are bigoted fools and he has Pakistani heritage. I don't see Threlfall getting booed when he misplaces a pass and I didn't see Ramsden get the same stick when he has made mistakes leading to goals being scored (Bury away for example). I bet most of the morons don't even know that Zesh played for England at U18s and U19s...

If he was a good player, he ain't anymore. Rather than provide a raft of excuses as to why he hasn't played very well, why not present a case for your statement that Reham is "a good player".....I for one would like to hear it. You saying the "clear problem " is his Pakistani heritage and calling people "bigoted fools" is nonsensical and something that is your view, not a fact.....it also makes you the fool. I have been to every home game this season and many away games and have heard no-one boo Rehman, let alone mention his race or creed. Yes, there have been groans when he's made a mistake, but boo-ing and people being racist towards him? No, that hasn't happened. Where's your evidence if it's a "clear problem" - let's hear it?

Meat Pie; if you can provide some evidence to back up your "opinion" that "if he was a good player he isn't anymore" than I will happily reply. As for evidence that people are being racist; I'm not sure where you sit at VP or how many away games you go to but the evidence is plain to see although it is just from a few individuals. Just because fans are less blatant about it; there are plenty of subtle comments about his race i nthe abuse that is directed at him. Rehman is also subtle in his quotes about his "disappointment" at some of the comments i.e. he accepts that in his chosen profession he will get some flack but when it is about his race it is disappointing. Did you hear him interviewed on Radio Leeds? As for not hearing any boos; he was booed before kick-off when he was announced in the side on Tuesday night by a fair number of "fans" in the Kop.

He has gone from the PL to the 4th Division - is that enough for you?
He hasn't played well for us this season and I can't believe that anyone would comment otherwise - your reasons for this are just a load of excuses for someone who has played poorly - "Oooohhh, those pesky forwards keep trying to score in our goal, how dare they!" You also haven't explained why you think he is "a good player" - go on then, let's hear it!!!
And the evidence isn't "plain to see" about racism - your just saying these things and that doesn't make them a fact.
I would be appalled if anyone was being racist towards him and would never defend such behaviour and I do appreciate that some of the crowd at any football ground can be guilty of this appalling behaviour but as far as I can see it has not happened with Rehman.
And if you have heard such comments near where you sit, what have you done about it?
Have you reported this to a steward or teh police?
Have you done anything to help address this, if it is happening?
I sit in the Kop and I heard no boo-ing on Tuesday when his name was read out.

"I sit in the Kop and I heard no boo-ing on Tuesday when his name was read out".

Hearing aid required for 'meatpie'!!! Either that or he is just pig-headed as we could hear the boos from the TL Dallas!!!!

As for the race thing. It is definitely there. I posted a comment about this after the Macclesfield game. He cleared his line minuted after his error gifted them a goal. I turned to some blokes (about 8/9 in the row in front of me) who has been booing and asked why. They responded, "because he is 5h!t". I replied, "You could say that about the other 10 players in City shirts so why single him out for for booing". Then three or four stood up in front of me and said "okay, it's because he is a f#ck!ng p4k! b4st4rd and he is 5h!t".

Is that enough evidence for you or should I have taped the conversation for your benefit!!!!

thecitygent wrote:
Don't tell me that the comments about putting up with abuse are a coded reference to perceived victimisation of muslims in this country. The one refreshing aspect about BCFC reporting in the T&A is that until now it had been the only aspect of Bradford life free of this.

My impression is that he was signed for a specific reason and not necessarily because he was a wonderful player. I don't rate him as a footballer. His race/religion has nothing to do with that assessment.

The interview on Radio Leeds confirmed he had heard such racial words being hurled down at him from sections of the crowd. He told Derm Tanner that he acknowledges fans will boo players after mistakes have cost goals and that players get heckled. However, if he hears any more of "these" types of comments from his own fans, he promised to report them to the police.

yangy8 wrote:
i think he's played crap, most of the team has or we would be in the play offs.
knight mccall is a tosser for playing the race card, you play crap you get booed.
simple as that, hang your head in shame knight mccall.
people pay the money, entitled to an opinion. get over it.
don't try analyse me either, you dont know ****.

You don't need anyone to "analyse you", your final comments said it all.

The fact is 'knightmccall' was right and SOME (not all) were booing him because of his race. This isn't a "tosser playing the race card", it is fact!!

Windyass wrote:

Meat Pie wrote:

KnightMcCall wrote:

Meat Pie wrote:

tony e wrote: Well done Zesh Rehman it is only a mindless minority who have been giving this abuse,and you can rise above this and show them you are the better person.

I'd be a lot ahappier if he showed us he was a better player. He is very suspect as a defender, and I know that abusing your players is poor but this is his chosen profession, one where people pay pay to watch him work and therefore may have an opinion on it. Go figure !

Pretty harsh meat pie. He is a good player who has played a lot of games at a higher level. He has had several centre back partners which will always make it tricky and has also been asked to play left back and right back. He is also in a team where the midfield isn't the most mobile and this puts pressure on the Centre Backs. Threlfall is clearly a good player but he looks much better when Luke O'Brien is playing in front of him and giving his some protection and the defence looked more solid against Morecambe because Bully broke up a lot of play in midfield. The clear problem with Zesh is that there are those at VP who want him to fail because they are bigoted fools and he has Pakistani heritage. I don't see Threlfall getting booed when he misplaces a pass and I didn't see Ramsden get the same stick when he has made mistakes leading to goals being scored (Bury away for example). I bet most of the morons don't even know that Zesh played for England at U18s and U19s...

If he was a good player, he ain't anymore. Rather than provide a raft of excuses as to why he hasn't played very well, why not present a case for your statement that Reham is "a good player".....I for one would like to hear it. You saying the "clear problem " is his Pakistani heritage and calling people "bigoted fools" is nonsensical and something that is your view, not a fact.....it also makes you the fool. I have been to every home game this season and many away games and have heard no-one boo Rehman, let alone mention his race or creed. Yes, there have been groans when he's made a mistake, but boo-ing and people being racist towards him? No, that hasn't happened. Where's your evidence if it's a "clear problem" - let's hear it?

I'm guessing you didn't attend the game at Accrington then if you haven't heard any racist abuse directed at Rehman.

Yes, I was at the Accrington game and honestly, I heard no racist abuse. I heard him being barracked but that's because he played so poorly.
I can only tell you what I hear.

Waynus71 wrote:

Meat Pie wrote:

KnightMcCall wrote:

Meat Pie wrote:

KnightMcCall wrote:

Meat Pie wrote:

tony e wrote: Well done Zesh Rehman it is only a mindless minority who have been giving this abuse,and you can rise above this and show them you are the better person.

I'd be a lot ahappier if he showed us he was a better player. He is very suspect as a defender, and I know that abusing your players is poor but this is his chosen profession, one where people pay pay to watch him work and therefore may have an opinion on it. Go figure !

Pretty harsh meat pie. He is a good player who has played a lot of games at a higher level. He has had several centre back partners which will always make it tricky and has also been asked to play left back and right back. He is also in a team where the midfield isn't the most mobile and this puts pressure on the Centre Backs. Threlfall is clearly a good player but he looks much better when Luke O'Brien is playing in front of him and giving his some protection and the defence looked more solid against Morecambe because Bully broke up a lot of play in midfield. The clear problem with Zesh is that there are those at VP who want him to fail because they are bigoted fools and he has Pakistani heritage. I don't see Threlfall getting booed when he misplaces a pass and I didn't see Ramsden get the same stick when he has made mistakes leading to goals being scored (Bury away for example). I bet most of the morons don't even know that Zesh played for England at U18s and U19s...

If he was a good player, he ain't anymore. Rather than provide a raft of excuses as to why he hasn't played very well, why not present a case for your statement that Reham is "a good player".....I for one would like to hear it. You saying the "clear problem " is his Pakistani heritage and calling people "bigoted fools" is nonsensical and something that is your view, not a fact.....it also makes you the fool. I have been to every home game this season and many away games and have heard no-one boo Rehman, let alone mention his race or creed. Yes, there have been groans when he's made a mistake, but boo-ing and people being racist towards him? No, that hasn't happened. Where's your evidence if it's a "clear problem" - let's hear it?

Meat Pie; if you can provide some evidence to back up your "opinion" that "if he was a good player he isn't anymore" than I will happily reply. As for evidence that people are being racist; I'm not sure where you sit at VP or how many away games you go to but the evidence is plain to see although it is just from a few individuals. Just because fans are less blatant about it; there are plenty of subtle comments about his race i nthe abuse that is directed at him. Rehman is also subtle in his quotes about his "disappointment" at some of the comments i.e. he accepts that in his chosen profession he will get some flack but when it is about his race it is disappointing. Did you hear him interviewed on Radio Leeds? As for not hearing any boos; he was booed before kick-off when he was announced in the side on Tuesday night by a fair number of "fans" in the Kop.

He has gone from the PL to the 4th Division - is that enough for you? He hasn't played well for us this season and I can't believe that anyone would comment otherwise - your reasons for this are just a load of excuses for someone who has played poorly - "Oooohhh, those pesky forwards keep trying to score in our goal, how dare they!" You also haven't explained why you think he is "a good player" - go on then, let's hear it!!! And the evidence isn't "plain to see" about racism - your just saying these things and that doesn't make them a fact. I would be appalled if anyone was being racist towards him and would never defend such behaviour and I do appreciate that some of the crowd at any football ground can be guilty of this appalling behaviour but as far as I can see it has not happened with Rehman. And if you have heard such comments near where you sit, what have you done about it? Have you reported this to a steward or teh police? Have you done anything to help address this, if it is happening? I sit in the Kop and I heard no boo-ing on Tuesday when his name was read out.

"I sit in the Kop and I heard no boo-ing on Tuesday when his name was read out". Hearing aid required for 'meatpie'!!! Either that or he is just pig-headed as we could hear the boos from the TL Dallas!!!! As for the race thing. It is definitely there. I posted a comment about this after the Macclesfield game. He cleared his line minuted after his error gifted them a goal. I turned to some blokes (about 8/9 in the row in front of me) who has been booing and asked why. They responded, "because he is 5h!t". I replied, "You could say that about the other 10 players in City shirts so why single him out for for booing". Then three or four stood up in front of me and said "okay, it's because he is a f#ck!ng p4k! b4st4rd and he is 5h!t". Is that enough evidence for you or should I have taped the conversation for your benefit!!!!

So what did you do to address such behaviour then?
We are all asked at the start of every game to report and racist behaviour if we hear it.
Did you inform the police or a steward or did you (as I suspect) do nothing?
If you did nothing, you don't have much right to come on hear spouting about it.