Mark Viduka returned to the Riverside and did not score! In fact no-one scored but that's beside the point, he was still loudly booed whenever he was spotted warming up and then whenever he touched the ball after coming on as a substitute for perhaps the best player on the pitch for either team, Obafemi Martins. Martin's took it very well, only pausing to throw his bandages? on the pitch before storming off down the tunnel.
Viduka was interviewed on MOTD and, in response to being told he was a 'pantomime villain' the genial Aussie replied with a wry smile "Deep down they all love me" and despite the abuse he receives at his former home I think he is right.
Former players expect, and usually get, a certain amount of abuse but it is the venom behind it in Mark's case that I find interesting.
His reasons for leaving were "a new challenge" which translates as we all know to 'a nice fat cheque' but he fulfilled his contract to us, he scored some amazing goals and he moved on. The problem is that he only moved up the road, to 'neighbours' Newcastle, he even retained his house.
"You're just a fat greedy B*****d" was chanted enthusiastically by fans who if they were honest would far rather he was on our side than against us, but the player's reactions were somewhat different.
Andrew Taylor shared a joke with 'Vids' and substitute Josh Walker warmed up with him, shook his hand and generally looked delighted to meet him. Now, Walker hails from Newcastle so it is possible Viduka is a new hero for the young player, but as a Boro schoolboy it is more likely he respects Viduka as a great player in his time at MFC.
Because he was. He is also an interesting multi-layered guy, but football is all about heroes and villains and when a hero departs it is very easy to vilify them.
On his departure from the club, Viduka sent bottles of champagne for all the MFC staff, a goodwill gesture that is often overlooked because it does not tie in with the mercenary caricature which has become his public persona. He took the money and ran but he is not the first and he won't be the last.
Interestingly no-one booed Geremi, the other former Boro player in Newcastle's side.
The difference being that Geremi did not go straight to Newcastle, and possibly that he is just not as much of a character as Viduka. Apart from the Yoda jokes there is little to go on!
At the end of the day, I met and liked Mark Viduka, he had great camaraderie with his team mates and was fun and friendly, opinionated and dare I say it, generous of spirit. He scored some very important goals for the Boro, he honoured his contract and has never said a bad word about us. All he did was choose to move on and joined our north east rivals.
And there lies the rub, joining Newcastle was the equivalent of divorcing Boro and marrying the cousin we have always hated, it hurt more because it was so close to home and because we had to see it.
Saturday was the first match he has played this season so the move was not great for his career. Cynics will say he is getting handsomely paid to sit on the bench but I prefer to believe that footballers, no matter what, just want to play football, and despite Viduka's faults he was a great Boro player, something he has not achieved with Newcastle (not very) United.
First published on www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/fanzone - Nov 08
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