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Brett Holman has finally silenced the haters

3rd September, 2010
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3rd September, 2010
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Previously hailed the laughing stock of Australian Football, Brett Holman has turned around to be the saving grace of the 2010 FIFA World Cup campaign. And having previously writing him off as “hopeless”, we as the Australian Football Fans, have to apologise.

Brett Trevor Holman, on behalf of the Australian Footballing community, I say “Sorry.”

We are all convicted of shunning you, and completely losing faith in your ability. We continually condemned your selection by the conservative Pim Verbeek, and at the time, in all honesty, we had some reasons to disapprove your constant call ups.

Almost three years between your first and second international goals gave us fodder for our dissent cannon.

It was that second international goal, however, that began your rise into our praises.

The Socceroos were locked at 1-1 with a lacklustre New Zealand side who, quite clearly, outplayed the Australians throughout the 90 minutes. Lurking in the shadows on the left hand side of the box, your run onto a lofted ball gifted the Australians an undeserved win, with the last kick of the game.

Brett Holman entered our hearts.

This sent me into a sense of purgatory of beliefs. I analysed several old tapes of you. One YouTube clip comes to mind: “Brett Holman vs. Netherlands Superstar”.

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I forced myself to believe that you were just at the right place at the right time, and was not anything special. This then led me to continually disparage your selection by the ever pressured Verbeek.

Up until game day, I read the team sheets, with despair over your selection. I joined all the groups, commented on all the hate messages, and was ready to hurl vulgar messages onto Verbeek’s Facebook Page.

The Germany game passed, as did an entire week.

I believed that the lacklustre showing by the Socceroos would prompt Pim Verbeek to play an actual striker, and reshuffle the Socceroos Squad in order to try to out play Ghana.

I, at the time, believed that Verbeek had lost his mind. Holman was once again in the team. My tunnel vision against Holman was tightening, and became unreasonable.

It was against Ghana, however, that I opened my eyes, as I’m sure a huge majority of Australian Football fans as well. Brett Holman had officially pushed away those Facebook groups, and then became a believer. Gone are the deft thoughts against him, and those Tweets about his insolence. Brett Holman gave the Socceroos a life.

And he did this for his country he loves. He ignored the fans that continually gave him the shove, and did it for his country.

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Brett Holman, I salute you. Your patriotism is a thing to behold.

I began to breathe hope into the Brett Holman revival. And anyone who still doubted, were blown away by a stunning speculative shot from just inside the Serbian half. Gobsmacked I was as I sat in my mate’s living room.

Then it all rushed into my head. The laughing stock of Australian Football has just won our hearts. And boy he did deserve it.

What have we been missing?

Soon after the World Cup, I noticed this peculiar group floating around Facebook. Justice for a player lurking in the shadows.

He chose the perfect time to jump out and prove every doubter wrong. The world’s biggest sporting event. The best time to strut your stuff, and boy did he strut it well.

Welcome to the Footballing community in Australia. Long have we shunned you, but now, on behalf of us all, I welcome you to the family. I hope that your patriotism will help you enjoy our embrace. We hope you will bring many wondrous goals and superstar-esque moments.

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You’ve done Western Sydney Proud!

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