John O'Kane

Loco

Loco

Well-known member
Article in The Sunday Times today about him and how his career stalled due to his autism. We had a brief mention, how he broke down on the way home from Bloomers after being booed by Pool fans. Maybe some lessons for supporters on how some players may have difficulties we are unaware of.
 
He was interviewed in The Athletic recently about this.

Whilst I have great sympathy for him and respect him for speaking out, let's just say his view on his time at Blackpool wasn't an accurate version of events. He'd have been much better off saying 'I wasn't much cop at Blackpool, and here's why'.

Nevertheless I wish him well and I hope that his experiences help players today in the same boat (or similar) get the support they need.
 
I saw him play for Bolton once in a closed doors friendly against Newcastle. He was hopeless. Steve Banks was in goals for Bolton and at one point made a couple of brilliant saves before a third shot went in from close range. He wasn't happy that O'Kane had watched the attack unfold from the edge of the box and never moved. He certainly shifted when Banks got off the floor and chased him up the pitch calling him a lot of rude names. I couldn't believe it when we signed him.
 
It’s nice to be sympathetic, however you can also argue that he chose the wrong career?
It is like being sympathetic to an introvert who chooses to be an after dinner speaker due to being quick witted in the confines of their home.

Your career has to match your psychological profile or it causes you internal conflict and stress. So if autistic, perhaps elite sport in front of large crowds is not the career for you?
 
As one of his more vociferous critics I apologise for exacerbating his underlying medical condition.

However, as others have mentioned no one forced him to pull on a tangerine shirt and he remains one of the worst players I have ever had the misfortune to watch.
 
It was amazing that he kept his place in the team for as long as he did. The frustrating thing was you could see his quality but he seemed content to play in slow motion.
 
Sorry to hear this. But he was absolutely rubbish. He was always going to get criticism. Even more so because he had been at PL clubs. It had me thinking, How ?.
 
I'm not sure he was quite as bad as people are now making out. Over the years, myths tend to grow on AVFTT. If you look on Soccerbase at the games he played over those 2 seasons, he was involved in some very good wins. I think people just expected a lot more of him at the time given he had Man Utd and Everton on his CV so expectations were higher than for other players and susequent frustration then was higher.
 
BigHandsOliverKahn said:
I'm not sure he was quite as bad as people are now making out. Over the years, myths tend to grow on AVFTT. If you look on Soccerbase at the games he played over those 2 seasons, he was involved in some very good wins. I think people just expected a lot more of him at the time given he had Man Utd and Everton on his CV so expectations were higher than for other players and susequent frustration then was higher.
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Nah, he were crap and only involved because he was one of McMahons favourites.
 
BigHandsOliverKahn said:
I'm not sure he was quite as bad as people are now making out. Over the years, myths tend to grow on AVFTT. If you look on Soccerbase at the games he played over those 2 seasons, he was involved in some very good wins. I think people just expected a lot more of him at the time given he had Man Utd and Everton on his CV so expectations were higher than for other players and susequent frustration then was higher.
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Worst right back I've seen play for us, and I can remember precisely which game I formed that opinion at: a 1-0 defeat to Notts County in April 2002. I was only 13 at the time, so pre AVFTT!
 
He was a totally uncommitted player for me. Collins was crap but he made up for it with trying hard and putting himself around. OKane and Thorniley both sauntered around having come from big clubs expecting the magic to randomly occur, which it failed to do due to lack of effort and commitment.

OKane is an excuses merchant in my opinion.
 
I can't remember which game it was but he was outjumped by a dwarf at the back post - utter rubbish.
 
Macca became a bit starry like he could because O'Kane was from the Utd youth setup, otherwise he wouldn't have kept getting picked.

If he'd put a shift in no one would have booed him, but he couldn't be arsed because he knew he was getting picked regardless, simple as that.
 
King Billy said:
Wasn’t that Leon Knight for Huddersfield? Could have been the first game in the new stands.
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It was, he scored both, I think the winner was in the last minute after Murphs had missed a bit of a sitter, the header was the equaliser I think, Knight is about 5 foot 3.
 
Utter rubbish. Not fit for purpose. We are all on the autistic spectrum. No excuses he was pants at being a professional footballer.
 
We’ve had more than our fair share of shïte players through the years, but the one thing I can’t abide in a professional footballer is a blatant lack of effort.
 
Tangerinenick said:
Utter rubbish. Not fit for purpose. We are all on the autistic spectrum. No excuses he was pants at being a professional footballer.
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So you think John O’Kane is lying about being autistic because he wants an excuse for not being very good at Blackpool 20 years ago?
 
I remember when he was playing for us, he did a questionable tackle on one of their players and we were pleading with the ref to send him off.
 
foggy said:
So you think John O’Kane is lying about being autistic because he wants an excuse for not being very good at Blackpool 20 years ago?
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No I don’t think he is lying and nowhere do I imply he was. He was though rubbish. Incidentally it has been theorised that Lionel Messi is autistic and no doublt a lot of football players are.
 
foggy said:
So you think John O’Kane is lying about being autistic because he wants an excuse for not being very good at Blackpool 20 years ago?
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No I don’t think he is lying and nowhere do I imply he was. He was though rubbish. Incidentally it has been theorised that Lionel Messi is autistic and no doubt many football players are.
 
Abel said:
Worst right back I've seen play for us, and I can remember precisely which game I formed that opinion at: a 1-0 defeat to Notts County in April 2002. I was only 13 at the time, so pre AVFTT!
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You’ve brought back my PTSD of Notts County away……April ‘04. 3 down at half time - Pedro Matias missing an open goal - Mike Sharon basically saying sorry to the 200 or so fans for his consolation goal - doing that journey On 12 seater mini bus run by the club.

You weren’t there maaaaannnn.
 
Rektseasider said:
You’ve brought back my PTSD of Notts County away……April ‘04. 3 down at half time - Pedro Matias missing an open goal - Mike Sharon basically saying sorry to the 200 or so fans for his consolation goal - doing that journey On 12 seater mini bus run by the club.

You weren’t there maaaaannnn.
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Remember that game well as well. They stuck the Grand National results up on their little scoreboard.
 
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