Back in June after he had just watched England lose 3-1 to the Netherlands in the UEFA Nations League semifinals, little-known striker Tom Pope talked shit about defender John Stones’ performance for the Three Lions, calling him weak as piss.
Seven months later, Pope backed up those words.
Pope, a 34-year-old forward who plays for Port Vale in League Two, scored in his first opportunity to go up against John Stones in an FA Cup third-round match with Manchester City.
The goal wasn’t nearly enough to prevent a 4-1 victory for the reigning Premier League champs on Saturday. But who the hell cares when Pope became a Twitter legend with one goal?
Before the match Saturday at the Etihad, Pope said he’d try to rough Stones up. But it was his comments tweeted out in June that City coach Pep Guardiola derided as disrespectful.
Just watched the highlights of the England game! I know I’m a league 2 player, I know he plays for England, I know he’s on £150k a week, I know he’s a million times better player than me but I’d love to play against John Stones every week! I’d get 40 a season! #soft #weakaspiss
— Tom Pope (@Tom_Pope9) June 7, 2019
While Pope will never get a chance to line up against Stones every week, he did get his chance for one match in the FA Cup. And based on this one game, he certainly hit the pace of 40 goals per season.
Though City took the lead through a deflected effort from Oleksandr Zinchenko, Pope equalized in the 35th minute.
Tom Pope Goal vs Man City
He's talked the talk, now he's walking the walk #EmiratesFACup @OfficialPVFC pic.twitter.com/imOUFGDaid
— The Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 4, 2020
Pope didn’t beat Stones on the play, but the English defender didn’t do anything to help prevent the goal. Instead Pope abused Taylor Harwood-Bellis, who at 17 years old is half the age of Pope.
Here’s another replay of the Tom Pope goal vs Man City, in case the above video doesn’t work in your region:
Of course, City was always going to win this match. Sergio Aguero netted a deflected winner in the 42nd minute and Harwood-Bellis and Phil Foden tacked on second-half goals for a comfortable win.
But that didn’t stop Pope from taking one more jab at Stones after the match.
Sorry I can’t reply to everyone it’s gone mental! I’d just like to say I was completely wrong and bang out of order to say I’d score 40 a season..... it’s more like 50 enjoy your weekend
— Tom Pope (@Tom_Pope9) January 4, 2020
Here are City’s four goals, for the curious.
#EmiratesFACup @ManCity pic.twitter.com/Ss1xrzoBsG
— The Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 4, 2020
Yet another #EmiratesFACup goal for @ManCity's Sergio Agüero pic.twitter.com/iGrD3FKnH7
— The Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 4, 2020
A goal on his #EmiratesFACup debut for @ManCity's rising star Taylor Harwood-Bellis pic.twitter.com/dZL3Ok8c5X
— The Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 4, 2020
They make it look so easy @PhilFoden gets his well-deserved goal for @ManCity!#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/N4oEybmJnW
— The Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 4, 2020
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