Rocastle - Let Go Too Early?

[markyp]

i know its been some 21 years since GG sold Rocky to Leeds but even so it still bugs the hell out of me,not just because he should have been a gooner for life but also because the way his career fell away after he left us.ok i know he was sold because he had dodgy knees but so what,does that make a player a liabilty??lots of players have had dodgy knees but have gone on to fulfill their careers, Paul Mcgrath springs to mind as does Ledley king(although fair enough he has now had to retire).Rocky had red and white blood running through his veins and in being sold was shown the ultimate disrespect by the club,also he was a very rare commodity at the time,a player who had great vision,balance,technique and who could score goals,he surely had the ability to have walked into any of Arsene's teams,his miserly amount of england caps only rub more salt into the wound.to this day i just cant help but think that had he stayed at Arsenal he would have gone on to be an even better player and bigger legend than he is.dodgy knees so what, for me he was an asset who should have been looked after by the club until no longer deemed good enough not a liability,thoughts please gents.i know theres a similar thread about players whos careers fell away but i think Rocky deserves a special thread

[Chippy]

We've had dozens of Rocky threads over the years.

[markyp]

We've had dozens of Rocky threads over the years.

i thought that but you cant get bored of talking about Rocky

[QuartzGooner]

He played fairly well in a new central midfield position as opposed to his previous wide right position, just before we sold him; but if you see how he played for others once he had left, it was clear he far from being the player he was in 1989.

[nut flush gooner]

I dont have a problem talking about rocky, he was one of the last generation of players that cared about the club. With this current lot I can only identify with wilshere, he actually looks like he cares and never hides.

Going back to rocky, I remember him scoring vs boro in 1989 at home, picked up the ball on the half way line took on half the boro team and coolly slotted the ball in the net. The ref shook his hand after that sublime bit of skill, those where the days.

[MK Gould]

Let's be honest. We remember Rocky because he was a good gooner who died far too young. But if he was still alive (& I wish he was!) then he'd have been long forgotten.

As a player he had some very good moments. But he wasn't one of the greats.....

[supergeorgegraham]

Between 1997 and 1991 he was one of the greats because he scored amazing goals and was a flair player that we had not had for a while.
It was the injury that ruined his career and it was over by the time he was sold. Those that watched the rebirth of Arsenal FC saw that man play his heart out every game and become a crucial part of hard as nails Arsenal team.

[MK Gould]

Between 1997 and 1991 he was one of the greats because he scored amazing goals and was a flair player that we had not had for a while.
It was the injury that ruined his career and it was over by the time he was sold. Those that watched the rebirth of Arsenal FC saw that man play his heart out every game and become a crucial part of hard as nails Arsenal team.

Think you mean "1987 and 1991...."?

According to wiki, he scored 23 goals in 228 games for us. That is an ok return for a midfielder I agree, and I have some really great memories of him playing for us (none more so than the League Cup semi final replay at WHL!!!). But I still wouldn't consider him as one of the greats....

[I Hate Hleb]

Changed the title of this thread because putting the word 'liability' next to David Rocastle's name - in whatever context - didn't sit right with me.

[DB10GOONER]

Changed the title of this thread because putting the word 'liability' next to David Rocastle's name - in whatever context - didn't sit right with me.

Well played, Hlebby.

[kiwomya]

How long before it turns out it was Wengers fault that Rocky left?

[flash gunner]

How long before it turns out it was Wengers fault that Rocky left?

Snidey bastard had a hand in things when Graham was in charge

[northbank123]

How long before it turns out it was Wengers fault that Rocky left?

Snidey bastard had a hand in things when Graham was in charge

Wenger and his fucking alter-ego Rune Hauge

[goonersid]

Let's be honest. We remember Rocky because he was a good gooner who died far too young. But if he was still alive (& I wish he was!) then he'd have been long forgotten.

As a player he had some very good moments. But he wasn't one of the greats.....

^
In a nutshell MK.

[DB10GOONER]

Let's be honest. We remember Rocky because he was a good gooner who died far too young. But if he was still alive (& I wish he was!) then he'd have been long forgotten.

As a player he had some very good moments. But he wasn't one of the greats.....

Don't agree, MK. He was a very good player, and at a time in the game when it was open season on flair midfielders for twats like Vinnie Jones. Rocky could pick out a sweet pass, could run with the ball and he was a fighter. Sure, he might not have been the Messi of his day, but I don't think too many have ever tried to make that out.

I don't think he'd have been forgotten because he was a key part of those successful GG teams and players from winning teams are never forgotten.