EX-ARSENAL PLAYERS .. LOVE EM OR HATE EM ?!!?

Red Carpet · Post by **Red Carpet** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 9:09 am

Just been discussing Anelka on another thread, after his comments this week the whole idea of him coming back seems to have gone anyway, but alot of fans still feel plenty of anger towards him and wouldn't have wanted to see him return, regardless of whether he would have been a success or not.
Now whilst I can see why people feel this way about Anelka (although I am over it personally), it strikes me that very few ex-Arsenal players get a good reception when they come back to play against us these days.
I don't think that it reflects that well on us as supporters and I for one would advocate a more appreciative response to ex-Arsenal players.
Except Ashley Cole naturally.

Your thoughts ?!?

RaM · Post by **RaM** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 9:15 am

For me it depends on the manner of the players departure.

Cole, for example deserves everything he gets.

There are some young players though I would love to see back and wish we didn't sell at all.

I was going to raise this in its own thread but I'll say here how stupid I think it is that we sell quality young players who would be great here!

The recent and most frustrating in my opinion is Anthony Stokes. He's a brilliant young player. (Irish too). We could see that with what he did at Falkirk last year.

Watch how good he will be for Sunderland and Ireland this year and tell me we shouldn't have kept him.

All_Arsenal_1886 · Post by **All_Arsenal_1886** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 9:18 am

i never disliked any players that have left Arsenal apart from Cashley Ahole and Le Sulk for the reasons both moves were based on money and money alone and once they left the club they slagged the team of as much as they could. but as for other players i have no hard feelings and would wish them the best of luck.

Leigh On Eea Gooner · Post by **Leigh On Eea Gooner** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 9:20 am

excellent question RedCarpets ... David O'Leary was always a good example . the man played over 500 league games for us yet was pretty poorly treated on his return as manager of Leeds . I think this was because he made some comments about Arsenal that weren't overly complimentary... A case by case view seems to be the way forward .. Not sure if Paddy got a good/bad reception when he came back ..It was cluded a bit by us playing very well & winning !!! Who do you have in mind who had bad receptions who you feel should have got a better one.

Red Carpet · Post by **Red Carpet** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 9:27 am

O'Leary is indeed a great example .. he became Manager of Leeds and they were clearly his priority, yet fans took umbridge at the fact his Leeds team in 98/99 tried a little too hard to beat us and effectively denied us the title.
We have had some young players, for example Bentley and Pennant, who didn't really cut it with us so left to try and get first team football. On their return they got roundly booed ?!?. I'm not expecting a love-in but a ripple of applause wouldn't be too much to ask surely ?!?.

Hagbard 23 · Post by **Hagbard 23** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 9:28 am

I think we gave Paddy V a welcome reception when he returned didn't we ? I remember seeing a lot of shirts in the crowd with Vieira on the back.

Red Carpet · Post by **Red Carpet** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 9:30 am

O'Leary is indeed a great example .. he became Manager of Leeds and they were clearly his priority, yet fans took umbridge at the fact his Leeds team in 98/99 tried a little too hard to beat us and effectively denied us the title.
We have had some young players, for example Bentley and Pennant, who didn't really cut it with us so left to try and get first team football. On their return they got roundly booed ?!?. I'm not expecting a love-in but a ripple of applause wouldn't be too much to ask surely ?!?.

Leigh On Eea Gooner · Post by **Leigh On Eea Gooner** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 9:40 am

I can't really understand why young players who have left get a hard time . bentley - pennant ( a wasted talent at Arsenal thou ) - Stokes & Sidwell have done nothing wrong in my eyes. They left for regular first team football . I'd prefer if someone like Alialadire would just leave & say thanks very much for the opportunity rather then whinging about not enough chances int he first team...

Merse always got a good reception ..

mattbanger · Post by **mattbanger** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 9:42 am

i think the young english player who left due to le boss's ethnic clensing should be given a good reception as it ultimately wasn't their fault that they wanted to play first team football and have a successful career, and not just rot on the bench because of their english passports! i love it when arsene says that he doesn't mind what it says on their passports! what a joke we are the least english club in the league!!! and we miss that git that won us championships!!

For Le Sulk! i always hated him from the first moment i saw his misrable little face and was soooooo glad we sold him for a shed load of dough!! I think i have the same relationship with Hleb!! God i hate him!!!

And for Cashley Hole!! well he could have been a true Arsenal Legend as he was last of a dying breed of young english players that have worked through the so called fantastic youth system!! But we seem to have to buy are young talent!!

I just hope that Justin Hoyte continues to get first team football or he will be off and i already fear for the future of Matthew Connolly as i really cant see him returning to play for the mighty gooners which is a shame as he reminds me so much of a young tony adams!! well a hell of alot more than PS6 i cant believe he was given that number!!

Shocking!

donaldo · Post by **donaldo** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 10:14 am

The reason why Gooners hate O"Leary was the way he celebrated on the pitch in 1999 when Leeds stopped us winning the league and handed the title to their bitterest rivals Manure. After we gave him two testimonials it was a kick in the teeth to all Gooners.I will never forgive him for that.The same as i will never forgive greedy Cashley.

GoonerBen · Post by **GoonerBen** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 10:20 am

Not really bothered about the Pennants, Sidwells, Inamotos of this world, they shouldent be booed though
Theres a few such as

Cashley

and

Le Sulk

who are c**ts, straight up so they deserve to get booed until they retire
Anyone else whos been playing for us for a few years and left on good terms, especially a legend such as Viera

deserve a good clap, its only fair

Red Carpet · Post by **Red Carpet** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 10:23 am

He was their manager !! .. beating us is clearly going to be quite special given his history with club.

If you left your work place of 20 years, for example, and played against your old company you would love to get one over on them. Its not bitterness, just natural given your association.

Jsut think it would give us a bit of class to show a bit of appreciation. Yes, there are exceptions, Ashley clearly being one of them, but I don't care for abuse for abuses sake, which I think we have seen in the past.

jesper arnsbjerg · Post by **jesper arnsbjerg** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 10:28 am

Shoot some Tottenham Fans instead, it should be fun

Leigh On Eea Gooner · Tue Jul 10, 2007 10:29 am

I think he may have been better advised to stay off the pitch & celebrate although my memorey isn't as good as some of the other people on this forum . I agree , he was working for new employers etc but a bit of restraint would have been a better option.... I presume Kanu & lauren will get good receptions.

U.F.G Anfield '89 · Post by **U.F.G Anfield '89** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 10:34 am

ALWAYS HERE TO POUR SOME KEROSENE ON THE FLAMES: ARE YOU JOKING ABOUT HENRY DESERVING TO BE BOOED UNTIL RETIREMENT AND GIVE VIERA A GOOD RECEPTION. HENRY LEFT BECAUSE THE CLUB WAS NOT INVESTING IN MORE PLAYERS, HE'S GETTING NEAR RETIREMENT AGE AND WANTS TO COMPLETE HIS TROPHY SET, HE IS OUR RECORD SCORER AND IS THE REASON WHY WHE WON THE DOUBLE IN '02 AND WENT UNBEATEN IN '04, I FOR ONE AM GLAD HE STAYED AS LONG AS HE DID AND WILL BE GIVING HIM A GREAT DEAL OF APPLAUSE IF HE EVER RETURNS TO THE GROVE. AS FOR VIERA HE SPENT SEVERAL SEASONS THREATENING TO LEAVE UNLESS HE GOT MORE MONEY, AND TO TOP IT ALL ENCOURAGED CASHLEY TO BE EVEN MORE OF A GREEDY BASTARD AT THE SAME TIME THOUGH I AGREE THAT HE GAVE A LOT TO THE CLUB, THE TWO THINGS CANCEL EACHOTHER OUT AND I WILL THEREFORE STAY SILENT IF HE EVER PLAYS US AGAIN, AS FOR CASHLEY, NO HOLDS WILL BE BARRED.

there; spleen vented.