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Transfer targets

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The big game of the weekend provided a talking point that EVERY football fan will have an opinion on.

It's not the form of Rio, the brilliance of Torres or if Liverpool can manage without Gerrard, but should we ever boo old players and in this case, did Michael Owen deserve the treatment he got from the Liverpool fans?

Before we look into 'Owen's return', let's delve through various transfers that have happened in the top flight and discuss the treatment they received.

Three very important factors on gauging the reception will be
1) The player's contribution whilst at the club
2) How the player left the club and
3) Who they transfer to

The obvious example is Adebayor 'returning' to play Arsenal. I think it's fair to say that there is no love lost between the fans and the player. Both will cite wrongs done to try and justify their actions during the return.

Adebayor was Arsenal's leading scorer for the 07/08 season with 30 goals in all competitions. Great return from 48 games.

The Arsenal fans would have been licking their lips at the thought of 'Manny' linking up with the injury plagued Van Persie to form a fantastic, lethal partnership for the 08 season. It never materialised and this is what got on the Arsenal fan's nerves... 'Once he thought AC Milan were interested in him, he became lazy and didn’t want to play for us anymore.'

The 'beauty' had become the 'beast' and cracks in the love affair were beginning to show. Performances on the pitch were no longer spectacular and the goals dried up (16 goals in 38 appearances).

He should have been awarded legendary status alongside Bastin, Wright and Henry. Not for ability or total goals scored but eight goals in eight games against arch rivals Tottenham are what dreams are made of. (Not to mention one of them winning Match of the Day 'Goal of the Season'.)

But where did it all go so wrong for Adebayor and why? See above point 2.

Jermaine Defoe and Peter Crouch both got the 'point 2' treatment on recent return to Fratton Park but when Emile Heskey went back to Anfield (for the first time as a Villa player) his appearance as a sub was greeted with an ovation (see point 1 and 2).

The same can be said for Robbie Keane playing at Liverpool but this time in the Spurs colours. He didn't celebrate when he scored and will always be welcome at Anfield. The acrimonious split was not at all blamed or leveled at him so this is why the Liverpool fans clapped him after his goal.

Joleen Lescott is in for a torrid afternoon when he goes back to Goodison, again (see point 2).

Look at 'point 3'. This is an interesting one. Frank Lampard and Joe Cole both left West Ham for Chelsea. The former gets booed and the latter a hero's welcome. So it’s not just playing for a rival but HOW it came about. In this case point 3 has sub clauses.

All the examples I thought about seem to come back to a great contribution counting for nothing if company is parted on bad terms.

Michael Owen. Without a doubt one of Liverpool's all time greatest strikers. 160 goals in 300 appearance over 8 seasons (played two games in ‘96-’97), staring role in 2001 virtually winning the F.A Cup single handedly and collecting a Uefa and Carling Cup winners' medal and also named recipient of the Ballon d’Or (European player of the year).

Not bad for a 21-year-old. So how can a CV like that result in a player being booed from the terraces that you were once cheered from?

Whether through an oversight or in an intentional move, Michael made a HUGE faux pas when he said he was leaving Liverpool 'to play for the biggest club in the world'. Oooops.

We all know Real Madrid are a massive club, but to Liverpool fans 'we are the biggest'. Just like fans of Manchester United, AC Milan or Barcelona would feel.

I believe this is the reason he was booed. If he had ended up at Manchester United via Newcastle and Real without the faux pas, he may not have got a welcome like Robbie Fowler, but I doubt it would've been as bad as Sunday.

Yes, Manchester United and Liverpool have a serious rivalry but Teddy Sheringham played for two of West Ham's most disliked in Millwall and Spurs and he NEVER got a reception like that. So it’s not just about who you played or play for. The fans say treat us with respect and we will do the same.

Before I go, I know one thing, Arsenal v Manchester City at the Emirates is going to be a long afternoon for Adebayor. But Arsenal fans beware, the barracking may inspire him. Again.

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comment by fedupwithelvs (U13832064)

posted 3 Weeks Ago

Now we live in this political correct world all fans should just sit down watch the game say nothing and go home.
This saves offending anyone and avoids a night in the cells.
Going to a football match soon will be like having a picnic in a graveyard. Dont chew too loud you might offend the ghost of football past present and future.

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comment by Woosie (supporter since 58... nostalgia's not what in used to be!) (U10866003)

posted 3 Weeks Ago


I DON'T THINK THIS KIND OF DEBATE SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED ON 606!

It doesn't achieve anything.

doh

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comment by shotstopboy (U11107556)

posted 3 Weeks Ago

spoony go and fly off to button moon we pay good money to see are teams play and a bit of booing and swearing at former players does not hurt any decent loyal fan

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comment by Geordie1980 (U9457608)

posted 3 Weeks Ago

I gather your not the brightest moderator Spoony, because when Newcastle United play Manchester United again after our promotion, Owen will get booed off every single Geordie. Not only was Owen's performance terrible, I mean some blinding chances and he screwed up like at Fulham, not only did he go to one of Newcastle's arch enemies\x rival. But he didn't say anything about us getting relagated been our x captain, he should have said something. But no, he does but him before others, and doesn't really care for anyone except himself. Country is first with him, and fair enough Country is important, but club should always be important too, that's who pays his wages at the end of the day.

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comment by dandy_01 (U14200435)

posted 3 Weeks Ago

Difficult one spoony, as football fans we show unwave commitment and passion to our chosen club. This cost thousands, in return all we ask for is commitment from our players. When a play shows contentment for the club, then it hard to take. I understand that players have goals and want to win trophys but leaving a club has to be done in a dignified way - not in the media but honestly and open.

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comment by Leeboy3000 (U14046054)

posted 3 Weeks Ago

Richard "Owen was never that popular with Liverpool fans because he came to prominence for Team England before them. Plus he's a middle class Cheshire boy & didn't do the working-class Scouse scally routine like Fowler. The inverted snobs on the Kop could never handle that. Having said that, he's also a self-obsessed spoilt brat & I don't blame the Kop for booing; all he cares about is Michael Owen, Michael Owen & Michael Owen, in that order. I bet Liverpool fans aren't exactly gutted, anyway; he's never been 1/2 the player Torres is."

I agree with most of that except I don't think the booing has anything to do with class. In my oinion these are the main reasons:

1. He ALWAYS put England ahead of Liverpool. He was known as "England's Michael Owen"

2. He didn't put it in during Houllier's last season and then left "to win trophies and play for the biggest team in the world". The next season, he hardly played , won nothing and the reds won the European Cup.

3. He signed for Manchester United. Of all the clubs in Europe - them! And now he says he dreams of being successful for united rather than England. He didnt think that way when he was at Liverpool.

I think it's fair to say that (unlike say, West Ham) Livepool fans do not boo all ex players that decided to move on. BUT the difference with Owen is his attitude during his Liverpool years and since and the manner in which he left. Yes he was a top player for us but let's not get carried away. He was paid top whack to score goals. He wasnt doing us a favour.

Plus the booing wasn't hateful or sinister. It was just to let him know he will never be a legend with the fans...

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comment by fedupwithelvs (U13832064)

posted 3 Weeks Ago

A pantomine boo does no harm. You should go to more pantomines at xmas and get in the spirit of things.
Of course its ok to Boo so long as its done in fun. Thats what a Boo is suppsed to be fun. Is fun still legal I have not checked recently.

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comment by wriggydean (U13726950)

posted 3 Weeks Ago

all i can say is, marlon king should never be able to play pro football again!! wat he did to those girls is a right mess!! how that football pro said he would bk him up and give him a chance wen he gets out is a joke!! wat he did werent a mistake, to do somthing like tht is in his blood! he just got caught. people like that are ,like i say, just like that, people like that dont change, after wat he did, he deserves nothing, especialy a pro footy contract!! he should of got 5 years in jail!

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comment by Leeboy3000 (U14046054)

posted 2 Weeks Ago

wriggydean, think you got the wrong blog mate

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comment by wriggydean (U13726950)

posted 2 Weeks Ago

u all make me laugh, newcastle fans, a top striker needs ac good team behind them, owen didnt have a good team behind him at newcastl!! without the injuries he had all his career, owen would of been hot hot hot!! and torres better, never!! look at the team he got behind him! well, nowadays,m kind off a team,. lmao!!

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