I always find it hard letting go of players who have done so much for the club and the city’s community. He always had time for the kids. Hugging them, signing their shirts, having pictures taken with them, just making them happy.
How are we going to replace such a lovely personality and global superstar?
I couldn’t find the comment, but at the time we signed him I can remember a pundit saying that he expected him to provide assists from the wings rather than goals. He scored 44 goals in his first season here!
Those first years were fucking unreal. Whenever he received the ball , even if it was in our own half , there was an expectation that it would end up in the back of the net. I can’t honestly remember feeling that level of sense of excitement with any other player and I’ve been watching us for 50 years now.
But tbh , the last year , and this season especially , has been painful to watch. It’s not just the physical decline , it’s as if he’s just lost all confidence in himself , for whatever reason (s). It’d be great to see him go out with a bang now and save something from this most disappointing of seasons. And whetever his exploits on the pitch he easily occupies a place , along with Jurgen , in that most coveted of categories ; Wonderful human being.
I mind when he 1st signed i predicted that he would go onto been a club legend who would lead us to numerous trophies and be 1 of clubs top scorers, and win a few individual awards for his brilliance.
Geez, missed this until now! Massive news. One of our best ever strikers will depart…
I’ve nothing but love and respect for him. What a player he has been for us! I’ll always follow what comes next for him with interest. He’s not only an exceptional footballer, but also a decent man. 100% legend.
I think it’s the right time for him to leave.Hes not been doing it this season but he was till recently so it’s not a long drawn out end to his time with us. If this form went into next season it may lead to criticism that really leaves a bad taste. It would be great if he could finish with a flourish so we can once again see him at his best and remind us what we are going to miss.
Truely deserving of his legendary status and an absolute pleasure to have cheered him on over the best part of a decade.
That late, late goal he scored from an Allison kick out against utd at Anfield January 2020 was when we all knew we were going to win the league. That will live with me forever.
I would presume they had been negotiating the terms of termination and they agreed to go public upon that agreement being reached. I certainly dont think this was a unilateral decision, not the way it played out over the official media channels.
I’ll say goodbye to him at the end of the season, we still have games to go. If this lifts the shackles a bit or sees some return of the old form then.
Lets face it some of his finishing isn’t down to his age,