With the rumour going round today that James Tomkins had handed in a transfer request (I was crying into my Special K), I had a think about the ex players that really left a bad taste in fans mouths when they left the Hammers. Thankfully, the Tomkins rumour was cleared on Sky Sports News, but what three West Ham old boys really stuck the boot in when they left?
Paul Ince – OK, so everyone knows what he did. How could he wear another team’s shirt when he hadn’t even left the Irons yet? Especially a Manchester United shirt. AND when he claimed to have grown up as a West Ham fan! Ince claims innocence, saying his agent took the photo so that when the transfer was completed Ince wouldn’t have to come back from holiday to pose in a Man U shirt. Whether or not that’s true, it has made him very unpopular with Hammers to this day.
Jermain Defoe – Oh, Jermain. You let me down so badly. Less than 24 hours after West Ham had been relegated, Defoe decided to hand in a transfer request, much to the disgust of fans and fellow players. He said: As much as I love West Ham United I feel that now is the right time for me to move on in my career. This is very much a career decision. I am very ambitious and hungry to achieve at the highest levels of the game for both club and country.” Well we all know that wasn’t the right time to do it! Jermain will always be known as a Judas around Upton Park, and didn’t exactly have a swansong, being sent off 3 times in his last 6 months with us.
Frank Lampard Junior – When uncle Harry Redknapp and father Frank Lampard Sr were sacked, Lampard Junior used this as an excuse to say that he would never play for West Ham again. Glenn Roeder (remember him?!), our manager at the time, tried to convince Lamps to stay but he couldn’t be persuaded. In my eyes, this was used by Lampard Jr as an escape clause so that he could move on to a different club. When he secured a move to Chelsea for £11 million, he rubbed salt in the wound of Hammers by saying he was now at a ‘big club’ who had better fans. Well jog on Fat Frank, we love to hate you!
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Whoever wrote this post is an idiot. Im a whu season ticket holder for at least 10 years and im 21 so almost half my life i have been following west ham.
Defoe and ince fair enough, how can u say that about lampard. If your old man and uncle where sacked for no reason could you carry on working their or enjoying their. West ham board made mistake of sacking Harry and Frank Snr look where Harry is now and look where west ham are. no1 has ever replaced Harry and Frank jnr has become a great player and premier league legend.
Josh if you were a ticket holder then you would of witnessed the reception Fat Frank gets on his return to UP! Plus he always goes out of his way to put down the club and us fans!
As for old Saggyface…I would rather West Ham had kept hold of Pards!
Ps I would put Lampard first!
Yeah course probably one of the worst receptions an ex player gets at WHU. i just dont think its jusitfied. I aint heard him slag off whu fans but if he does then its only fair due to the recpetion/stick he gets.still made 11mil off a homegrown player in 2001. where did the money from that and rio deal go. should of been re-invested into the team.
fair play, i just look at it from the other side. i wouldnt wanna play for west ham if they done that to my family.
good point about pards probably the best manager since redknapp.