Titus Bramble being spotted training with West Ham has caused quite the stir on social media, with an incredible out pouring of distaste towards his involvement with West Ham United. This is mainly because he’s not a very good footballer- but it’s also because he’s previously been arrested on suspicions of rape while out with his brother (who was found guilty of the crime and sentenced to 4 ½ years in prison.)
The hashtag ‘shesaidno’ was used in many a social media post, as well as a good deal of (admittedly amusing) posts about him being familiar with being on trial. Reading it all, I felt very adamant that we, as a football club, should distance ourselves from him- and then had a thought.
Whilst it was refreshing to see people concerned about getting intertwined with someone of dodgy moral standing, I can’t help but compare this to how overjoyed I’ve been at signing Andy Carroll. You remember him, right- the guy who was charged with the assault of his ex-girlfriend, and punched a random 19 yr old girl in the face on her birthday- giving her the ‘gift’ of eight stiches?
I detest the idea of having a man accused (and not found guilty) of rape at the club, and yet someone who has been accused and charged with abusing women is someone I adore and happily cheer on every week.
We certainly have been involved with plenty of footballers with less than stellar criminal records in the recent past (take Lee Bowyer’s racist attack up in Leeds- such a shame that man happened to fall on the floor right at the same spot he had been repeatedly kicking) and yet I still eagerly cheer them on.
So does this mean that what happens off the pitch isn’t relevant on the pitch? That it’s okay for players to commit crimes provided they are really good footballers, and are not as rubbish as Bramble?
And if you believe what a player has done in his personal time isn’t relevant at work (which is fair enough- I’d hope if I ever got arrested I’d retain my marketing career), where do you draw the line? Could you see yourself cheering on Luke McCormick (who returned to playing football after killing two young boys whilst drunk driving) or are there limits to what you can support?
Personally, I think that there are limits for me, but I have trouble with the fact that I was instantly opposed to Bramble on moral grounds, but not opposed to Carroll. Both were arrested for assaulting a 19 year old girl in Newcastle but there’s only one of them I want playing for my club, and that’s the one who was charged for it. Reason being, of course, that he’s a much better player- but I just can’t help but think there’s something wrong with that.
Hi guys
Your comment regarding Lee Bowyer, he was found NOT guilty, yes like Steven Gerrard, so why does he still get ostracised. Whether we believe him, he was not guilty and yet he still gets called racist, that’s not on.
agreed 100%
Being accused of rape is a very different creature to being found guilty of rape! If you spend a night with a girl consensually who then accuses you of rape in the morning… And then a court finds you not guilty; you should not be tarred with the same brush! Unfortunately it does happen! Having someone at our club who has been accused of rape is completely different to having a convicted rapist at our club
The fact is Bramble shouldn’t be anywhere near our club for simple fact he’s a Cart Horse, we need to carry on improving our team & bramble will take us back a few years……………………F–K OFF BRAMBLE!!!!!!!
Both caroll and bramble are donkeys. i am having a laugh as i wish west ham will give bramble a contract. havin caroll upfront and bramble at d back will send the hammers down to the championship
Big andy had turned a corner in his life. After spending some time with Nolan he got through his dark days and since has calmed down. being up at newcastle with all his nutter friends was no help- now hes settled in London. He’s now happy with life and enjoying himself. So I believe he deserves praise and all the support we can give him to be our man of the season next year. As for bramble- he makes a mistake here and there- big deal- good luck to him in his next club.
Mate you are sad, do you have any optimsiam regaurding WHU ever, do you really support them, it seems that you get off putting them down, gloating in what ever goes wrong, personally every story written by forever whu bores me to tears,get your facts right first, then report, all you do is re~report items in your own opion, you IDIOT !
plz reply x
“all you do is re~report items in your own opion, you IDIOT !”
With all due respect, I write for the ‘Opinion From The Stands’ section- i.e. provide my opinion on recent West Ham news. I’m just doing exactly what it says on the tin!
I may point out that I did not call Bowyer a racist (legally, and I presume personally, he is not one) but the attack he partook in and was a part of involved beating the hell out of someone of another race whilst using derogatory racial slurs- which I believe (and the family of the victim have always maintained) is a ‘racist attack’.
Thank you for your feedback!
Again @emily, he was found not guilty and the lad was said to be English, so how is that racist? We cannot have it either way, either they are or are not English regardless of skin…….. However judge said lee was not at fault…….
It’s a very interesting moral point you make.
It also shows just how fickle most fans are towards players, loved and adored one minute, hated the next …. and their crime? Trying to better themselves with a move to a bigger, higher profile club.
Personally I would prefer if all our players were in bed by 9 and happily married to a lovely girl who didn’t feel the need to be in the papers every day.
It aint gonna happen !!
Emily, I like what you write & you’ve obviously stirred up some feeling with this piece! Personally, I’m not sure you’re comparing like for like. Some offences, although similar and dealt with by the same legislation, are clearly worse than others. Armed robbery & pick pocketing for instance. What Carroll was found guilty of is clearly very wrong but it’s not rape & like it or not people do judge by degree, in fact that’s what you’re asking us to do. We are football fans first and foremost and that’s what’s what’s most important to us. The bottom line is Carroll is a great player & Bramble is possibly the worst defender ever to grace the Premier League.
Ray has a valid point – But I would like just to clarify.
Bramble had the potential to be a great player and became a donkey.
Carroll has the potential to be a great player and could become a donkey.