Jesurun Rak Sakyi is the latest example of a player crossing a rivalry divide and potentially having positive feelings about both clubs.
Away from Charlton. Why is Pat Jennings loved by both Arsenal and Spurs fans and Sol Campbell a pariah at White Hart Lane? Denis Law's last action at Old Trafford was to score against United for City which symbolically sent them down. Yet he now has a statue there.
With Palace we have Mark Bright and John Salako.Indeed Salako even scored for us against his beloved Eagles whereas Brighty seemed to have a genuine love for us despite the fact he works for Palace. Jonny Williams tasted playoff success at both clubs.On a negative point Joe Lesley , Sullay Kaikai and Pape Souare's less than impressive displays for us probably got magnified because they were former Nigel's?
In terms of Millwall we recently saw both sets of fans celebrate the life of Phil Walker and Harry Cripps and Eamon Dunphy both played a role in our promotion in 1974/75.
I find it interesting that some players can transend the rivalries in a way fans can't.
3
Comments
But it is just a job for them
Not do I to be fair, unless it’s someone who you just ‘properly associate’ with a rival club (like Neil Harris).
Never thought twice about taking a player from Palace.
If they had signed for United, not City, it would have been more. Would they have given a fuck? Not if all other things were equal. Remember what Man United's captain did to one of their dads?
I was at the game, I am sure lots of other posters were to, when Alan Smith kissed the badge and was carried round the pitch. He signed for Manchester United weeks later.
Unless your moving from Rangers to Celtic (last happed when? Mo Johnson didnt even move direct), or Liverpool to Man United (last direct transfer was in the 1950s IIRC) It doesn't matter.
Unless you want a pigs head? 🐖 It's a nothing in the grand steam of things. How many players have played for AC and Inter, Barca and Real?
If you refuse to play for Charlton or Palace because you support the other one your an idiot. And if you don't agree don't tell me tell Ryan Inniss.
I think the new lad will give his all to us, because he’ll want to go back to Palace with his head held high, thinking he’s done well here, or it’s all just one big conspiracy theory, and he’s here to send us down the toilet!
But if they're not fans then they don't care. Perfect example last summer was Steven Berghuis who was captain of Feyenoord signing for Ajax. The 2 sides hate each other to the point away fans are banned at their games because of crowd trouble.
He received tons of death threats, had to involve the police and Feyenoord fans even displayed a banner which had 3 names on it. The first 2 were names of people shot dead in Amsterdam, the 3rd name was Berghuis.
He would've known all this, but he still signed.
Johnnie Jackson is an Arsenal fan, but came through the Spurs academy for example. Robert Lee was a West Ham fan, but it was us who gave him his break.
Keith Peacock is a Charlton legend, but Gavin despite growing up in Bexley joined the QPR academy.
So if true they felt a true rivalry.
Players care 100000000x more about trophies and personal achievements in their careers than 'rivalries'.