With the arrival of Queens Park Rangers on Sunday Afternoon, the debate that needs to be discussed is: Will Ex-Hammers such as Ferdinand, Zamora and Green get good receptions at the Boleyn Ground?
We’ll start off nice and easy by stating that all three players enjoyed a great few years each with the Hammers and each to their own left on a good note.
Ferdinand moved to Leeds United for a substantial fee (£18million) which all West Ham fans were happy with. Ferdinand was very passionate and loved playing for West Ham, as he said in his autobiography. I have no queries on whether Rio will get a good reception or not as he left on good terms, never said a bad word about us & like aforementioned he stated that he loved playing for West Ham.
Furthermore, Bobby Zamora was a hero during his time with the club as he obviously scored the Championship Play-Off Final winning goal. Also, he was a loyal servant during his time with us and even when he moved across London to Fulham, he never bad mouthed us either as we’d always treated him with 100% respect and visa versa. He had a point to prove seeing as he played for Tottenham beforehand but he was soon banging in the goals for West Ham so it all come good in the end. He’ll get his usual round of applause and maybe even a song!
On the other hand, Robert Green may not get such a warm welcome from some fans because they only seem to remember how he left the club, not what he did for the club. Green spent 6 loyal years with us, including a season in the Championship, which I must add he didn’t have to stay with us during that 1 year. He saves a number of penalties, as well as some excellent performances like for example; Arsenal Away (1-0 win – Zamora with the loop Lehmann’s head) and Manchester United Away (1-0 win – Argentinian God). The issue the fans have with Green though is how he left – he was offered a good contract by West Ham – he decided to move across London to Queens Park Rangers. Admittedly, he’d say that it was a poor move (if he could) but seeing as it was to another London club, that’s probably the main reason for our fans holding a grudge against him, which in all honesty I don’t get.
We shall see how the 3 Ex-Hammers get treated by our fans on the weekend and let’s just hope for the 3 points that we all so vitally need!