The Burning Question: Does Nicolas Anelka deserve a good reception from Bolton fans?
Friday December 5th, 2008
Wanderers’ assistant manager has called for calm ahead of Chelsea’s visit, but was it really necessary?
What started out as a question buried away at the end of a long interview with Chris Evans, Gary Megson’s assistant, on bwfc.co.uk, has ended up becoming the defining narrative in the build-up to Chelsea’s visit this weekend.
Will Bolton Wanderers fans boo Nicolas Anelka?
I guess this was inevitable. I wrote earlier this season about how Bolton surviving relegation last year rather ruined the media’s pre-prepared line that selling Anelka in January was tantermount to Premier League suicide by Phil Gartside.
Phil Thompson was pushing this line for months on Sky Sports.
Nevertheless, an Anelka goal for Chelsea this weekend would allow the media a little revenge, which I suspect is why they’re setting it up quite nicely with lots of debate on this issue: see Sky Sports, Manchester Evening News and The Guardian.
To me it’s a bit of a no-brainer. Anelka’s name was chanted regularly by Bolton fans throughout the game at Stamford Bridge last season.
The only thing that might have changed since then is the fact that Bolton have now issued a High Court order against Nicolas Anelka over a breach of contract regarding image rights.
Has this silly squabble over image rights and money changed your view of Anelka? Will you boo him this weekend or will he still get a good reaction from Bolton fans? Have your say in the comment box below...
Chris Evans, Gary Megson
3 Comments to The Burning Question: Does Nicolas Anelka deserve a good reception from Bolton fans?
Fantastic player!!!i will never BOO and ex player.
He left on good terms.Thats says it all.
GeoffDecember 5, 2008
Well you’re right when you say “To me it’s a bit of a no-brainer.”
It’s not even worthy of a subject heading. Anelka deserves a good reception, and there’s absolutely no doubt he’ll get one.
Nothing has changed in my mind, it was a pleasure to have him at the club. It’s part of the modern game that if a player does well every club will cash in on them at some point.This was inevitable even from the day he signed for us. As for courtroom wranglings between the club etc, leave them to it. The fans appreciate what he did for us and they will show that on Saturday as they did at the bridge. You may get the od moron booing him but there probably the same ones that boo’d Tal Ben Haim when we played City, why? get over it and grow up!
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December 5, 2008