I was watching Butch Wilkins during the United vesus Fulham game and it got me thinking about how ex-Chelsea players feel about us now.

Let's say that I'm a Spanish player who has never played for us and might not even know much about us. Now he's playing against us in, say, the Champions league, and I can see that he will be 100% happy if his team beat us.

Now imagine a premier league player who grew up supporting us but plays for another prmiership team and beats us. Still 100%? Maybe 96%

But then how about Mata?

And how about Didier?

Is there a sliding scale here? Or does every player have a 100% happiness for their new team?

Something like "I respect and love Chelsea and my time there, but I am ...."

I think the fact that often ex-players will not celebrate when scoring against their old team suggests there is a sliding scale.

So if that is true, on a scale of 1 to 10, how happy would Drogba be if they beat us, with 1 being not happy?

Where would Benitez be?

How about Zola when with West Ham?

Maybe it can't be reduced to a scale? Maybe there is no real conflict?

I too have thought about this. You just have to wonder what would be going through their heads. Obviously, they are professionals and want the team that pays their wages to win...but it is human nature to hold places where you have spent a lot of time (ie. a former football club) in your heart. Drogba would be aiming to win no doubt but I can't see him celebrating. Benítez, as he said before the game against Liverpool last season, would have wanted to win, Zola too. After the game however, the memories would probably come back and you would spare a thought for your old team-mates (as Eiður Guðjohnsen did for us when Barça knocked us out of the semi-finals in 2009). Former players may be supporters of their old clubs too...as long as they are not playing them.

A great example, he looked genuine about it. 

 

Players who grew up supporting their club (like Wilshire at Arsenal for example)......if he moved to another premier league club he may find it tough.

In my opinion Mata will have the most sentiment with his ex team mates first and foremost, fans second, club last.

Mata's body language after the draw at Fulham suggests it has all just hit him now and he may already regret his decision.

Edited February 11, 201412 yr by Zola

I want to see Torres' reaction when(or sadly if) he scores against Liverpool. He was so close in the last game as well...

 

I don't see Drogba ever celebrating against us as he is a Chelsea legend, but as for Mata, he was only with us for 2.5 seasons so as time goes on and he becomes more known as a United player, I can see him celebrating against us as if he never knew us.

Drogba's mentality is to win, as we have been ever so lucky to witness in the manier years we had the pleasure. He'll want to win 100% but it won't give him much joy I feel, i.e. knocking us out. He certainly wouldn't celebrate as stated already above.

It's funny, neither SWP or Sturridge celebrated against us... Considering how long they were with us for and how often they played, I wouldn't have been 'upset' if they had.

The no celebrating this is a tough one, a lot of people think you're pathetic if you get upset - but if Didi whacked one in in the 93rd minute to send them through and he celebrated I'd be flippin' well hurt. IMO the reason why they don't celebrate is purely because of the fans, they probably couldn't care less about the rest of the club.

Players are to egotistic to really care.

I want to see Torres' reaction when(or sadly if) he scores against Liverpool. He was so close in the last game as well...

 

I don't see Drogba ever celebrating against us as he is a Chelsea legend, but as for Mata, he was only with us for 2.5 seasons so as time goes on and he becomes more known as a United player, I can see him celebrating against us as if he never knew us.

 

I dont see Torres celebrating if he scores against Liverpool neither do i see Mata celebrating against us.

I think it really depends on the player and the relationship he had with the club.

 

There are lots of examples of ex players who still strongly support the club.  Wilkins is a good example.  He was at Utd and Milan but I'd say he associates himself with us first and foremost.

 

It won't happen, but if Frank scored against us he wouldn't celebrate and he'd mean it.

 

The Jimmy Floyd goal was a great moment.  The whole ground was singing his name after he scored.  I'm sure that doesn't happen very often.

 

If Didier scores I would not be surprised if it happened again - unless it was a lat minute winner of course.  I hope we win the tie in the first leg so that the home game will be like a testimonial for him.

Players are to egotistic to really care.

 

If Joe Cole was to ever score against us i am sure he wouldn't celebrate. I don't believe players are to egotistical to care.

I want to see Torres' reaction when(or sadly if) he scores against Liverpool. He was so close in the last game as well...

 

I don't see Drogba ever celebrating against us as he is a Chelsea legend, but as for Mata, he was only with us for 2.5 seasons so as time goes on and he becomes more known as a United player, I can see him celebrating against us as if he never knew us.

if Torres doesn't Adebayor it all the way up the pitch and knee-slide in front of the Kop i would be very disappointed. they would lose their sh*t, and fully deserve it after all the stick theyve given him since he left

I think only last year Torres came out and said he wouldn't celebrate if he scored against them.

 

I remember because my dipper friends laughed for nigh on half an hour at the thought of him actually scoring.

i would love to ask gallas! 

Players who grew up supporting their club (like Wilshire at Arsenal for example)......if he moved to another premier league club he may find it tough.

In my opinion Mata will have the most sentiment with his ex team mates first and foremost, fans second, club last.

Mata's body language after the draw at Fulham suggests it has all just hit him now and he may already regret his decision.

 

 

Jack Wilshere is West Ham!

 

Good thread though. Mata would never celebrate against us he has too much class. An ex-player has every right to celebrate a goal against their ex-club UNLESS they were revered by their old supporters OR if their ex supporters have given them i.e.. RVP v Arsenal last season

Lets get something right here, i would bet my house that Torres will never score against Liverpool while being a Chelsea player so we dont need to think about what he would do.

As for Mata, he is a smart guy and knows how loved he was by the fans. I think one day he will score agaisnt us but wont celebrate.

Drogba, im not sure if he will want to score. When we played his old team in the CL he played sh*t. How ever this is now the knock out round so it may be a bit different. If he does go on and score he wont celebrate either.

Same goes for Joe Cole. Joe still loves Chelsea from what we hear. Im sure his pikey team mates would go wild but i dont think Joe would react at all.

I personally love it when our ex players show us fans respect in this way. We give them so much support so its nice to get something back like that.

I lost a lot of respect for Gudjohnson after he scored against us for Barca. He use to be my favourite player also.

Jack Wilshere is West Ham!

Good thread though. Mata would never celebrate against us he has too much class. An ex-player has every right to celebrate a goal against their ex-club UNLESS they were revered by their old supporters OR if their ex supporters have given them i.e.. RVP v Arsenal last season

I was told by a gooner he was an Arsenal fan as a kid!!

My two cents:

 

Butch Wilkins and Pat Nevin are former players who will defend us to the hilt; always have, always will. To a certain extent, Gullit also does so.

 

Then there are the likes of Andy Townsend, who never hesitates to stick it in; never has a good word to say about us.

 

I think it all comes down to (a) whether the players left us in positive or negative circumstances, and (b) whether they are gentlemen or twats. I think country of birth has very little to do with it.

 

Cheers,

 

Butch

I dont see Torres celebrating if he scores against Liverpool neither do i see Mata celebrating against us.

I don't see Torres scoring against Liverpool.

I can see Didier playing bad on purpose against us. I truly believe a huge part of him is still Chelsea.

On a bit of a side note , Bert Murray (ex chelsea from 60s) runs my local and he says best club you could ever play or have played for. The boozer is full of all his old photos etc