http://www.skysports.com/story/0,,11095_7095788,00.html I must say i feel abit disapointed with steeds comments at the end of this article. He earned alot of money at our club, playing an average 60 mins a game and hardly ever scoring. Despite that we all loved him and chanted his name, so I wouldve expected him to have a few better memories here than he suggests!
Steed Malbranque has admitted he never intended to stay so long in England after returning to France with St Etienne. The 31-year-old has gone back to France to sign a two-year contract with St Etienne having been lured to Fulham by compatriot Jean Tigana in 2001. Malbranque was merely looking for regular football having become frustrated with his lack of first-team opportunities at Lyon yet he ended up staying in the UK for 10 years, also playing for Tottenham and Sunderland while racking up 335 Premier League appearances. "England was not a priority to me, but rather an opportunity," he told L'Equipe. "I was a 21-year-old and what had been proposed at Lyon didn't become concrete. "It was difficult for me to be on the bench so when I had the opportunity to join Jean Tigana and Christian Damiano at Fulham, I left. "People said that being an exile cost me a place in the French team, but you can't be sure." He continued: "I have loved London. If I didn't move to London when I arrived in England, I don't think I would have stayed so long. "I didn't feel like a stranger because there are a lot of Frenchmen in Kensington or Chelsea. Both cultures "I made a mix of the two cultures. I keep a French seriousness with regards to nutrition and food but I added a British mentality that nothing is taboo - everyone says what he believes and wears what he wants. "At Lyon, I had been abused in the street. In England, no-one ever jumped at me, there is respect. That way of life suits me. "I will miss that English peacefulness. Even though I had contacts in Spain three years ago, I have never been attracted to go somewhere else." Malbranque headed north to join Sunderland in 2008 and after losing some enthusiasm for the game, he could now be set for a new lease of life with St Etienne. Coach Christophe Galtier sold the club to him and Malbranque is looking forward to the prospect of playing in the Geoffroy Guichard Stadium, also known as 'the cauldron'. No fun "At Sunderland, I lost fun on the pitch," he said. "Roy Keane, who signed me, wanted to get inspired by his years at Manchester United. "Steve Bruce came back to an English game. Also, from the North, it was not as easy to go to France so for the very first time I told my agent I wanted to go back. "St Etienne's sport project and my first conversation with the coach were the main reasons. "Then there was the prospect of playing in Le Chaudron, which is like an English stadium Typical footballers.......................
Reckon you done well getting rid to be honest, those comments were a bit nasty to be fair but it seems like a player can't move teams these days without having something negative to say about his former team
He was on our website a month or two ago saying he didnt want to leave and was happy, so these comments truley sum up the ****e footballers come out with! A bit like Darren tosspot Bent
Thing is, we all know he was desperate to stay, he gave a lengthy interview about the fact less than a month ago. He was told to go as he no longer offered enough, and was (supposedly) THE highest paid player at the club (Roy Keane you ****ing ****er). Sour grapes, and such a shame that he's slurred his character after leaving.
Bit disrespectful, but usual for a footballer whose moved clubs. Loyalty in footballers is so rare that it should be a superpower.
I must admit that I too expected more from a player that was taken to the hearts of the clubs fans so much. He was one of the most popular players in a while and those comments are pretty shabby to be fair considerong we have made him a very rich man as well. I do rate Steed as a technically gifted footballer (one of the very best I have ever seen at the SOL) but one with many compromises as well. He wasnt a striker, a winger or a central midfielder. He worked as hard as any player on the pitch and yet he wasnt a fit enough athlete to play more than 70 mins. I have still to see a better controller of a football in the EPL, no matter what pace, angle or direction he was coming at. Great technique. He was very much akin to a 'Beardsley style' of player, who would have relished the player behind the striker role but unfortunately for us, he was a Beardsley without the goals. Any goals. Ziltch. Bugger all. Smashing lad, great footballer, poor comments and IMO, we desreved better than that. However, he's said it, he's gone we have moved on.
He couldn't score,couldn't last a full game,and couldn't leave us with dignity....I am glad he has gone!
to be fair to Steed if this is true then I still applaud the bloke he never moaned during his time at the club and always tried his best. personally I think its a touch of sour grapes, he came out while we were in Germany saying how much he wanted to stay and fight for a spot, sadly for him as with every player at some point its time to move on.
