The thing about this thread is that everybody's right, to some extent...
Of course footballers don't owe anybody anything as their contract winds down (legally, at least), and of course they can do anything they want (legally, at least), and of course they gave lots to their clubs, and in this example, played a BIG role in lots of glory and success. That's all fair. But the club has also played a BIG part in making them what they are today, and of course we as fans expect them to want to stay here (especially when you're local and we're at the top of the tree again), and of course we're allowed to hope for (not expect, but hope for) more than it looks like we're getting in this scenario... Everybody's correct.
It all depends on what angle you're coming from... It may be harsh to some of you and weak to others, but I neither love nor loathe TAA at this point. He's doing nothing "wrong", but he's also diminishing what I thought of him by doing this. I am glad he's been here for most of the past dozen years or so, but once he's gone, I'll not miss him nor hold him in particularly high esteem as a legend of the club - For that, I'd expect more that just doing nothing "wrong".
He's not a rat or a traitor. But nor is he the god he could have become... He's now just a really talented player who's played for us, has done really well for the most part, but had some serious flaws in his makeup, showed the world that his head had been turn for his final 2 years here, and then buggered off to the biggest draw in world football (unless you really are a Liverpool fanatic, that is).
Thing is, all we've heard is that he IS a Liverpool fanatic. And THAT's why I'm so disappointed... Yes, he can go wherever he wants to. But, if he really, truly is a Liverpool fanatic, living his dream, why would he want to?!?!?!?
And he clearly wants to. So, off he'll go, with a bagful of honours, and he'll probably win many more over there...
But he'll no longer be adored like he could have been. And THAT is the sad thing for me.
Thanks for everything. Hope you and your family live long and happy lives.
But that's all.
See ya.