I used to hate him, couldn't stand him and said some right nasty things about him on BM in the past 15 years or so
However that was because of what and who he represented. Since his retirement I have seen a much nicer side to him.
One was helping Paul Lake out, he showed a kindness, when he had no need to. He's also done unpaid work for the NHS in gratitude for his CVA treatment and heard other nice stories.
Another thing that strikes me is you never heard any bad "out of work" stories about him, apart from the diarrhoea story and some pissed up tramp. You'd expect at least several for such a nasty character, yet nothing, maybe I'm wrong and someone will say he ate their puppy? Joking apart if you look at Jose, you'll understand where I'm coming from, with his eye poking and sexism.
He's not the devil we like to think he is, in fact he seems a genuine guy, a winner and someone I wished we'd had, sadly he went to them and the rest is history.
I don't regret our past, but growing up with just one failed FA cup attempt was a bit, well, shit.