Nicky Reid, a City fan growing up, maybe not the most naturally gifted but certainly got stuck in, at the time I thought he was 'hard as fuck'. Like you I was gutted when he left, I seem to remember John Bond thinking his son Kevin was the better option.At the time it was being mentioned, Nicky Reid, was absolutely gutted, even went down to the ground to give the club a mouthful, managed to get in and sat in the directors box thinking about what my next move should be whilst watching a guy jog around the outside of the pitch, and all of a sudden I realised, it was actually Nicky himself, was just about to shout “tell em to FRO Nicky”, when he looked up and just glared at me, so I just thought “fuck you, you fuckin mofo” and left.
Since then, never really bothered too much about players leaving, SWP was the exception to a minor degree I think, but things move on in football.
Steve Mackenzie was another one from that era, thought he had a bright future at the club. (he went to WBA too, the same club that Owen and Barnes went to a couple of years earlier) Maybe I just remember the brilliant volley in the cup final replay in 81 and the winning goal against the rags at Maine Road, as I don't remember much of his career after he left us.
Most of our recent ' high profile departees' probably left at the right time imo ,as we had seen them at their peak(Gundo maybe still was/is ) and played such a huge part in our recent success it felt the right time. Sergio in particular was a case In point. You would hate to have seen them become a shadow of themselves in a blue shirt.
Creaney for Walsh was simply ridiculous!
SWP was the worst one for me, really sxciting player to watch and the fans loved him, he seemed to also genuinely love the club (and still does) and didn't want to go but we desperately needed the money. That little fella would not look out of place in a Pep City team for sure!