An open letter to Angelo Ogbonna; We’re sorry.

Dear Angelo,

It is with a heavy heart that I write to you today. One of the hardest things a person can do is admit when they were wrong. Yet here we are, mustering up the courage, to speak an admission we never conceived we’d have to. I see now that I was wrong. I was wrong to call you the most overrated defender in the Premier League. I was wrong to cut out letters from magazines and anonymously let you know how you wouldn’t even cut it in MLS. Lastly, I was wrong to immediately sell you in every West Ham United FIFA Career Mode I ever played.

I cannot say, however, that my doubt went unjustified. I still remember the London derby against Spurs where the two academy produced Harrys’ scored easy netters. It replays in my mind every time I place my head onto the pillow as if it is some inescapable nightmare. The inevitable questions regarding your tactical and positional awareness start to creep in and, in that moment, I know sleep is not in the cards for me that night.

Then came Old Trafford. You were a different man, nay, an animal. Beasting down onto balls being rifled in from all corners of the pitch, you taught us the meaning of ferocity. With an elegant brutality seldom displayed on a sporting field, you bore down on attackers and neutralized any threats to your kin. You were nothing short of a king, magisterial in your movements, and regal in stature.

I can still see the play of the match when I close my eyes. There he stood, Zlatan Ibrahimovic in all his imposing glory, squared off against a defenseless Darren Randolph. Zlatan curled the corner of his lips into a smirk and reared his foot back ready to unleash hell onto the unsuspecting keeper from Ireland. BAM! Out of seemingly nowhere, you casted a spell only learned at Hogwarts, and apparated in front of Zlatan, putting a foot out at the last second to clear the ball from danger.

There you have it Angelo; our sincerest of apologies. For the time being we will cease and desist all derogatory and inflammatory remarks regarding your defensive abilities. For now anyway… Know that we are always watching, judging, and, most importantly, writing.

With a new found respect,

Brace The Hammer