09 Jun 2025 09:08:53
So far we haven't signed any of my preferred player choices. Although I never thought that was likely.
Actually over the many years of supporting Chelsea I doubt we have signed many of my preferences and when we have they have sometimes been a disaster.
I remember being desperate for us to sign Chris Sutton and that didn't work out well.
So, how many bad signings have you guys wanted at the club?
09 Jun 2025 11:48:22
I remember being very keen on us signing Robert Fleck from Norwich after he'd imptressed agaionst us at the Bridge. but also a huge disappointment as he only scored 4 goals for us in c 50 appearances!
Was also pretty keen on Mudryk - who was bot the explosive game changer player for us of course that we hoped for and seemed might be in debut v Liverpool but still think there was a player there - and still cannbot understand quite what happened with lack of (public at least) release his B sample result and kind of limbo he seems to be in.
09 Jun 2025 12:05:33
JBS, Robert Fleck was a huge part of a very drunk conversation I had with the late great Terry Venables.
He told me that while he was manager of the spuds he and Ken Bates came to an agreement about us selling then Jukebox and they didn’t go for Fleck.
That was one deal that the spuds got the better of.
09 Jun 2025 13:39:53
Nice insight Tom and you seen to have had a jar or two with some impressive names in CFC and general English soccer history over the years.
You've said you didn't take to Alan Hudson but who would be the person you most enjoyed talking to ( ie not necessarily the one you most admited as a player)?
09 Jun 2025 14:14:17
JBS, I have been fortunate enough to have a drink of two with some fantastic old footballers. Some had pubs and clubs so it wasn’t that difficult.
My favourite football personality who I had the good fortune to have a drink with more than once was “The King of Stamford Bridge. ” The last time I had the good fortune to bump into him and his lovely wife was at York races. Ascot was being renovated and the fixture were transferred to York. He treated me like a long lost friend and he made out that he remembered my Chelsea trial in what is now the hotel’s forecourt. A true gentleman and fantastic company.
09 Jun 2025 19:19:55
I agree about Fleck and Sutton and of recent signing Werner turned out be a huge disappointment. I’ve learned not to get excited about new signings.
09 Jun 2025 21:08:20
So good to hear that about Ossie, certainky the King of Stamford Bridge to me as a teenage fan. So good to heaer this about a hero!
Good shout to add Werner to the mix Jimbo and yes would recall that given his fantastic season in Bundesliga prior to coming to us plus his turbo speed I'd thought he'd be huge for us too. So generally a good ifdea not to be too excited about signings until they proved themselves on the pitch playing for us.
09 Jun 2025 21:43:00
On the other side, I wasn’t happy when we signed Ashley Cole as I was a big Wayne Bridge fan. Also, I couldn’t understand Jose picking Big Pete over Carlo for the first game of that season.
10 Jun 2025 08:06:10
Tom, Ashley Cole didn’t disappoint: world class.
10 Jun 2025 10:02:17
The best LB I will ever see. My point is how wrong and emotional/ fickle us fans can be.