Players we turned down

[SheedyBracewellReidSteven]

Some of the managers we missed out on rankle even more. Remember reading an Echo thing about how Brian Clough was odds on for the Everton job in 1977 and was quoted (?) as saying he'd fancy the job. Also, in 1994, we took Mike Walker when Bobby Robson later said if he'd have been offered the job he would have took it. I know that wasn't the first time we'd been linked with him.

Robson is a crying shame. I met Mike Walker in 1994 in town when I was on a work meal at a restaurant. He had all the charisma of a dead fish. I enthusiastically said to him "I hope we stay up Mike!" He just droned back "Yeh, so do I." No smile, no enthusiasm, no belief, and not even bothered trying to blag it either. From that moment I thought we were doomed. If ever there was a man out of his depth, it was Walker.

 

[Groucho]

Robson is a crying shame. I met Mike Walker in 1994 in town when I was on a work meal at a restaurant. He had all the charisma of a dead fish. I enthusiastically said to him "I hope we stay up Mike!" He just droned back "Yeh, so do I." No smile, no enthusiasm, no belief, and not even bothered trying to blag it either. From that moment I thought we were doomed. If ever there was a man out of his depth, it was Walker.

He should never have been appointed. A plant pot would've done better.

I know we supposedly interviewed Andy Gray but never offered him it. And he's said he would've taken it if offered. Not sure he'd have fared well but at least you know he'd have given his all, as a former club hero.

 

[BoysInBlue]

Yeah it's a myth, if nothing else by the time we signed atteveld gullit was already world player of the year at milan.

No, the Guillit story is true, though nothing to do with this Atteveld thing.

We had Guillit on trial at Bellefield in 1982 when he was 20. He was playing for Haarlem and it was just before he signed for Feyenoord.

Kendall didn't think he was ready and sent him back to Holland.

 

[The-Golden-Vision]

Sure I heard that we could have had Hazard and Dzeko on the cheap at one point.

 

[Groucho]

Sure I heard that we could have had Hazard and Dzeko on the cheap at one point.

I've certainly heard about Hazard before

 

[fitzyefc]

I remember there being strong rumours that Kendall could have had Gheorghe Hagi from Real Madrid but thought that £1 million was a bit steep.

I have been at a dinner when Kendall admitted this

 

[Gwladys Nights]

Sure I heard that we could have had Hazard and Dzeko on the cheap at one point.

LCAB's the only source who has ever mentioned either of those as far as I know. LCAB is a bit weird.

We apparently said no to Hatem Ben Arfa before he went to Newcastle. Got to think that's the kind of deal Martinez is more likely to go for than Moyes was.

 

[TEB335]

Seem to remember Joe Royle didn't fancy Zidane.

Yes , as I recall £4m was being talked about at the time !!!

 

[Groucho]

I have been at a dinner when Kendall admitted this

You win some, you lose some. We got Neville Southall for the price of a packet of Quavers.

At least he was honest.

 

[Bluenose1995]

have to take these things with a pinch of salt I doubt we turned down zidane, Ronaldo, essien, cech, dzeko, hazard etc.

 

[michaelgt5]

have to take these things with a pinch of salt I doubt we turned down zidane, Ronaldo, essien, cech, dzeko, hazard etc.

we were offered ronaldo, but we wanted him to do a trial first :
http://www.jewishtelegraph.com/prof_37.html

 

[TEB335]

have to take these things with a pinch of salt I doubt we turned down zidane, Ronaldo, essien, cech, dzeko, hazard etc.

Oh..... ok . Thanks for help.

 

[Thacko]

I have been at a dinner when Kendall admitted this

Just done a small sick in my mouth. Hagi was absolutely immense.

 

[MartSlinger]

Surely theres a difference between 'Turning a player down' and 'Not having money to sign said players'?
i.e. We never turned down Hazard, we simply never had the money to purchase him.
We turned down Hangeland because he had a trial and we seemingly never went any further.

 

[Reidy's Bottle Of Grecian]

I've certainly heard about Hazard before

the tale was that Moyes said to Bill "Give me 16million for Hazard & Dzecko & I'll bring you the prem league title in May" they couldn't give him the money, I think it was just after we played against Wolfsburg where Dzecko was, and Hazard had told Fellaini he'd love to come.