Nearly signed XI

[antti19]

Muller(1994)

 

[SonicSarr]

Not Kounde, got sent off tonight ? Another bullet dodged.

 

[cookiemonster]

Matt Le Tissier Andy Hinchcliffe John Hartson Charlie George Gary Cahill

 

[phil]

It was reported that Harry turned down the chance to buy Suarez (from Ajax) as he didn't rate him.

In the day, we almost signed Trevor Brooking but Spam backed out due to fan reaction.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Matt Le Tissier Andy Hinchcliffe John Hartson Charlie George Gary Cahill

I’m amazed that you’re the only other person to say Le Tissier. The guy had actually signed for us and we tore up the contract because his wife had a paddy. The entire 90s could’ve been so different, The guy would still waltz into every side in the premier league now.

 

[Gollorius]

It was reported that Harry turned down the chance to buy Suarez (from Ajax) as he didn't rate him.

In the day, we almost signed Trevor Brooking but Spam backed out due to fan reaction.

I believe Tim Sherwood was partly responsible for turning that one down IIRC!

 

[14/04/91]

Going further back……Bobby Moore and we tried to get him twice. He wanted to come as would have increased his money but West Ham blocked it.

The FA blocked it in the summer of '66. There was a rule that you couldn't play for your country if you weren't attached to a club. I believe he was out of contract at West Ham so would have been considered a free agent and unavailable for England.
Essentially he had to re-sign for West Ham but certainly wasn't happy about it.

Love telling West Ham fans that story; your hero didn't actually like your club!!!

 

[BringBack_leGin]

The FA blocked it in the summer of '66. There was a rule that you couldn't play for your country if you weren't attached to a club. I believe he was out of contract at West Ham so would have been considered a free agent and unavailable for England.
Essentially he had to re-sign for West Ham but certainly wasn't happy about it.

Love telling West Ham fans that story; your hero didn't actually like your club!!!

He could’ve come to us on a normal transfer with money exchanged and not been on a free and still played for England, Ron Greenwood told him that if he didn’t sign a new West Ham deal then he’d refuse to sell to us and he wouldn’t be able to go to the World Cup because of the being unattached rule. Probably the ****iest thing a club has ever done to a player.

 

[The Scarecrow]

He is very good, but underrated? Everyone was crying for him to have a bigger role during the Euros, biggest Premier League transfer ever, lauded by fans, neutrals and pundits for the last two years..

Not exactly underrated. Maybe people forget we were heavily linked with him?

Based on the transfer fee, I'd say he's overrated.

 

[kmk]

Michael Bridges from Sunderland who was actually a boyhood Spurs fan, when Satan (George Graham) was in charge. A £5m fee was agreed but apparently Sugar would not go as high on wages as Leeds who he later signed for. A promising career was unfortunately blighted by a serious injury whilst playing for Leeds.

I had no idea that Michael Bridges was a Spurs fan until I saw him on Soccer AM today.

I then read this shocking story on his Wikipedia page.

In the summer of 1999, Sunderland agreed a fee to sell him to his boyhood club Tottenham Hotspur. Bridges who travelled down to sign a contract with manager George Graham and many years later in a 2021 podcast he recalled the reason he didn't make the move was the treatment he got from owner Alan Sugar as he was about to sign his contract. Bridges mentioned on the podcast: "Then all of a sudden this blue Rolls Royce pulled up outside and he said, 'Oh, here's Lord Sugar, he's come to say hi and welcome to the club', and I kid you not, I'll give you the thirty seconds I got off Alan Sugar while I was sat there with my agent, in London, scared stiff by the way. He said: 'Young man, nice to meet you I've never heard of you before, I've heard you're a Sunderland reserve player, I'm putting all my faith in these two lads [Graham and Pleat] here who say I've got to pay this kind of money for you. I think it's ridiculous because you don't get much for your money, because you don't look like you could lift a paperweight. And by the way, you're not getting the money your agent thinks he's getting, you've got to earn that - take care, good luck. I looked at my agent as [if] to say: 'Get me the hell out of here, that's it done'. As Sugar left, George Graham apologised

 

[Nocando]

Enzo Scifo. Always close according to ceefax and teletext.

Although i suspect there's a load of people who have never heard of him.

 

[kmk]

Didn’t Aubameyang and his agent arrive at our training ground, only for Levy to change his mind. He went to Dortmund instead.

 

[whitechina]

Didn’t Aubameyang and his agent arrive at our training ground, only for Levy to change his mind. He went to Dortmund instead.

IIRC His father was with him and we fecked them about a lot so he went elsewhere.
Hope he stays down the road robbing them like Ozil did.
Mourintho was the one i feel would've improved us a lot. A strange night that one

 

[Buggsy61]

I had no idea that Michael Bridges was a Spurs fan until I saw him on Soccer AM today.

I then read this shocking story on his Wikipedia page.

Yes a dark chapter in Spurs’ history was the way Uncle Al conducted himself sometimes. Who will forget his rant at Klinsman and the shirt. I guess we need to be grateful for him steadying the finances of the club (although he profited well later on) but I can’t help feeling that he loved the publicity that he got off the back of being our owner at the time.

 

[PrettyColors]

See signature lol

Also can never forget Ryan Babel apparently rappelling from a helicopter like a Mission Impossible movie, and of course the bizarre Saido Berahino saga

 

[Tottenham_God]

See signature lol

Also can never forget Ryan Babel apparently rappelling from a helicopter like a Mission Impossible movie, and of course the bizarre Saido Berahino saga

Has to be Damiao

 

[Flynn]

Gerry Francis said zidane was 'too wooden' iirc?
Beckham but 'arry said we couldn't sort out his insurance.

And because Venables dropped his Jaffa cakes

 

[SlotBadger]

Enzo Scifo. Always close according to ceefax and teletext.

Although i suspect there's a load of people who have never heard of him.

Belgian midfield maestro, known only to me during his playing days through being one of the best players on an Amiga game called Football Masters

 

[Wheeler Dealer]

I’m amazed that you’re the only other person to say Le Tissier. The guy had actually signed for us and we tore up the contract because his wife had a paddy. The entire 90s could’ve been so different, The guy would still waltz into every side in the premier league now.

I went to a corporate event a few years ago, where Le Tissier was after dinner speaker and said exactly what you posted. Contract signed but retracted due to wife refusal to move from Southampton. Funny thing is that he got divorced a few years later!

 

[bigfrooj]

I remember ruining a great week in Croatia following the ‘will we sign Benteke or won’t we‘ saga. One of many such sagas. It used to be that you followed the saga while on holiday abroad by purchasing yesterday’s newspapers. Now you spend fortunes on data charges in far flung places.