What could have been: Transfers that nearly happened

[Paxton Dazo]

Fair do's, I wonder what the time scale between the 2 events are.

Anyhoo my Spurs colleague often talks about how close to being slung out Bale was.

Remember that stat when he first joined? Something like in his first 28 games he started for us, we didn't win.

Now it's the other way round. #OneManTeam

 

[Stumpy Tim]

Sheffield United turned down Diego Maradona as £500k was too much for a teenager

 

[Stat Brother]

Remember that stat when he first joined? Something like in his first 28 games he started for us, we didn't win.

Now it's the other way round. #OneManTeam

So how many fans wanted shot of the waste of money?

I assume they are all the same people that'll be whinging all over TalkSpite when he's sold in the summer.

 

[gjh1971]

Kevin Brock and Juan Oblitas almost signed for us

 

[BensGrandad]

When Alan Mullery was here first time I recommended Trevor Stevens of Burnley as a 15 year old and the then chief scout went and watched him and said no he is too small. The rest is history Everton Rangers Monaco England

 

[Hamilton]

I remember recommending a young lad called Kevin Keegan in the early 70s, but likewise nobody listened.

 

[BensGrandad]

The story goes that Mullery wanted to sign Paul Stewart from Blackpool on the strength of a recommendation from Peter Suddabys mate at Blackpool, husband of one of the Nolan sisters, but Mike Bamber said no he cant be any good or Liverpool or Everton would be after him. Malcolm Allison then bought him for Man City.

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

The story goes that Mullery wanted to sign Paul Stewart from Blackpool on the strength of a recommendation from Peter Suddabys mate at Blackpool, husband of one of the Nolan sisters, but Mike Bamber said no he cant be any good or Liverpool or Everton would be after him. Malcolm Allison then bought him for Man City.

Bamber was long gone by Mullery's second spell as Brighton manager. Money was tight then. I can only think of John Keeley as a player that Mullery was able to spend money on. The rest were freebies.

 

[BensGrandad]

Bamber was long gone by Mullery's second spell as Brighton manager. Money was tight then. I can only think of John Keeley as a player that Mullery was able to spend money on. The rest were freebies.

This was during Mullerys first spell when Paul Stewart was a young lad about 16 and in fact I am fairly sure that he hadnt played for Blackpool first team at the time he eventually went to Man City a few years later for about £900k which was a lot of money then..

 

[Rambo]

When Alan Mullery was here first time I recommended Trevor Stevens of Burnley as a 15 year old and the then chief scout went and watched him and said no he is too small. The rest is history Everton Rangers Monaco England

As opposed to Trevor Steven who also played for the above mentioned clubs?

 

[kevo]

didnt we have a choice between Wright and Paul McCarthy and chose the latter. Who was pretty good

No, the choice was between Paul McCarthy and Roy Keane, who were both playing in Ireland at the time. We sent a scout over and decided McCarthy was worth giving a trial too but not Keane. The story was covered by Spencer Vignes in the club programme earlier this season I think.

 

[kevo]

Surprised no-one has mentioned Juan Carlos Oblitas and Percy Rojas, two Peruvian stars of the 1978 World Cup. Alan Mullery flew them over for a trial, but they never signed.

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

This was during Mullerys first spell when Paul Stewart was a young lad about 16 and in fact I am fairly sure that he hadnt played for Blackpool first team at the time he eventually went to Man City a few years later for about £900k which was a lot of money then..

Thanks for clarifying.

 

[Telford Seagull]

I never knew so I could not forget. It seems to be something of an 'in' joke on here, but what happened.

He had just left the middle east and was training with us. Said he liked the place and wanted to sign etc, then got an offer to play back in russia for big money and thats where he went. He lives in brighton now i think

 

[GT49er]

Denis Law from Huddersfield to Brighton. The directors over-ruled Billy Lane, the manager, because they weren't prepared to pay a few hundred pounds for such a skinny little kid.

I think he went on to ManU - did he amount to much there, can anyone remember?

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Do managers count as transfers? There was that lingering rumour during Dick Knight's reign that we were about sign that World cup manager with the Lion King head of hair, the press conference was all arranged and everything, then he backed out at the very last moment. Which led to Hinsh The Elder being plonked in front of the press conference and unveiled as our new manager.

 

[BensGrandad]

As opposed to Trevor Steven who also played for the above mentioned clubs?

Sorry same man but I made a typing error. I went to watch him play as 15 year old for Burnley Res v Man Utd Res who had 2 international full backs playing and he ran them ragged.

 

[Telford Seagull]

Demba ba failed a medical at stoke before signing for newcastle

 

[Ninja Elephant]

Dean Wilkins allegedly had deals agreed for Roger Johnson, Joe Lewis and Peter Leven before being informed he was, well, over.

I don't like Johnson or Leven, but Lewis would have been handy.

 

[clapham_gull]

Keegan to Brighton ?