Among the helter skelter of the current transfer rumours, itâs worth remembering that it was other thus. And one specific move by Fulham, as the Club was about to embark on its historic premiership run, may send shivers down your spine. Twelve years ago manager Jean Tigana was getting desperate to bolster his defence, after he missed out on John Arne Riise and Martin Djetou. Fulham had brought in Alain Goma from Newcastle the previous season, but with Chris Coleman sidelined with injury, Tigana had just the ageing duo of Andy Melville and Kit Symons to pick from and they were unlikely to be able to face a full Premiership campaign. Meanwhile England U21 John Terry was unhappy that he wasnât getting first team football at Chelsea. please log in to view this image A bid of around £7 million was on the table if Chelsea gave Terry the all clear to move. A graduate of the Stamford Bridge youth system Terry had seen his chances of first team football improve following the departure of Frank Leboeuf, but he still had Marcel Desailly, William Gallas and Winston Bogarde to challenge for just two spots and therefore it was unlikely he would start the season. Terry said, "I have been reading about him (Gallas) in the papers. The fact that he is a central defender and he said he was looking forward to playing alongside Marcel Desailly has given me food for thought. I'm not sure what's going to happen next season.â âWill the manager play me or the new signing or Marcel? I just don't know. It could be like Matthew Upson at Arsenal. If Arsene Wenger doesn't play Matty, I think he'll go. It's the same for me. I'm not going to sit on the bench for two or three years just watching people play in my position. That would be a step back for me.â The story of course has a happy ending, Matthew Upson did move on.
But just think, if JT had spent several years in the redemptive atmosphere of Craven Cottage rather than the corrupting moral vacuum of Stamford Bridge, he might have become a completely different (and more Fulhamish) person. Nah, probably not.
Can this thread please be deleted When I check this board in the mornings the thought of John Terry at Fulham almost brings my breakfast back up. I then get the sweats throughout the day as I struggle to force this image out my head!
