Bollox! I thought he would be a sound addition to our paper thin back line.

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2000

Answers

To paraphrase a top easy tune:

"Don't Bogarde That Joint, My Friend"

The lad was obviously a w**king joker to start with...honest

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2000

And Thome to the Makums for 4.5m , canny bizness that i think : - (

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2000

Absolutely no substance in the suggestion that we were in for him, given his age and his injury record I believe Bobby wouldn't look twice at Bogarde. One game in 58 is worse than Dunc! I also reckon, unfortunately that the mackems have got an excellent defender in Thome, Chelsea may have got the money but they'll lose on this deal.

CHELSEA beat off competition from Newcastle to bag Barcelona defender Winston Bogarde.

The Dutch international decided to link up with Gianluca Vialli at Stamford Bridge on a free transfer rather than join former Barca boss Bobby Robson in the North-East.

Bogarde, 29, agreed a four-year deal worth #17,000-a-week on the day Emerson Thome moved from Chelsea to Sunderland for a Black Cats club record of #4.5million.

Man-mountain Bogarde was allowed to leave the Nou Camp after the departure of Dutch boss Louis van Gaal and signed in time to play a role in Chelsea's UEFA Cup bid.

The 6ft 2in star can play at full-back or in a central role.

Bogarde attracted attention from a host of Premiership sides, including Manchester United, Arsenal, Middlesbrough and West Ham.

But he said: "My ultimate dream has come true - a move to England with Chelsea.

"There were a number of other clubs interested in me. But I believe Chelsea have got a team that can win the Premiership - that made them the most attractive option.

"I leave Barcelona on exceptionally good terms after 2= great years at the Nou Camp, in which the team and I enjoyed championship and cup success.

"But now the target is to win prizes with Chelsea.

"They have enormous quality right throughout their team and hopefully I can become a valuable part of that."

He added: "I'm looking forward to getting my career back on track after a difficult last couple of months in Spain.

"I'd really like to thank Barcelona for allowing me to move on a free transfer even though I had one year left on my contract."

Barca coach Llorent Serra Ferrer was just pleased to get rid of him. The former Ajax star, who arrived in Spain from Milan for #1.5m, had a mixed relationship with fans at the Catalan club.

He made 58 starts but only played one game in the 1998-99 campaign due to an ankle injury.

He spent much of last season getting booed by the supporters and the writing was on the wall after fellow countryman Van Gaal left.

Yet his arrival is certainly a good piece of business for Vialli. Particularly when you consider the money he has bagged for Thome.

Chelsea made #2m on the Brazilian just nine months after he joined them from Sheffield Wednesday.

Bogarde, while not the world's fastest player, is an extremely experienced professional.

He played in nine of Barcelona's Champions League matches last season.

And he was involved in both European Cup quarter-final legs against Chelsea, when the Catalan side overturned a two-goal deficit and won 5-1 on home soil.

Bogarde's versatility will put added pressure on a host of Blues stars.

And with Christian Panucci looking to turn his initial loan spell into a permanent stay at Stamford Bridge, the competition for places can only intensify.

Chelsea have upped their Dutch contingent to four with Bogarde joining Ed de Goey, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Mario Melchiot.

Vialli believes Bogarde, who takes over the No 7 shirt, will prove a good influence in the dressing room. Muscle-man Bogarde does not like to take himself too seriously.

Asked whether he resembled a tank, he replied: "You'll have to ask my casualties."

-- Anonymous, September 01, 2000