If you could pick just one former player from Chelsea's long history to add to the current crop at RDM's disposal, who would you pick, and why? It doesn't have to be your favourite player of all time, just a player that could provide what you think is missing from the current squad...

Tough one but i would say makelele the guy was pure class

I would go for Peter Houseman, he could put the ball on a sixpence from the left wing and surely anyone must be better than Malouda!

. . . Honestly, I think the biggest upgrade might be a beginning-of-his-Chelsea-career Drogba, as ridiculous as it feels to be picking someone who just left. In any case, I think it almost has to be either a central midfielder or a center forward, as we're fine in defence and we've signed a ridiculous pile of attacking midfield talent this summer.

Chopper would be my choice to sort the real men from the boys

probably zola a genius with the ball and we dont have anyone of his class right now though in a few years hazard could surprass him

Makelele. In this new attacking formation he would be invaluable protecting the back 4.

Peter Osgood, no question. The perfect striker, strong in the air, two-footed, extremely skillful, and hard as nails.

I'd like to have chosen Ron Harris too, but under today's rules he'd be sent off during the pre-match warm-up.

Graham Wilkins lol

Charlie Cooke for me.A genius at work with a football.

Just shading it from Zola.

At first i immediately thought Dan Petrescu at right-back, but then it dawned on me about the lack of firepower we've got at the moment, and started to consider the likes of Hernan Crespo at his very best, Hasselbaink for obvious reasons, Mark Stein who i think would score a hatful of goals nowadays, but with the players we have at disposal, and the variety of goals he used to score, i think Kerry Dixon would be the best choice to fit into this new look side.

Would love to see what Jimmy Greaves could do in this team. Shame he got all Spursy, but the man had a scoring record that few can match.

Dixon and Osgood would be good shouts too.

Crespo (or Drogba)

Edited August 6, 201213 yr by midlandblue

Zola end of thread!

Chopper Harris for me. Chopper and JT at the back would make the opposition run away :)

Chopper would be my choice to sort the real men from the boys

Not in this day and age Mike, the poor sod would be forever sat in the stands suspended!

Sharon Wood

Football is rather different these days but you've got to wonder how many goals Jimmy Greaves might bang away with Mata and Hazard providing service.

Zola.... no Osgood.... no hang on Zola.... no wait Osgood... Nah!! can't decide..... f**k it yes I can Osgood.

Zola was class as was Osgood but BlueBeard called it right when he said 'The perfect striker, strong in the air, two-footed, extremely skillful, and hard as nails'.

Would love to see what Jimmy Greaves could do in this team. Shame he got all Spursy, but the man had a scoring record that few can match.

Dixon and Osgood would be good shouts too.

He still raised his son and Grandson up as Blues.

Once a Blue always a Blue I guess

My old man would have Charlie Cooke, but since I picked him its Jimmy Greaves or Ossie.

What a terrific question especially with so many great players to choose from.....Lawton, Bentley, Osgood, Hollins, Harris, Zola, Webb, Harris, Cooke, Greaves, Dixon, Tambling et al......but as much as Cooke is my favourite of all time I will have to go with Tambling a great statesman for the club and game...with Zola and Osgood coming a close second

At first i immediately thought Dan Petrescu at right-back, but then it dawned on me about the lack of firepower we've got at the moment, and started to consider the likes of Hernan Crespo at his very best, Hasselbaink for obvious reasons, Mark Stein who i think would score a hatful of goals nowadays, but with the players we have at disposal, and the variety of goals he used to score, i think Kerry Dixon would be the best choice to fit into this new look side.

I loved King Kerry then and still do, but as an all round forward who could do everything Drogba was way in front of him. The only centre-forward we have ever had in our history who was, in his prime, the best in the world.

Drogba.

I hope Chopper Harris isn't reading this thread. I admit he stuck in a few hard tackles but he was a really skillful player and a great passer of the ball.

My choice of player though would be Peter Bonetti if we didn't have Petr Cech. I was lucky to see him in his prime and he was incredible. His nickname "The Cat" was well deserved as he literally leapt through the air to make yet another great save. All other goalkeepers paled in comparison until Cech imo.

However, since we have Cech I would go for Osgood. Reasons as stated above. By the way how many of the current squad are two footed players? Stuns me how some professional footballers are so one footed. Drogba was great but his touch often let him down. Yep the KIng for me (Charlie Cooke and Zola close joint third).

Edited August 31, 201213 yr by shedhead

I hope Chopper Harris isn't reading this thread. I admit he stuck in a few hard tackles but he was a really skillful player and a great passer of the ball.

I agree, Ron was a very under-rated footballer, but played for England at every level except full international. His footballing ability was always overshadowed by his hard-man reputation, which was a shame although inevitable.

Mind you, he was one hard f*cker in the tackle!