The #9 shirt in the world of football is synonymous with legendary strikers.

In the Abramovic era at Chelsea it's a bit of a poisoned chalice.

The last player to justify wearing the number was Jimmy Floydd Hasselbaink.

Since then Torres, Steve Sidwell and Boularouz have worn the iconic number.

Next season I'd love to see some pride restored to the shirt number.

My ideal scenario would be for Bamford to be given it and become the first man under Roman to make it his own.

What do my fellow Shed Enders think about the seemingly cursed number?

I was about to berate you and stand up for Boularhouz, but then I remembered this...

 

 

I agree it would be great to see Bamford get it.

The no.9 shirt? Haven't they retired it? in memory of living legend Fernando Torres?

At this stage I think we should just stop giving it out to people.

Damn it. No edit option. I'd like to take that Torres comment back. It was cheap. And uncalled for.

Damn it. No edit option. I'd like to take that Torres comment back. It was cheap. And uncalled for.

 

More like very expensive and uncalled for.

If Bamford goes on loan next season like I expect and Solanke is in the first team squad, could we give it to him? Somehow seems more suited to the number and role than Bamford. And afterall we gave it to guys like Franco Di Santo.

 

Giving a youth player a main number like that though, does it show faith in him, giving him confidence or does it put more pressure on him? I suppose it depends on the player you give it to.

Edited May 15, 201511 yr by footballoholic

The only way we are going to find out if our youth players sink or swim is to let them try.

Success requires both hard work and the luck of the draw to receive an opportunity.

 

 

 

 

 

Am I forgetting anyone? 

Don't forget Di Santo wore number 9 too.

 

The 7 shirt was cursed before the great Rambo took it upon himseif to rid the number of it's evil powers.

 

Lambourde, Bogarde, Mutu, Maniche, Shevchenko to name a few flops, then less than inspiring Goldbaek too, perhaps add Deschamps to that list too as he didn't really have a major impact here. John Spencer was a little star though.

Prepare it for Solanke or Bamford.

I'd give it to Solanke because I'm abut 90% certain that Bamford won't be second-choice here and he doesn't want to be third choice which is fair. 

Give it to Messi.

Costa should take, seeing as he is the actual no. 9 in the squad. Giving it to Bamford may end his Chelsea career before it's even started. Costa, on the other hand, the hoodoo will think twice about getting in a tangle with him.

Griezmann to take it imo if he signs.

Don't agree about Crespo being in the same category as Kezman or Torres. He was brilliant in the two seasons we got from him.

 

Didn't wear the number 9 all the time though.

And that he spent 3 of his 5 years contracted to the club on loan to the Milan teams means he is still a part of the cursed shirt's history.

There is only one Argie no 9, the Goal God Batistuta!!