30 PASCAL’S SWIFT REQUEST
After Wigan’s defeat at Arsenal on the final day of 2005-06, Pascal Chimbonda submitted a transfer request in the dressing room, still in his kit. It didn’t go down well – owner Dave Whelan threatened to put him in the reserves.
OUTCOME Er, Whelan caved and sold him to Tottenham for £4.5 million later that summer.
29 FAUBERT TO REAL MADRID
Real Madrid made some odd post-Galactico additions – particularly Julien Faubert, who was loaned from West Ham late in the 2009 January transfer window. “His agent should be knighted!” said a stunned Paul Merson.
OUTCOME Played twice and was accused of falling asleep on the bench during a match…
28 CRASHLEY COLE
Ashley Cole left Arsenal for Chelsea in 2006, almost doing himself serious damage in the process. After being told the Gunners were offering him only a £55,000-a-week contract renewal, he “nearly swerved off the road”.
HE SAID “I was trembling with anger – I just couldn’t believe what I’d heard.” Horrifying.
