Were you optimistic/excited about Stan Collymore?

[Kendal Fox]

Cast your mind back to Filbert Street, March 5th 2000 - Stan Collymore scored a hat-trick on his home debut vs Sunderland (the opener being a stunning volley set up by Heskey) to help us to our biggest win in the Premiership at that time. Shortly afterwards, things crashed and burned with regard to Stan.

So, my question is, what were your thoughts at the time on the signing of Collymore?

Do you remember feeling it was a coup (like I did) and being optimistic with regard to how he might have helped us up the ladder? Or were you always sceptical/cynical and expected that, seeing as it was Stan, disaster was inevitably just around the corner? *Which it was of course*

[HankMarvin]

Did you just wake up from a coma after 16 years and its the 6th march 2000 in your head?? 

[suffolk fox]

Cast your mind back to Filbert Street, March 5th 2000 - Stan Collymore scored a hat-trick on his home debut vs Sunderland (the opener being a stunning volley set up by Heskey) to help us to our biggest win in the Premiership at that time. Shortly afterwards, things crashed and burned with regard to Stan.

So, my question is, what were your thoughts at the time on the signing of Collymore?

Do you remember feeling it was a coup (like I did) and being optimistic with regard to how he might have helped us up the ladder? Or were you always sceptical/cynical and expected that, seeing as it was Stan, disaster was inevitably just around the corner? *Which it was of course*

But it wasn't really the game you are referring too was fantastic and if Heskey had stayed and Collymore had not suffered a broken leg against Derby who knows what may have happened?

Tater Peeler took over from O'Neall and sent him to the reserves. He then fell out with Trevor bloody Benjamin of all people and the rest was history. Was a real shame because coming out of Filbert Street after that Sunderland performance I really thought we were onto something special.

[Vlad the Fox]

Optimistic, if anyone was going to get him sorted it was Martin. Concerned when Martin left as the twat who came in was a twat.

[HankMarvin]

But it wasn't really the game you are referring too was fantastic and if Heskey had stayed and Collymore had not suffered a broken leg against Derby who knows what may have happened?

Tater Peeler took over from O'Neall and sent him to the reserves. He then fell out with Trevor bloody Benjamin of all people and the rest was history. Was a real shame because coming out of Filbert Street after that Sunderland performance I really thought we were onto something special.

 

I think his card was marked from La Manga tbh

[Kendal Fox]

But it wasn't really the game you are referring too was fantastic and if Heskey had stayed and Collymore had not suffered a broken leg against Derby who knows what may have happened?

Tater Peeler took over from O'Neall and sent him to the reserves. He then fell out with Trevor bloody Benjamin of all people and the rest was history. Was a real shame because coming out of Filbert Street after that Sunderland performance I really thought we were onto something special.

Not sure Taylor was too much to blame though as, before the broken leg, he'd already lost the plot by causing mayhem in a hotel in Spain. The signs were probably already there (in retrospect) that the wheels would probably have come off, even if he hadn't suffered the fracture vs Derby.

But at the time of his home debut impact, I too thought we were on to something special. I guess that's what I'm needling at - just the initial reactions to his signing and home debut.

[boots60]

The hat trick against Sunderland was special, but disregarding his injury his head was all over the place at that stage of his life & we caught the tail end of his career. Also alarming is how much crap he spouts on the radio.

[StanSP]

i told my dad after that match I felt like we'd win the league 16 years later.

[MPH]

I was excited. to me it was a statement of intent. I was concerned that we had been taken as far as we could go but to me a signing like stan felt we were going to kick on to the next lvl.. . I really wanted it to work out...

[Kendal Fox]

I was excited. to me it was a statement of intent. I was concerned that we had been taken as far as we could go but to me a signing like stan felt we were going to kick on to the next lvl.. . I really wanted it to work out...

Absolutely my thoughts at the time. But I can't believe the fracture - which was one of the lesser types from what I remember - was the reason the wheels fell off with regard to how his (long-term) time with us would have gone.

Guess I was blinded with delight by his home debut.

[ARM1968]

It was amazing at the time. In hindsight it was sadly just a glimpse of what could have been. Another lost talent.

[m4DD0gg]

hell yes him and heskey up front, within weeks it all fell apart.

[Kendal Fox]

Did you just wake up from a coma after 16 years and its the 6th march 2000 in your head?? 

Ha ha!!! But I did say cast your mind back. You've never talked about past events, no?

[smr]

Yeah he was a super talented player when on his game. I was excited, and that he'd be partnering Emile was a very exciting prospect indeed. I remember a couple of stunners and him doing quite well for a short period. Certainly felt like we were progressing in terms of who we could attract though. I'll never forget the way he broke his ankle/leg though, think it was at Pride Park vs Derby wasn't it ? Horrific.

[Durnerz]

I remember watching him score a cracker at home to Leeds a few games after the Sunderland game. Decent player when his head was right but he was often a ticking bomb. Moments of brilliance followed by madness.



 

[bovril]

One of the most naturally gifted players England has produced. His touch, technique, movement were all superb, his football for Forest in 94/95 was some of the best stuff I've seen from a home-grown player.

 

Could be a complete twat at times, though obviously he's had a lot of problems of the pitch.

[bovril]

Just to add, as much as it pains me to say it, that 94/95 Forest team was sensational, probably better than Blackburn that year.

[spudfox2911]

He could and really should have been a labelled a "great" not just at club level, internationally too.

Fantastic talent that I'm sure he would agree, was wasted due to his demons off the pitch. Real shame.

[Kendal Fox]

One of the most naturally gifted players England has produced. His touch, technique, movement were all superb, his football for Forest in 94/95 was some of the best stuff I've seen from a home-grown player.

 

Complete twat though.

Agree with you on every count.

His potential was never realised which is a shame, but you get the feeling he, himself, had much to do with that.

[spudfox2911]

This.

One of the most naturally gifted players England has produced. His touch, technique, movement were all superb, his football for Forest in 94/95 was some of the best stuff I've seen from a home-grown player.

Could be a complete twat at times, though obviously he's had a lot of problems of the pitch.

[bovril]

I remember his debut at Watford. I'd grown up watching Roberts, Robins, Claridge, Heskey, Cottee up front for us, all good players in their own right, but he seemed to be playing a different sport altogether...

[Corky]

He really could've been a true great. Glimpses of brilliance but never enough. If we'd had a fit and focused Collymore for two years it could've been so memorable.

[Kendal Fox]

I remember his debut at Watford. I'd grown up watching Roberts, Robins, Claridge, Heskey, Cottee up front for us, all good players in their own right, but he seemed to be playing a different sport altogether...

Yep, there were glimpses he showed of true, elite level. None of the others you mentioned could ever be called elite. Though I hold them in much higher regard.

[Sublime_Coatsworth]

I was talking about this match (against Sunderland) the other day with a mate. I remember walking away from the ground saying to my Dad that this was probably the best Leicester team ever. I felt that the side we had then, with Heskey and Collymore upfront could beat any team in the Premier - and that for the first time in my lifetime we could genuinely compete in the top 5.

Then within a couple of weeks Heskey was gone and Collymore fvcked. Still - worked all right in the end!

[Tuna]

Yes, at the time it was a huge, huge signing for us. I felt he could help us move on to the next level and a Collymore/Heskey partnership was mouth watering.

 

However, you know what happened next.