Bad First Impressions...

Come on, we've all been there. We've judged that underwhelming signing, that shoddy first touch, the barren run...

Many players have come and gone through the St. James' doors, but which one has completely surprised you following your hasty judgement of first impressions?

For me, it's Coloccini. I simply can't fathom the turn-around in his career. Read any match report from the first 12 months of his time on Tyneside, and he will have been identified as the outstanding weak link in our team. 'Colo the Clown' produced one of the worst defensive displays I've seen in Premier League history in that infamous 5-1 drubbing at the hands of the Scousers in December 08 of that wretched season. 10 million pounds, dreadful errors, and a complete lack of respect in storming straight off the pitch at Villa Park, rather than coming over to applaud the fans - he looked like a dreadful signing.

However, having taken the time to compose himself, sort his head out and concentrate on his game in the Championship, he has really taken off, culminating in Pardew praising his 'Moore-esque' attributes.

So for me, the biggest surprise would be Fab.

 

Colo was ****ing **** early on as well as Jonas. For me, Jonas only started doing it last year. First season in the PL back after the CC he was cack.

 

Xisco

 

Perch for me.

Im man enough to admit i thought he was ****e but he is a valuable squad player now.

 

Coloccini was always going to show his real ability and I honestly always had faith that he was a top player – thought it was an amazing signing at the time.

People forget that he was a legendary ever-present at Deportivo and when he made the move to Milan he was being coveted as a future great. Not even Newcastle United would invest £10m on a player with absolutely nothing about them, so it was always a question of time.

Remember also that his first season in English football was at a club and team largely in turmoil, constant uncertainty about the manager's position, a crazy new owner and virtually every player in the squad showing minimal effort, hunger, desire or quality.
Personally I reckon him, Xisco and Jonas must have thought they had joined an asylum and not a football club.

The rest of the squad have always called Colo their favourite player and the most technically superior footballer at the club. He's inevitably improved but we're now consistently enjoying the settled, composed class act that was always there in my view so there's not much to fathom...

 

We have had some corkers of duff signings including Marcellino ( Multi million sicknote ) Luque,, who unfortunatley didn't improve with time but for me me James Perch has improved out of all recognisition and is now a very valuable squad player who rarely lets us down.
Slightly off topic but I think we were too hasty over Hugo Viana, put in a good performance against the Mancs.

 

Anita...








I'm coming back from the future to write this... Trust me lads

 

Alan Smith, Boumsong... Those guys impressed us a little early on, and then proceeded to suck ****e for the rest of their careers with us...


On the other hand , Perch is one of very few who has really turned his career around with us.

 

Obertan, if he carries on like he has been

 

Perch I thought we had bought a complete dud, but the lad has worked hard and turned it around.

 

suber sib was canny 8i remember thinking wtf when we signed him on deadline day!

 

Not forgetting the Albert Luques and David Rozehnals of the world too...

 

Solano and Perch. Solano was horrendous for a year and a half. He looked weak, slow and unable to make any positive impression on PL football. To then go on and become a Newcastle legend, performing the way he did to the point where even Real Madrid had a serious look, was something else.

Colo is a far cry from what he was early doors but you could always sense he had it in him for me. I'd seen plenty of him at Milan and Deportivo and I kinda knew he just needed time. Plus he came at a bad time for the club. Still a remarkable upsurge in form.

Perchie has been a revelation and to turn it round with not one single supporter believing he was capable, is incredible.

 

Warm Pouch, stop making such awesome comments on a regular basis. I have to spread rep around before giving it to you again.

 

colo,i had an argument with a guy away at hull,colo had been turned and left for dead (again) i said he was sh1te for 10 millguy next to me said he was a good player ,i asked did he get turned and left because he was to close? he agreed but argument ensued, at the time i was right but over time he has been proved right . I wonder if he ever did win the lotto

 

Well given your user name, Colo might soon have a rival for the biggest turn around category.

Two game winning assists in two sub appearances is promising stuff.

 

Yes I did, but don't tell anybody.

 

Collo obviously wins this, but I think we'll be seeing a lot more of Anita in the next couple of seasons.

I remember thinking that Krul didn't look too clever at the start...now look at him!

 

Williamson for me, I thought he was **** when he joined and I still think he is ****

 

His debut vs Palermo...?

Several outstanding match-winning saves...?