Over the years we have bought some players who came with an awesome reputation but for whatever reason just didn't work out. There are some obvious ones that no doubt will be mentioned. But for me the one signing we made which I thought would amazing for for us was European Cup Winner Ian Bowyer back in '81. The guy was amazing for Forest, but for us, it just didn't happen. So frustrating as we sold him back to Forest one year later and was brilliant for them again.
Jesus, this thread could get depressing fast Didier Ndong Flo Altidore Djilibodj job Ricky Alvarez ... Jack ****ing Rodwell
This and then this again. Stole a living that bloke. Actually moving into positions to be marked so he didn't have to receive the ball ffs!
Another name for those of a certain vintage was Tom Richie we bought from Bristol City...Couldn't stop scoring for them...we signed him...couldn't score...went back to Bristol City, started scoring again
Gordon Harris...one for the oldies, bought from Burnley, think Jimmy Adamson was our manager, played for England was utter sh1te for us.
we have had plenty mind, but one thing i hope it shows is that a good player in the wrong set up is just another player wasting a shirt...on the plus side it should show why 'just buy any striker' is never a good move and highlights what the regime are doing taking time and making sure ALL boxes are ticked. there will still be those who will not settle but at least the days of paying 10+ millions for 'rodwell' types are long gone.
I agree. The injury was that bad it looked like he had retired at one point but without it he imo was going to move on from us for a decent fee to a top team. Because of the injury I suppose it didn't work out but before that it was a excellent signing imo, I know the price paid was huge at the time but I think he was one of the best in the league until his injury. Maybe I have rose tinted specs like
Fair play I dont think so. Wasn't he a record signing for a goalkeeper at the time, and all I remember was a decent shot stopper who lacked any command of his box, and conceded some real howlers in his time here, before "retiring from football" only to make a spectacular comeback up north, that eclipsing the likes of Boyer and Ritchie by a mile and cost us a packet in the process .
Laslandes didn't work out at all. I don't think he expected every pass to be 5 feet above his head! Or was very impressed about it.
Borini when he signed permanently was disappointing. Wickham, although we made a profit on him, should've been much better than he was. When you factor in the league we were in and the money that was spent, Grigg definitely falls under the 'big signing' category. Djilobodji cost around 9mill if I remember correctly. We've spent a truck load of money in the last 15 years or so on absolute rubbish. The reason we stagnated and then dropped is because we never sold players for profits and were constantly letting players go for free/cheap just to get them off the books because they were so poor here.
Slightly before my time but, Brett Angell signed for £600,000 in March 1995 and sold for £120,000 in August 1996. Only played 10 games according to wikipedia. That's a fast way to lose a lot of money.