Tempted to agree with Peter. For me, a worse signing would be someone who should transform the side, who should shine like a diamond in a pile of ****, and who should set the game alight. I can't think of anyone else but adel who had the potential to do just that, and who has so spectacularly pissed their talent up against the wall.
Tarbs pretty much single handed got us up that season, he's been rubbish since then but seeing as we paid very little for him I would say he is no where near our worst signing. Value for money wise Sandro has to be up there, £10m is ridiculous for how bad he's been!
If were talking purely money here, SWP has turned up to training every day, put his self up for selection, where on the otherhand tubby has collected his wages and done sod all about earning it, sure swp could have gone on loan or moved to a championship club, but why should he? Tubby on the other hand has never been fit enough to benefit anyone but himself
I think you're underestimating the destabilising effect he's had on the Club. He's caused no end of trouble with Managers & fans alike. His presence has been toxic
Like I said- he's been rubbish since. However without him playing like he did that season we wouldn't have gone up and got all the money that goes with that, so value for money wise the return against his fee and wages have been pretty good!
Im not a great believer in the "without him we wouldnt have gone up" camp,yes he was on top of his game, but so were the rest of them, it just makes it worse seeing how he has wasted the time since then
And the contestants are! Traore, SWP, Diakite, Park Ji Sung, Boswinga, Jordan Mutch, Zarate AND Mark Hughes. Had we have signed anyone else instead of these, then I am convinced we would have been a mid table Premiership team right now !