Was Mayuka really meant to be heavily involved this season though? A 21 year old raw talent who's spent his short career in Zambia, Israel and Switzerland, I don't see how you can expect him to make that much of an impact early, and I really don't see how you can judge that signing after a little over half a season and 168 minutes of Premier League Football. I think the way we've used him this far has been confusing and you can infer certain possibilities about his work behind the scenes but from what we see and know as fans I don't think we can judge him yet. If you have Mayuka's name in there then you have to include Gazzaniga and Forren, even Ramirez.
I agree he still needs time but hes been here for over half a year and he hasn't progressed. We know that because hes being used even less than at the begining of the season. If you spend a couple of million on a player you expect him to have some sort of impact. 21 is young but usually players of premeirship quality would be doing enough to be used even just as an impact sub. Gazza is a keeper which it is much more excepted to be a posistion you mature later into. Forren will be exactly the same if he doesn't start featuring. Ramirez no way, he may not have lived up to 12mil but hes had a decent impact this year.
Not fair to put Martin in there. He cost us two buttons and played some good performances in the championship as a stand in. Not good enough for the prem, but shouldn't even be on that list.
The fact some people are judging Forren, Mayuka is a little messed up. Falque is actually a good player but was never used, Dean and Bignall never really played either. For me the worse is probably between Lee and De Ridder, what did Lee actually do for us apart from one good goal?
He also nodded down for Lambert to volley in against Leeds.... Apart from that I remember nothing else... Ohh except looking miserable outside St Marys post match - when Maya was getting all the attention from the Japanese fans instead of him! Oh dear me!
I don't feel lee got a long enough run of games. From what I saw he was quick, full of energy and has an excellent left foot (goal vs derby- yes only one but he showed he can strike). De ridder played well in one game (cardiff away, yes a valuble point) but has been given quite a bit of time considering his lack of ability. Punch at his worst is still far better than de ridder and that's saying something! For that reason he's my worst signing, mainly because he was given so many chances while the others haven't. IMO the jury still out on mayuka, think he should be given a bit more of a go. full pre-season and run of games when our defence is a bit stronger please!
Yes, he hasn't done much since but he played a part, and I don't think he deserves to be named in the worst signings category with other duds like N'Guessan & Bignall.
N'Guessan got an assist, put in a good cross for Lambert once. If we're using "he did one good thing so technically contributed" as an argument, then N'Guessan is out of the discussion.
Forte for me. He contributed those two goals, but he takes it for the ridiculous length of contract we handed out. 5 years wasn't it?!
I wasn't a fan of Neil Trotman. I'm not going to say the likes of Shea and Bignall and Falque, simply because they barely kicked a ball, so I'm not going to judge them. Forte probably wins, but Lee, De Ridder and N'Guessan really are right up there. Don't understand why Dickson made the list, and I personally wouldn't have thrown Martin into the equation either.
Mayuka, purely because all the hype he commanded, like De Ridder, but at 3 times the cost. We have just made it in to the Premier League and cannot afford to bring in players who don't make any impact. In all honesty, he is terrible, has been for us and Zambia this year. At 21 he is no longer a kid, and I feel he won't be a saint much longer! As Mauricio slowly realises he has about the same technical ability as De Ridder. Could have gone to much of that list, Forte, Falgue, Bignall, Seabourne, De Ridder, Mayuka and Lee have not done enough to warrant bringing them to the club in the first place.
That is an answer to a slightly different question though. Or maybe I have just interpreted the question in a different way. As bad as Forte is, for me those two MK Dons goals alone meant his signing was worthwhile, especially given the limited transfer fee involved in signing him. That doesn't escape the fact that he is a very poor player, and arguably not even L1 standard. But yes, just those two goals is 'enough' in my book. I just wish we'd have let him straight back off the bus again that very summer.
Yeah, agree with brendy on that one. De-ridder gets a day pass because of the reading goal, & Forte is the legend that never was because of that brace, they both escape this thread with little harm. My vote goes to Bignall, just can't remember a single minute in the shirt.
