Season 2011-12
The Mail Bag
Worst Ever Transfer
174 Comments: Quaking at the rumour of Davey Weir returning to Goodison I began to think about the worst ever transfer deals we've done. Reading a book I saw on the Everton Former Players website ? Everton in the 70s ? I came across Harry Catterick's swap deal of a young David Johnson going to Ipswich in exchange for Rod Belfitt. Not the Cat's finest moment! My Dad says selling Bobby Collins was worse than that but can anyone come up with any worse, either selling or buying.
Cameron White, Posted 18/01/2012 at 21:13:42
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Theres plenty of players I resent us having paid a penny to or for. Andy Vand Der Meyde, Franny Jeffers (Mk 2) and Alex Nyarko come to mind in recent history.
I wrote an article last year actually about this:
http://www.footballtransfertavern.com/2010/09/premiership/top-five-worst-modern-day-signings-everton
To those of you who can't be bovvered to read the whole thing, my picks were
5. Simon Davies
4. Ibrahima Bakayoko
3. Andy Van Der Meyde
2. Brett Angell
1. Per Kroldrup
http://www.footballtransfertavern.com/2010/09/premiership/top-five-worst-modern-day-signings-everton
To those of you who can't be bovvered to read the whole thing, my picks were
5. Simon Davies
4. Ibrahima Bakayoko
3. Andy Van Der Meyde
2. Brett Angell
1. Per Kroldrup
Abel Xavier, Joe Max Moore, Alex Nyarko, Blomqvist, Linderoth (I almost forgot he even existed), Li Tie, James Beattie.. take your pick!
Yakubu for the price we got for him.
Fellaini for the price we paid for him.
Lescott for the way it was handled.
Fellaini for the price we paid for him.
Lescott for the way it was handled.
David Ginola, Mark Hughes, Mikel Madar and all above mentioned although I thought Joe Max Moore did ok for a while, wasn't too bad.
Richard Wright
Some of those players were poor but surely for cost, eggs from baskets, and return... it's Bily.
Certainly he's the one that Moyes will be remembered for. Per doesn't even come close - we got our money back didn't we?
Certainly he's the one that Moyes will be remembered for. Per doesn't even come close - we got our money back didn't we?
Has to be Glen Keeley or Earl Barrett.
Keeley was signed from Blackburn, I think, and played half an hour in a derby game game got sent off and was never seen again.
BTW we lost 5-0.
Barrett unfortunately played a lot more than that and was absolute rubbish.
Keeley was signed from Blackburn, I think, and played half an hour in a derby game game got sent off and was never seen again.
BTW we lost 5-0.
Barrett unfortunately played a lot more than that and was absolute rubbish.
It's funny to see so many of you choose Nyarko. I remember watching him play in pre-season(away at Preston) when we had just signed him and Gravesen. He looked awesome, like a Veira type player. Anyway, in my opinion, Earl Barret was fucking awful at right back. He should never have taken Matt Jacksons place. And Brett Angel was well out of his depth. At least he was man enough to admit it when he left us though.
The sad thing is you could list 50 going back for 50yrs and 2 other people would come up with 2 different 50's. So lets go with BEST BARGINS EVER...HAVE AT IT.
There ends the thread Derek
Stephen Hughes
To sell Alan Ball was a crime against Everton Football Club.
Van der meyde, must be most disappointing. Remember being so excited when we got him. Ended up putting moyes off wingers for life!
Nyarko on 5 year contract when he only had 4 year work permit was classic too.
Beattie was pretty average for the fee involved.
Nyarko on 5 year contract when he only had 4 year work permit was classic too.
Beattie was pretty average for the fee involved.
I agree with you dad, Bobby Collins......totally devastating, and they brought in a guy called Dennis Stevens (I think) to replace him...........
To answer this post properly it depends on the Criteria.
For examply I could say Slaven bilic as he only played a handful of games.
1) Are you meaning the number of games played?
2) Are you meaning The transfer fee
3) Are you meaning the transfer fee in relation to the fee we sold for?
etc
etc
etc
For examply I could say Slaven bilic as he only played a handful of games.
1) Are you meaning the number of games played?
2) Are you meaning The transfer fee
3) Are you meaning the transfer fee in relation to the fee we sold for?
etc
etc
etc
Simon Davies must be right up there when it comes to bad buys. Over £4m for a player who didn't have a single decent aspect to his game.
He was the last huge whipping boy with the Goodison crowd.
And in my lifetime,selling world class players like Gary Lineker and Wayne Rooney for less than their worth I regard as our worst sales.
He was the last huge whipping boy with the Goodison crowd.
And in my lifetime,selling world class players like Gary Lineker and Wayne Rooney for less than their worth I regard as our worst sales.
How about Walter Smith?
Claus Thomson
Joe Royle famously said that he was deceptively quick, by which I think he meant, he's so slow it is unbelievable.
Stefan Rehn, Booby Mimms, Mike Milligan, Neil Adams, John Oster, Silva, Thomas Myhre, Niclas Alexanderson.
Joe Royle famously said that he was deceptively quick, by which I think he meant, he's so slow it is unbelievable.
Stefan Rehn, Booby Mimms, Mike Milligan, Neil Adams, John Oster, Silva, Thomas Myhre, Niclas Alexanderson.
John 818...
Dennis Stevens was a key member of a title-winning side. Collins was a great player - and went on to star for Leeds - but bringing in Stevens, although he was never really a crowd favourite, was surely one of Catterick's master-strokes.
Dennis Stevens was a key member of a title-winning side. Collins was a great player - and went on to star for Leeds - but bringing in Stevens, although he was never really a crowd favourite, was surely one of Catterick's master-strokes.
Claus Thomsen, signed for nearly £1million scored an own goal in a derby.... absolute shite of the highest order.
"much to the discretionary of the Everton faithful" - what the bloody hell does that mean?
Worst has to be Bernie Wright.
Best bargain by a mile was Richard Gough.
Best bargain by a mile was Richard Gough.
I remember watching Nyarko and Alexanderson in a pre-season game at Goodison, and they were both amazing!
I remember Alexanderson scoring two, and i thought he was going to be the second coming of Trevor Steven!
Nyarko ran the whole match, and scored a back heel, i remember turning to my mate and saying "he's the new Viera".
How wrong can one person be! They were both the biggest piles of turd i can remember seeing in the flesh play for Everton. Although i would say given the fee we paid, Bily is the biggest waste of cash to ever wear the blue shirt.
I remember Alexanderson scoring two, and i thought he was going to be the second coming of Trevor Steven!
Nyarko ran the whole match, and scored a back heel, i remember turning to my mate and saying "he's the new Viera".
How wrong can one person be! They were both the biggest piles of turd i can remember seeing in the flesh play for Everton. Although i would say given the fee we paid, Bily is the biggest waste of cash to ever wear the blue shirt.
Am amazed no-one has mentioned espen baardsen, or alec cleland.
Jeremy, #830, perhaps it's because there's only so much shite the human memory can cope with?
John Spencer.
John Spencer.
Bit harsh on Neil Adams. He, Kevin Langley and Paul Power came to the club to be bit part players at best and then due to terrible injuries in the first half of the season, they all contributed way more than expected to a title winning season.
Worst ever has to be between Brett Angel, Alec Cleland, Tony Thomas, Carl Tiler and John O'Kane.
Worst non transfer ever was not signing Brian McBride up after his loan spell, although dismissing Demba Ba because of his injury record despite him being a free transfer must push it pretty close.
Worst ever has to be between Brett Angel, Alec Cleland, Tony Thomas, Carl Tiler and John O'Kane.
Worst non transfer ever was not signing Brian McBride up after his loan spell, although dismissing Demba Ba because of his injury record despite him being a free transfer must push it pretty close.
Alan Biley!
So much promise and anticipation then.....
diddley!
So much promise and anticipation then.....
diddley!
Ian Wilson ..... even when I type his name, I feel my anger rising.......fucken move will yer, you lazy fucken twat!!!!!
Ball to Arsenal
The day the music died
The day the music died
Richard Wright.
I can't believe no-one has mentioned Billy yet!
Also, looking at some of the deals we have done in the past doesn't make David Moyes look too bad at all.
Danny Williams and Sylvester Stallone. Rambo at least got on the pitch.
Best bit of business? Buying Alan Ball.
Worst bit of business? Selling him.
Biggest joke? Bernie (The Bolt) Wright. I still feel embarrassed when I think of him.
Worst bit of business? Selling him.
Biggest joke? Bernie (The Bolt) Wright. I still feel embarrassed when I think of him.
Steve Simonsen. If I am not mistaken it was arecord fee of some sort as well.
Simonsen's a good shout almost £4 m i think back in the late 90s and a record fee for a English GK or something like that.
Left on a free...
Left on a free...
Selling Alan Ball. Even in those days Everton were more concerned about profit then they were about keeping/ making a great side. Lineker falls into the same category.
I won't start on the crap players we've brought in...I don't want to squander what rapidly dwindling time I have left on this planet by inducing terminal depression. I'll leave that to you lot and just scan your conclusions.
I can't imagine anyone with more than a single brain cell attempting to bring Dennis Stevens into this thread. Stevens was a player who would walk into our present team. And they used to say Martin Peters was a player "before his time"...
I won't start on the crap players we've brought in...I don't want to squander what rapidly dwindling time I have left on this planet by inducing terminal depression. I'll leave that to you lot and just scan your conclusions.
I can't imagine anyone with more than a single brain cell attempting to bring Dennis Stevens into this thread. Stevens was a player who would walk into our present team. And they used to say Martin Peters was a player "before his time"...
Worst: probably AvdM
As for Bargain, hands down no competition: Tim Cahill.
As for Bargain, hands down no competition: Tim Cahill.
One of the best 'shouts' I ever heard at Goodison was from my Uncle Peter (now long departed) Watching Bernie the Bolt he exlaimed in obvious agony...' If this is the School of Science he's the fucking lab rat!'
It was hilarious at the time anyway!
It was hilarious at the time anyway!
No mentions for Geoff Nulty? Bloody hopeless as the midfield player we signed him as. He had a couple of games as sweeper and looked marginally better until Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy S***house Case clattered him, I'm not sure he ever played for us again after that. We've had some dross haven't we?
Watching Mitch Ward(as a very young boy) had me questioning my religion.
Big Nigel must be the best buy of the Moyes era. In My time it's got to be Big Dunc. We'd have had no fans left if we hadn't got him.
Big Nigel must be the best buy of the Moyes era. In My time it's got to be Big Dunc. We'd have had no fans left if we hadn't got him.
As for the best, bringing Tricky Trevor (£300k), Sheeds (£100k), Reidy (£60k) and Bracey (£850k) together looks like the work of genius. Sigh, nostalgia aint what it used to be
Worst in:
Carl Tiler
Mitch Ward
Vinnie Samways
Earl Barrett
In fact, virtually anyone we signed in the early 90's!
Carl Tiler
Mitch Ward
Vinnie Samways
Earl Barrett
In fact, virtually anyone we signed in the early 90's!
Ray Roche, think I have at least two brain cells, the comparison was selling Collins and replacing him with Stevens.......... Jimmy Harris or Derek Temple would walk into the current squad.....what's that go to do with worst transfers......
One of my favourite recent buys was mad dog Gravesen...he got us 4th place singlehandedly and was somehow always much better than he looked..or much worse...could never figure it out.
Derek Williams (#855) - Re: Sheeds £100K
£100K for possibly the finest player to ever pull on the blue jersey seems truly unbelievable.
£100K for possibly the finest player to ever pull on the blue jersey seems truly unbelievable.
John O' Kane
Alec Cleland
John Oster
John Spencer
Simon Davies
Terry Phelan
Mitch Ward
Carl Tiler
Marc Hottiger
Claus Thomsen
Alex Nyarko
Paul Gerrard
Alec Cleland
John Oster
John Spencer
Simon Davies
Terry Phelan
Mitch Ward
Carl Tiler
Marc Hottiger
Claus Thomsen
Alex Nyarko
Paul Gerrard
Alec Cleland
Bret Angell
Tony Thomas
The Earl of Barrett (Ryan Giggs once said he was one of his most difficult opponents????)
Mitch Ward
Carl Tiler
John Oster
Eddy Bosnar
Li Weifeng
John Spencer
Claus Thomsen
Gareth Farrelly (forgiven though for THAT goal)
the return of Jeffers
Tobias Linderoth
David Ginola
Richard Wright
Steve Simonsen
The single biggest mistake, one Alex Nyarko! Utter utter turd, and the contract mess made it even worse. We had to pay this guy for a year for being shite when he couldn't even play! I could have done that for half the wages!
Thats me depressed now thinking about all the shite I've been exposed to in my 29 years on this earth. I wish I could properly remember the80s!
Bret Angell
Tony Thomas
The Earl of Barrett (Ryan Giggs once said he was one of his most difficult opponents????)
Mitch Ward
Carl Tiler
John Oster
Eddy Bosnar
Li Weifeng
John Spencer
Claus Thomsen
Gareth Farrelly (forgiven though for THAT goal)
the return of Jeffers
Tobias Linderoth
David Ginola
Richard Wright
Steve Simonsen
The single biggest mistake, one Alex Nyarko! Utter utter turd, and the contract mess made it even worse. We had to pay this guy for a year for being shite when he couldn't even play! I could have done that for half the wages!
Thats me depressed now thinking about all the shite I've been exposed to in my 29 years on this earth. I wish I could properly remember the80s!
John Srteet.
John, what are you saying, that Stevens was a bad signing? Or a poor replacement for Collins? ANYONE would struggle to take the place of Collins, who remains one of the finest players I've seen in a blue shirt. But Stevens was a very good player in his time at Everton.Don't you mean Brian Harris? He was a contempory of Temple and Stevens. Jimmy Harris, another good player, had left by then. Stevens, incidentally, was an ever present in our Championship side of 62-63 so he couldn't have been that bad a player...
Your inference in your comment @818 is that Stevens was in some way a poor replacement. He wasn't poor, just different.
John, what are you saying, that Stevens was a bad signing? Or a poor replacement for Collins? ANYONE would struggle to take the place of Collins, who remains one of the finest players I've seen in a blue shirt. But Stevens was a very good player in his time at Everton.Don't you mean Brian Harris? He was a contempory of Temple and Stevens. Jimmy Harris, another good player, had left by then. Stevens, incidentally, was an ever present in our Championship side of 62-63 so he couldn't have been that bad a player...
Your inference in your comment @818 is that Stevens was in some way a poor replacement. He wasn't poor, just different.
John O'Kane
Marc Hottiger
Tony Thomas
Earl Barrett
Alec Cleland
Graham Allen
Jon O'Connor
Mitch Ward
A list of truly awful right-backs from recent times that makes you consider that maybe Tony Hibbert isn't that bad after all!
Marc Hottiger
Tony Thomas
Earl Barrett
Alec Cleland
Graham Allen
Jon O'Connor
Mitch Ward
A list of truly awful right-backs from recent times that makes you consider that maybe Tony Hibbert isn't that bad after all!
Geoof Nulty wasnt great but he was by no means one of our worst transfers in!
He had some decent games for us and was beginning to click when that fucking yard dog hit him!
He had some decent games for us and was beginning to click when that fucking yard dog hit him!
Anyone remember Rodrigo? He was the fat little Brazillian Moyes signed for about 1 million. He came with a rep as a free-kick specialist but was absolute gash of the highest order lol!
Mo Johnston was pretty bad too - he came with such hype and fanfare and I seem to remember it taking him an age to score his first goal. And there weren't many more that followed.
Neil Pickering,
Aye Rodrigo was terrible - not so much for the football, more for the fact that he broke his leg getting off the plane from Brazil and never played!
For sheer shite, you have to say Per Kroldrup is up there with the best of them. That was just a failure on our part.
Didn't we once sign that Egyptian lad, Ibrahim Said?
What about Idan Tal? I don't even remember if he was good to be fair, seems ages back!
Aye Rodrigo was terrible - not so much for the football, more for the fact that he broke his leg getting off the plane from Brazil and never played!
For sheer shite, you have to say Per Kroldrup is up there with the best of them. That was just a failure on our part.
Didn't we once sign that Egyptian lad, Ibrahim Said?
What about Idan Tal? I don't even remember if he was good to be fair, seems ages back!
..and I can't believe no one has mentioned Preki yet!!
Paul Gascoigne
Abel Xavier *shudder*
Abel Xavier *shudder*
Harsh on Gascoigne I feel, he had his moments - he wasn't in the same class as Mitch Ward or Preki!!
Paul Holmes
Kenny Sansom
Mike £1m Milligan
Kenny Sansom
Mike £1m Milligan
Lei Weifeng!!!!!
Lei Weifeng!!!!! Came as part of the Keijan deal, i think to keep Li Tie company until he was settled. What a joke!
Ahh Brett Angell...QPR at Loftus Road in 95. Brett comes on and clatters one of their lads. Ref comes over to brandish the yellow and the away fans to a man chant "Off, Off, Off" Priceless !!
Gk - Richard Wright
DL - Terry Phelan
DR - Peter Degn
DC - Per Kroldrup
DC - Claus Thomsen
ML - Stephen Hughes
MR - Mitch Ward
MC - Tony Thomas
MC - Alex Nyarko
FC - Bakayoko
FC - James Beattie
DL - Terry Phelan
DR - Peter Degn
DC - Per Kroldrup
DC - Claus Thomsen
ML - Stephen Hughes
MR - Mitch Ward
MC - Tony Thomas
MC - Alex Nyarko
FC - Bakayoko
FC - James Beattie
Davey Unsworth and Richard Dunn should have kept hold of these. I believe we now don't have anyone else in the squad qualified to pull the coach offf the motorway in case of a breakdown. Like goalies and heavywieght boxers they would now just be coming into thier prime. The only one who may have potential for this roll is Big Vic.
Any body remember a boy called Williamson from W Ham. Cost about £4m and that was years ago.
Best Mailbag shout in awhile.
Im 27 and too young to remember some mentioned but reading the illustrious list of tubes we have signed over the years is quite funny! i had forgot about many of them but that doesnt excuse how bad they were/are.
Best Bargain - Davy Weir or Stubbsy on free.
Worst - Think its already been covered but I woulg go for Espen Barsdaen.
Im 27 and too young to remember some mentioned but reading the illustrious list of tubes we have signed over the years is quite funny! i had forgot about many of them but that doesnt excuse how bad they were/are.
Best Bargain - Davy Weir or Stubbsy on free.
Worst - Think its already been covered but I woulg go for Espen Barsdaen.
We might have done a few bad deals down the years, but in terms of sheer waste of money on a succession of duds, this is one competition the Shite would win hands down.
Shit signings! We've been spoilt for choice. It's difficult to whittle it down to 'the worst ever so I'm just gonna rattle of a few of my (least) favourites.
Claus Thomsen: I can't remember anything of note he ever did. I can't even remember what he looked like. I just remember wincing whenever the ball went anywhere near him.
David Ginola: I remember turning up for his debut and wondering why the fuck Walter was playing Peter Stringfellow on the wing instead.
Per Kroldrup: it's not often you pay £5m for a centre half only to discover after the fact that he can't fucking head the ball. So bad he was binned off after one game.
Jasper Blomqvist: mercurial winger with about as much artistry as the motherfucker who created Dogtanian and the three muskahounds. Another mediocre player living off his 'latterly of Manchester United' label.
Richard Wright: the master of disaster. His decision making was worse than that guy who decided on a whim to taser his bird in the face, stuff her in an old computer box and bury her alive because he was a bit bored of her. He always reminded me of the 'Don't ...' horror films of the video nasty era ('Don't go in the house', 'Don't go in the woods', 'Don't answer the phone' etc) except his were a bit more mundane: 'Don't go in the loft','Don't get out the bath', 'Don't go near the 'wet grass' sign'.
John Spencer: made Mikel Madar look like Marradona.
Danny Williamson: Everton career decimated by injuries. Not his fault, but a massive waste of money.
Brett Angell: and you thought Beckford looked out of his league?
Bily: at a time we couldn't afford to waste any money Moyes splashed £9m on the street urchin from 'Oliver' looking left-sided specialist. Except he can't actually play on the left and he's not really special at anything, unless you count looking like you're shitting yourself as a skill these days. No pace, no power, no sense of positioning, poor first touch, and all the fight of Ned fucking Flanders.
Claus Thomsen: I can't remember anything of note he ever did. I can't even remember what he looked like. I just remember wincing whenever the ball went anywhere near him.
David Ginola: I remember turning up for his debut and wondering why the fuck Walter was playing Peter Stringfellow on the wing instead.
Per Kroldrup: it's not often you pay £5m for a centre half only to discover after the fact that he can't fucking head the ball. So bad he was binned off after one game.
Jasper Blomqvist: mercurial winger with about as much artistry as the motherfucker who created Dogtanian and the three muskahounds. Another mediocre player living off his 'latterly of Manchester United' label.
Richard Wright: the master of disaster. His decision making was worse than that guy who decided on a whim to taser his bird in the face, stuff her in an old computer box and bury her alive because he was a bit bored of her. He always reminded me of the 'Don't ...' horror films of the video nasty era ('Don't go in the house', 'Don't go in the woods', 'Don't answer the phone' etc) except his were a bit more mundane: 'Don't go in the loft','Don't get out the bath', 'Don't go near the 'wet grass' sign'.
John Spencer: made Mikel Madar look like Marradona.
Danny Williamson: Everton career decimated by injuries. Not his fault, but a massive waste of money.
Brett Angell: and you thought Beckford looked out of his league?
Bily: at a time we couldn't afford to waste any money Moyes splashed £9m on the street urchin from 'Oliver' looking left-sided specialist. Except he can't actually play on the left and he's not really special at anything, unless you count looking like you're shitting yourself as a skill these days. No pace, no power, no sense of positioning, poor first touch, and all the fight of Ned fucking Flanders.
I know he scored an extremely important goal. But gareth farrelly was abysmal. 97/98 was a "great" year for terrible players.
Terry Darracott just because of the league cup final replay against villa
Peter Degn wins. So bad that you couldn't even sell him on Championship Manager. Didn't Kenwright admit once we got sold a dud by an agent with this lad?
Tony Thomas a close second. So far out of his depth it was untrue.
Tony Thomas a close second. So far out of his depth it was untrue.
It depends on your age, but Bernie Wright and Bobby Laverick were abysmal left wingers, Ernie Hunt was unlucky and unneeded, as was Henry Newton.Alan Shackleton was pretty dire and so was Earl Barrett and selling Bobby Collins, Roy Vernon and Alan Ball far too quickly
Let's face it Everton have signed more usless articles than any other Premiership club.
On the selling side the biggest gaffs where Ball and Rooney but sometimes club politics and players demands come into play.
i question Everton's policies about some players we let go especially defenders the likes of Lescott, Dunn and Keown all of whom have or did become very high consistant performers with other clubs.
Even Materazzi who went to Inter and excelled himself back into the Italian national team.
What is wrong with the Everton set up I wonder?
On the selling side the biggest gaffs where Ball and Rooney but sometimes club politics and players demands come into play.
i question Everton's policies about some players we let go especially defenders the likes of Lescott, Dunn and Keown all of whom have or did become very high consistant performers with other clubs.
Even Materazzi who went to Inter and excelled himself back into the Italian national team.
What is wrong with the Everton set up I wonder?
MULLER
"Mike Walker once called a press conference to announce the signing of Müller for Everton, only for him to walk out on the club 30 minutes prior upon discovering he had to pay tax on his £20,000 per week wages, and would not be receiving a free house or car."
"Mike Walker once called a press conference to announce the signing of Müller for Everton, only for him to walk out on the club 30 minutes prior upon discovering he had to pay tax on his £20,000 per week wages, and would not be receiving a free house or car."
Alex #984, I'm sure that I saw Rodrigo play in a pre-season testimonial and both his legs were intact!
Can't argue with selections so far but Bernie Wright, Rod Belfitt and Claus Thomsen have to be right up there.
Anyone remember goalkeeper Seamus McDonagh and a follicly challenged left back John McLaughlin?
Can't argue with selections so far but Bernie Wright, Rod Belfitt and Claus Thomsen have to be right up there.
Anyone remember goalkeeper Seamus McDonagh and a follicly challenged left back John McLaughlin?
Gazza and Ginola where the most embarrassing. Being called 'The elephants graveyard of the Premier League'. If Davey Weir signs and plays ahead of Duffy Im going to be a Tranmere fan so I can watch the Everton youngsters develop.
Gazza and Ginola where the most embarrassing. Being called 'The elephants graveyard of the Premier League'. If Davey Weir signs and plays ahead of Duffy Im going to be a Tranmere fan so I can watch the Everton youngsters develop.
I have to say Paul Gerrard always made me nervous when he played in goal. Not the worst, but he was shite.
Stephen Hughes
Bilic
Pistone (was it him who played Alan Shearer 'offside' on a throw?)
Alexanderson and tobias Linderoth hardly set Goodison alight either.
Interesting that the majority of these 'worst signings' appear to be from the Walter era, not that many under Moyes
Stephen Hughes
Bilic
Pistone (was it him who played Alan Shearer 'offside' on a throw?)
Alexanderson and tobias Linderoth hardly set Goodison alight either.
Interesting that the majority of these 'worst signings' appear to be from the Walter era, not that many under Moyes
Surely the legendry Bernie Wright from Walsall in the 70's has to be the worst!
Gravesen's 2nd tour of duty was a bit of a 'mare.
Have to say I always though Gosling was rather shit, although not the worst.
Idan Tal was typical of the Championship quality players brought in under Smith, but again no worse than a lot of others.
As far as I'm concerned, the worst bit of business in recent memory is Yak to Blackburn for £1.5M, that might just be cos he's scored more goals than the entire Everton squad put together, or thereabouts.
Have to say I always though Gosling was rather shit, although not the worst.
Idan Tal was typical of the Championship quality players brought in under Smith, but again no worse than a lot of others.
As far as I'm concerned, the worst bit of business in recent memory is Yak to Blackburn for £1.5M, that might just be cos he's scored more goals than the entire Everton squad put together, or thereabouts.
The winner of this one is somewhere in the previous posts, no doubt. So many memories, oh the memories.......
Bugsy Burrows, Tony Thomas, Peter Degn, Vinny Samways, Claus Fucking Thompsen, Per Krøldrup, Niclas Alexandersson, Scot Gemmill, Danny Williamson, Bret Angell, Mo Johnston, Ibrahima Bakayoko, Alex Nyarko, Richard Wright, Steve Simonsen, Andy Van der Meyde, Bily, Tobias Linderoth, Alec Cleland, Mitch Ward, John Oster, Carl Tiler, Earl Barrett, Marc Hottiger all spring to mind as truly awful.
Some even worthy of a second mention, but i can`t bring myself to writing their names twice....
Bugsy Burrows, Tony Thomas, Peter Degn, Vinny Samways, Claus Fucking Thompsen, Per Krøldrup, Niclas Alexandersson, Scot Gemmill, Danny Williamson, Bret Angell, Mo Johnston, Ibrahima Bakayoko, Alex Nyarko, Richard Wright, Steve Simonsen, Andy Van der Meyde, Bily, Tobias Linderoth, Alec Cleland, Mitch Ward, John Oster, Carl Tiler, Earl Barrett, Marc Hottiger all spring to mind as truly awful.
Some even worthy of a second mention, but i can`t bring myself to writing their names twice....
All good shouts - my personal un-favourite was Mike Milligan.
Signed from Oldham in 1990, he was Colin Harvey's last grasp at a replacement for Peter Reid.
£1m and half an hour into his debut at Goodison against Leeds, with Speed, MacAllister, Batty and Strachan passing him by into a 3-0 lead, a fan runs onto the pitch straight for 'Spike' Milligan to politely ask him to pull his effin' finger out!
We got rid about a year later I think and he was never heard of again
Signed from Oldham in 1990, he was Colin Harvey's last grasp at a replacement for Peter Reid.
£1m and half an hour into his debut at Goodison against Leeds, with Speed, MacAllister, Batty and Strachan passing him by into a 3-0 lead, a fan runs onto the pitch straight for 'Spike' Milligan to politely ask him to pull his effin' finger out!
We got rid about a year later I think and he was never heard of again
Perhaps Milligan was the start of it all... we didn't half sign some shite players in the 90s :(
Jo
The way we lost Gosling....OOOPS! I hope someone got fired for that!
Some hilarious posts on here by the way, nice to hear everyone having a bit of a laugh in these grim times!
'So bad you couldn't even sell him on Championship Manager'....fucking genius son!
Some hilarious posts on here by the way, nice to hear everyone having a bit of a laugh in these grim times!
'So bad you couldn't even sell him on Championship Manager'....fucking genius son!
Paul Olsen
Oh the memories? Oh the mammaries, more like. What a load of tits...
Oh the memories? Oh the mammaries, more like. What a load of tits...
Didnt we technically "buy " Mike Walker
surely that must take the cake !
surely that must take the cake !
We have endured an awful lot of shite, although much of it was at bargain basement prices. There were some embarrassing ones, especially Gazza, Ginola and Jeffers return.
A few of the best bits of business for me: -
Selling Rooney - although he was worth more, he'd have been surrounded by shite and the money we got from his sale helped us get into Europe for several years.
Martyn for 500k - best keeper since Southall at Everton.
Lescott for 2.5M and sold for over 20M, good player, better profit.
Kevin Campbell - almost singlehandedly kept us in the Premiership, fuck know where we'd have ended up if we hadn't brought him in on loan. He was like a blue Batman and Jeffers was Robin.
Arteta, Pienaar, Gravesen all for about 2M each. Davey Weir, Richard Gough and Yobo get honourable mentions for not being shit and not costing much either.
A few of the best bits of business for me: -
Selling Rooney - although he was worth more, he'd have been surrounded by shite and the money we got from his sale helped us get into Europe for several years.
Martyn for 500k - best keeper since Southall at Everton.
Lescott for 2.5M and sold for over 20M, good player, better profit.
Kevin Campbell - almost singlehandedly kept us in the Premiership, fuck know where we'd have ended up if we hadn't brought him in on loan. He was like a blue Batman and Jeffers was Robin.
Arteta, Pienaar, Gravesen all for about 2M each. Davey Weir, Richard Gough and Yobo get honourable mentions for not being shit and not costing much either.
Drew, about the time we were going to sign Muller we were also going to sign Viola another Brazilian kid you remember that?
In terms of the ones that got away what about Stan Collymore for 8.5 million, gutted that he chose the reds at the time!
In terms of the ones that got away what about Stan Collymore for 8.5 million, gutted that he chose the reds at the time!
Shandy Andy & Gosling can never be included in this list.
Best night in recent memory - knocking the shite out of the cup in the last few minutes.
Shandy crossed & Gosling's shot took two deflections, that made it even sweeter!
Best night in recent memory - knocking the shite out of the cup in the last few minutes.
Shandy crossed & Gosling's shot took two deflections, that made it even sweeter!
Raymundo, Jim McDonagh and "Tiger" MacLaughlin were not embarassingly bad players!
From what Ive seen so far Straqualaqua could fall into that category though!
All of the above considered I'm going for Belfit in for Johnson out as the worst business. I know there were other reasons for Johnson being moved on but he was 10 times the footballer that Belfit was and came back to haunt us.
Then we made it worse by getting him back when he was finished, thus removing our moral superiority.
From what Ive seen so far Straqualaqua could fall into that category though!
All of the above considered I'm going for Belfit in for Johnson out as the worst business. I know there were other reasons for Johnson being moved on but he was 10 times the footballer that Belfit was and came back to haunt us.
Then we made it worse by getting him back when he was finished, thus removing our moral superiority.
"Jasper Blomqvist: mercurial winger with about as much artistry as the motherfucker who created Dogtanian and the three muskahounds"
For me, the post of the year so far. I had to explain to the person sitting next to me why I was pissing myself laughing so much.
Quality
For me, the post of the year so far. I had to explain to the person sitting next to me why I was pissing myself laughing so much.
Quality
Sorry,Tony,
"' If this is the School of Science he's the fucking lab rat!'
Got to be the funniest.
"' If this is the School of Science he's the fucking lab rat!'
Got to be the funniest.
Worst ever signing - Bakayoko
Best ever signing - David Moyes
Best ever signing - David Moyes
Ray Roche,
Never said Stevens was a bad player, the discussion is worst ever transfer......in or out! My comment merely suggests that Collins was the worst transfer, and replaced by an inferior player, a bit like Arteta replacing Fabregas.........Stevens wasn't poor, but Collins was genius!
Never said Stevens was a bad player, the discussion is worst ever transfer......in or out! My comment merely suggests that Collins was the worst transfer, and replaced by an inferior player, a bit like Arteta replacing Fabregas.........Stevens wasn't poor, but Collins was genius!
worst mistake i can think of was selling gary speed,big dunc,shocking!!!
oh and as for buys,cant believe we had gazza ,ginola,mark hughes and john spencer,would of been great if we had tehm 10yrs earlier in thier careers
Worst Billy hes fucking shit a wimp. Kroldrup maybe but i feel is harsh as he only ever got one game against Milwall in cup replay and we won. As for best i would have to say arteta and cahill, and tommy gravesen to
Peter Degn, Claus Thomsen, Tony Thomas, Carl Tiler, Danny Williamson.
The first bad buy I can remember was Ian Wilson.
I?ve heard an anecdote whereby he went down injured and the physio went on the pitch to treat him. When the physio came back to the bench, the subs and coaches where laughing and Colin Harvey was shaking his head. The physio asked what was up and Harvey said ?you was supposed to bring Wilson off and leave the sponge on!?
Pistone as well. Friends of mine are quite shocked with there sheer venom that spews from me when his name his mentioned. I absolutely hated him! The only left back I know who?d spend the game more closer to his centre half than the opposing right winger. Think there was a game when Man Utd scored 4 past us and 3 of them came from the right wing. Slow, couldn?t pass, couldn?t tackle, had a twat of facial tache thing ferret on his face and was basically just shit. I could not fucking stand him! For some reason he hit button on me which resulted in a sheer dislike for him!
The best, off the top of my head, £1.5m for Tim Cahill has to be right up there.
I?ve heard an anecdote whereby he went down injured and the physio went on the pitch to treat him. When the physio came back to the bench, the subs and coaches where laughing and Colin Harvey was shaking his head. The physio asked what was up and Harvey said ?you was supposed to bring Wilson off and leave the sponge on!?
Pistone as well. Friends of mine are quite shocked with there sheer venom that spews from me when his name his mentioned. I absolutely hated him! The only left back I know who?d spend the game more closer to his centre half than the opposing right winger. Think there was a game when Man Utd scored 4 past us and 3 of them came from the right wing. Slow, couldn?t pass, couldn?t tackle, had a twat of facial tache thing ferret on his face and was basically just shit. I could not fucking stand him! For some reason he hit button on me which resulted in a sheer dislike for him!
The best, off the top of my head, £1.5m for Tim Cahill has to be right up there.
What about that tart Westervald aswell.
James McFadden Mark II?
Billy for the inital cost.
James McFadden Mark II?
Billy for the inital cost.
Andrei Kanchelskis
Actually 3 of the best buys have been for literally nowt from The RS
Morrissey
Sheedy
Harper
Brilliant buy was Alex Young who totally captured the support when he arrived.
One of the greatest bits of business - which ended in tears - was buying the fabulous Tony Kay who I reckon would have definetely Captained England.
Biggest FU was letting Roy Vernon go too early
Morrissey
Sheedy
Harper
Brilliant buy was Alex Young who totally captured the support when he arrived.
One of the greatest bits of business - which ended in tears - was buying the fabulous Tony Kay who I reckon would have definetely Captained England.
Biggest FU was letting Roy Vernon go too early
John Street.
At least we agree on Collins's genius! The impact he had on Leeds was terrific; what a loss he was. His outgoing was a huge mistake, but Stevens's arrival, taken as a transfer as opposed to a replacement, was a good one.
Reading through this thread, there are many comments on good buys as well as bad ones. It's a bit of a bugger that the bad outweigh the good...
At least we agree on Collins's genius! The impact he had on Leeds was terrific; what a loss he was. His outgoing was a huge mistake, but Stevens's arrival, taken as a transfer as opposed to a replacement, was a good one.
Reading through this thread, there are many comments on good buys as well as bad ones. It's a bit of a bugger that the bad outweigh the good...
Charlie Percival -
Andrei Kanchelskis is surely in one of best signings??
Andrei Kanchelskis is surely in one of best signings??
Must be Straq or Bily. Not because they are complete carthorses, but because they will leave Everton without getting a real chance to show what they can do.
Mick Ferguson?
The story goes that one day Kendall went into the showers at Bellefield only to find a turd on the floor. He stormed out to the players and shouted "who's shit on the floor?", to which someone replied "Mick is, Boss, but he's not bad in the air".
The story goes that one day Kendall went into the showers at Bellefield only to find a turd on the floor. He stormed out to the players and shouted "who's shit on the floor?", to which someone replied "Mick is, Boss, but he's not bad in the air".
Selling Howard Kendall in the swop deal to get Latchford should have just paid cash .
Great player Howard and if i remember correct he was our player of the year when we sold him.
Great player Howard and if i remember correct he was our player of the year when we sold him.
Marc Hottiger and Claus Thomsen were my personal worst players of all the names mentioned, they were fucking shite! Although I remember for a game at QPR I think, Stuart Barlow and Brett Angell were our strikeforce! That gives me a shudder! Mind you at least we had 2 up front then haha!
"Jasper Blomqvist: mercurialwingerwith aboutasmuch artistry as the motherfucker who created Dogtanian and the three muskahounds".
Absolutely hilarious
Absolutely hilarious
Phil Rodgers: '97/98 was a "great" year for terrible players.'
Great shout! That last Howard Kendall side was the worst I've ever seen in over 30 years of following the Blues.
...but I do remember how truly and utterly awful Claus Thompson was (and being appalled that he was allegedly on £10,000 a week!)
Great shout! That last Howard Kendall side was the worst I've ever seen in over 30 years of following the Blues.
...but I do remember how truly and utterly awful Claus Thompson was (and being appalled that he was allegedly on £10,000 a week!)
Sorry, pressed the wrong button...
Tony Cheek (#946) - if the phrase "carthorse" wasn't invented for Denis Straqualursi, then I don't know what was!
Tony Cheek (#946) - if the phrase "carthorse" wasn't invented for Denis Straqualursi, then I don't know what was!
I think every deal mentioned is dwarfed by £35 MILLION FOR ANDY CARROLL! Say it out loud and it lifts the spirits remarkably. They could have got nearly nine Babayokos for that.
Little fat Joe Harper from Aberdeen had a good debut but was crap from then on.
But Andy, essentially it was Suarez and Carrol swapped in for Torres. The money wasn't really an issue for Liverpool. Neither for Chelsea. Newcastle must be pissing themselves though with Ba scoring freely.
Andrew Fair (880): my friend was a very good friend of the Chinese/English translator for Li Tie and Li Weifeng. From what he said, Weifeng (and his mother also) was actually very jealous of Li Tie's (first year) success. Also, while the official reason for Weifeng's return to China was injury, but the reality was that he could not accept the fact he was lonely and, more importantly, was not happy of not being treated as a "superstar" in Liverpool (like he was in China)... so, "keeping Li Tie company" was certainly impossible...
Here's a couple for our older readers;Jimmy Payne from Liverpool and Jimmy Glazzard from Huddersfield,completely clapped out when we signed them.Best signing ever(apart from a man called Dean!) ? Imagine a combination of Reid,Ball and Harvey- and you have Bobby Collins.
Best bargain: Neville Southall. £150k. With us for 16 years, for much of that time he was the best in his position in the country (at his peak, probably the best in the world). His performances earned (saved?) us more points than any outfield player. He made an outstanding side great ? think what we would have won with Bobby Mimms in goal.
Tony, as I mentioned last week a mate of mine who's lad is in the youth team set up told me they where all watching the first team train at Finch farm and everyone was pissing themselves laughing at how bad he was and one first team member who I won't name called him the worst pro he has ever seen (Strach).
As for Bily not getting a chance, how many games has he started? And how many did he have Every match going blue screaming to get him off and to be fair to Moyes most times he has, but why start him if that is what happens? Did you manage to see him at home the other week getting passed to death by plumbers and carpenters when Moyes played him in his role these lads have wanted him played in, he's shite and had his chance.
As for Bily not getting a chance, how many games has he started? And how many did he have Every match going blue screaming to get him off and to be fair to Moyes most times he has, but why start him if that is what happens? Did you manage to see him at home the other week getting passed to death by plumbers and carpenters when Moyes played him in his role these lads have wanted him played in, he's shite and had his chance.
The young lads were pissing themselves laughing as he could not control a ball or head or shoot and what I have seen in those two starts and a few sub appearances is just that, although he does have a good engine on him, but so do I.
Bily, Richard Wright, Beattie, Davies, Kroldrup, Fellaini (dare I say it). Just some of the millions Moyes has wasted. That's a good 45 mill gone there I'd say. Oh yeah Van der Meyde (almost forgot!)
Walking or wobbling through memory lane, I was quite surprised how many of our players I have completely erased from the memory bank-must have something to do with trauma. The worst-too many to chose from but Claus Thomsen is up there with the 'best'
Jim Pearson
Mickey Walsh
Mickey Walsh
Has anyone mentioned Ian Wilson, fuck me he looked more like a geography teacher and played like one.
And we actually paid good money for this guff:-
Mo Johnson
John Spencer
Alexandersson
Nyarko
Bakayoko
Bilic
Paul Gerrard
Brett Angell
Simon Davies
Richard Wright
Mike Miligan
15 years too late:-
Ginola
Gazza
Sansom
Mark Hughes
Mo Johnson
John Spencer
Alexandersson
Nyarko
Bakayoko
Bilic
Paul Gerrard
Brett Angell
Simon Davies
Richard Wright
Mike Miligan
15 years too late:-
Ginola
Gazza
Sansom
Mark Hughes
"Jesper Blomqvist: mercurial winger with about as much artistry as the motherfucker who created Dogtanian and the three muskahounds"
Genius.
Genius.
Having read all the previous posts, i have to agree with them. The confusing thing is that im now feeling better about our current squad. How did that happen?
Best Buy: Andy King £35 grand from Luton, what a player.
Worst Buy: Drew Brand I think from Huddersfield, a goalkeeper ? my arse.
Worst Buy: Drew Brand I think from Huddersfield, a goalkeeper ? my arse.
Apologies we didn't buy Drew Brand he came through the ranks, god someone should have been sacked for that.
Anyway, worst buy and my own biggest disappointment was Mo Johnston. I thought he would score a bagful for us.
Anyway, worst buy and my own biggest disappointment was Mo Johnston. I thought he would score a bagful for us.
Best: Kanchelskis.
The last signing that I thought.. 'Wow.. glad we got him!' (Obviously the Southalls, Fergusons, go without saying.)
Worst... still a work in progress... but I reckon if you logged into Toffeeweb in a few years.,Fellaini will be the biggest waste of money & wages the club would have known!
The last signing that I thought.. 'Wow.. glad we got him!' (Obviously the Southalls, Fergusons, go without saying.)
Worst... still a work in progress... but I reckon if you logged into Toffeeweb in a few years.,Fellaini will be the biggest waste of money & wages the club would have known!
I've looked through all the comments and don't think I've come across this player which makes me question if this Dutch right back with the hilarious mullet named Ray Attevald ever existed?! I'm pretty sure he did exist, "played" right back for us and that he was utter toss.
Am I the only person who thought Marc Hottiger was actually quite good for us? I had a season ticket when he played for us and I always remembered him being decent. He was a damn sight better than Barret and he worked well with Kanchelskis, who had his best run of form with Hottiger playing behind him. I think poor Marc gets a raw deal on here. Bless him.
Neil Macdonald anyone, I was thinking of him when I posted Neil Adams (Sorry Mr Adams), but to be fair, I can't remember much about Adams either. But Neil Macdonald replacing Gary Stevens, OMG, Milligan replacing Reid WTF.
Just going an interesting piece on Harvey's signings, Liverpool spent the Rush money (3.2 million) on Barnes, Beardsley, Aldridge and Houghton, Harvey spent the Lineker money on Cottee, Neil Macdonald and Mike Milligan, that is where the rot started for me.
Just going an interesting piece on Harvey's signings, Liverpool spent the Rush money (3.2 million) on Barnes, Beardsley, Aldridge and Houghton, Harvey spent the Lineker money on Cottee, Neil Macdonald and Mike Milligan, that is where the rot started for me.
Christ we have had some bad full backs.........Neil McDonald anyone? In fact virtually anyone Colin Harvey signed aside from Keown and Hinchcliffe, as they mostly cost a fair bit. We all have different viewpoints but i could nevfer warm to that phoney Tony "Simod Cup" Cottee. He was garbage from the spot as well.
For the money we paid, in the position he was signed in, Ian Snodin.
Yes, Maurice Johnston!! Kendall in decline. Mark Ward says in his book that he took a couple of looks at MoJo in training and thought, your gone, was rooming with him at the time and pretty much told him so.
Anyone said Amokachi, cant remember, i he was shite!!
For the money we paid, in the position he was signed in, Ian Snodin.
Yes, Maurice Johnston!! Kendall in decline. Mark Ward says in his book that he took a couple of looks at MoJo in training and thought, your gone, was rooming with him at the time and pretty much told him so.
Anyone said Amokachi, cant remember, i he was shite!!
Fucking hell thats spooky!! Well in Robbie lad!!!
Full agreement as you may guess!!
Peter Beardssley and Paul Gascoigne went for approximately the same cash as Cottee, and we ended up with TC.
I remember the Echo article heralding Mike Milligans signing, "Colin harvey has signed himself". Out of his depth and fucked off back to Oldham by Kendall pronto.
Full agreement as you may guess!!
Peter Beardssley and Paul Gascoigne went for approximately the same cash as Cottee, and we ended up with TC.
I remember the Echo article heralding Mike Milligans signing, "Colin harvey has signed himself". Out of his depth and fucked off back to Oldham by Kendall pronto.
If no-one's said it already, Paul Power for a grade a bargin. And if someone has, then you're fucking correct.
Per Krøldrup has to rank as the most pointless purchase of the modern era.
I was very disappointed when Marco Materazzi went and of course everyone was heartbroken when Alan Ball was sold, including Bally.
The worst piece of business we ever did in my opinion was selling Duncan McKenzie to Chelsea. For me that closed down the School of Science era.
Even in the mid-80s we never had anyone with the same pure talent including Gary Lineker but McKenzie rightly demanded absolute freedom on the field and then manager Gordon Lee wouldn't give him his head.
I was very disappointed when Marco Materazzi went and of course everyone was heartbroken when Alan Ball was sold, including Bally.
The worst piece of business we ever did in my opinion was selling Duncan McKenzie to Chelsea. For me that closed down the School of Science era.
Even in the mid-80s we never had anyone with the same pure talent including Gary Lineker but McKenzie rightly demanded absolute freedom on the field and then manager Gordon Lee wouldn't give him his head.
GK - Jan Mucha
RB - Peter Degn
LB - Alessandro Pistone
CB - Per Kroldrup
CB - Claus Thomsen
RW - Niclas Alexandersson
LW - Ian Wilson
CM - Billy
CM - Mark Pembridge
CF - Bakayoko
CF - Brett Angel
Subs:
Paul Gerrard
Mitch Ward
Li Weifeng
John Oster
Mike Milligan
Michael Branch
Stuart Barlow
Don't have nightmares!
RB - Peter Degn
LB - Alessandro Pistone
CB - Per Kroldrup
CB - Claus Thomsen
RW - Niclas Alexandersson
LW - Ian Wilson
CM - Billy
CM - Mark Pembridge
CF - Bakayoko
CF - Brett Angel
Subs:
Paul Gerrard
Mitch Ward
Li Weifeng
John Oster
Mike Milligan
Michael Branch
Stuart Barlow
Don't have nightmares!
Danny #070.. more than a match for most home teams seen at Goodison this season !
Pound for pound it has to be Bily.
Claus Thomsen was fucking tragic though.
Claus Thomsen was fucking tragic though.
A few mentions above for Mick Madar. What actually happened to him? I was at Selhurst Park to watch his debut and he notched a brace. I remember being quite impressed at the time.
6 goals in 19 games for the Blues, and then moved on.
Not quite in the same league as Brett Angel in terms of complete shiteness surely?!
6 goals in 19 games for the Blues, and then moved on.
Not quite in the same league as Brett Angel in terms of complete shiteness surely?!
Ooh la la, I just found Madar's bio on Toffeeweb to answer my own question. Sounds like he had a bit of a bust up with old Walter Smith.
Funny that his bio on here states one of his weaknesses as being that he was "too classy".
Maybe that was Claus Thomsen's problem too?
Maybe not.
I'll get me coat.
Funny that his bio on here states one of his weaknesses as being that he was "too classy".
Maybe that was Claus Thomsen's problem too?
Maybe not.
I'll get me coat.
Everton's worst signing? Steve Round
I wonder if 'George Weah' had rung Joe Royle, how many caps Ali Dia could have got for us? I reckon he'd have had a fruitful career and ended up on the coaching staff!
On a more positive note, our best signings: Latchford, Kendall, Gray, Campbell, Martyn, Dave Thomas, Mountfield, Reid, Sheedy and a certain W R Dean
Always remember a story about Madar that he spent a game niggling and spitting at Tony Adams. Adams asked Duncan what the deal was with him and Duncan said "just chin him, he's a cunt".
Might be bollocks but I like it.
Might be bollocks but I like it.
Bobby #053, yep that is more than a bit spooky! Great minds eh! Not only the same thoughts, but communicated in the same way....... Neil Macdonald anyone.... Mentioning Harvey and Cottee.........
Be afraid!
Be afraid!
What about Wayne Clarke as a great signing along with Paul Power, boy did he know where the net was. I think his big problem was that he came after Lineker and didn't have any pace.
Jay #807
Spot on. Poor old Keeleys Everton career lasted for 27 lamentable minutes
Spot on. Poor old Keeleys Everton career lasted for 27 lamentable minutes
Bobby even Keown was an embarrassment when he first signed him, I remember him trying a back heel at cityy away and the whole Everton end just burst into laughter he was that bad and yet look what he became, maybe we should persist with Bily!!!!!!!!
The Pembridge shout is harsh as he turned into a decent player in the end too.
The Pembridge shout is harsh as he turned into a decent player in the end too.
Imre Varadi, Eamonn O'Keefe, the batch of signings Kendall made when he took over (Alan Biley, Alan Ainscow, Mick Ferguson, Mickey Thomas, Mike Walsh), Ray Atteveld and Stefan Rehn.
Neville Southall and Graeme Sharp have to be two of the best signings we ever made.
I hope the people who write in to Toffeeweb saying things like the present side is the worst they've seen in 60 years have had their memories jogged by this thread...
Neville Southall and Graeme Sharp have to be two of the best signings we ever made.
I hope the people who write in to Toffeeweb saying things like the present side is the worst they've seen in 60 years have had their memories jogged by this thread...
Stevenson was bought for £4m from Tranmere by Johnson purely as a way of transferring funds from EFC to Tranmere!
Alan Ball had personal (financial) problems I believe so any signing on fee was meant to sort that out.
Alan Ball had personal (financial) problems I believe so any signing on fee was meant to sort that out.
Great thread.
In the spirit of knowing my history would anyone care to elaborate of the story of Bernie 'the bolt' Wright? Sounds hilariously bad. Everyone on here who remembers him seems to be unanimous. Why was he so terrible?
In the spirit of knowing my history would anyone care to elaborate of the story of Bernie 'the bolt' Wright? Sounds hilariously bad. Everyone on here who remembers him seems to be unanimous. Why was he so terrible?
Great response to my original post, which has brought back plenty of memories I wish I didn't have!
I'd like to give a mention to Slaven Bilic. Great player for West Ham and I was delighted when he signed for us for £4.5 million. Unfortunately he seemed to be booked every week, spent almost a quarter of the season suspended, got injured, and was allowed to go back to Zagreb where Everton continued to pay him £27,000 a week to sit and do nothing, other than train with the national team and turn out for them against Ireland. We then paid off his remaining contract for a further £1 million!
Regarding Bernie Wright, I never saw him play... so I get all my information from the book I mentioned in my OP, "Everton in the 1970s" ? available via the EFPF website with all money going to them, so a good cause.
Bernie was signed from Walsall for £35,000 a few days after playing against us in the FA Cup. He made his debut against Liverpool as a sub and his full debut at Old Trafford. In all, he played 10 games plus one as sub and scored twice including a diving header against West Ham. Reading the match reports in the book he also hit the post a couple of times so I can't believe he was as bad as Big Brett who I did see play, unfortunately.
Part of Bernie's legend comes from the way he left Everton, sacked after turning up drunk for training where he alledgedly punched one of the coaches. He eventually rejoined Walsall.
I'd like to give a mention to Slaven Bilic. Great player for West Ham and I was delighted when he signed for us for £4.5 million. Unfortunately he seemed to be booked every week, spent almost a quarter of the season suspended, got injured, and was allowed to go back to Zagreb where Everton continued to pay him £27,000 a week to sit and do nothing, other than train with the national team and turn out for them against Ireland. We then paid off his remaining contract for a further £1 million!
Regarding Bernie Wright, I never saw him play... so I get all my information from the book I mentioned in my OP, "Everton in the 1970s" ? available via the EFPF website with all money going to them, so a good cause.
Bernie was signed from Walsall for £35,000 a few days after playing against us in the FA Cup. He made his debut against Liverpool as a sub and his full debut at Old Trafford. In all, he played 10 games plus one as sub and scored twice including a diving header against West Ham. Reading the match reports in the book he also hit the post a couple of times so I can't believe he was as bad as Big Brett who I did see play, unfortunately.
Part of Bernie's legend comes from the way he left Everton, sacked after turning up drunk for training where he alledgedly punched one of the coaches. He eventually rejoined Walsall.
Ernie Beywood (#088) true story - it's in Tony Adams' autobiography.
Sooo Funny... but what about my dear ole friend Mark Pembridge???
Now there's a man who was in the wrong place at the wrong time... his mother's womb!!!
Now there's a man who was in the wrong place at the wrong time... his mother's womb!!!
Stefan Rehn was a poor player!! The only sub (i believe who was so poor), who was subbed).
Mitch Ward was a poor player, but to me, the poorest I ever seen was Kevin Langley, woefully out of his depth!!
Mitch Ward was a poor player, but to me, the poorest I ever seen was Kevin Langley, woefully out of his depth!!
Has to be Steve Simonsen.
Bought for a then record fee from Tranmere Rovers when Peter Johnson controlled both clubs.
If I recall correclt, shortly afterwards Johnson exited Goodison...
... a very clever of way moving £3.3m Mr. Johnson! (allegedly)
Bought for a then record fee from Tranmere Rovers when Peter Johnson controlled both clubs.
If I recall correclt, shortly afterwards Johnson exited Goodison...
... a very clever of way moving £3.3m Mr. Johnson! (allegedly)
Mind you: Slaven Bilic
£4.5m quid and signed when Dave Watson was caretaker manager
£4.5m quid and signed when Dave Watson was caretaker manager
Gravesen and Limpar aside, the thought of a Scandinavian in royal blue sends a shiver down my spine. Alexandersen, Linderoth, Thomsen, Degn, Blomqvist, Rehn, Myhre, Kroldrup. Sure there are more!
To be fair Mark, the ratio you show of 20% quality, 80% shite is true of our signings in general regardless of nationality!
Scott, all of a sudden I'm relieved we've got no money to buy anyone!
That's right Mark. We need enough money to sign 5 players before we can be comfortable of getting some quality!
Well, news in the States today that Galaxy is definately interested in Lampard. But one of Beckham (just signed), Keane or Landon would have to go to make room for a "designated" player.
Who knows, maybe we could add Landon as one of the good transfer-ins.
Who knows, maybe we could add Landon as one of the good transfer-ins.
"Worst Billy hes fucking shit a wimp. Kroldrup maybe but i feel is harsh as he only ever got one game against Milwall in cup replay and we won."
Not true. I remember being unfortunate enough to travel to Villa Park on a cold December night (think it was 2005??), only to witness Kroldrup has the back ripped out of him by Baros and one of the Moore brothers (forget which one). Absolutely shocking player - we always shout from the stands "I can do better than that!" - he's one example of where it's totally true!
As for the rest, Christ!! I've been reading this thread through my fingers at times! Ian Wilson, Cleland, Pembridge, Degn, Tony Thomas, Linderoth all get notable mentions. Jesus, Walter Smith signed some shite!!!
Not true. I remember being unfortunate enough to travel to Villa Park on a cold December night (think it was 2005??), only to witness Kroldrup has the back ripped out of him by Baros and one of the Moore brothers (forget which one). Absolutely shocking player - we always shout from the stands "I can do better than that!" - he's one example of where it's totally true!
As for the rest, Christ!! I've been reading this thread through my fingers at times! Ian Wilson, Cleland, Pembridge, Degn, Tony Thomas, Linderoth all get notable mentions. Jesus, Walter Smith signed some shite!!!
What about Kevin Mcleod, Michael Branch and Stuart Barlow, I know we didn't sign them but they certainly didn't live up to there potential at Everton and definitely worth a mention. Also has anyone mentioned John O'Kane yet?
The biggest joke is that some of the names being banded about here could probably get in this squad somewhere. Any of the forwards mentioned you would be probably be at least tempted over the course of this season to give them a run out. My opinion is that 12-15 million for Fellaini will eventually be viewed as one of the largest wastes of money at this club during a period where we are poverty stricken.
There's so many you could roll a long list, Scott Gemmill was an utter shithouse who used to run away from the ball and I wondered how the hell he and his dad were related after that goal against Brazil
Barrett was incredibly shite, I remember when we bought him the joke was the only Barrett anyone shifted (houses at the time joke). Brett Angel couldn't hit a barn door and later genuinely got fitted with contact lenses. Peter Degn, Carl Tiler, Claus Thompson, Stephen Hughes, Alex Nyarko, Linderoth, Alexanderson (shit for us but ok for Sweden?), Lei Weifeng (Lie Tie's mate), Gareth Farrelly, Stracqualarsi, Bilyetdinov, Kroldrup (yes he was dogshit against Villa), Milligan, Simonsen, Richard Wright (rhymes with shite), it just goes on and on
Barrett was incredibly shite, I remember when we bought him the joke was the only Barrett anyone shifted (houses at the time joke). Brett Angel couldn't hit a barn door and later genuinely got fitted with contact lenses. Peter Degn, Carl Tiler, Claus Thompson, Stephen Hughes, Alex Nyarko, Linderoth, Alexanderson (shit for us but ok for Sweden?), Lei Weifeng (Lie Tie's mate), Gareth Farrelly, Stracqualarsi, Bilyetdinov, Kroldrup (yes he was dogshit against Villa), Milligan, Simonsen, Richard Wright (rhymes with shite), it just goes on and on
Might have missed it but not seen this illustrious name, Glenn Keeley. Can't remember if what the deal was, loan I hope! - but he should have paid us back what ever we paid him.
Lee (275) - "As for the rest, Christ!! I've been reading this thread through my fingers at times!".
My God!
Some hilarious comments in this thread, but I laughed so hard reading the above my wife came downstairs to see if I was OK.
The players named were THAT bad? I'm still laughing typing this.
My God!
Some hilarious comments in this thread, but I laughed so hard reading the above my wife came downstairs to see if I was OK.
The players named were THAT bad? I'm still laughing typing this.
Add Gardener and Senderos, even though they were loans. Still shite!
One element in the worst buy equation should be who else we could have got for that money at that time, e.g:
Krøldrup - summer 2005, his £5 million would have bought Darren Bent and Nolberto Solano and Kevin Doyle, and left change. Whatever you may think of them individually, as a job lot they would certainly have strengthened the squad. I know none of them could play centre half but then, apparently, neither could Krøldrup.
Krøldrup - summer 2005, his £5 million would have bought Darren Bent and Nolberto Solano and Kevin Doyle, and left change. Whatever you may think of them individually, as a job lot they would certainly have strengthened the squad. I know none of them could play centre half but then, apparently, neither could Krøldrup.
Paul Lodge!!! Threat Angell!! Ian Wilson!! Blues vs Forest 1st game of season, they bring on Franz Carr the fastest winger in the league, we bring wilson the tortoise, shout from the main stand, were going pace for pace, priceless. Great blog.
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796 Posted 19/01/2012 at 01:49:45
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No wait; too soon. Selling Jack Rodwell.
No, er.... selling Joelon Lescott.
And selling Wayne Rooney
And selling Alan Ball
And selling Tommy Lawton