Wow factor signings (1 Viewer)

Hadji and Jarni were both stunning signings, although not a wow when he signed as he cost about 10k Peter Ndlovu made me go wow the first time I saw him play in the reserves.

Colin stein was a major coup at the time...I really felt we were stating our claim for top finish in old Div 1. And then Hutchinson came, the best ever sky blue player in my opinion. Yes I agree with others that Hadji was a signing that got the fans believing again and Robbie Keane was a top signing too. I just hope Mowbray can pick up another Pearce as we will be looking for gems from non league rather than proven internationals in the near future


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Isiais and Jose Perdomo

If my memory is corect I dont' think we decided to get rid of Gary Macallister. The way I heard it was that after four years here he felt he was due a loyalty bonus under the terms of his contarct. Richardson disagreed and would not pay up and therefore Macca decided he was off. Liverpool (Houllier was a long time admirer of Macca) got wind of the situation and it was a done deal before Richardson could sort it out.

At the time there was a lot of speculation as to wether or not he would stay as the season came to a close at the end of his four year contaract. I distinctly remember his last game for us at the end of the season against Sheff Wed (they were already relegated and it was Oggy's last game too). At the start of the second half he sprinted out of the tunnel and stood in the centre circle and slowly looked around the stadium as if he was mentally saying goodbye. I remeber turning to my son and saying "He won't be staying".

There are so many from the romantic City days...when agents weren't involved, and I always got excited when we signed a new striker/attacking player....so right up there for me are Stein, Pointer, Huckaby, Hutchison and Hadji.

For me Hadji and Keane were the two biggest wow signings. Two of my favourite city players ever

In recent years the signings of Mcindoe and Eastwood got me excited.

Both turned out to be utter dross.

Juggernaut said:

In recent years the signings of Mcindoe and Eastwood got me excited.

Both turned out to be utter dross.

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You seem to be utter dross...

Did Mowbray resign then?

After France 98 my 13 year old mind was blown when we signed Mustapha Hadji.

1- Cyrille Regis. Then one of the top strikers in the country and an England International
2- David Speedie. Great signing, great player and great period at Highfield road.
3-Mustapha Hadji. One of the stars of that summers world cup lands at HR.
4-Robbie Keane. One of the best young talents in the country, he really lit up HR for that one season.
5-Gary Macallister. A Leeds fan told me we would have no chance of signing there best player and captain.

2015-So far we have resigned Tudgay, and to convince us all things are getting better the over hyped unavailing of an over priced kit.

The last two players I got excited about us signing were Bell and Eastwood, didn't work out too well!

Signing Keane at the time was mental. He was the most talked about player around and for us to get him was massive.
Hadji was up there too as he was a real superstar at France 98.
Jarni was a true world superstar at the time and us getting him was always going to be too good to be true.

It had to be Gary McAllister, he was one of the best players in the premiership when we signed him and at his peak, I can't believe we got him and couldn't believe he wanted to come. He could have played for any team he wanted to. Whilst you have put some good names for consideration on this thread, with the exception of Regis (who I think under achieved after he left WBA) McAllister was already proven at the top level as with the greatest of respect, Huckerby was a Newcastle reserve, Keane was a championship player when we got him, Hadji was a gamble etc etc even tough some of these went on to great things they were a punt at the time

I remember getting excited about Kevin Drinkell. We out-fought Villa to sign him and at the time he was considered a major star.

Let's just say it didn't work out for him.

The Philosopher said:

I remember getting excited about Kevin Drinkell. We out-fought Villa to sign him and at the time he was considered a major star.

Let's just say it didn't work out for him.

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Let's just say it didn't work out for us!

...onwards & upwards PUSB

For me Robbie Keane...he was just starting to really ignite when we got him...& hence he didn't stick around for long as his talent was far bigger than our ambition or resource could handle.

...onwards & upwards PUSB

Not going to mention the obvious signings, so I reckon I will say John Hartson. Shame he never played more games for us, although Wimbledon were holding out for a good bit of money for him.

The signings Big Ron made with Richardson's open cheque book, Salako is a name which springs to mind

The signing of big Ron himself was a bit of a wow for me and for a short while it gave the club a real push and we started signing players we could never have attracted before, I know he spent a lot of money and started the free fall but it was fun for a short while.

Terry Gibson's perm said:

The signing of big Ron himself was a bit of a wow for me and for a short while it gave the club a real push and we started signing players we could never have attracted before, I know he spent a lot of money and started the free fall but it was fun for a short while.

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I have to agree, none of us were moaning when we were bringing all of these quality players in

Robbie Keane for me, I remember getting his name on the back of my shirt on the Saturday morning before we played Derby and then when he scored I took it off and held it up at the Derby fans in excitement:facepalm:

It probably says a lot about the demise of the club that in my lifetime the only players I remember getting excited over us signing were John Fleck and....

I wrote that out expecting to think of a few more while I was typing and after 5 minutes of thinking that is it.
Fleck was tipped so highly just a year or so before we signed him and being an avid football manager fan I had seen him on there for a few years turning into a world beater and playing in the prem. What a flop he has been.

no_loyalty said:

I have to agree, none of us were moaning when we were bringing all of these quality players in

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Trevor Brooking had us as dark horses for the title that first full season.

How wrong could he be!

So so disappointing how it turned out, given what we spent.

Tomh111 said:

It probably says a lot about the demise of the club that in my lifetime the only players I remember getting excited over us signing were John Fleck and....

I wrote that out expecting to think of a few more while I was typing and after 5 minutes of thinking that is it.
Fleck was tipped so highly just a year or so before we signed him and being an avid football manager fan I had seen him on there for a few years turning into a world beater and playing in the prem. What a flop he has been.

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Blimey really makes me glad I'm not young!

SlowerThanPlatt said:

What season was that?

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95/96

SlowerThanPlatt said:

Also 77-78 4 points off the top 4 and 88-89 7 points off the top 4, we should have challenged for the title that year but massively fall off towards the end if I remember correctly

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My memory may be playing tricks, but I think that was the year when we beat Arsenal 1-0 (Kilcline pen) at Highfield Road in March (??) to go third?

SlowerThanPlatt said:

Also 77-78 4 points off the top 4 and 88-89 7 points off the top 4, we should have challenged for the title that year but massively fall off towards the end if I remember correctly

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I'm convinced we only faded as badly as we did because, with no European football to play for, there was nothing to play for once the title was gone.

DazzleTommyDazzle said:

My memory may be playing tricks, but I think that was the year when we beat Arsenal 1-0 (Kilcline pen) at Highfield Road in March (??) to go third?

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Your memory is not playing tricks. I think he may have missed one earlier in the game?

The papers had the remaining fixtures for the Title contenders and we were in that list!

Gosford Green said:

David Speedie. Great signing, great player and great period at Highfield road.

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Good player, just a shame he's a racist prick.

Grendel said:

Your memory is not playing tricks. I think he may have missed one earlier in the game?

The papers had the remaining fixtures for the Title contenders and we were in that list!

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I thought that might have been the case - but thought I might be pushing my luck with that as I missed that game, so was just going from memories of match reports.

Seems odd to think that Sillett was fired not too long afterwards as he wasn't bringing us enough success.

If only we knew then..........

DazzleTommyDazzle said:

I thought that might have been the case - but thought I might be pushing my luck with that as I missed that game, so was just going from memories of match reports.

Seems odd to think that Sillett was fired not too long afterwards as he wasn't bringing us enough success.

If only we knew then..........

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On the face of it...

We were right up there with Norwich and Arsenal, then fell away badly.

The next season we were dipping in and out of lower bottom half.

So there was an argument to be made that we were goiing backwards.

Personally (and I suspect most people now, as I recall there were a few calls of discontent at the time starting to surface however), given what we'd had before, I'd have said Sillett deserved a blip or two. It is indeed a bit like Charlton with Curbishley though - a manager who'd done so well the fans almost started to take their place for granted.