Players whose signings surprised you

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DifferentClass

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Whether it be the WTF factor, the "too big for diddy little Sheffield United" factor or the "how the fuck would they fit in our famous system?" factor, we've made some shock signings over the years.

I never thought in my entire life we'd get such a highly-rated prospect as Sander Berge over the line. ESPECIALLY given that just five years earlier we'd given the likes of Michael Higdon and Jay McEverley contracts.

Leon Clarke was shocking too, my first thought was "oh dear, signing old journeymen again, new manager- same old shit". He was a turnup for the books! And now plying his trade at Shrews, think he'll be a good signing for them.
 

Whether it be the WTF factor, the "too big for diddy little Sheffield United" factor or the "how the fuck would they fit in our famous system?" factor, we've made some shock signings over the years.

I never thought in my entire life we'd get such a highly-rated prospect as Sander Berge over the line. ESPECIALLY given that just five years earlier we'd given the likes of Michael Higdon and Jay McEverley contracts.

Leon Clarke was shocking too, my first thought was "oh dear, signing old journeymen again, new manager- same old shit". He was a turnup for the books! And now plying his trade at Shrews, think he'll be a good signing for them.

Paul McGrath
 
Peter Withe, Ian Rush, Phil Thompson; I knew signing top names like these would take us to the next level.
I was wrong but I was just kid back then.
 
Peter Withe, Ian Rush, Phil Thompson; I knew signing top names like these would take us to the next level.
I was wrong but I was just kid back then.
The ultimate dads army, the management skill of which was further defined when we swapped the loan of withe and Roger Hansbury
 
Whether it be the WTF factor, the "too big for diddy little Sheffield United" factor or the "how the fuck would they fit in our famous system?" factor, we've made some shock signings over the years.

I never thought in my entire life we'd get such a highly-rated prospect as Sander Berge over the line. ESPECIALLY given that just five years earlier we'd given the likes of Michael Higdon and Jay McEverley contracts.

Leon Clarke was shocking too, my first thought was "oh dear, signing old journeymen again, new manager- same old shit". He was a turnup for the books! And now plying his trade at Shrews, think he'll be a good signing for them.

I knew Leon Clarke would be a great signing for us at L1 level,
 

James Beattie (first time). England international, transfer record broken. We just didn’t sign players that good, there was no way we couldn’t be promoted with him in the side.

Robson managed to fuck that up. If we had Blackwell for the whole season even he would have got us up with that squad.
 
James Beattie
Alex Sabella (even if it was a cheaper alternative to Maradona)
Brian Deane (second time)

Not really been surprised by anybody else, almost all our signings have been about the 8th ones on our list and barely caused a ripple of excitement between them when signing
 
I actually thought we did really well to get Oli Norwood. Came with a really good pedigree which proved to be correct.

Other signings I was surprised about with mixed results...

Quinn, Bromby and Geary from the filth.
David Unsworth
James Beattie (1st time)
Glenn Cockerill (was a great signing at the time)
Phil Thompson
Dennis Mortimer
Paul McGrath
Jan Aage Fjortoft
Brian Deane (2nd time)
Vinny Jones
Dean Saunders
 
The signing of Jimmy Johnstone in the mid 1970s. At the time I felt he was a great signing.
I was only a boy though.
Ched Evans 2nd time around.
To have that announced on the last day of L1 winning season, was bizarre and unnecessary.
 
Vinnie Jones - perhaps not so much surprise but denial.

I was living in London at the time and my Manchester United supporting roommate (from Warwick), predicted that we would be buying Vinnie from Leeds. I told him there was no way, the memory of the 4-0 drubbing at Elland Road still fresh in my memory.

A few weeks later I was on the phone with my mum who said "oh, United have bought someone ... Vinnie something, I can't remember"

I remember the feeling of horror and seeing my roommate gloating across the front room.
 
Adrian Littlejohn.

First I knew of him was him warming up on matchday for his debut!
 

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