Players that turned out better than you expected

[Bath Blade]

Watching the World Cup final last night and thinking that nobody would have guessed Sabella would go on to be such a successful manager when he was at Bramall Lane, got me thinking about others who became far better than you expected (Sabella's probably a bad example because I wasn't even alive back then).

The two I'll kick off with are Dellas (I remember how shocked I was when he signed for Roma) and Jagielka who I didn't think would amount to much when he was starting his United career (as a midfielder back then in my defence).

 

[Deadly_D'Jaffo]

Don Hutchison. I always thought he was quite lazy and padestrian during games but then he went and did very well for Everton and Sunderland in the Premiership.

 

[UnitedBlade]

A long time ago now, but I remember thinking why are acquiring a player from Chester City for £10k ? Boy, was I wrong about that thought, an immediate success and went on to make our Top 20 All Time Scorers list. Bill Dearden, worked his bollocks off in every game and scored some great goals. Exactly the type of striker we need now (if Deano isn't available that is).

 

[sheffielder]

Wayne Allison or Neil Shipperley would be top of my list. I think I will go with Shipperley as I loved that season

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

James Beattie and Richard Cresswell.

 

[SotonBlade]

Stuart McCall

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Don Hutchison. I always thought he was quite lazy and padestrian during games but then he went and did very well for Everton and Sunderland in the Premiership.

First name that came to my mind too. I can't say I was surprised by Dellas and Jags - I rated both extremely highly at the time. Dellas was by no means universally rated at the time, and in fairness to those that didn't rate him as highly he did have some shockers for us (Forest away in '98 for example).

Players I was surprised did so well for us - Derek Geary and Wayne Allison.

 

[bricktop]

Derek Geary - Warnock signed him not longer after Alan Quinn came, and i thought what has that idiot bought him for. 200 games later, and some sterling, whole-hearted performances, on reflection he was the best one of the trio of ex-pigs brought in by Warnock

Neil Shipperley - When he was brought in, i felt we had brought in a past it, over the hill journeyman who would steal a wage for a couple of years and disappear, just like Ashley Ward did. The result was an awesome season, and Shipperley being instrumental in a promotion to the top flight.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

....of course there was that long, lanky, leggy streak of piss (my words on first sight) that we signed from Donny!

 

[sheffielder]

....of course there was that long, lanky, leggy streak of piss (my words on first sight) that we signed from Donny!

You could have said that any Bassett signing I certainly didn't expect much from most of them

 

[thevoot]

Stuart McCall

good shout.

he was about 47 when we signed him, but he was utterly brilliant for 18 months or so

 

[Revolution]

After his few appearances in his first two seasons I never thought Dane Whitehouse would amount to anything...

Also Chris Marsden. That guy had a career path like few others.

 

[1973_Blade]

Ooh aah!

 

[judge]

Brian deane
Watched that lad grow in confidence every level he stepped up to , from a gangly awkward looking kid from donny to a full england international

 

[Yewsman]

John Ebrell. Cost a million pounds plus his wages. He arrived with an injury and when he eventually played lasted 45 minutes before having to withdraw with injury. Probably our worst signing ever?

 

[Latters]

Paddy Kenny. A cheapo signing from Bury was hardly one I had my eye on to stand out but he was class for us and we haven't even come close to having a better 'keeper since.

 

[judge]

John Ebrell. Cost a million pounds plus his wages. He arrived with an injury and when he eventually played lasted 45 minutes before having to withdraw with injury. Probably our worst signing ever?

You must have had pretty low expectations then mate

 

[Maidenhead]

Colin Morris. Thought nowt of it when we signed him but what a player he turned out to be.

Let's hope our modern day influx of players from Blackpool turns out as well as he did.

And let's not forget he also gave us a son who flattered to deceive and earned us millions too

 

[mattbianco1]

Pretty much any player that we have/are being linked with this season barring Coady & Brayford. Because people have never heard of them and/or never seen them play - they're shit!! (according to most)

 

[mattbianco1]

Leon Britton

 

[Silent Blade]

Simon Stainrod- went on to play in a higher division and was in the England squad for the South America tour of 1984

 

[Darren]

Simon Stainrod- went on to play in a higher division and was in the England squad for the South America tour of 1984

That's a seperate list of players who did better after they left United when we thought they were not much good. Marsden and Mendonca spring to mind.

 

[Silent Blade]

First name that came to my mind too. I can't say I was surprised by Dellas and Jags - I rated both extremely highly at the time. Dellas was by no means universally rated at the time, and in fairness to those that didn't rate him as highly he did have some shockers for us (Forest away in '98 for example).
.

Dellas struggled as a defender in the 442 system and when we played a high line, he struggled playing against pace when the opposition have a counter attack. He was a lot more comfotable in the sweeper system which was more popular in Italy and under Otto Rehhagel's management in the Greece National team

 

[Silent Blade]

That's a seperate list of players who did better after they left United when we thought they were not much good. Marsden and Mendonca spring to mind.

Yes, that was Bath Blade's original post

 

[SwitchBLADE Smiles]

Ugo Ehiogu. Quite possibly the biggest 'WTF?' signing I've ever seen... Turned out to be a bit of a beast!

Him and Sun Ji-Hai. Cult hero's!

 

[Trafford]

Paul McGrath - knees shot to pieces and didn't expect him to do much more than add experience but he oozed class

 

[Small Mendonca]

Hao Haidong, his signing sounded so far-fetched and ridiculous that I thought he'd never get a game but credit to him he got about 20 minutes.

 

[Revolution]

That's a seperate list of players who did better after they left United when we thought they were not much good. Marsden and Mendonca spring to mind.

I rated Mendonca and I wasn't the only one. Bassett sold him too quick after that stinker of a game against Shrewsbury...a misjudgment, but we didn't miss him in the next 3 years.

I have commented on Marsden above. What an odd career he had.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

I agree with an earlier poster about Billy Dearden - for those old enough to remember he was a fabulous centre forward. But then again, that team put together by the Late John Harris was a joy to watch from back to front. Harris rated Dearden as his 2nd best signing after a certain TC. Just to add a link to our present manager NC, Clough senior paid John Harris the ultimate respect by playing his European Cup winning side when they came to BDTBL for the Harris testimonial match - think they stuffed us 7-1 from memory.
UTB

 

[Bladesway]

Tracey, Kelly, Mel Reece, Ian Bryson, Tony Agana, Brian Deane. Pretty much any Bassett signing came with low expectation to start with.