'Memries' Shock signings

[bladesince64]

The most exciting one for me was (going back a bit) Jimmy Johnstone. I'd watched him on tellybox play and he just looked like a phenomenaly skilful winger and I was thinking that he'd RIP defences to shreds.

He had his issues of course and drink was part of the decline which was why he ended up at BL.

In his pomp he was unplayable and a national hero in Scotland due to him scoring against England in a narrow defeat at Hampden Park

Tragically he died of MND aged 61.

 

[Silent Blade]

The most exciting one for me was (going back a bit) Jimmy Johnstone. I'd watched him on tellybox play and he just looked like a phenomenaly skilful winger and I was thinking that he'd RIP defences to shreds.

He had his issues of course and drink was part of the decline which was why he ended up at BL.

In his pomp he was unplayable and a national hero in Scotland due to him scoring against England in a narrow defeat at Hampden Park

Tragically he died of MND aged 61.

I went to his debut at Stoke feeling excited that we had signed a World star player!

 

[DaveBassettsgoneonholiday]

Yes, it was 0-0 at the time, and it happened at the Lane end.

Gary Lund scored a hattrick for Grimsby and we went 3-0 down. We ended up losing 3-2.

29 September 1984. The date is burned in my brain as it was a milestone birthday for a family member.

I have seen United score 2 other goals like that: at the 2-0 defeat at Palace in the first PL season, where Deano headed against the bar when it was 0-0 and it clearly bounced over the line and came out, and at Coventry in 2001-2, where Rob Page headed in and the keeper scooped it out from behind the line. We lost 1-0.

There is also the Villa ghost goal, of course.

This might be what I've misremembered (copyright Roygbiv ) since Cockerill's name was brought up.
I thought it was him that caught the ball with both hands in our own penalty area (Lane end) after the refs whistle went as a cross came in to the box. Ref gave a penalty, as he'd not blown, then changed his mid as there was a "phantom whistler" as the stadium announcer (maybe Ian Ramsay) later put it, possibly on the John Street terrace.

 

[Balham]

How the hell do you know this????

I know that Phil Jagielka was - and almost certainly will forever be - the last United player older than me to make a first team appearance and I'm pretty sure that the first player younger than me to make a league appearance for us was Jonathan Forte.

 

[MojoMuffin]

Not sure if it counts...

If not, Ravel Morrison really took me by surprise.

 

[I should coco]

For me (whilst attending games not from afar) it's probably Jostein Flo. Some unheard of 6'4 Norwegian, who from memory, scored against Wimbledon on his debut. We were flabbergasted on the Kop!

Swindon Town, IIRC.

"Flo, Flo
Don't need Deano"

To the tone of 'No limit' by 2 Unlimited.

Once he'd played a coupe of games, the chant was quieltly dropped.

 

[Loco Blade]

Maradona ( well almost ) Ian Rush ?

 

[10-0 win]

Brian Marwood, lifted us from bottom to 8 wins in a row in Bassett era.

 

[Tray]

I was shocked we went for Marlon King. Leon Clarke and Gary Madine were both very surprising.

To be fair we had a summer of "shocking" signings last year.

 

[Selly]

Swindon Town, IIRC.

"Flo, Flo
Don't need Deano"

To the tone of 'No limit' by 2 Unlimited.

Once he'd played a coupe of games, the chant was quieltly dropped.

Swindon was the first game of that season - but Flo didn`t score (or even play?). Falconer opened the scoring, they equalised right after HT and Bradshaw and Paul Rogers completed the scoring.

Wimbledon was our 4th game (2nd home game)

 

[Silent Blade]

Swindon was the first game of that season - but Flo didn`t score (or even play?). Falconer opened the scoring, they equalised right after HT and Bradshaw and Paul Rogers completed the scoring.

Wimbledon was our 4th game (2nd home game)

Flo's debut was in the 4-2 defeat at Everton.

 

[SE1Blade]

Swindon was the first game of that season - but Flo didn`t score (or even play?). Falconer opened the scoring, they equalised right after HT and Bradshaw and Paul Rogers completed the scoring.

Wimbledon was our 4th game (2nd home game)

A Premier League forward pair of Alan Cork and Andy Scott surely has to be the worst we’ve started with. I cant believe we won.

Maybe Osula and Traore pip them, but that’s a poor front two. Good job the rest of the team was half decent (even though we got relegated).

 

[Sportbilly /Detroit Blade]

The previous record signing was Alex Sabella at £160K in 1978, we broke that recors 11 years later when we signed Morris.

I was very wrong there then, it is a long time ago.

Even so, 175k was a big signing for us at that time.

 

[Selly]

A Premier League forward pair of Alan Cork and Andy Scott surely has to be the worst we’ve started with. I cant believe we won.

In fairness Swindon were the worst side in the league.

 

[Sportbilly /Detroit Blade]

Just going to add that I was too young then, but 160k in 1978 must have been an unbelievable signing for us?

I remember starting supporting us in the 1980s, and us seemingly always potless, how did we afford to sign Sabella?!

 

[Silent Blade]

Just going to add that I was too young then, but 160k in 1978 must have been an unbelievable signing for us?

I remember starting supporting us in the 1980s, and us seemingly always potless, how did we afford to sign Sabella?!

One of our directors, Albert Bramall, was about to fund the transfer fee so that we could sign Maradona until Argentinos Juniors wanted more money.

 

[Sportbilly /Detroit Blade]

One of our directors, Albert Bramall, was about to fund the transfer fee so that we could sign Maradona until Argentinos Juniors wanted more money.

What was our record signing before Sabella then, that must have obliterated the previous record fee paid?

 

[Sithblade]

Glen Cockerill was and still is one of my all time favourite Blades midfielders and have always thought it to be a great shame that he wasn’t part of a much better team than the one we had at the time .

It came as no surprise to me that when he inevitably moved on he was a success at a higher level . I understand that among Southampton supporters of a certain age , he is still remembered with great affection and admiration and given his many qualities I can well understand why .

While searching for Glenn came across this recent post, no idea what this is about.

 

[Silent Blade]

What was our record signing before Sabella then, that must have obliterated the previous record fee paid?

Chris Guthrie in summer 1975. Papers said fee was £100K but years later Ken Furphy said £90K in his interview with Gary Armstrong.