'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.