Worst premiership transfer?

Oranage2

With this season over I think we have another 2 to challenge the other 2 big failed transfers of all time.


1. Andy Carroll - 35m, at the time he was something like the 8th highest transfer of all time to but it into context. Anyone in world football could see he was a donkey with fitness problems and less than professional attitude...everyone except king Kenny that is.

2. Fernando Torres - 50m, he had some injury problems but did have a good spell before Chelsea bought him, just a season before that he was one of the best strikers in the world, fast forward 6 months and he could even hit an open goal. One of the biggest falls from grace.

3. Falcao - loan - big reputation, big wages, 16m big. Had a decent start before not looking even good enough for league 1. Flop Flap, miss is the best way to describe his united career.

4. angel di Maria - 60 to 68 million. Another united player to have started well, the chip against Leicester was unbelievable, but that chip seemed to symbolizes the rest of his career, like a ball falling, so did his form. Regularly kept out of the team by Ashley Young which says more than actual words could. United fans say it's too early to judge him a flop but let's be honest, there's no come back for the flamboyant Argentine.


poll to follow.

Kirby

I think to write off Falcao and Di Maria after a single season in which United played patchy football at best, is hugely premature.

Torres went to chelsea for a massive fee and left for peanuts. Similarly, Carrolls value plumetted and was sold for half of what he cost.....and many felt Liverpool were blessed to get even that. If Di Maria was sold tomorrow, he'd likely go for the same money that United paid. Whatever about his form, you cant really call that a flop.

Richard Hillman

Thierry Henry to Sky for 24 million

8-10

Brian Laudrup

Runners Up:
William Prunier
Sean Dundee
Winston Bogarde
Ali Dia

Liam McPoyle

Jose Reyes - Once a very highly rated player he joined Arsenal and got trolled by a radio station into thinking Madrid wanted him, he started well but left with a whimper.

Collie D

Kirby wrote: »

I think to write off Falcao and Di Maria after a single season in which United played patchy football at best, is hugely premature.

Torres went to chelsea for a massive fee and left for peanuts. Similarly, Carrolls value plumetted and was sold for half of what he cost.....and many felt Liverpool were blessed to get even that. If Di Maria was sold tomorrow, he'd likely go for the same money that United paid. Whatever about his form, you cant really call that a flop.

Happy to give di Maria another season. For first 8/9 games of the season he was looking like an early contender for player of the year. Poor for the rest after injury. More to come. As for Falcao....won't miss him

To add to the above...

Shevchenko
Soldado
Santa Cruz
Brolin
Jeffers


There's too many to mention!

Caovyn Lineah

No mention of Veron yet?

The Moldy Gowl

Why don't you add the wages for the other transfers?

Liam McPoyle

rarnes1 wrote: »

To add to the above...

Shevchenko
Soldado
Santa Cruz
Brolin
Jeffers


There's too many to mention!

God, remember Frannie Jeffers!! Was it arsenal he joined?

Business Cat

Business Cat wrote: »

God, remember Frannie Jeffers!! Was it arsenal he joined?

Yep. Was pretty big money at the time. Perhaps a record Arsenal transfer, not 100% on that though

prettyboy81

rarnes1 wrote: »

Yep. Was pretty big money at the time. Perhaps a record Arsenal transfer, not 100% on that though

The fox in the box

MythicalMadMan

Falcao 14/4 Welbeck 18/4

Falcao 6 million - Chico loan = 4 million

Welbeck 16 million + Wages 3 million + hotel bills 10k + fuel costs for season 500 + kit changes + 400 + wear and tear of bench in 2nd half of season 100

This shows that welbeck was at least 4 times a flop as Falcao :eek:

Boy is your face red Id say

But the look on your face Pricless

This post was brought to you by mastercard

theoneeyedman

Bebe....... A transfer that stunk to high heaven, seemed to be more about lining pockets than football. Made Sepp & the boys look straight!

bad2dabone

Business Cat wrote: »

God, remember Frannie Jeffers!! Was it arsenal he joined?

Yeah for eight million in 2001. A bad signing no doubt. Not quite at the level of some of the other flops mentioned, but still, a definite flop.
But he's got 2 fa cup medals and a league winners medal.

Defending flops is a kind of flop in itself!

MythicalMadMan

rarnes1 wrote: »

Defending flops is a kind of flop in itself!

Pointing out stupidity behind bizzare parameters chosen seemingly at random is why the internet was created.

MythicalMadMan

MythicalMadMan wrote: »

Pointing out stupidity behind bizzare parameters chosen seemingly at random is why the internet was created.

It's hard to disagree with any names mentioned so far though

MythicalMadMan

rarnes1 wrote: »

It's hard to disagree with any names mentioned so far though

I don't know his reasoning is bizzare as I said it seems somewhat random, hard to take it seriously in any way to either agree or disagree, some more cinical folk might even say he was trolling not me though cause that would be against the old charter.

The Moldy Gowl

rarnes1 wrote: »

It's hard to disagree with any names mentioned so far though

Think he is just on about the fee being quoted for falcao including his wages in order for it to be more sensationalist. The wages aren't included for the others.

batistuta9

van wolfswinkle deserves a mention

shamrock55

Before this season i would have said carroll, but now it has to be di maria for his pricetag and general ****ness, the guy has been hopeless

marklazarcovic

taibi ,im gonna say curdrado for chelsea already,salah for chelsea,boateng for city... mario fcking balotelli for lfc... grrrrr,should not have gotten started

Will I Amnt

Falcao flopped, there's no doubt about that but he isn't anywhere near a list of worst premier league transfers simply because there was no transfer fee.

batistuta9

Will I Amnt wrote: »

Falcao flopped, there's no doubt about that but he isn't anywhere near a list of worst premier league transfers simply because there was no transfer fee.

:pac:

keeponhurling

To be in th running for this award, really it should be somebody who cost a huge amount and produced virtually nothing. (And had no significant sell-on value)

Free transfers such as Laudrup, or loans such as Falcao aren't genuine contenders.

Surprised nobody mentioned Robinho yet

Will I Amnt

batistuta9 wrote: »

:pac:

Good for you. Suppose logic and the soccer forum have never really gone hand in hand.

matrim

Bosco Balaban

fyfe79

It has to be Ali Dia. Pretended to be George Weah's cousin and got a Premiership game out of it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Dia

batistuta9

Will I Amnt wrote: »

Good for you. Suppose logic and the soccer forum have never really gone hand in hand.

such pedantry though, maybe he could update the thread to signing instead of transfer! was only a joke anyway

greendom

keeponhurling wrote: »

To be in th running for this award, really it should be somebody who cost a huge amount and produced virtually nothing. (And had no significant sell-on value)

Free transfers such as Laudrup, or loans such as Falcao aren't genuine contenders.

Surprised nobody mentioned Robinho yet

Falcao cost more in loan fees and wages than a lot of other flops.

€6million for a one year deal and €18million in wages. Cheap as chips!

rob316

Besides the obvious ones Carroll, Torres

Stewart Downing to Liverpool - £20m -awful transfer and ridiculous money for such a limited player.

Shevchenko to Chelsea - A huge £30m at the time, came with the reputation of one of Europe's most feared strikers right at his peak. Managed 9 goals in 48 appearances. Huge flop.

GavRedKing

Chelsea have had a few, the main two, Torres and Shevchenko were brought in above the managers heads at the time, although it was said that Carlo was somewhat keen on Torres but wanted Aguero more, who went to City in the same window for less money.

Honourable mentions from Chelsea also include, Veron, Del Horno.

This year alone has seen two big flops, Balotelli and Falcao, Di Maria hasnt been bad but he hasnt exactly justified his fee just yet.

Mangala at stages looked terrible for the price but he seemed to be settling nicely in the last half a dozen games.

Robinho and Torres are contenders, but for me its Carroll, was the ultimate we've got money after Torres and need to spend it panic buy and Newcastle took Pool to the cleaners.

LiamoSail

Business Cat wrote: »

Jose Reyes - Once a very highly rated player he joined Arsenal and got trolled by a radio station into thinking Madrid wanted him, he started well but left with a whimper.

Belongs no where near this list IMO.

From memory, Arsenal paid roughly £19m for him before selling him on for something like £12 to 14m. Not a huge loss by any stretch and he had a few good seasons with them, at least one in which he was very good.

Obviously between homesickness and his moaning about Gary Neville kicking him, he faded out towards the latter end of his Arsenal spell, but overall I don't think he was a bad signing, certainly no where near deserving of a place on this list.

Saipanne

Veron. A massive fee, at the time and never recreated his Serie A form.

Flop.

citytillidie

One player - Torben Piechnik

Will I Amnt

batistuta9 wrote: »

such pedantry though, maybe he could update the thread to signing instead of transfer! was only a joke anyway

It wouldn't make a difference. It was a loan deal with an option to buy by all accounts, completely removed the risk of it becoming a huge transfer failure.

Saipanne

Will I Amnt wrote: »

It wouldn't make a difference. It was a loan deal with an option to buy by all accounts, completely removed the risk of it becoming a huge transfer failure.

And it didn't cost a penny...

Will I Amnt

Saipanne wrote: »

And it didn't cost a penny...

Who said that?

Ozil obviously

circadian

Downing to Liverpool or Carroll for me.

Mickeroo

LiamoSail wrote: »

Belongs no where near this list IMO.

From memory, Arsenal paid roughly £19m for him before selling him on for something like £12 to 14m. Not a huge loss by any stretch and he had a few good seasons with them, at least one in which he was very good.

Obviously between homesickness and his moaning about Gary Neville kicking him, he faded out towards the latter end of his Arsenal spell, but overall I don't think he was a bad signing, certainly no where near deserving of a place on this list.

He actually only cost 10.5m with a possible rise to £17m depending on success (Sevilla may have got money after the title win, i'm not sure). The Arsenal transfer record fee was only £16m (Cazorla) until Ozil two seasons ago.

Hamadeusentman

Corrado Grabbi from Ternana to Blackburn. 6.75 million in 2001. Waste of space. Spent three seasons, scoring twice.

Hamadeusentman

rarnes1 wrote: »

To add to the above...

Shevchenko
Soldado
Santa Cruz
Brolin
Jeffers


There's too many to mention!

But Santa Cruz to Blackburn from Bayern was brilliant business. Around 3 million I think.

Hamadeusentman

bad2dabone wrote: »

Yeah for eight million in 2001. A bad signing no doubt. Not quite at the level of some of the other flops mentioned, but still, a definite flop.
But he's got 2 fa cup medals and a league winners medal.

Also has the distinction of having a 100% goalscoring record with England. Played one, scored one (v Australia).

racso1975

Spurs have had a few peaches. Sodaldo mainly comes to mind

duffman13

Erik Lamela, looked a class act with Roma, Spurs throw a msssive bid in and Lamela turns to crap.

Massimo Taibi 5 million for a couple of disastrous games. Veron a good player but never hit the heights expected.

Kirkland for Liverpool, remember them paying 7 million IIRC and a few mates banging on about this fella. Honourable mentions for Diao and Diouf on the back if the world cup in 2002.

Jeffers already mentioned for Arsenal, Arshavin was another. Looked like he was gonna be the next big thing. Threw his toys out of the pram after he got taxed half his wages and bar one or two memorable performances disappeared of the radar.

citytillidie

duffman13 wrote: »

Erik Lamela, looked a class act with Roma, Spurs throw a msssive bid in and Lamela turns to crap.

Massimo Taibi 5 million for a couple of disastrous games. Veron a good player but never hut the heights expected.

Kirkland for Liverpool, remember them paying 7 million IIRC and a few mates banging on about this fella. Honourable mentions for Diao and Diouf on the back if the world cup in 2002.

Jeffers already mentioned for Arsenal, Arshavin was another. Looked like he was gonna be the next big thing. Threw his toys out of the pram after he got taxed half his wages and bar one or two memorable performances disappeared of the radar.

May not have played much but kept Liverpool in the Champions League with a great display V Juventus in the Quarter Final

Will I Amnt

What Spurs did with the Bale money was a collective flop.
Eriksen being the saving grace.

Kiwi_knock

Alfonso Alves at Boro. At the least the top teams who signed duds had other players to replace them, but Boro had to rely on Alves all season and ultimately got relegated.

Underground

Mateja Kezman.