Buy of the century?

[ToxtethTerror]

What relatively unknown or young player is the best ever?

 

I think Barcelona signing Leo Messi for peanuts at 14 was a coup, the same for Raul being poached from Atletico Madrid by Real. There is also Fabregas at Arsenal from Barcelona?

 

For experienced players: Cantona at £1m for me is the bargain of the century in England.

 

Patrick Vieira at £3.5m was a huge snip, Wenger has won nothing since he left.

 

For Liverpool and Houllier - Sami Hyypia?

 

I don't think Rafa has unearthed a real gem and made him into a super star yet although Torres has been a major success for us.

[Lucky Pierre]

What relatively unknown or young player is the best ever?

 

I think Barcelona signing Leo Messi for peanuts at 14 was a coup, the same for Raul being poached from Atletico Madrid by Real. There is also Fabregas at Arsenal from Barcelona?

 

2 Brilliant ones, along with Aguero, but he did cost £15M

 

For Liverpool and Houllier - Sami Hyypia?

 

I don't think Rafa has unearthed a real gem and made him into a super star yet although Torres has been a major success for us.

Give it a few years and Agger/Skrtel at £6M could be a brilliant one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also - Cantona wasn't this century:whistle:

[wiiksie]

Oh, Sami Sami...

[Paul]

Which century?

[Nick Leeson]

Anelka to Arsenal? Maybe not a great great player but what a profit! Bought for half a mil in 97 and sold to Real for £23 million less than 2 years later.

[El Rojo]

In profit terms Wenger's had some absolutely fantastic buys.

 

Good call on Ferguson seeing something special in former Sheffield Wednesday journeyman Cantona.

 

Garry Macca at 36 was a stroke of genius from Houllier, and Sami Hyppia has been one of our all time great signings.

 

Steve Bruce (or his scouts) did well to get in Palacios, Valencia and Zaki at Wigan in recent times. At least two of those would improve us, though Spurs were typically ripped off for Palacios.

[Tyler Durden]

Im not old enbough to remember but surely some of our old signings from 20 odd years ago could be in there, me Da is always going on about players who we would pluck from Stanley park or other obsqure Leagues for a packet of crisps or and a tangerine(exotic fruit).

[nelly88]

Wengers untouchables spring to mind

 

henry to arsenal?!

vieira to arsenal?!

 

orrrrrrr

Salif Diao to Liverpool?!

[Lupin]

Im not old enbough to remember but surely some of our old signings from 20 odd years ago could be in there, me Da is always going on about players who we would pluck from Stanley park or other obsqure Leagues for a packet of crisps or and a tangerine(exotic fruit).

 

Not exactly Stanley park, but Scunthorpe - Clemence and keegan, Northampton - Phil Neal, Vancouver Whitecaps - Grobbelar, South Liverpool - Jimmy Case...we've had our share...I think Insua, Delle Valle, Galacsi and Pacheco just as a kick off may be there one day from the current crop.

[RedinSweden]

Gary Mac was ace. Sami for us. Wigan getting Palacios was pretty amazing return on investment too.

[El Rojo]

£900,000 for John Barnes was a fucking steal even 22 years ago too.

 

Aldridge (£750,000) was a cracking buy too - 50 goals in 83 games! That's Nando territory! Kenny let him go too early.

[ToxtethTerror]

Assume past 25 years! Deal of century was figure of speech. I think this highlights how much bette Man United have been in the market than us over the past 18 years.

[Section_31]

Ian Rush, £300,000 from Chester surely? Record fee for a teenager but still, one of the greatest strikers of his generation.

[wiiksie]

Assume past 25 years! Deal of century was figure of speech. I think this highlights how much bette Man United have been in the market than us over the past 18 years.

How does it?

 

They had a unique set of quality youth players in the mid 90's, and have added established big name players since.

 

What unknown gems have they bought?

[Nick Leeson]

Eric Djemba-Djemba.

[ToxtethTerror]

How does it?

 

They had a unique set of quality youth players in the mid 90's, and have added established big name players since.

 

What unknown gems have they bought?

 

They did better with their youth players than we did. Look at some of them, Neville x 2 - are they that much better than Matteo and Wright or just managed and coached better? They certainly aren't better than Rob Jones. We also had a great set of youth players during the nineties come through - Fowler, Redknapp, McManaman etc but did we manage them as well?

 

The biggest factor in our failure against the Mancs these past 18 years has been poor transfer buys and poor player development. Basically Alex Ferguson.

 

Unknown gems? How about Kanchelskis, Smiechal (sp!), etc?

[wiiksie]

They did better with their youth players than we did. Look at some of them, Neville x 2 - are they that much better than Matteo and Wright or just managed and coached better? They certainly aren't better than Rob Jones. We also had a great set of youth players during the nineties come through - Fowler, Redknapp, McManaman etc but did we manage them as well?

 

The biggest factor in our failure against the Mancs these past 18 years has been poor transfer buys and poor player development. Basically Alex Ferguson.

 

Unknown gems? How about Kanchelskis, Smiechal (sp!), etc?

Im not sure how comparing their youth dev in the 90s with ours is relevant to this thread, but its interesting and might be worth starting another thread for it.

 

I'll give you Schmiechel, one of the best keepers Ive ever seen, and he cost 500 grand or something.

[ScottyT]

Per Kroldrup.

[fruitbat]

selling keegan for 550,000 and getting a better replacement for 440,000 has to be good dealings

 

then theres peanuts for hansen, lawrenson and whelan

[Free90]

Kevin Doyle was a pretty good buy i reckon, about 80k i think it was. Also Palace bought Ian Wright for a set of weights i think. Good buys the both of them

[stringvest]

Clemence, Keegan, Whelan, Heighway, Wark to name a few

[robslappa]

Controversial one, but Tim Cahill's been an excellent buy for the shite (I think it was £2.5m). His goals have either kept them up or got them into Europe.

[El Rojo]

Controversial one, but Tim Cahill's been an excellent buy for the shite (I think it was £2.5m). His goals have either kept them up or got them into Europe.

 

Yep, a reluctant good call from me. He's a very good player. I think they paid nearer £1.5m for him.

 

He'd improve us. *shudders and hides*

[Guest Francie Brady]

Dennis Irwin for £625,000 .

[redrosetints]

What relatively unknown or young player is the best ever?

 

I think Barcelona signing Leo Messi for peanuts at 14 was a coup, the same for Raul being poached from Atletico Madrid by Real. There is also Fabregas at Arsenal from Barcelona?

 

For experienced players: Cantona at £1m for me is the bargain of the century in England.

 

Patrick Vieira at £3.5m was a huge snip, Wenger has won nothing since he left.

 

For Liverpool and Houllier - Sami Hyypia?

 

I don't think Rafa has unearthed a real gem and made him into a super star yet although Torres has been a major success for us.

 

Ian Rush £300,000 from Chester.

Big Sami - 2.5m

Reina - fantastic deal for 6m