Biggest "pleasantly surprised" signing

[Smendrick Feaselberg]

Spin-off of the other thread, but what about players that turned out to be better for us than you initially thought they would?

I'll go...

Amara Simba - 35/36 year old guy I'd never heard of signed for us and expecting him to be crap and past it, but was actually really decent.

Paul-Jose M'Poku - was at the Orient v Hartlepool game with four neutral supporting fans (one of whom was a Spurs fan). When M'Poku came on I said he'd probably be one of the typical Premier League loan signings that were just young and bang average. But he tortured the Pools right back, then tortured both the winger and right back when they doubled up on him and was generally quality in the games he played for us. Probably the most skilfull player I've seen play for Orient.

Matt Lockwood Assumed he'd be not very good owing to him signing so close to the start of the season/other clubs passing on him. The rest is history.

[Chicken Dhansak]

When we signed a certain Peter Kitchen from Donny, back in the day, I for one had never heard of him, well, what a legend he became for us.

[Bergen]

Richard Garcia.

[Rich Tea Wellin]

Andrew Whing

[Long slender neck]

That injured defender Beelzebub bought

[HARVEY T DENTON]

Teddy?

[KC & sunshine band]

Barry Dyson signed from Watford, scored some cracking goals

[DuvB]

Spin-off of the other thread, but what about players that turned out to be better for us than you initially thought they would?

I'll go...

Amara Simba - 35/36 year old guy I'd never heard of signed for us and expecting him to be crap and past it, but was actually really decent.

Paul-Jose M'Poku - was at the Orient v Hartlepool game with four neutral supporting fans (one of whom was a Spurs fan). When M'Poku came on I said he'd probably be one of the typical Premier League loan signings that were just young and bang average. But he tortured the Pools right back, then tortured both the winger and right back when they doubled up on him and was generally quality in the games he played for us. Probably the most skilfull player I've seen play for Orient.

Matt Lockwood Assumed he'd be not very good owing to him signing so close to the start of the season/other clubs passing on him. The rest is history.

On his day M'Poku was unplayable

[DuvB]

Andrew Whing

His face when he scored that goal was a picture

[Beradogs]

Roman Vincelot. Been at a couple of lower league french clubs. Dagenham and loans. Not exactly a glittering CV. Turns into one of my favourite players ever to play for us.

[Scuba Diver]

Andrew Whing

Was very decent. Solid player.

I'm gonna throw in Dean Cox. Didn't know what to expect from the little fella when we took him on

[EastDerehamO]

Of the bigger names, Glenn Cockerill and David Peach joined us from Saints at the end of their careers, so many times such players take a bit of a free ride at lower level clubs in such circumstances, but each put in a darn good shift every game for us.

[BoniO]

I'd like to vote for the Cheerio's.

[Constanza]

Was excited by the appointment of that Fletcher loan manager from Bournemouth.

[Rich Tea Wellin]

Andrew Whing

His face when he scored that goal was a picture

And not a picture anyone wants on the wall

[PutneyO]

Joe Mayo

[WickfordO]

Stan Bowles.

[Omygawd]

Bill Roffey. Became my favourite left back and one of my all time favourite players. Didn’t cut it with Palace and came to us with no real track record or experience. Fantastic signing.

[DuvB]

Bill Roffey. Became my favourite left back and one of my all time favourite players. Didn’t cut it with Palace and came to us with no real track record or experience. Fantastic signing.

Met him painting a mate's house front in Parsons Green years later - had a nice chat - seemed a decent bloke - loved getting recognised

[DuvB]

Was excited by the appointment of that Fletcher loan manager from Bournemouth.

Must be a wind up.

[Omygawd]

Bill Roffey. Became my favourite left back and one of my all time favourite players. Didn’t cut it with Palace and came to us with no real track record or experience. Fantastic signing.

Met him painting a mate's house front in Parsons Green years later - had a nice chat - seemed a decent bloke - loved getting recognised

He has spent time coaching in America and has visited the supporters club. He is always amazed that people remember him let alone revere him. Really unassuming and nice man off the pitch but a good player and as tough as anyone I’ve seen in our shirt when on the hallowed turf.

[banqo]

Barry Dyson signed from Watford, scored some cracking goals

To go with that, how about Mickey Bullock.

[Clive Evans]

I remember when we signed Simba, it made the quality broadsheets ( I think it may have been the Times ). One wag suggested that Simba thought he had signed for L'Orient.

[Top of the JES]

Barry Dyson signed from Watford, scored some cracking goals

One of my all time favourites great striker of a ball.

[Top of the JES]

Ralph Coates. Didn't know we had signed him and Ian Moores until I turned up at the Valley for an evening game and they were both starting for us. Coates was very consistent even though at the end of his career great player.