Page 1 of 2
Biggest "pleasantly surprised" signing
Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2020 11:37 am
by 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.
Re: Biggest "pleasantly surprised" signing
Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2020 11:42 am
by 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.
Re: Biggest "pleasantly surprised" signing
Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2020 11:43 am
by Bergen
Richard Garcia.
Re: Biggest "pleasantly surprised" signing
Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2020 11:53 am
by Rich Tea Wellin
Andrew Whing
Re: Biggest "pleasantly surprised" signing
Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2020 11:57 am
by Long slender neck
That injured defender Beelzebub bought
Re: Biggest "pleasantly surprised" signing
Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2020 12:01 pm
by HARVEY T DENTON
Teddy?
Re: Biggest "pleasantly surprised" signing
Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2020 12:04 pm
by KC & sunshine band
Barry Dyson signed from Watford, scored some cracking goals
Re: Biggest "pleasantly surprised" signing
Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2020 12:27 pm
by DuvB
Smendrick Feaselberg wrote: ↑Thu Oct 08, 2020 11:37 am
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
Re: Biggest "pleasantly surprised" signing
Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2020 12:28 pm
by DuvB
His face when he scored that goal was a picture
Re: Biggest "pleasantly surprised" signing
Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2020 12:33 pm
by 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.
Re: Biggest "pleasantly surprised" signing
Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2020 12:46 pm
by Scuba Diver
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
Re: Biggest "pleasantly surprised" signing
Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2020 1:05 pm
by 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.
Re: Biggest "pleasantly surprised" signing
Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2020 1:50 pm
by BoniO
I'd like to vote for the Cheerio's.
Re: Biggest "pleasantly surprised" signing
Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2020 1:51 pm
by Constanza
Was excited by the appointment of that Fletcher loan manager from Bournemouth.
Re: Biggest "pleasantly surprised" signing
Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2020 2:11 pm
by Rich Tea Wellin
DuvB wrote: ↑Thu Oct 08, 2020 12:28 pm
His face when he scored that goal was a picture
And not a picture anyone wants on the wall
Re: Biggest "pleasantly surprised" signing
Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2020 2:57 pm
by PutneyO
Joe Mayo
Re: Biggest "pleasantly surprised" signing
Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2020 3:21 pm
by WickfordO
Stan Bowles.
Re: Biggest "pleasantly surprised" signing
Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2020 3:45 pm
by 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.
Re: Biggest "pleasantly surprised" signing
Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2020 3:48 pm
by DuvB
Omygawd wrote: ↑Thu Oct 08, 2020 3:45 pm
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
Re: Biggest "pleasantly surprised" signing
Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2020 3:49 pm
by DuvB
Constanza wrote: ↑Thu Oct 08, 2020 1:51 pm
Was excited by the appointment of that Fletcher loan manager from Bournemouth.
Must be a wind up.
Re: Biggest "pleasantly surprised" signing
Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2020 3:52 pm
by Omygawd
DuvB wrote: ↑Thu Oct 08, 2020 3:48 pm
Omygawd wrote: ↑Thu Oct 08, 2020 3:45 pm
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.
Re: Biggest "pleasantly surprised" signing
Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2020 5:35 pm
by banqo
KC & sunshine band wrote: ↑Thu Oct 08, 2020 12:04 pm
Barry Dyson signed from Watford, scored some cracking goals
To go with that, how about Mickey Bullock.
Re: Biggest "pleasantly surprised" signing
Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2020 6:57 pm
by 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.
Re: Biggest "pleasantly surprised" signing
Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2020 6:59 pm
by Top of the JES
KC & sunshine band wrote: ↑Thu Oct 08, 2020 12:04 pm
Barry Dyson signed from Watford, scored some cracking goals
One of my all time favourites great striker of a ball.
Re: Biggest "pleasantly surprised" signing
Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2020 7:03 pm
by 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.