Frank McAvennie got many Claret and Hugh followers vote as the club’s best ever summer signing in the wake of my Thursday column.
But I was pulled up by some readers who chastised me for failing even to mention some other outsanding “summer” signings the club made down the years.
I did volunteer that I had not trawled through all the record books and was working off instinct so there were bound to be some glaring omissions.
Oh Boy I was right.
And as much as I will stand by the case the huge “overnight” impact McAvennie made when it comes to longevity and class then there are I agree with those fans who berated two outstanding examples.
Their names : Billy Bonds and Alan Devonshire.
Bonzo was of course signed in 1967 for a mere £50,000 and became one of the greatest players in the club history registering the most appearances (793) and lifting the FA Cup twice as skipper.
But sorry to be a pedant here Bonzo moved from Charlton to the Hammers in |May 1967 just before the summer recess.Then there was Devonshire. Devo was signed for a mere £5,000 from non league Southall and became one of the most thrilling players I’ve ever seen play for the Hammers.
Don’t like to split hairs here again but Devo arrived in early October according the record books.
I take the point though.
The counter debate of course who is the clubs WORST ever summer signing ?
Surely that is just a straight debate between Joey Beauchamp and Marco Boogers. Any other takers ?
Andy Carroll 😉
Haha has Matte hacked your account
Haha,well i was only joking but if he continues to get injured he could easily be financially the worst 😉
Yeah I think money wise he is so far,think he’s played and scored more than the others named so far lol
Of course It’s obvious AC has been an expensive disaster!
Seriously thougn lads,if he doesnt come good this season or next he could go down as the worst as a whole package,financially & game time,goals per pound note 😉
Good choices Rob. Benni McCarthy,Mido or Cliff Lazerenko (can’t remember his name,the one who’s now playing in the Afghan 4th division) maybe lol
Got to be savio. Our record signing who managed a handful of games before being shipped out
Haha Savio that’s the one I couldn’t remember
Easily forgotten!
Who is? Lol
Suppose Hippo doesnt count does he,shame 😉
No he was more like The Shining than a signing,if you’re Dutch they’re the same thing lol
Ljungberg, Freddy was a nightmare
….and Keiron was dire
Mido was mediocre,Benny over the Hill,Beauchamp was powder puff and Boogers was a bogeyman. Don’t blame me you started it lol
What have I started? Lol, I’ll go back to bed when DG says so
At this rate we’ll all be collapsing with exhaustion lol
There have been so many awful summer signings over the past 40 years!! Back in 1977…..John Radford – Arsenal legend, played for one season…..30-odd games without scoring in a team that got relegated! Freddie Llunberg – Another Gooners ledge who failed. Davor Suker. Keiron Dyer who was dead unlucky. Simon Webster, Richard Hall, Dale Gordon, Florin Raducioiu, Paolo Futre, Dani, Tyrone Mears, Javier Mascherano (only 5 league games), Savio – who would’ve cost the club £10 million if he’d stayed! At least WH got their money back from the Joey B deal and Marco did Booger off. There are of course many others……and I’m not even thinking of the ones that arrived mid-season.
I take my hat off to your memory,hope you’ve got good ones too lol
Haha, we have a place for old duffers! Indian Super League “buys” players for their tournament. Join FC Goa currently managed by Zico.
Could you pass them Nolaninho’s details please lol
Handy-Andy Trendy Carroll 😀
Kieron Dyer was pretty expensive on a fee per games basis.
Would also suggest Gary Breen-think we lost 7-1 to man U and he was at fault for 5!
Forgot to throw in Allen McKnight-Mare he was awful
2 great reads Shep. I don’t think you need to apologize cuz as u point out neither were “summer” signings (stroke of luck 🙂 )
Worst signing ever would be Joey beachamp … I’m not sure how to spell him name but that’s probably because he ran back to his sheep farm as soon as he saw the bright lights of London looming in the distance
Haha while you were sleeping a retaliatory raid was launched,easily repelled though lol