2012-2015: worst signings

[blueroyals]

Worst signing vs expectation, yes.

[Platypuss]

Worst signing vs expectation, yes.

That's Drenthe, surely.

[West Stand Man]

Worst signing vs expectation, yes.

Are you implying that the expectation for Ferdinand was that he'd do nothing at all? Strange.

[Ian Royal]

Worst signing vs expectation, yes.

That's Drenthe, surely.

Only for people who didn't know anything about him other than that he'd played for Real Madrid.

Everyone else knew he was a waster on his last chance who might come good if we were lucky. We thought he might, we hoped he would, he didn't. Pogrebnyak on the other hand came as a player experienced in European competition and who'd scored goals at PL level that another PL club wanted to sign.

[maffff]

For me it'd have to go with Bridge with Drenthe a close runner up. Ferdinand and Knight aren't behind.

I don't see how anyone can suggest Bridge was a bad signing. Yeah he got injured but before that he was excellent and he'd played a full season for Brighton the year before so it wasn't like we gambled on a crock.

My expectations compared to what we got for a phenomenal cost. Seemed too busy shocked up with his missus to care when he was fit.

Drenthe I expected the shitfest we got.

Least Pog tries.

[MmmMonsterMunch]

Has to be Ferdinand. He hasn't bloody played therefore he has contributed nothing. Closely followed by Drenthe...

[Sidindaclub]

Reason I vote pog is because no one will want to take him from us. He could do a job in league 2 but they can't afford his wages. His contract is the biggest issue, I wish it ran out this season. eventually I think he will sign for a Russian team as he's not good in English football

At least we could get rid of Drenthe and also Ferdinand isn't on a lengthy deal

[The Prisoner]

Carrico sums up our last few years really. Stumbled across a potentially decent player, failed to get anything out of him, management didn't really know what to do with him, couldn't afford him, he wasn't truly arsed about being here & he couldn't wait to leave.

We used to be able to get the best out of limited players. Now we get nothing out of most of our players.

The worst things that ever happened to us were the 106 team believing their own hype & BMc's team hitting lucky in 2012.

And how can you include the Pog in here? At least he makes an effort & runs for the cause. Him & Drenthe poles apart.

[blueroyals]

Worst signing vs expectation, yes.

Are you implying that the expectation for Ferdinand was that he'd do nothing at all? Strange.

No.

My expectation for Ferdinand, given that he'd all-but-retired and been put out to pasture in the Thai league, was very low.

My expectation for Pog, given that he'd had a decent spell at Fulham in the PL, CL experience & recent national team experience, was that he'd be a decent PL striker. But he's not even a decent Champ striker.

Worst signing has got to be relative to the expectations when signed. Otherwise, you could argue that Billy Joe from the under 8s is our worst signing as he's not played a single minute for the first team. Based on that, Pog has my vote for worst signing.

[Big Tim]

Ferdinand is by far the worst signing. At least we could sing about Pog and Royston.

[Kuhl_Runnings]

Drenthe was pretty under rated in my opinion. I would've had him over Robson-Kanu anyday (even though he's a RW according to Fifa).

[From Despair To Where?]

For me, Drenthe was the symbol of the whole TSI debacle, big money and the promise of big expectations but in reality, a bit of expensive window dressing that we really couldn't afford .

[Vision]

WSM ( with all due respects sir) and Just for the hell of it....and because I'm bored

Are you factoring in Ferdies "behind the scenes" contributions, the possibility of him being involved in the future management team, or the unlikelihood/likelihood of him returning to starting line-up?

A non playing Messi would be a good marquee signing for us

As an aside, I mentioned Marriappa earlier, has anybody got anything pertinent to say about him and the actual OP?

Mariappa couldn't possibly have existed. McD said he only had £2.5m to spend on promotion and we paid that for Gunter.

Hypothetically though, if we did pay £2.5m for him as well, it's an interesting argument as to which one of Gunter and Mariappa provided the better signing. We got our money back on Mariappa whilst we've had the "benefit" of Gunter's services week in week out in a slowly declining team.

Neither would be close to being in a Worst signing 2012-2015 list though in my opinion.

I've no idea (does anyone?) what Ferdinand's deal is but if we're paying him a substantial weekly wage for two years to play 20 minutes in total for the first team then regardless of his off field philanthropics I'd be hard pushed to think of a worse signing.

[Angry Shed Sex]

I'm wondering if Ferdinand signing was a sweeter to get the Thais to purchase the club? He was clearly injured and Samrit knew this.

[Royal Lady]

Ferdinand, signed to do more or less what they have done. They're not going to go down as Reading legends but I don't think they're "bad signings" as such (except for Ferdinand's injury record).

That is an interesting analysis. I am pretty sure that Ferdinand was not signed to spend a whole season on the treatment table.

To be honest, there is only one rational answer to the original question and it is Ferdinand. All the others have been able to play and have delivered something in return for their salary (it may not have been as good as we might have liked, I concede). Ferdinand has given us nothing save a few minutes. He is quite clearly the worst signing so far. If he recovers and plays next year that assessment may change - who knows.

This - all day long!!

[West Stand Man]

You sound like my ex.

Well done on your literacy. I see you can also make things up?

The question doesn't CLEARLY say anything. It says who's the worst signing. Floyd didn't stipulate what worst meant.

Tbh you're argument is a crock of shite because if we signed messi the amount of revenue and increased fan base it would bring to the club would still make him a good signing, regardless of he'd play.

Listen mate I don't know how I can spell this out for you.
So here goes..

I think Pogrebnyak was a worse signing than Ferdinand because the money paid for the pog could better have been spent on more players who contributed more. Ferdinand did oxf*rd all and never played and we think cost us oxf*rd all as well. It's not like he cost £35k a week, was our only recognized CB, and contributed less than he should.

But sweet Jesus Christ. It's my opinion and I explained, I don't know why you are getting so upset about it. Instead you should spend your time reading the actual question instead of inventing inference and getting worked ul when someone does the same.

Bore off.

No, I am listening, it just takes me some time to process so much stupidity all at once.

[Pepe the Horseman]

How has Kelly got a vote?

[Johann]

Has to be Zat Knight , what a kick in the b----cks it must have been for Jake Cooper when we signed him .

[Ian Royal]

I propose a compromise:

Drenthe - biggest waster signing
Ferdinand - stupidest signing
Pogrebnyak - most overpaid signing

[Ian Royal]

Has to be Zat Knight , what a kick in the b----cks it must have been for Jake Cooper when we signed him .

I don't get this view. Knight has played two games, one of which Cooper played in too. Hardly a disaster for the lad missing one game.