Ones that got away

[SF_]

We knocked Lee Trundle back after a couple of trials when he was doing the non-league circuit round here. Although it's hardly one we will be gutted about.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Could at a push say Michael Higdon, although his failure at Sheffield United nullifies that.

Jamie Vardy is the big one we missed out on, probably others though. Dario did say Joe Hart can't jump though, the fool.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Could at a push say Michael Higdon, although his failure at Sheffield United nullifies that.

Jamie Vardy is the big one we missed out on, probably others though. Dario did say Joe Hart can't jump though, the fool.

 

[TomPNE94]

We knocked Lee Trundle back after a couple of trials when he was doing the non-league circuit round here. Although it's hardly one we will be gutted about.

We also had Gylfi Sigurdsson on trial

 

[blade1889]

Billy Sharp, we practically gave home away, signed him back for ~2mill (I think), then gave him away again

 

[SF_]

Correct we win this one hands down no need to mention his name

I don't have a clue who you are referring to.

 

[joethegill]

Correct we win this one hands down no need to mention his name

Forgive my ignorance, but who are you talking about?

 

[TomPNE94]

Maradona

 

[blade1889]

Forgive my ignorance, but who are you talking about?

We were asked to stump up an extra 250K for Maradona who was lined up to sign. Being tighties we didn't think he was worth it.

 

[DearneValleyRover]

We told Kevin Keegan he was too small to be a footballer, Brian Deane, Ian Snodin, Rufus Brevitt, Mark Rankine, Darren Moore, Paul Green.

 

[joethegill]

We were asked to stump up an extra 250K for Maradona who was lined up to sign. Being tight bastards we didn't think he was worth it.

Typical northerners.

 

[hodge]

Bolasie. Derek McInnes thought it was too attacking to play Adomah and Bolasie at the same time.

I wouldn't have said Bolasie got away, he didn't show a great deal while with us, he was very raw. When you considering we apparently sold him for a good 5 times minimum what we bought him for when he didn't show much then it seemed good business. Can't be helped that he kicked on. Palace just seems a good fit for him and we will have a sell on clause, even if just on profit, we didn't sell him for a huge amount so will make a lot of profit.

 

[Aaron-Bcfc]

I wouldn't have said Bolasie got away, he didn't show a great deal while with us, he was very raw. When you considering we apparently sold him for a good 5 times minimum what we bought him for when he didn't show much then it seemed good business. Can't be helped that he kicked on. Palace just seems a good fit for him and we will have a sell on clause, even if just on profit, we didn't sell him for a huge amount so will make a lot of profit.

He definitely got away. It's easy to say now but I genuinely rated him when he was here. Remember one game he absolutely tore Doncaster apart then he was dropped next game. Was desperate to see him and Adomah on both wings but McInnes didn't have the balls. Most of our fanbase did think he was a headless chicken though

 

[hodge]

Don't get me wrong there was definitely the potential but considering we were in a relagation scrap at the time, potential isn't what we needed on the pitch, maybe he fell victim to circumstance where if we'd been solidly mid table he'd have gotten more game time. But in a relagation scrap it would have been a huge gamble to play both him and Adomah when both didn't really get back to help defend.

 

[Town]

Billy sharp before he ever did anything in the league, had him on trial and Roy Mac deemed him not good enough

 

[Aaron-Bcfc]

Don't get me wrong there was definitely the potential but considering we were in a relagation scrap at the time, potential isn't what we needed on the pitch, maybe he fell victim to circumstance where if we'd been solidly mid table he'd have gotten more game time. But in a relagation scrap it would have been a huge gamble to play both him and Adomah when both didn't really get back to help defend.

That is understandable, but there's no reason why the season after we stayed up he couldn't have played both. But instead he sold him without giving him a game

 

[Matt_]

A couple who left during the tenure of that fine judge of a player Paul Simpson spring to mind.

Andre Gray, deemed not good enough after a few first team appearances.

However, the utterly clueless Simpson really excelled himself by not only agreeing to let Marc Pugh join Hereford but by actually paying him off in the process.

 

[hodge]

That is understandable, but there's no reason why the season after we stayed up he couldn't have played both. But instead he sold him without giving him a game

Bolasie wanted to leave though and I don't think starting him in 2 games would have suddenly changed his mind to staying.

 

[Aaron-Bcfc]

Bolasie wanted to leave though and I don't think starting him in 2 games would have suddenly changed his mind to staying.

Yeah that's a good point, he knew he wasn't going to get first team football though hence the transfer request, I think anyway.

 

[hodge]

I thought it was a case he wanted to be around London, a lack of first team may have been involved too, but definitely remember reading something about living in London

 

[Kim Mitten]

Michael Kightly. Gary Hooper

but neither were wrong decisions. Kightly was utterly lightweight for us, he just developed later, but the likes of Southend can't hold onto players forever hoping they turn out to be as good as you thought, just don't have the funds or resources.
Hooper wasn't really one that got away - played nearly 50 times for us and scored just 4 goals - constantly offside, a complete prick off the field, he should have gone after the first season when he caused massive problems in the dressing room, he always had potential just had the wrong people around him. I don't think it's any surprise he's gone on to be decent when he got far away from his bad influences. The club have ended up making a tidy sum from sell-ons, top flight appearances etc...

One that I would say, that sadly didn't actually play for Southend is Steve Kabba, we had him on trial from a non-league side and didn't offer him anything pre-season bout 1997 or 98 (even though he played great). The next season he turns up at Palace in the 2nd tier - and we only go and bloody loan him! Never even made the bench, so that was pointless, ends up playing the majority of his career in the Championship.

 

[Dan Phillips]

Sam Morsy could potentially turn out to be one.

You could tell he had quality during his time with us. However, after a poor tackle and subsequent red card in a home game against Rochdale (where we let a 2-0 lead slip by drawing 2-2), Micky Adams decided to make a point of treating him terribly, using him as an example, and generally dropping him in games and questioning his attitude. A lot of Vale fans were angry with the way Adams dealt with the situation at the time, and looking at it with hindsight now, it shows what a monumentally huge mistake it could turn out to be.

He's had two excellent seasons with Chesterfield. A side who play the right way, and play to Sam's strengths magnificently. Rumours of him moving to Cardiff surfaced following the end of the season, and I am incredibly envious that not only have Chesterfield benefitted financially from his undoubted talent and helping them to promotion, but the fact that it wasn't us that provided him with that platform to further his career. Wish him all the best though and hope he gets to play in the top flight one day. Stick two fingers up at Micky Adams in the process too, which can't do any harm, I suppose.

 

[Hooped Wizard]

Kevin Keegan
Danny Rose

 

[blade1889]

Aymen Tahar

Just signed for Steaua Bucuresti, came through our academy, went to Ferencvaros in 2010 and now, aged 25, could play in the Champions League with Steaua after a brief spell with Staveley Miners Welfare inbetween...quite some rise for the lad!

 

[SeasideKurt]

Rickie Lambert was released by us.

 

[blade1889]

Rickie Lambert was released by us.

Bloody Karl Oyston!

 

[Topher]

I think we had Lee Trundle all signed up but then refused to pay his agent's fee or something. Like everyone else we had Billy Sharp on trial and turned said down. Turned Tom Pope down when he was a kid.

 

[Fedora Dale]

Five years ago, I saw a youth/trialist/fringe Dale team lose 3-0 at Gigg Lane (to be fair, Bury played a mostly first choice team). Most of the Dale team that day have retreated back into obscurity - however Jack Redshaw and Lucas Akins have done fairly well since being released/not offered terms.