I'm always sorry when it doesn't work out but I must confess I feel a little smug when I get it right from the outset.
I had an Ntcham shaped blind spot. I just loved him and can't fathom how he hasn't gone on to be a proper player.
Boerrigter, Bolingoli, Bayo, Bangladesh and Amido Balde... all players who were so obviously not the right fit it makes me wonder how these things came about in the first place.
We've bought some right Scheidt over the years alright. But we've gotten in some absolute gems too, like Lubo (who?), Henke, VVD
Thing is some guys prosper with 60,000 fans cheering them on, while others freeze. The imposter syndrome can bite hard even with actually good players.
Boerrigter seemed good til he got that injury and never got his pace/nerve back again.
Bolingoli was clearly just a head case. Breaking Covid lock-down when everyone was confined to their homes just for a bit of nazims was incredibly stupid
Bayo, I remember the name but not the player. Who scouted him?
Bangladesh ?
Amido Balde Yeah, another perennial loanee but he'd done well the season before in Portugal scoring 9 in 27.
You could include Regi Blinker to that list of Bs. And I'm still to be convinced that Johnson deserves a place in our squad
We've splurged millions away absolutely. That's why we need better scouts. Thankfully we've also been relatively well served by players coming up through the club as youngsters. CalMac, Ralston, Walsh, Forrest would all be matchday squad members so not too bad, but could do better.
Ntcham had the skill to be another Lubo, but had the temperament of a Bolingolli. Moody bollix. Attitude is crucial in professional sport and you can have all the skills in the world but if you don't have the right attitude you're not going to make it to the top. Ntcham's stank and so did Boli's
