The current situation at Hillsborough has been blamed on the Board, the Managers and the Players of recent years, I personally think a combination of all these has contributed to the downfall of the club but the bad signings helped burden the club with debt. Whilst Wednesday tried to attract 'so called' decent players, many of them arrived on decent contracts and failed to deliver only to be off loaded for little or no return, financially.
Fellow Owls fans pick your worst from a long list of failures.

At a time when money is so short, the very little we occaisionaly have should be spent wisely, that is why I'm naming Shefki Kuqi as my nomination for Owls worst signing. I don't remember exactly how much we paid for him, somewhere in the region of 750,000 - 1 million I believe, but he has failed to deliver the goods. You should be able to rely on a good striker when the chips are down, but Kuqi has only scored a hatfull of goals all season. He hasn't been able to produce goals when the pressure was on. What good is scoring 2 goals in the 5-1 hammering of Coventry when what we really needed from him was to score the match winner in those 0-0 draws. For all these reasons Shefki Kuqi has left me feeling dissapointed and let down. I hope we cash in on him during the close season and use the money a little more wisely.

I know I've already posted that I think Shefki Kuqi is our worst signing, but that was just the first reaction I had to seeing the question.
I don't even think our worst signing was a player, it was the signing of Danny Wilson as manager. Don't get me wrong, I think that Danny was a great player for the club during his time there, but great players seldom make great managers. Wednesday justified his signing as Manager based on the great work he did at Barnsley, but giving him the Wednesday job as only his second managerial position, especially given the position we were in at the time was suicide. I don't think he could have handled the Di Canio situation any worse than he did. You can't blame any one man for the current situation at Hillsborough but Wilson played as big a part in it as anyone.

Is it true they are £60 million in debt, that is big money, the only real asset they have to clear that debt is the training ground and the Hillsboro Ground itself.

I hear on the grapevine the planners will not allow a supermarket at the training ground, so not much value in that site. So it looks like sell the ground to be developed into a retail park :D

I am afraid merger is the only way out for weds or bankruptcy, its going to be an interesting couple of years for them

are you a unitedite by any chance?

Firstly mikey, I don't think Wednesday are 60 million in debt, about 20 million last I heard. Secondly Hixxy makes the point about Danny Wilson which I partly agree with, I think Wilson didn't back up Di Canio to keep in line with Chairman Richards who did not want to be seen backing up Di Canio because of his FA ties. Let's face it the Di Canio incident was a farce, he was stupid to do what he did but the ref made a meal of it and the club failed to back him up, unlike Man Utd with Cantona after the 'Kung Fu' incident.

What Alex Ferguson did with Eric Cantona was a master stroke. He knew that Cantona was an influentual member of the squad and that he had made a mistake. Cantona served his suspension and upon his return Ferguson made him Captain. Genius. What more could Sir Alex have done to show his backing than to give Cantona the captaincy. I'm not saying that the same would have definitely worked with Di Canio, but when he was made captain of the West Ham side, we saw some of the best football he has ever produced in the Premiership.

I agree Hixxy, and Atkinson apart, Wednesday managers of the last 10 years have failed miserably in the man management department - Francis, Pleat and Wilson in particular and Dave Richards dismissal of Atkinson after his brief second spell in charge was another major blunder !

Yeah the current crop of managers were pretty useless, though I would disagree with including Trevor Francis in there, he seemed to be steering the club in the right direction and his sacking only made way for a crop of nobodies, and that unfortunately includes Chris Turner, who I still don't believe could perform suitably at high level.

Oh - and the worst buy in terms of players has to be Simon Donnolly & that other useless git they bought that I can't remember his name!

Originally posted by "Paul Cocker"

Yeah the current crop of managers were pretty useless, though I would disagree with including Trevor Francis in there, he seemed to be steering the club in the right direction and his sacking only made way for a crop of nobodies, and that unfortunately includes Chris Turner, who I still don't believe could perform suitably at high level.

Oh - and the worst buy in terms of players has to be Simon Donnolly & that other useless git they bought that I can't remember his name!
As a Wednesdayite, it pains me to have to point this out, but Chris Turner isn't yet going to have to perform well at a high level since we have just been relegated to division 2. Whether or not he can get us back up to a high level remains to be seen.
I assume the other useless git you're referring to, as well as Donnelly, is O'Donnell. Both signed by, yours truly, Danny Wilson.

Paul Cocker wrote:
Yeah the current crop of managers were pretty useless, though I would disagree with including Trevor Francis in there, he seemed to be steering the club in the right direction and his sacking only made way for a crop of nobodies, and that unfortunately includes Chris Turner, who I still don't believe could perform suitably at high level.

I included Francis because his man management came into question as his managerial spell progressed, To be fair to Francis the club enjoyed a fantastic spell under his management but the handling of Warhust the season after the 93 cup finals was bewildering and the rot had started. I think certain players within the club lost respect for him and his dismissal in 95 came as no great shock, the decision in hindsight proved to be disasterous, in came Pleat and it was downhill all the way.

interesting points made can I add...just to keep the pot boiling

1. Simon Donnolly was signed on a free. Cost nowt except his wages.
2. Shefki was signed for 250k. This million pound payment was never made
3. Wilsons hands regarding DiCanio were tied by Richards (who was already posturing for a place at the FA even then)
4. Worst player we've signed was probably Hinchcliffe. Cost 3m for a crock (he already was injury prone when Everton wanted to get rid) - signed by Atkinson.
5. Supermarket on training ground will not be a local decision, it will be down to the government official. If the council say yes they will have to get the go ahead from them before a stone is turned.

M.

If your looking at worst players Wim Jonk has to take some beating, International captain and all he took from us was the money

...........................................

Originally posted by "spook1210"

Nigel Jemson?
I only ask because I seemed to be the only person who ever rated Jemmo at the time when everyone else thought he was cack. Am I still in a minority of one?

Jemmo was class - another wasted player at Hillsborough - never given the chance to show what he was really capable of.

Klas Ingesson gets my vote for worst signing - he was terrible.

Klas was too good for Wednesday, hes still playing in Serie A and whilst we think about Darko was never going to make a striker and we let him go, yet Juve and Sociodad both disagree I think :(

8) Nah Den Ace..........

There are many, many candidates.........

Over the last few years though, I would say........

Phil O'Donnell - averaged about 6 games per season and was on about £15k a week for four years!

Wasn't he injured when we signed him along with Simon Donelly..........sweet baby Jesus!

Regards,

Spacehopper.

:mad: i went today and we are going to be in Div 2 for a long time :sad:

worst owls player
ian cranson
once saw him walkin up high street and he had his headband on then
lol

Anyone of them by all accounts.

Francis because he made the mistake of wanting to see Cantona play on grass first. Biggest mistake Wednesday ever made not signing Cantona. We would have won that season with Hirst and Cantona up front.

8) Nah Den Ace.......

Originally posted by Christoph
Francis because he made the mistake of wanting to see Cantona play on grass first. Biggest mistake Wednesday ever made not signing Cantona. We would have won that season with Hirst and Cantona up front.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing!

I don't think Tricky Trev was being too unreasonable asking to see him in action........most managers would have done the same. Of course les enfant terrible (is that how it's spelt?) got kite on and did one!

He went to Leeds, had a brilliant season and then p*ssed off to M*n Utd........and the rest his history! Who's to say he wouldn't have done the same to the Owls! Let's face it........when it comes to temperemental superstars, we always get a bum deal (Carbone, Di Canio, etc).

I would have love to have seen the Gallic Terror strut his stuff down 'borough, but it wasn't to be. I think it is unfair to blame TF.

Regards,

Spacehopper.

Originally posted by Christoph
Francis because he made the mistake of wanting to see Cantona play on grass first.

Looking at their present form, I think they're all playing on grass YEAH MAN, LOOK AT THE RAINBOW MAN. COOOOOL.

Oh the last thing I want to do is blame Francis. He should have never been sacked.

What about Andy Sinton?

I think the worst player wednesday has had was Colin West!!!(he was terrible).

My four penneth...

starting at the top

Dave Richards
David Pleat

Wim Jonk
Giles De Bilde
Simon Coleman (remember him?)
Andy Hinchcliffe
John Beswetherick
Lloyd Owusu
etc etc etc

I think Carbone and DiCanio cost the club virtually half of £20m we are in debt.. they cost around £6m combined, astronomical wages and both left at a fraction of the market value at that time.

Anyone of these as they were not good enough players at the level they were playing at, and we were paying them silly money to sit in the reserves or in the treatment table.

Jon Beswetherwick
Simon Donnelly
Phil O'Donnell
Philip Scott
Andy Hinchcliffe
Dan Petrescu
Marc Degryse
Gerald Sibon
Juan Cobian
Steve Nicol
Barry Horne
Gilles De Bilde
Klas Ingesson
Goce Sedloski
Andy Pearce
Simon Coleman
Patrick Blondeau
Ian Cranson
Craig Shakespeare
Mark Proctor
Tony Galvin
Larry May
Dave Bennett
Orlando Trustfull
Regi Blinker
Trond Soldvedt
Carlton Palmer (the third time)

I think I'll stop now, as there are one or two more who could quite easily join the list from the current crop.

Originally posted by Michael_W
The current situation at Hillsborough has been blamed on the Board, the Managers and the Players of recent years, I personally think a combination of all these has contributed to the downfall of the club but the bad signings helped burden the club with debt. Whilst Wednesday tried to attract 'so called' decent players, many of them arrived on decent contracts and failed to deliver only to be off loaded for little or no return, financially.
Fellow Owls fans pick your worst from a long list of failures.
try ivor seemly
from the fifties

Eric Cantona (Nearly)

Hi,

I've just seen this.

Here are some more.

Adem Poric,
Nigel Clough,
Peter Atherton,
Ian Nolan,
Christian Mayrleb,
Scott Oakes

Here is (one of ) my alltime worst Wednesday side.

GK: Tidman

D: Patrick Blondeau Larry May Andy Pearce Jon Beswetherwick

Mid: Klas Ingesson Adem Poric Chris Morris Nigel Clough

Att: Colin West Gilles De Bilde .

Subs: Too many to mention.

Dean of Disco

To be honest I reckon Sturrock could be a step in the right direction. I don't think it's any coincidence that manger's who have done well elsewhere ie Wilson @ Bristol City and Jewell @ Wigan, have failed at Wednesday! The glory days of Waddle, Hirst, Sheridan, Francis etc seem a long time ago but maybe with the appointment of Sturrock who was never given a fair chance @ Southampton, and if Dave Allen finally gets his act together and quits, Ken Bates would certainly be a step in the right direction!!!

Worst signing for me must be Wim Jonk ,for the simple fact he was raved about as the top class ballplayer that we had lacked since Shez left. In the end ihe wasnt fit to lace Shez' boots.

If we had bought Hirst a top class strike partner instead of buying a keeper when we already had two good ones then we'd have took the old first Division Championship.

Originally posted by Dick_Turpin

If we had bought Hirst a top class strike partner instead of buying a keeper when we already had two good ones then we'd have took the old first Division Championship.


and you would be as big as man utd too


DREAM LAND MATE

Originally posted by Robbie_Lovin
and you would be as big as man utd too


DREAM LAND MATE
in the 91-92 season we finished 3rd about 7 points behind the champions it was only a 7-1 thrashing at arsenal and 2 defeats by united what stopped us drom winning it so id hardly call it dreaming:hihi: :hihi: :hihi:

Originally posted by panda79
in the 91-92 season we finished 3rd about 7 points behind the champions it was only a 7-1 thrashing at arsenal and 2 defeats by united what stopped us drom winning it so id hardly call it dreaming:hihi: :hihi: :hihi: so you would have need at least another 3 games to win the title??

think it is dreaming yes

Originally posted by Robbie_Lovin
so you would have need at least another 3 games to win the title??

think it is dreaming yes
is it just me or is this a thread about the owls worst players seriously get a grip:loopy:

the worst player ever without any doubt was colin west. this bloke was so bad he had is own feature in the owls fanzinea view from the east bank.

Originally posted by brooksy
the worst player ever without any doubt was colin west. this bloke was so bad he had is own feature in the owls fanzinea view from the east bank.
in total agreement there quite possibly the worst player to put on the famous blue and white stripes
heres a few to add to the list
tony gregory
phil henson
dave cusack
peter eustace

another one id put in there was petta ruddi he was terrible, in all the games i saw him he never made one tackle.

Andy Pearce wasn't crap!
He was the top man :rant:

Originally posted by panda79
in total agreement there quite possibly the worst player to put on the famous blue and white stripes
heres a few to add to the list
tony gregory
phil henson
dave cusack
peter eustace

I disagree with Peter Eustace on the list.....he was a class player at his best. He scored one of the best goals I ever saw at Hillsborough.

Bessie, Armstrong, P.Smith, D.Smith, Mustoe are the worst of recent years (in the noughties)

MacLean certainly isn't all he's cracked up to be.
Chris Carr is crap an'all.

My four penneth...

starting at the top

Dave Richards
David Pleat

Wim Jonk
Giles De Bilde
Simon Coleman (remember him?)


Certainly do remember Coleman, fair hair and useless (reminds me of Gary Doherty) but the amazing thing was that Wednesday sold him to Bolton for a PROFIT!

John Beswetherick
Lloyd Owusu..... may have been bad signings..... but i Blame The Chairman Richards and his ego for killing wednesday.... we are no longer the Big team we were we are now, crippled by DEBT!
If only Big RON was kept on.... Richards didnt offer him another contract... revenge for walking out b4??....

I didn't think Atkinson's heart was in the job second time round. That said, I haven't a good word to offer for Sir David Richards!

8) Nah Den Ace..........

There are many, many candidates.........

Over the last few years though, I would say........

Phil O'Donnell - averaged about 6 games per season and was on about £15k a week for four years!

Wasn't he injured when we signed him along with Simon Donelly..........sweet baby Jesus!

Regards,

Spacehopper.

Without doubt, Phil O'Donnell - £2.5m + £15k for four years & I can't even remember him in the flesh! :mad:

Yes, there were three of them, O'Donnell, Donnelly and Scott! Who?

Ole Tidman or Kim Olsen have to be up there.

The Whole Bloody Team! Worst players ive ever seen!

I disagree with Peter Eustace on the list.....he was a class player at his best. He scored one of the best goals I ever saw at Hillsborough.

Peter Eustace is one of the finest players ever to grace the sacred Hillsborough turf
His managerial skills however, left a lot to be desired

Some of the worst signings weren't bad players, just very bad for the club.
Wim Jonk was one, supposedly on a match to match contract but according to Paul Jewell, got paid whether he played (very rarely) or not. He was also the initial instigator of the Di Canio dismissal when nutmegged by Vieira.
Carbone, bled the Owls dry like he continues to seemingly do to every club he joins. I lost count of the times he ran offside.
Reggie Blinker, scored two goals at Villa and that was just about his contribution.
Sinton at £2.7m was a dreadful buy and though not his fault, was the reason for Alan Smith leaving as a desperate Francis wanted to undermine Smith's professionalism.
Basically, the list is endless, there is a litany of bad buys for one reason or another and so many different managers didn't help, either with continuity or finance.
Thinking of Morrison reminded me of his disruptive cohort, Harkness - the left-back from Liverpool, another waste of wages even if there was no fee.

"Sinton at £2.7m was a dreadful buy and though not his fault, was the reason for Alan Smith leaving as a desperate Francis wanted to undermine Smith's professionalism"

I never heard that story ? can you fill me in !?

Francis was becoming so desperate in his reign as manager that he wanted Smith to give Sinton painkilling injections. Smith refused and they had a bust-up and Smith left, with the club telling the Star he was leaving to expand his Wickersley practice. The issue was raised by me, knowing the truth, at the AGM and Richards, shamefacedly, admitted there had been a bust-up.
So Wednesday lost a quality England physiotherapist because of this. At an earlier AGM Howard Wilkinson had put his arm round Smith on the top table, pulled Smith towards him and pronounced: "This is my best player", so valuable to the club Smith was. When they get anybody good, they contrive to let them slip through!

Now you've said that it does seems to have jogged the old grey cells.It did seem that players like Hirst were always being brought back and you suspected he wasnt ready to play.

I think you'll find there are many ex-footballers and racehorses who are suffering now as a result of a 'quick-fix' painkilling injection. Smith didn't want to be party to that. I believe there is a tendency for some physios to deal with the injury instead of sorting out the problem. The problem just gets moved on rather than cured - sometimes, rest is the most appropriate action. Pain is a mechanism to tell you something isn't right and if you mask it with cortisone, you'll only be doing long-term damage. Unfortunately, with the high wages involved, clubs want the individual on the field.

larry may or colin west omg wot crap they was for owls

Here are a few.

Larry May
Wilf Rostron
Paul Wood
Goce Sedloski
Danny Sonner
Paul Mclaren
Phil Scott, Donnolly, O'Donnell
Pablo Blonvin
Di Piedi
Franseco Sonnetti
Alan Harper
Dave Bennett

The list is endless.

Hasn't anyone mentioned Patrick Blondeu £1.5 million pounds worth of pure dog dirt:gag:

For me it's got to be Ole Tidman or Craig Armstrong.

Surely it has to be the infamous Phil O'Donnel, he bled us dry.

Hmmm... How about Kenny Lunt?

mine has to be colin west or larry may , god they was garbage!! im showing my age arnt i lol:hihi::hihi:

From a slightly different angle, Wim Jonk! International he may have been but he was often injured and Paul Jewell said Jonk was on a match-to-match contract but got paid whether he played or not. He was also the person responsible for the Di Canio 'incident' as it was his shirt pull on Vieira which started the melee. I shouldn't imagine his wages were peanuts. Just one of several who bled the club dry. As for limited ability? There isn't the space!

* In over 50 years of Owls' experience, I would say Di Canio was one of the most skilful players the club has had. Two years before he left, his goals alone had kept Wednesday up. They stayed up by four points, his 11 goals (off the top) made a difference of 10 points, so Paolo certainly paid his way at Hillsborough which is more than could be said for Jonk.

mine has to be colin west or larry may , god they was garbage!! im showing my age arnt i lol:hihi::hihi:

Richard Evans, Chris Adamson, Ian Hendon, Juan Cobian, Petr Rudi, Chris Marsden, Guy Branston, Gordon Watson,

Richard Evans, Chris Adamson, Ian Hendon, Juan Cobian, Petr Rudi, Chris Marsden, Guy Branston, Gordon Watson,

gordan watson lol i remember his dive against leeds utd so funny lol

Andy Hinchcliffe by a country mile was our worst ever buy,was injured for 75% of his time at hillsborough and Wim Jonk aint far behind him
Others that spring to mind are Orlando Trustfull (Great name but was a ****e player)
Andy Sinton (Never really did it for us)
Giles de Bonde (had Massive talent but never used it)
Craig Rocastle (Nowhere near as good as his uncle)

In my time watching Wednesday I'd say David Graham, not cheap by our recent standards and has cored about 6 goals. Brian Laws told him everyone has a fresh start when he came then Graham went and messed things up for himself by breaching club discipline....... the idiot. Then after watching the rubbish display against Birmingham I went down town the same night and saw David himself in the Ruby Lounge with a pint of Staropramen. I felt like telling I'd paid for that through his wages he ought to get away from the drink to the training ground and earn his money.

The current situation at Hillsborough has been blamed on the Board, the Managers and the Players of recent years, I personally think a combination of all these has contributed to the downfall of the club but the bad signings helped burden the club with debt. Whilst Wednesday tried to attract 'so called' decent players, many of them arrived on decent contracts and failed to deliver only to be off loaded for little or no return, financially.
Fellow Owls fans pick your worst from a long list of failures.
eric taylors soninlaw ivor seemly

Worst owls players. top 5:
1. Patrick Blondeau
2. Patrick Blondeau
3. Patrick Blondeau
4. Patrick Blondeau
5. Patrick Blondeau

He was about as useful as t**s on a fish.