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Who is our worst signing?
- stubbo-admin
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Re: Who is our worst signing?
Iron Duke" wrote: ↑29 Oct 2025, 19:46 There was definitely something dodgy about the Savio deal. Nani was our director of football and both came from Brescia. We then sold Diamante to Brescia for peanuts despite him being runner up in Hammer of the Year. Karren Brady came out in public and said the deal looked dodgy and would be investigated. That quickly went quiet.
Anyway, Kilman is a contender for worst ever. The size of his fee and the length of his contract could haunt us for a long time. Maybe he’ll come good in the Championship and surprise us all.
Kilman will look better of we sign a strong, dominant, vocal CB to play alongside him. He needs to be the junior partner...his stats have previously been very good when playing that role.
He is at least a serviceable option and has shown ability in this league before.
Todibo and arguably Fullkrug are far bigger wastes of money IMO. With both I can make a case for why we signed them, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating as they say, and this pudding tastes rancid.
Kilman has a much better chance of coming good for us than either of those two do at this point.
He is at least a serviceable option and has shown ability in this league before.
Todibo and arguably Fullkrug are far bigger wastes of money IMO. With both I can make a case for why we signed them, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating as they say, and this pudding tastes rancid.
Kilman has a much better chance of coming good for us than either of those two do at this point.
Re: Who is our worst signing?
There was definitely something dodgy about the Savio deal. Nani was our director of football and both came from Brescia. We then sold Diamante to Brescia for peanuts despite him being runner up in Hammer of the Year. Karren Brady came out in public and said the deal looked dodgy and would be investigated. That quickly went quiet.
Anyway, Kilman is a contender for worst ever. The size of his fee and the length of his contract could haunt us for a long time. Maybe he’ll come good in the Championship and surprise us all.
Anyway, Kilman is a contender for worst ever. The size of his fee and the length of his contract could haunt us for a long time. Maybe he’ll come good in the Championship and surprise us all.
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Gary Strodders shank
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Re: Who is our worst signing?
I remember watching David Kelly and thinking how weak he looked and how he seemed to go to ground with the faintest of touches with a total inability to ride a challenge.
As others have said he then went on to score goals and gnerally do ok elsewhere so it is a bit of a mystery...
As others have said he then went on to score goals and gnerally do ok elsewhere so it is a bit of a mystery...
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Massive Attack
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Re: Who is our worst signing?
Dudley Tyler
ted Mcdougal
John Radford
Savio
Kevin phillips
justin fashanu
just a random half dozen across the last 50 years tuat came to mind but there must be 100+ candidates
In the Sullivan era we are adding more than ever
ted Mcdougal
John Radford
Savio
Kevin phillips
justin fashanu
just a random half dozen across the last 50 years tuat came to mind but there must be 100+ candidates
In the Sullivan era we are adding more than ever
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F 129 Row66
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Re: Who is our worst signing?
Savio?F 129 Row66" wrote: ↑Because of how much he cost, Max Kilman is the most disastrous signing we have ever made.
Roberto the goalkeeper.
The black teenager we paid a fortune for. Can't remember hs name
Yes
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Massive Attack
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Re: Who is our worst signing?
For me I think I cannot look far past Savio Nsereko due to the fact he was our transfer record signing at the time and that he clearly couldn't play Football at all, let alone at a high level. Dark, dark time indeed.
I think it got just as bizarre soon after that with wacky shut like being involved in a kidnap plot or some weird shit like that. Can't quite remember now. All very West Ham though.
I think it got just as bizarre soon after that with wacky shut like being involved in a kidnap plot or some weird shit like that. Can't quite remember now. All very West Ham though.
Last edited by Massive Attack on 29 Oct 2025, 18:24, edited 2 times in total.
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Massive Attack
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Re: Who is our worst signing?
Outer Cape" wrote: ↑29 Oct 2025, 16:49 According to ChatGPT1. Savio Nsereko (2009)2. Simone Zaza (2016–17)
- Fee: ~£9 million (then a club record!)
- Expectations: Huge — signed as a young prospect from Brescia.
- Reality: Barely played, no goals, disappeared off the radar quickly.
- Often cited as the worst signing in West Ham history.
3. Álvaro Arbeloa (2016–17)
- Loan from Juventus after that Euro 2016 penalty.
- No goals in 11 games; looked totally lost in the Premier League.
- Hammered (no pun intended) by fans for lack of effort and confidence.
4. Benni McCarthy (2010–11)
- Ex–Real Madrid and Spain international.
- Came in with pedigree, but his legs were gone.
- Only managed 3 appearances before being released.
5. Kieron Dyer (2007–11)
- Arrived unfit, stayed unfit, never scored a goal.
- Left with a payoff rumored to include a “weight clause” fine!
6. Jonathan Calleri (2016–17)
- Hugely talented, but constant injuries ruined his time.
- Cost millions in wages for just 30 appearances in 4 years.
7. Razvan Raț (2013–14)
- On loan from Deportivo Maldonado.
- One goal (a deflected one at that) in 19 appearances.
- More known for missing sitters than scoring.
8. Emmanuel Emenike (2016 loan)
- Romanian full-back with high hopes, but offered very little defensively or going forward.
- Lasted just one season.
9. Gökhan Töre (2016–17)
- Looked lively but had no finishing touch.
- 4 months, 2 goals, and a lot of frustration.
10. Roger “The Relegator” Johnson (2014)
- Loan from Beşiktaş, cost around £2.5m in loan fees.
- Constantly injured, no goals, and gone after 8 games.
- Brought in during an injury crisis.
- Quickly became a meme for his errors in the 6–0 League Cup defeat to Man City.
Bilic had to put up with 5 of those 10 worst players dumped on him by Sullivan around the time we were about to make a huge move in to the new Stadium. What a way to mismanage the situation and leave a manager hamstrung.
Tore
Areola
Calleri
Emenike
Zaza
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Eastside surge
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Re: Who is our worst signing?
I remember being quite excited when we signed David Kelly as he was supposedly being chased by spurs and even Bayern Munich, picked up the paper on the morning after he signed and on the back page there was
picture of him accompanied with the headline “IVE GOT ONE LEG LONGER THAN THE OTHER “.
My excitement dimmed somewhat after that it’s about as West Ham as it gets!
picture of him accompanied with the headline “IVE GOT ONE LEG LONGER THAN THE OTHER “.
My excitement dimmed somewhat after that it’s about as West Ham as it gets!
- El Scorchio
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Re: Who is our worst signing?
Outer Cape" wrote: ↑29 Oct 2025, 16:49 According to ChatGPT1. Savio Nsereko (2009)2. Simone Zaza (2016–17)
- Fee: ~£9 million (then a club record!)
- Expectations: Huge — signed as a young prospect from Brescia.
- Reality: Barely played, no goals, disappeared off the radar quickly.
- Often cited as the worst signing in West Ham history.
3. Álvaro Arbeloa (2016–17)
- Loan from Juventus after that Euro 2016 penalty.
- No goals in 11 games; looked totally lost in the Premier League.
- Hammered (no pun intended) by fans for lack of effort and confidence.
4. Benni McCarthy (2010–11)
- Ex–Real Madrid and Spain international.
- Came in with pedigree, but his legs were gone.
- Only managed 3 appearances before being released.
5. Kieron Dyer (2007–11)
- Arrived unfit, stayed unfit, never scored a goal.
- Left with a payoff rumored to include a “weight clause” fine!
6. Jonathan Calleri (2016–17)
- Hugely talented, but constant injuries ruined his time.
- Cost millions in wages for just 30 appearances in 4 years.
7. Razvan Raț (2013–14)
- On loan from Deportivo Maldonado.
- One goal (a deflected one at that) in 19 appearances.
- More known for missing sitters than scoring.
8. Emmanuel Emenike (2016 loan)
- Romanian full-back with high hopes, but offered very little defensively or going forward.
- Lasted just one season.
9. Gökhan Töre (2016–17)
- Looked lively but had no finishing touch.
- 4 months, 2 goals, and a lot of frustration.
10. Roger “The Relegator” Johnson (2014)
- Loan from Beşiktaş, cost around £2.5m in loan fees.
- Constantly injured, no goals, and gone after 8 games.
- Brought in during an injury crisis.
- Quickly became a meme for his errors in the 6–0 League Cup defeat to Man City.
Guess it's got a way to go before it knows football properly. Couple of those belong on the list but several are nowhere near.
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only1billybonds
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Re: Who is our worst signing?
Nsereko closely followed by John Radford.
But to be fair, this really could be a cast of 100's we have signed some serious shit over the years.
But to be fair, this really could be a cast of 100's we have signed some serious shit over the years.
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Harrow Hammer
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Re: Who is our worst signing?
Who remembers David Kelly circa '89?
Highly sought after at the time, but all I can recall of him is that he couldn't kick a ball without falling over...just weird and, needless to say, sh*t
Highly sought after at the time, but all I can recall of him is that he couldn't kick a ball without falling over...just weird and, needless to say, sh*t
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Outer Cape
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Re: Who is our worst signing?
According to ChatGPT1. Savio Nsereko (2009)
- Fee: ~£9 million (then a club record!)
- Expectations: Huge — signed as a young prospect from Brescia.
- Reality: Barely played, no goals, disappeared off the radar quickly.
- Often cited as the worst signing in West Ham history.
- Loan from Juventus after that Euro 2016 penalty.
- No goals in 11 games; looked totally lost in the Premier League.
- Hammered (no pun intended) by fans for lack of effort and confidence.
- Ex–Real Madrid and Spain international.
- Came in with pedigree, but his legs were gone.
- Only managed 3 appearances before being released.
- Arrived unfit, stayed unfit, never scored a goal.
- Left with a payoff rumored to include a “weight clause” fine!
- Hugely talented, but constant injuries ruined his time.
- Cost millions in wages for just 30 appearances in 4 years.
- On loan from Deportivo Maldonado.
- One goal (a deflected one at that) in 19 appearances.
- More known for missing sitters than scoring.
- Romanian full-back with high hopes, but offered very little defensively or going forward.
- Lasted just one season.
- Looked lively but had no finishing touch.
- 4 months, 2 goals, and a lot of frustration.
- Loan from Beşiktaş, cost around £2.5m in loan fees.
- Constantly injured, no goals, and gone after 8 games.
- Brought in during an injury crisis.
- Quickly became a meme for his errors in the 6–0 League Cup defeat to Man City.
- Far Cough UKunt
- Posts: 1622
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- Far Cough UKunt
- Posts: 1622
- Has liked: 404 times
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Re: Who is our worst signing?
The Spurs twat never has anything good to say about our players past or present, which you'd expect from a Spurs twat.
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Jean-Luc Paul Goddard
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Re: Who is our worst signing?
9898 wrote: ↑29 Oct 2025, 15:38 Julian Discks (both times)
First time - Great player, best left back ibe seen at the club, but totally disrespected Billy Bonds and belittled him and the club causing player issues throughout.
Second time - He left as thought he was bigger than the club, and totally flopped at Liverpool. Came back with no knee and was absolutely atrocious
Rancid bait.
Re: Who is our worst signing?
Julian Discks (both times)
First time - Great player, best left back ibe seen at the club, but totally disrespected Billy Bonds and belittled him and the club causing player issues throughout.
Second time - He left as thought he was bigger than the club, and totally flopped at Liverpool. Came back with no knee and was absolutely atrocious
First time - Great player, best left back ibe seen at the club, but totally disrespected Billy Bonds and belittled him and the club causing player issues throughout.
Second time - He left as thought he was bigger than the club, and totally flopped at Liverpool. Came back with no knee and was absolutely atrocious
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dealcanvey
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Re: Who is our worst signing?
a toss up between 9 out of the 10 strikers we have signed in the last 20 years.
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southbankbornnbred
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Re: Who is our worst signing?
Far Cough UKunt" wrote: ↑29 Oct 2025, 12:53 He should have been knighted for trying to kill the cսnt alone.
Ag ag ag!
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southbankbornnbred
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Re: Who is our worst signing?
In all fairness, if we could vote for the stadium in this poll…many of us would.
No manager or player has ever stopped me wanting to go to West Ham. That shithole managed it.
As a member, I still go when I can. But I gave up my season ticket. As bad as he is, even Max Kilman couldn’t achieve that.
No manager or player has ever stopped me wanting to go to West Ham. That shithole managed it.
As a member, I still go when I can. But I gave up my season ticket. As bad as he is, even Max Kilman couldn’t achieve that.
- Far Cough UKunt
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