Are there any?

A player that has come that no one's really heard of, and then turned out to be amazing.

It's sad, but off the top of my head I can't think of one...

Cudicini being the most recent example I guess?

It depends on who you ask. I remember there were quite few people who had never heard of Makelele when he signed, but that probably tells more about how little those people know about European football rather than how well known player Makelele was.

A few that spring to mind: -

Eddie McCreadie (East Stirling)

Charlie Cooke (Dundee)

Ian Hutchinson (Cambridge Utd.)

Paddy Mulligan (Shamrock Rovers)

Micky Droy (Slough Town)

Kenny Swain (Wycombe)

David Speedie (Darlington)

Pat Nevin (Clyde)

Nigel Spackman (Bournemouth)

Eddie Niedzwiecki (Wrexham)

Joe McLaughlin (Morton)

Steve Clarke (St.Mirren)

Petr Cech?

Petr Cech?

Cech had an amazing Euro before he joined us.

Carlo Cudicini would be a great example here though. Playing for a lower division side then for 160,000 he joins us and becomes awesome till Cech came. I loved Carlo, he was one of the reasons why I became a keeper.

I think Cech was rated quite highly when we signed him. What about Lampard, he wern't that much of a big name during his younger years and he's turned out to be one of the best midfielders in the world.

Petr Cech?

Cech was making headlines because of his great performances in the UCL already when he was still at Sparta Prague and he was already the clear first choice keeper for Czech Republic when he joined Chelsea.

I think Cech was rated quite highly when we signed him. What about Lampard, he wern't that much of a big name during his younger years and he's turned out to be one of the best midfielders in the world.

Dixon, Nevin, Speedie, Spackman - most of that side actually.

More recent - Diarra / Ivanovic

What about Lampard, he wern't that much of a big name during his younger years and he's turned out to be one of the best midfielders in the world.

Lampard wasn't that highly rated, but I wouldn't say he was a "no name" player when Chelsea signed him. A few eyebrows were raised when the transfer fee was announced, though, and I doubt many were thinking that he could become even close to the player that he is now.

Mikel.

Mikel.

I doubt there were many people who followed international football who didn't know Mikel and we ended up paying gigantic fee for him.

Mikel? Pricey in the end, but i'd never heard of him before he came here.

Mikel.

The title says they've turned out to be awesome.

And a lot of people hadn't heard of Alex or Ivanovic

tore andre flo!!!!!!!! we only paid about £150,000 for him, then got several good years before managing to get £11 mill frmo rangers for him.

No mention about Cech yet?

No mention about Cech yet?

Very funny! :lol:

I doubt there were many people who followed international football who didn't know Mikel and we ended up paying gigantic fee for him.

the price has nothting to do with the thread,

as for Mikel, I knew very little about him until it was annonced that we were interested in him, I;m sure many others on this site were the same.

The title says they've turned out to be awesome.

Careful Gem - you'll go upsetting certain Shed End subscribers!

:lol:

the price has nothting to do with the thread,

So I'm not allowed to mention it? :lol:

Besides, my main point was that he was already one of the most hyped about young players in world football after his great performances in the youth World Championships in various age groups. :D

Pat Nevin has to be the one surely , of a more recent vintage Flo is a great shout.

And a lot of people hadn't heard of Alex or Ivanovic

Alex has been named as Ancelotti's favorite CB (Way back in his PSV days), Van Basten had him in his world 11, and Arsenal fans were probably hoping Wenger would sign him after Alex made Arsenal his bitch after that CL match.

Ivanovic is a good shout though.

Bosingwa?

I knew nothing about him before he signed. Yes, he rose to prominence at the Euros but that was after he had signed for Chelsea.

flo is the first that comes to mind... you do have to suppress a smirk when £11m lampard is mentioned here!

lassana diarra could've been another.