A mate and I spent ages last night trying to figure out our most successful foreign signing, and who was the worst.

Nobby came out best, followed by Dabizas. Ginola was a 1/2 season wonder and I'm a bit young to remember George Robledo. Tino?

As for the bad ones, well we're spoint here aren't we - Perez has to be in with a shout (even though he was free). Georgiadis? Pingel? Tomasson? Andersson?

-- Anonymous, March 09, 2000

Answers

Best - Albert or Srnicek. Not skill wise, but loyalty wise. Worst - Perez. But lots of contenders, past and present.

-- Anonymous, March 09, 2000

best Mira for that shot v Liverpool and the song Worst Mira for going back to Brazil on loan and then wanting a signing on fee to come back

-- Anonymous, March 09, 2000

Andersson the worst in recent memory.

I remember the Swedish hairbanded one saying you haven't seen anything yet Newcastle. With which we responed what you mean you get worse??

Jay

-- Anonymous, March 09, 2000

Worst 'Johnnies' To: Jack Carter

The worst ever 'foreign signing' might actually a Brit - Rob McDonald, who we bought from either a Dutch or Belgian club. He was an utter kn@cker.

After Ronald McDonald, Frank Pingel and Andrea A. spring effortlessly to mind. Given the wide time span between them its a bit difficult to compare them. Although my recollection is that was he the definitive talentless pudding, Frank Pingel was a real gamer and actually endeared himself to the Toon Army for his total commitment and bravery.

Andrea was essentially the opposite - a player with a bit of ability who lacked the same essential ingredients for a striker that, despite his limitations, were at least displayed by Super Frank.

Jan Molby - ex-con and former Liverpool player was once quoted as posing the question about his fellow country men "what's the main similarity between Frank Pigel and Bjorn Christiansen?". The answer? "They're both cr@p!" Says it all.

-- Anonymous, March 09, 2000

The best foreigners would have to be a pair of Scots: Hughie Gallagher up front and Frank Brennan at the back. Unless we're taking the new foreigners ruling which seems to include anyone in the British Isles as being "one of us". A crappy ruling which allows pro- ManUtd journos to dribble on about Irwin, Keane and Giggs as though they are as English as red pillar boxes - clearly bolloc*s.

It might come from the old Imperial attitude; my grandfather used to horrify everyone by proclaiming that "w*gs begin in Newfoundland and end in Calais". Cor, crikey, no wonder we lost the peace.

-- Anonymous, March 09, 2000

Haven't really addressed the 'ugly' yet, have we? Peter Beardsley - but that's too easy. Ian Rush scores highly. I suppose Frank Clark wasn't much of a looker. All in all, nobody looks too bad in black and white stripes, do they? Need female input on this me thinks.

-- Anonymous, March 09, 2000

On of the ugliest players has got to be Alex Rea

Jay

-- Anonymous, March 09, 2000

Ugly? Oh that's an easy one. Paul Sweeney was without a doubt the ugliest man ever to wear the black & white. I had the misfortune to see him pissed in town one night, scary!

I also thought Wayne Fereday was the worst player I'd seen for years until we bought Sweeney. Still, he could hack people down with the best of them.

-- Anonymous, March 09, 2000