Cardiff signings that have left you baffled

The Godfrey Ingram signing was in reality just a loan.
It was headlined as a £200k transfer then 3 months later we "sold" him back to his parent club for the same amount.
The alleged transfer fees were just a publicity stunt by the club

Lee Tomlin. Looked more ready for a man vs food contest rather than a football match

Maximilliano Amondarain

Kerra Gilbert was shagging Dave Jones daughter that’s why he was dropped

Is that a fact? I heard he got someone pregnant and then fled to Europe never to be seen again, but I didn't realise it was Dave Jones' daughter!

Godfrey Ingram a record 200k signing from America and then we sold him back a few weeks later

For the same amount, allegedly.

Paul Shaw. Got him on loan from Arsenal around the time Kumar took over the club. Was utter garbage! I think he did ok for the other clubs he played for, which is typical for us.

Javi Guerra

Agreed to sign before the prem season ended or something and then only played once or twice to be loaned out.

Jo Inge Berget

Loaned to Celtic after 1 match?

Didnt javi guerra go back to spain and bang the goals in ? What do we do to players

Javi Guera and also Guido Burgstaller were two outstanding signings by Ole who wrongly get brandished as bad signings.

Guerra was a free transfer that had just banged in 16 goals in La Liga for Valladolid..we just never got to see enough of him then loaned him to Malaga where he had 2 decent seasons in La Liga.

Burgstaller cost £800,000 and is now a star in the Bundesliga, will be playing in the Champions League next season with Schalke.

Our Club was rotten to the core back then

The one that baffled me the most is Matts Moller Daehli, not because he was a flop. But because how clearly talented he was and was still so young, I don't know why he sold someone like that as if he had a couple of good seasons with us we could have made a fortune in the transfer window then. Instead, we sold him as soon as we could after Ole left...

Im with you on that one

Would any one take matts moeller daehli back then ? Lots on here seem gutted he left

Javi Guerra

Agreed to sign before the prem season ended or something and then only played once or twice to be loaned out.

Jo Inge Berget

Loaned to Celtic after 1 match?

Didnt javi guerra go back to spain and bang the goals in ? What do we do to players

Javi Guera and also Guido Burgstaller were two outstanding signings by Ole who wrongly get brandished as bad signings.

Guerra was a free transfer that had just banged in 16 goals in La Liga for Valladolid..we just never got to see enough of him then loaned him to Malaga where he had 2 decent seasons in La Liga.

Burgstaller cost £800,000 and is now a star in the Bundesliga, will be playing in the Champions League next season with Schalke.

Our Club was rotten to the core back then

Burgstal always baffled me I thought he looked decent wen he played but was never given a chance then sold, he must of been on high wages as he would of done a job in the championship.

Didn’t we sign James chambers for a short period ?

Chamakh.

Why is his signing baffling?

Neil Warnock had little choice when he came as the window was closed. Took a chance on some free agents, Bamba and Hoillett worked out. Chamakh and Richardson didn't.

Knew I would get one of these replies.

At least Bamba and Hoilett actually trained over the summer and played a few games before coming to us, the other paid hadn't played since February that year.

It was baffling because they added nothing to the squad and looking at what they both did here I fail to see why I shouldn't be baffled.

They were POOR signings, can't argue with it.

Who was that bloke we signed from Barnsley a few years ago? A striker called Michael someone or other.

Dave Ngumbu-Nsungu.
Quincy Whatshisname.
Marvin Kamara
Alan Wright -the world's tiniest footballer.
Leyton Maxwell
Yanic Wildshit
Dai Thomas
Ross Turnbull
Fred Gunongbe
Mark Howard

And loads more no doubt.

Michael Boulding?

Two goalies I can think of , both disasters - Bywater and Kockupolis

Two goalies I can think of , both disasters - Bywater and Kockupolis

Ross turnbull

Any one remember malvin kamara

that young italian striker that fergie apparently recommended to us?!

that young italian striker that fergie apparently recommended to us?!

Ferretti

Gary Madine

Martin john, that american guy the most strangest player i had ever seen put a city top on!

Chamakh.

Why is his signing baffling?

Neil Warnock had little choice when he came as the window was closed. Took a chance on some free agents, Bamba and Hoillett worked out. Chamakh and Richardson didn't.

Knew I would get one of these replies.

At least Bamba and Hoilett actually trained over the summer and played a few games before coming to us, the other paid hadn't played since February that year.

It was baffling because they added nothing to the squad and looking at what they both did here I fail to see why I shouldn't be baffled.

They were POOR signings, can't argue with it.

What do you mean "these replies"???

As I said in my original reply, Warnock only had the free agent market to use when he became manager.

There is always the problem with the level of fitness of such players when they sign a few months into the season but both Chamakh and Richardson had extensive premier league experience and they weren't exactly ancient.

Warnock had worked with Chamakh before knew what he was capable of and knew he was taking a chance with him.

That is why he gave them both three month contracts and as soon as he could look elsewhere in January he let them go.

Nothing wrong with that, not all signings work out.

Disappointing that they didn't work out but they were speculative signings not poor ones. Had we given them a longer contract and had to pay them off that would have been poor.

Buy perhapd you know better than Neil Warnock.8

Fillip Kiss (signed what seemed to be a 14 year contract and didn't play more than half an hour for us)
Dikachoi (not sure how you spell it but it's definitely NOT pronounced DE-GASH-WEE. Turning circle of a fortnight)
Tony Warner (the worst keep to ever play for Cardiff - albeit briefly)

Can't remember his name but he was Argentinian I think, youth player began with A who Malky signed on a 5 year deal after a trial and never played. Very odd that one.

Amondarian something like that

That's him

If that wasn't a brown envelope job I don't know what is.

Fair few of them under Malky.

Brayford was a weird one as Malky didn’t play him at all.

Brayford was one of those "Quick, write up a positive reference. Some mug is trying to buy him!" signings

Malky had a few of those but also some successes, too!

Some of City's (in reality) worst signings have gone on to become cult heroes, e.g. Ronnie Moore and Eddie Johnson (who can remember the day he finally scored THAT goal?)

Andrea Ferretti was a major disaster but for me but Wilfried Zaha disappointed the most. A total waste of space outside the safety of his mummy's bosom in Croydon!

Fillip Kiss (signed what seemed to be a 14 year contract and didn't play more than half an hour for us)
Dikachoi (not sure how you spell it but it's definitely NOT pronounced DE-GASH-WEE. Turning circle of a fortnight)
Tony Warner (the worst keep to ever play for Cardiff - albeit briefly)

I thought Warner was pretty good

Here's an article from 2015 that covered the subject...

Personally, I disagree with quite a few of those named but it's all about opinions!



28 Cardiff City misfits who wish they’d never set foot in South Wales
By Gareth Rogers (published in 2015)

There is no shortage of players who, for one reason or another, didn't make the grade at Cardiff City. Here we look at some of the most memorable


The current Cardiff City clearout has seen 10 players head for the exit door probably wishing they had never bothered signing at all.

But the likes of Mats Daehli, Javi Guerra and Magnus Eikrem should take comfort in the fact aren't the first to suffer that feeling.


Here we take a look back some of the Cardiff City misfits who wish they'd said no the moment their agents told them the Bluebirds were interested.

Some of them were talented but just didn't fit in. Others were, well, just not very good.


Had you forgotten about any of these classic names?


Martin John
The London-born defender joined Cardiff after a spell playing in North America. After his arrival in pre-season initially excited fans, he wasn't selected for a single league match and was sent out to Newport on loan before leaving for Ontinyent CF in Spain.

Warren Feeney
Belfast born Feeney was brought to Cardiff from Luton in 2007 but his only goal came in a pre-season friendly against FC Twente. He was sent on loan to Swansea later that season, where he scored five goals in 10 games and returned a Vetch fans' favourite. He never settled back at Cardiff but stayed at the club until 2010, when he joined Oldham.

Dimitrios Konstantopolous
The Greek goalie arrived at Cardiff from Coventry, having a loan spell at Swansea in 2009. But he scored an own goal on his debut at Wolves and was given five more chances before being replaced by emergency loanee Stuart Taylor.

Dai Thomas
He might have been born in South Wales but he still makes this list. Bluebirds fan Thomas became a terrace icon at Swansea after scoring 10 goals in the 1996-97 season, including one against Cardiff in December 1996. But when he joined from Watford in 1998, it captured the imagination. However, he never got fully fit and only scored five goals in two seasons before being deported from Belgium during Euro 2000 and subsequently suspended and released from the club.

Fan Zhiyi
The Chinese international was a hero at Crystal Palace before joining Cardiff in 2002. But the centre back only played six games before joining Buler Rangers of Hong Kong.

Simon Walton
In January 2007, Walton was sent off by Mark Clattenburg against boyhood club Leeds. He kicked the electronic board on his way off and went back to parent club Charlton having only played six games.

Peter Zois
The Aussie keeper was brought in to cover an injury to Jon Hallworth in 1998 but after one of the worst Bluebirds debuts in living memory, Zois was released. He went on to make a career in Holland and Australia.

Simon Lappin
Lappin had enjoyed a good career at Norwich City before joining Cardiff on loan. He was sent off on his debut at Barnsley and eventually signed but he only played one more game before being released.

Stephen Bywater
The ex West Ham keeper suffered two spells at Cardiff City. In 2002 he spent a season in South Wales without playing a single game, only to return nine years later and be at fault for at least one goal in the horror home play-off defeat against Reading.

David Hughes
The ex Aston Villa defender was signed from Shrewsbury for £450,000 in 2001. Injuries meant he only played 14 times for Cardiff before joining Port Talbot Town.

Kelvin Etuhu
The tricky winger joined on loan from Manchester City for the 09/10 season. He played 19 times but will forever be remembered for replacing Jay Bothroyd as a striker in the play-off final against Blackpool and failing to get a major effort on goal.

Stuart Taylor
Having played for Arsenal and Aston Villa, Cardiff thought they'd signed a top keeper when he arrived on loan in 2009. But he will forever be remembered for being the man who conceded six in the thrashing at Preston that ultimately cost the Bluebirds a place in the play-offs.

Robbie Fowler
The Liverpool, Leeds and Man City hero could not have arrived at Cardiff with a bigger fanfare in 2007. But the Bluebirds fans only saw brief glimpses of what the record breaking goalscorer could do before he left for Blackburn having only netted four times and being forced to sitout the 2008 FA Cup final due to injury.

Ross Turnbull
Middlesbrough product Turnbull signed on a season-long loan in 2007 to replace Neil Alexander. But after a series of howlers, was replaced by Michael Oakes and sent back. He became Boro's number one before joining Chelsea, where he won a Champions League winners medal.

Leon Jeanne
The talented winger joined his hometown club after spells at Arsenal and QPR. But he failed a drug test a few weeks after joining in 2001 and later that season failed to produce a valid specimen for a subsequent test before having his contract terminated. Maybe the fact he was born in Cardiff should keep him off this list but his poor record more than makes up for it.

Chris Riggott
After two excellent spells at Derby County and Middlesbrough, Cardiff fans had high hopes for Riggott when he joined in 2010 but injuries meant he didn't make his debut until Boxing Day. By February 2 he was released after suffering another injury.

Wilfried Zaha
One of the most talented players Cardiff City had regularly faced in recent years was made a Bluebird last season when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer signed him from Man United. But he never impressed in Cardiff and is now back at the club where he made his name, Crystal Palace.

Jermaine Darlington
After good spells at QPR and Wimbledon, Darlington joined Cardiff in 2005 with high expectations. But a recurring knee injury saw him leave for (at the time) non-league AFC Wimbledon.

Solomon Taiwo
Taiwo was signed from Dagenham for £250,000 in August 2009 after impressing in a League Cup tie. Three years later he was released having played only nine games.

Quincy Owusu-Abiye
Before joining Cardiff, the man who goes by the name Quincy had played for Ajax, Arsenal and Spartak Moscow, meaning fans were quite excited when he announced on Soccer AM that Dave Jones had signed him. But after only five games he was sent back to the Russian club and has since played for Malaga, Panathanikos and Boavista.

John Williams
The giant scouser, known to his teammates as Willo, was a legend at Tranmere and Bournemouth before joining Cardiff in 1991. He was sent off for an elbow incident and only played six games before being released at the end of the 1993 season.

Guylian Ndumbu Nsungu
The wonderfully named Zaire born striker hit a scoring streak for Darlington before being snapped up by Cardiff in January 2006. But just four starts and no goals saw his Bluebirds career brought to an abrupt end the following May.

Darren Dennehy
When the Irish U21 international joined from Everton, there were high hopes for him. But in two years at the club, Dennehy never played for Cardiff and ended up at Barnet. He now plays for Cork City.

Jason Byrne
The Irish striker got his Cardiff career off to a flier by scoring the winner at Wolves on his debut, but he only played another nine games and was released at the end of the season without adding to his tally.

Peter Odemwingie
Controversial striker Odemwingie had scored plenty of Premier League goals at West Brom before being frozen out after being spotted at QPR for a deadline day transfer that never happened. Malky Mackay brought him to Cardiff for the Premier League campaign but after one goal in 15 games, was sent to Stoke in a swap for Kenwyne Jones. He went on to score five goals in 15 games for the Potters and finished the season a hero.

Jorn Schwinkendorf
After a decent career playing in the German leagues the 6ft 5in central midfielder was signed for £110,000 but he only played five games before returning to Germany.

Lee Naylor
Having played for Wolves and Celtic, full back Naylor came to Cardiff with a great pedigree. But, after a stuttering season that ended in play-off defeat against Reading, Naylor was released by new manager Malky Mackay. Not a fans' favourite

Andrea Ferretti
The Italian striker joined Cardiff from Parma in 2005 after being recommended by Sir Alex Ferguson. He hadn't played a game when he was loaned out to Scunthorpe and only made five appearances before ending his contract early.

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Can't remember his name but he was Argentinian I think, youth player began with A who Malky signed on a 5 year deal after a trial and never played. Very odd that one.

Amondarian something like that

That's him

If that wasn't a brown envelope job I don't know what is.

Fair few of them under Malky.

Brayford was a weird one as Malky didn’t play him at all.

Brayford was one of those "Quick, write up a positive reference. Some mug is trying to buy him!" signings

Malky had a few of those but also some successes, too!

Some of City's (in reality) worst signings have gone on to become cult heroes, e.g. Ronnie Moore and Eddie Johnson (who can remember the day he finally scored THAT goal?)

Andrea Ferretti was a major disaster but for me but Wilfried Zaha disappointed the most. A total waste of space outside the safety of his mummy's bosom in Croydon!

I forgot about Fillip Kiss too another Malky catastrophe. Velikonja too.

Thinking good Malky signings I’ll go

Ben Turner
Jordan Mutch
Don Cowie
Craig Conway
Frazer Campbell
Aaron Gunnarrson

Any names I’m missing?

Bloody hell Sven, I remember Simon Walton - didn't we get two players sent off in that game?
I remember how bad the Walton tackle was and I thought to myself " That's my type of player" then we never seen him again

Bloody hell Sven, I remember Simon Walton - didn't we get two players sent off in that game?
I remember how bad the Walton tackle was and I thought to myself " That's my type of player" then we never seen him again

Liam, he was an odd one! He had every attribute to be a City legend but (as you say) disappeared as quickly as he appeared and it all seemed to centre on those sending offs!

Chamakh.

Why is his signing baffling?

Neil Warnock had little choice when he came as the window was closed. Took a chance on some free agents, Bamba and Hoillett worked out. Chamakh and Richardson didn't.

Knew I would get one of these replies.

At least Bamba and Hoilett actually trained over the summer and played a few games before coming to us, the other paid hadn't played since February that year.

It was baffling because they added nothing to the squad and looking at what they both did here I fail to see why I shouldn't be baffled.

They were POOR signings, can't argue with it.

What do you mean "these replies"???

As I said in my original reply, Warnock only had the free agent market to use when he became manager.

There is always the problem with the level of fitness of such players when they sign a few months into the season but both Chamakh and Richardson had extensive premier league experience and they weren't exactly ancient.

Warnock had worked with Chamakh before knew what he was capable of and knew he was taking a chance with him.

That is why he gave them both three month contracts and as soon as he could look elsewhere in January he let them go.

Nothing wrong with that, not all signings work out.

Disappointing that they didn't work out but they were speculative signings not poor ones. Had we given them a longer contract and had to pay them off that would have been poor.

Buy perhapd you know better than Neil Warnock.8

Chamakh was a bit odd as he had been shit for ages but as you say Warnock was playing with the free agent market and Chamakh was brought in purely as cover as Lambert was injured, Le Fondre, Saadi and Healey were all out on loan which left us with Fred, Zohore and Immers.

There's always an argument he could have just made do but that's the nature of a topic like this, its all subjective, I don't think there is a right or wrong to be fair.