Who Was Our Best Signing In 08-09?

[TMB 14,167]

2 hours ago, DBBTB said:

My vote would be for Bougherra. Plucked from a middling English championship side and tasked with filling Cuellar’s sizeable shoes and did it absolutely seamlessly..dare I say it, but he might have actually been better.

Bougherra strolled the SPL.  Even in Europe he looked a level above at times.  I remember he scored away to some German team and thinking he was good enough to take a big step up.  I’m surprised that didn’t happen for him TBH.  One of the best CBs I’ve seen play for us in my lifetime.  The guy had so much to his game: strength, pace, confidence, comfortable with the ball at his feet, he could pass.  Brilliant.

[TMB 14,167]

2 hours ago, shaka said:

I've always rated Edu.  He might not be great technically but he done a power of work in midfield and made the other players look even better by winning the ball back whenever they lost possession, which Davis in particular had a habit of doing.

He was a good athlete but never a footballer.  

[Inigo 32,526]

It's Bougie, Miller, Davis, Mendes in that order.

[RossS1873 1,656]

For overall contribution, its Miller all day. Mendes was absolute quality and the others had their own contribution but its Kenny all day.

P.s a wee extra shoutout to Velicka who scored the winner in the first game then vanished till about April and scored a belter at Easter Road! I actually quite liked him

[Cedrick 8,048]

We call a lad at the work that’s always on the pat and mick andy Webster 

[King Jela 20,361]

I'd say 6/7 out of the 9 players on that list played a big part in helping us win the league that year, that's an impressive return tbf for Walter. 

[SuperPapac05 3,383]

Lafferty has zero votes. Lets keep it that way!!! 

[Bigdave30 8,701]

It’s probably Bougherra but I voted for Mendes because he had that wee touch of class about him and scored this screamer against the bead rattlers.

 

[gogzy 31,195]

[bornabear 6,202]

Bougherra  for me.

Very tight for second though, as Miller, Davis and Mendes all had very good points to their game.

[Tero Penttila 425]

Loved Boogie and Mendes, but Miller’s goal ratio against the fenians was McCoist-esque. 

[Tero Penttila 425]

Tell you what though, the big Lithuanian scored some very important goals at the end of that season. 

Edu was also a better player than the poll suggests. 

That 3 in a row under Walter was a great period. 

[King Jela 20,361]

10 minutes ago, Tero Penttila said:

Tell you what though, the big Lithuanian scored some very important goals at the end of that season. 

Edu was also a better player than the poll suggests. 

That 3 in a row under Walter was a great period. 

Can only hope those days will return.

[JCDBigBear 10,824]

Bougherra by a distance.  It is no coincidence that we won three titles in a row in his 3 seasons with us. A Scottish Cup and 2 League cups.

 

[JCDBigBear 10,824]

Andy Webster  

[bluebell82 243]

I voted Bougherra but Mendes was a Rolls Royce midfielder...might be technically the best midfielder I've seen in a Gers shirt 

[Smile 26,600]

Kenny Miller and it's not even close between the rest.

[JimmyCR1 1,502]

Bougherra just through sheer consistency, barely had a bad game and was easily the best defender in the league that season. Closely behind Davis, Mendes and Miller in that order.

Cant understate Laffertys contribution either but too inconsistent to be considered next to the others.

[Tero Penttila 425]

Aaron Ñíguez is still only 30 😲

Guy was capped at U16, U17, U19, U20 and U21 level for Spain. 

For some reason my only memory of him is a game against Forfar. 

[G.E.C. 18,761]

Aaron’s wee brother is Saul.

[British_Empire 9,648]

It's a really difficult one to answer. 

I genuinely can't pick between 3 but for different reasons.

Bougherra was like glue at the back. Cuellar needed replaced. Weir was the old head, but slow. Bougherra had the legs. Great partnership. Bargain at 2 million.
Davis was our engine. Covered every inch of the park and drove the team on. Hardly wasted a ball. Similar to the job Stuart McCall used to do.
Miller for his goals in so many big games. Very important player during that spell. I think we got him back as he peaked.

A special mention for Lafferty as he always seemed to do it the last month of the season. Big goals in big games.

I loved Mendes. Was gutted to see us flog him to claw something back for the bank. Cultured and genuine class. He didn't have the same impact the top 3, though. But like Lafferty, a special mention for Pedro.

[simplythebest 11,453]

I’d say Mendes, he brought a touch of class to the midfield that was really missing 

Bougherra and Miller aren’t far behind though 

[siamthedanger 2,855]

Has to be Kenny Miller. A club legend.