Source
r/soccer•
CaptainDSid

Has there ever been a case of a good team on the verge of being great signing one player and it all clicks for them?

I was just thinking about Bayern's treble season and how Javi Martinez seems to have been just the perfect signing to bring that physicality and stability to the midfield that put Bayern over the edge that season.

They had been perennial runners-up for a few years before that, with disappointing CL final losses and losing to Dortmund in the BL for 2 years running. Having it all in place that year was something else and I think all the players feel like the wait was worth it for that magnificent season.

Anyway, like that season there was (and I hate to admit it) Cantona moving to the mancs, that seemed to give them the X-factor to temper all their young starlets.

As a reverse, it could be said that the 2002 CL winning squad lost its engine with the loss of Makelele and I'm pretty sure Zidane shares that sentiment.

I want to hear more examples of either a player or a manager coming into a team that seems close to being really good, or even a simple team that finds perfection out of the blue to take the world by storm.

I would consider a team like Juve to be similar in that they finished 7th the season before and then went on to go unbeaten and win the league for the first time in 6(?) years. That could be attributed to a few good signings and Conte's system, as well as the collapse of the Milan teams but overall I want love to hear about teams just finding their rhythm.

Please share what you know!

Edit: Damn it! I missed a comma in the title...

Posted Feb 2, 2015, 5:34 PM UTC

130
TIProdigyChelsea•

Diego Costa has been like that for us.

11
CaptainDSidOPLiverpool•

I was definitely thinking about that although I want to see how well they do at the end of the season. Also, it could be said that Fabregas is a big part of your potency up front as well.

3
EliCaaashCeltic•

Yeah I would say Fabregas more than Costa, although both together have revolutionised an already very good first team into an amazing one.

4
peon2Chelsea•

Yeah but it wasn't just Costa, to dismiss Fabregas' contribution would be criminal. But the two of them together definitely pushed Chelsea from good to great.

1
weedwhacker7Monaco•

Southampton did this backwards.

8
CaptainDSidOPLiverpool•

Ha, yeah they would be like a team coming out of the blue, although I'd say a lot can be attributed to more than one signing and the perfect coach to lead them in Koeman.

1
miner_andyTottenham Hotspur•

Van der Vaart on deadline day brought something that we needed to our side. It was a huge boost, and he was perfect for that side.

4
clownonanerdScotland•

I'd say there are a few #10's who would be good answers for this

2
CaptainDSidOPLiverpool•

He was an awesome signing. Helped you get into the CL if I'm not mistaken. Also, his pedigree helped you play well in Europe. The price was a steal as well if I remember correctly.

0
shytalkCarlisle United•

Cantona of course

4
CaptainDSidOPLiverpool•

Yup mentioned it in my main body of text.

1
shytalkCarlisle United•

Somehow missed that bit

1
Van_HuffelaerFeyenoord•

Well... On a national level there's one infamous example.

In 1983, Ajax refused to renew the contract of an aging Johan Cruijff. Since Hell (or with those initials... possibly Heaven) hath no fury like a JC scorned, he did what every reasonable person would do.

He signed for the big rivals and promptly made them champion.

While the Feyenoord side at the time wasn't bad, it wasn't really good either. JC came, saw, conquered.

3
CaptainDSidOPLiverpool•

There's a player who will single-handedly turn the tide of any season, let alone a game. How is he viewed by Feyenoord supporters? He gave them that title but he gave a lot more to Ajax so I'm sure there is a bit of mixed feeling for him, although I could easily see someone who is so legendary being revered regardless, possibly also because of his exploits for the national team.

2
Van_HuffelaerFeyenoord•

There's a substantial part of the Legioen who refuse to count that title.

Others hold the opinion that the whole ordeal is so deliciously ironic that it's a special title.

2
romeu13FC Porto•

Maybe Porto with Benny McCarthy.

After winning rhe UEFA Cup in 02/03 with a very good and reliable team Mourinho desperatly needed a good Striker. Back them was rumoured that Drogba was the Target, but Marseille asked for 15M, woch was too much.

Then Porto went back to Benny(he had been in Porto in a loan from Celta de Vigo) and that gave us the power in the front that we needed.

2
CaptainDSidOPLiverpool•

Awesome! I didn't even remember Benny McCarthy was in that squad. A lot of those Porto players were slowly spread around to a bunch of decent clubs over time and just ended up doing decently in the background. Was it tough for Porto to keep things strong after that CL win and losing Mourinho?

2
romeu13FC Porto•

We had some troubles after that.

We hired Victor Fernandez to replace Mourinho, and despite losing P.Ferreira, Ricardo Carvalho, Deco and more we managed to get some really good players. We bought Diego and Luis Fabiano and we got Quaresma in the Deco deal, but the manager had problems in dealing with them and in the end of the season we lost what was left of that team. Manich, Costinha and Derlei, 3 very important players were sold to Russia, and so on.

2
CaptainDSidOPLiverpool•

Ah wow, in Diego, Fabiano and Quaresma you have some ridiculous talent that could have gone so far. What a shame they all had temperament issues. Porto picks out some of the best young talent around. If they could get it all together at the right time again, who knows how well they could do. Unfortunately they're an obvious target for top talent for bigger clubs so they are going to lose the really good players for a while.

1
NestledrinkManchester United•

Chelsea with Costa or Fabregas

2
CaptainDSidOPLiverpool•

Yep, a guy already said this up top. Let's see just how well they can do by the end of the season. A cup or two are almost certainly in their future.

1
scrabbledonLiverpool•

Ronaldinho to barca, getting them that first UCL, hard to believe they won it for the first time just now. That Rijkaard side is where their recent success begun.

2
CaptainDSidOPLiverpool•

Yeah, while they had some good players and a good team back then, they weren't set apart by much compared to other teams around Europe. Dinho is the kind of individual quality that can make a good team reach crazy levels.

1
bonobroNew England Revolution•

Jermaine Jones signs for us then we stop our losing skid and go to the MLS cup game.

2
enzomilitoReal Madrid•

Dennis Bergkamp to Arsenal

1
smnslwlArsenal•

Maybe us next season with Schneiderlien :)

Not a player, but Atleti with Cholo at the helm moved from midtable to regular title challengers.

-8
CaptainDSidOPLiverpool•

I'm glad you included Atleti because I do think managers can be just as important to that cause. It did take him a few seasons to mold them though and there wasn't one star player coming in who changed everything.

Also, you're gonna have a fight on your hands over Schneiderlin, mate.

1
FeezbullManchester United•

Why would he want to move away if Southampton manage to be in the CL next season? At least the appeal doesn't count too much for next season that is.

0
prayfordiaby•

The appeal of CL football is usually just an excuse.

8
scrabbledonLiverpool•

I would say UCL vs big wad of money, the big wad quite often wins.

2