8. Andy Cole
Barry Coombs/EMPICS SportWhen you think of Andy Cole, you think Manchester United. Which is why it came as a big surprise when the Red Devil's 'noisy neighbours' signed the striker in 2005. Cole's 'golden years' were over at this stage, and his career was starting to wind down following his time at Old Trafford, playing for Blackburn and Fulham before City made their move. To be fair, this one wasn't a complete disaster. The former England international scored nine league goals in 22 appearances for the Citizens, but his season was ended by injury in March. That would be the last time Cole would pull on a Sky Blue jersey and, despite signing a fresh contract to stay at the club
only months earlier, decided to move to Portsmouth on transfer deadline day. Cole's departure left City very much in the lurch, with virtually no time at all to find a replacement as the former United hero swanned off after spending but 12 months at his old club's rivals.