2. Ryan Nelsen
Mike Egerton/EMPICS SportAlong with Louis Saha (or a couple of days later, at least), Ryan Nelsen was brought in as another ageing free transfer signing in the 2012 mid-season transfer window. Tottenham weren't short of central defenders at the start of the season, with Ledley King, Younes Kaboul, William Gallas, Jonathan Woodgate, Sebastien Bassong and the up and coming Steven Caulker in their squad. But with Woodgate leaving for Stoke City and Caulker being loaned out to Swansea City, prior to the season actually kicking off, and Bassong being loaned out to Wolves in January, they were looking a little bit sparse at the back. Like with the striker situation, expectation was high of a big money signing, but Blackburn Rovers' 34 year old New Zealander was seen by Harry Redknapp as the man to plug the gap. He made five substitute appearances in the league and three starts in the FA Cup, scoring one goal, before being released at the end of the season, alongside Saha, and joining Queens Park Rangers for free. Nelsen now manages Toronto F.C. and was responsible for taking Jermain Defoe to Canada.