At the beginning of 2005, Mick McCarthy's Sunderland were in the midst of a promotion push, looking to bounce back into the Premier League after playoff heartbreak the previous season. Looking to bolster their attacking options, the club signed a 37 year old striker on a free transfer from Leeds United. He'd proven his credentials scored against the Black Cats the previous month. It worked out about as well as you'd expect. Thankfully Deane didn't hinder Sunderland's quest for the First Division title, but he barely contributed to their success. He made four league appearances without scoring a goal and never got another chance, heading off to Perth Glory at the end of the season. He remains a prime "did he really play for us?" player, and an example that signing a player on the back of a good performance against Sunderland isn't always the wisest decision.
