10 Sunderland Players Who Really Weren't Worth The Hassle

3. Tore Andre Flo

Bought as Sunderland's second most expensive acquisition at the time, at £6.75 million, big things were expected of the former Chelsea hit-man. With the prolific but ageing Niall Quinn growing old in the tooth, a long-term replacement was needed to fill his sizeable shoes, and Tore Andre Flo seemed to be it, when he was snapped up from Rangers in the summer of 2002. Following a difficult spell in Scotland, Black Cats supporters were initially wary of signing the 29 year old striker, but their fears were allayed for a while when he scored on his debut against Manchester United. It was to be all downhill from there, however, as he failed to ignite with Kevin Phillips up front, and fell out of favour under incoming boss Howard Wilkinson in October, who called into question the Norwegian's fitness. Wilkinson would last only five months at the club, but Flo failed to establish himself under new boss Mick McCarthy either, and registered a paltry four league goals in 33 appearance for the club. It was a horrific return for a sizeable investment for the Black Cats, as they sought to establish themselves as a Premier League force. Unsurprisingly, with a big-money signing turning in such poor performances, and a chairman carving through managers like they were going out of fashion, the club slunk to the bottom of the table, and were in the Championship before long. Highlighting just how poor he had been, the mutually beneficial decision was agreed in the summer that losses would be cut and the Norwegian flop would be allowed to leave on a free transfer.