10 Underwhelming Man Utd Signings Who Became Cult Heros

9. Louis Saha

There was no question that when Sir Alex Ferguson wanted a player, in typical fashion, he would almost usually get him. Despite the protestations of Fulham owner Mohamed Al Fayed, Manchester United's long-time courting of the Londoner's 26 year old Frenchman paid off in January 2004, as Louis Saha signed a long-term deal at Old Trafford. Saha was certainly no stranger to the Red Devils, having been part of an impressive Fulham which tore a ragged Manchester United to shreds in a 3-1 victory at Old Trafford months earlier. With 15 goals plundered already that season, he had been earmarked by Ferguson as 'one of Europe's top strikers'. For certain sections of the United support, however, they needed a little more convincing. This was a player with no experience of European football or title races, and the only reason he was at the club was because of a goal-laden four year stint at Loftus Road - Craven Cottage was being refurbished. With so many examples of big fish pining for their former lives when dragged from their small ponds, it's fair to say that there were some United supporters who were sceptical. They needn't have been, however, as Saha hit the ground running, scoring on his debut against Southampton, before hitting a rich vein of goal-scoring form with seven goals in his first ten starts for the club. Tormented by injury, his hamstring difficulties always threatened to cut short his career in Manchester, as he struggled to gain a regular starting role in the side upon his multiple, but a return of 28 goals from 86 appearances - many of them from the bench - isn't so shabby.