Motherwell, Everton, and Birmingham squeezed over 200 appearances out of James McFadden across a 12 year period. It sounds like a lot, but if you break it down, that means he was averaging less than 20 games a season, every year. So why Martin O'Neill saw fit to offer him a contract at Sunderland is a mystery. He appeared from out of nowhere, signing after a successful trial in October 2012, and was signed up until January 2013. McFadden was accustomed to scoring against Sunderland, but in red and white he made three appearances, none of which sprouted any sort of impact, and then he was gone. It was a bizarre deal that left many fans wondering whether it had even happened in the first place, like many of the deals mentioned in this list.
What Culture contributor. NCTJ accredited Sports Journalist. Regret-filled Sunderland AFC season ticket holder. Optimism-filled NFL fan. Lover of all things Game Of Thrones, Breaking Bad, Walking Dead & more.
