06 Oct 2020 16:09:42
We have many a bad in deal in the transfer market - Revie, Collins, Strachan, Bowyer, Radebe etc etc. One that isn't often remembered is Robert Molenaar. Bought for £1 million by George Graham. I remember watching in the stand week after week with us going nowhere but downhill after Howard Wilkinson. Molenaar shored up the defence and then Jimmy Floydd came in for £2 million and the goals started coming. One of the bigger turnarounds we have had with two influential platers. Neither of them stayed for the O'Leary years though but helped the transition.


1.) 06 Oct 2020
06 Oct 2020 16:40:51
Half my first sentence went awol. Should have gone on to say 'but many good ones'


2.) 06 Oct 2020
06 Oct 2020 16:49:07
Hess Both Molenaar and JFH played for a short time during the O'Leary years as both were sold by O'Leary. Admittedly, in the case of JFH, we were unwilling sellers but it's wrong to say neither player stayed when in fact they did for a season or thereabouts.


3.) 06 Oct 2020
06 Oct 2020 16:59:57
Robert Molenaar - The Terminator.


4.) 06 Oct 2020
06 Oct 2020 17:11:34
Trouble these days lots of players are bought on stats by people who have never played the game.
This is where Bielsa's great talent of identifying the players he wants, comes in.
Up to Bielsa's arrival Orta's recruitment both here and at Boro was questionable to say the least.
What he has achieved to date with the squad is remarkable and I think Roma are mistaken if they think the man to get is Orta, the real genius is Bielsa.


5.) 06 Oct 2020
06 Oct 2020 19:07:48
You have a good point 1970

Remember Bub famously bought Poch as a player just by looking at his legs while he slept (Poch’s mum was present though 😂)


6.) 06 Oct 2020
06 Oct 2020 19:54:22
Molenaar was ok at best. Imagine him in this team. No I can’t either.


7.) 07 Oct 2020
06 Oct 2020 23:46:29
1970, you could argue Orta recruitment was always excellent, just the coaches he recruited them for couldn't get out of them what Bielsa does!
No you're right.


8.) 07 Oct 2020
07 Oct 2020 06:44:00
most of the players Orta has brought in have been terrible even with Bielsa. The majority were youth players that have never made it. Yes there have been a few exceptions but even a stopped clock tells the right time twice a day. I'm praying his success rate improves with this latest window.


9.) 07 Oct 2020
07 Oct 2020 17:31:49
I only remember Molenaar as being utter gash! Possibly played half a season for each of the 3 he was here, and that’s at most. Weatherall, Newsome, then Radebe were ahead of him, if I remember right. Probably not tho! 😉🤪🤪.