4. Stephane Guivarc’h
France proved you didn’t need a striker to win the World Cup when Stephane Guivarc’h toiled on his own to no reward throughout their triumph in 1998. Kenny Dalglish must have seen something in the Auxerre striker, who had enjoyed success in his own country, when he paid £3.5m to bring him to Newcastle.
He made a bright start, scored on his debut against Liverpool, but then Dalglish was sacked soon after. Ruud Gullit arrived and promptly got rid of him in November.
3. Ade Akinbiyi
When Emile Heskey left for Liverpool for £11m in 2000, Ade Akinbiyi was lined up as a replacement at £5.5m. After a decent enough return of nine goals in his first season, he hit rock bottom in his second as Leicester hurtled towards Division One.
In a 4-1 defeat by Liverpool in 2001 he missed three sitters and was booed by his own fans. And he didn’t just missed them, he skied every single one. He broke his duck with the winner against Sunderland – after which he ripped off his shirt to shows his bulging biceps – declared it as a ‘turning point’ before scoring only more in the campaign.
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