Albion's worst ever player sale?

[El Presidente]

I would go for Ian Muir. Chris Cattlin signed him on a free from Birmingham in 1984. He was totally unknown, small and wiry, but could turn defenders easily. He scored lots of goals for the reserves, but for some reason Cattlin would not stick him in the first team, as we had Frank Worthington, Dean Saunders, Terry Connor,Alan Biley and Mick Ferguson ahead of him in the pecking order.

Anyone who saw him in the stiffs however could see he had a natural eye for goal, and when Frank Worthington left after one season to become player manager at Tranmere he immediately signed Muir on a free, seeing the potential that Muir had,.

He then showed his class with 180 goals for the club, and is their all time record goalscorer.

In my time watching the Albion he is the one who got away.

 

[seagull_special]

Dean Saunders for me - the Albion's worst piece of business

 

[Ecosse Exile]

yeah, could never understand why Muir never got a chance.

Another you mention is Dean Saunders, 60k to Oxford who then sold him on to Derby i think for over a million, went on to play for Liverpool after that.

Scored something like 23 goals for us in one season without scoring more than 1 in any game! now that really is a goal every other game!

 

[El Presidente]

Dean Saunders for me - the Albion's worst piece of business

The bank forced that one. The Albion were skint and Barry Lloyd was told to sell a player. Saunders' record for the Albion was reasonable, but unspectacular. 21 goals in 72 games over two seasons was nothing to write home about, but he was worth more than the £60k we received for him.

 

[Return of the Rev]

Dean Saunders for me - the Albion's worst piece of business

Defo,cattlin got him for £33 loyd sold him 60k oxford sold on for a million,no sell on clause player real value ended up at 3 million

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

Terry Connor was 50 goals in around 150 games. Not our worst sale (I think he went because we got relegated) but certainly an under-rated player. I read that he is now coaching at Wolves and had a hand in that brillinat goal Wolves scored first game of the season (the flick up and volley).

 

[Mendoza]

Dean Hammond, we never replaced him

 

[dazzalewis1968]

Should never have Sold! Lawrenson he was our backbone.
i know we bought in players when he left but he was world class.

 

[Return of the Rev]

Should never have Sold! Lawrenson he was our backbone.
i know we bought in players when he left but he was world class.

900k got his worth at the time

 

[El Presidente]

Should never have Sold! Lawrenson he was our backbone.
i know we bought in players when he left but he was world class.

He wanted to go. Ron Atkinson tried to sign him for United for £400k plus Ashley Grimes and Kevin Moran, but the Albion preferred the cash deal from the Bindippers at the time.

 

[Ecosse Exile]

Not strictly a sale but letting Ian Chapman go when he had just been voted player of the year, Chapman was Brighton through and through, not sure of the source but it has been said that he refused to join Crystal Palace because he would have to look at himself in the mirror when he was shaving in the morning!

 

[jharris]

Jimmy Case to Southampton for £50,000

 

[El Presidente]

Jimmy Case to Southampton for £50,000

Another Cattlin release!

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

Jimmy Case to Southampton for £50,000

I thought about that one, but I think Dean Saunders trumps that by some way.

Another for consideration - Garry Nelson. I suspect it was a forced sale but he went on to play a lot of games for Charlton.

 

[withdeanwombat]

Dean Saunders for me - the Albion's worst piece of business

Post 2,correct answer.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

John Robinson to Charlton was another shocking bit of business.

 

[Hillian1]

Post 2,correct answer.

Correct.

sold for 60k and went on to be the player most money was spent on by various clubs.

 

[Icy Gull]

Danny Wilson to Luton was rubbish too. Not sure we've ever replaced him either.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

This is difficult really. As lack of finances has 'forced the clubs hand', like Dean Saunders.

I would go with Ian Muir. Neil McNab also seemed to get better with age.

You could argue a case for Damian Webber who was with the club as an apprentice, released and then went on to make 100+ appearances for QPR and Millwall I believe.

 

[The Large One]

John Robinson to Charlton was another shocking bit of business.

Another one where we didn't fix the price.

We wanted £300,000, Charlton offered £50,000 - the League tribunal, always said to be (at the time) favouring the purchasing club, said £75,000.