Many Sunderland fans have flocked to a tweet that was recently posted by Black Cats-focused Twitter account @sunechosafc which asks the club’s supporters to name their “best ever ‘bargain buy’”.
This post has caught the attention of plenty of Black Cats supporters and many of the Sunderland fans who have been responding to this tweet have taken this opportunity to reminisce fondly over Kevin Phillips.
As stated by one of the Sunderland supporters who have responded to this tweet, Phillips cost Sunderland a transfer fee of less than £500K, as he moved to The Stadium of Light from Watford in July 1997 for £450K, according to Transfermarkt.co.uk.
Read the posts from some Sunderland fans who have been naming the former striker as their best ‘bargain buy’ in the tweets below.
Is Kevin Phillips Sunderland's greatest ever bargain?YES, PHILLIPS WAS A STEAL
NO, I CAN THINK OF BETTER BARGAINS
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Who has been Sunderland's best ever 'bargain buy'? ?? #SAFC
— Sunderland Echo SAFC (@sunechosafc) April 28, 2020
Has to be kevin Phillips. Golden Boot winner, tons of goals and all for less than ¹/² million. Goal machine and a legend
— Brian May (@Jedibri78Brian) April 28, 2020
Super Kev, nobody else comes close.
— ??? (@darrenord) April 28, 2020
Can’t understand why anyone would say any player other than Super Kev
— Mackem (@MarkaMackem) April 28, 2020
Super Kevin Philips any other answer your wrong ?
— Gary Parkin (@garyparkin) April 28, 2020
Only one winner. Phillips
— Kev (@kevindickson83) April 28, 2020
Super Kev
— Lee Oliver (@LeeOliv19354993) April 28, 2020
Superkev
— Mark Cuthbert (@markacuthbert) April 28, 2020
What do we think?
In the 1999/00 season, Phillips became “the first Englishman to win Europe’s prestigious Golden Shoe award”, as per the BBC. To this day, the ex-Sunderland man remains the only English player to achieve this. As Phillips earned this award during his time at Sunderland, it may be understandable why many Black Cats supporters appear to hold some fond memories of the former striker’s time at The Stadium of Light.
According to Transfermarkt.co.uk, Sunderland paid a greater transfer fee on three other players in the 1997/98 season than they paid to sign Phillips that term. However, it might be fair to say that Phillips made a greater impact for the club than those other players.