The marvellous transfer tale of Peter Odemwingie and his failed attempt to win a move to QPR will never grow old.
But few folk know that we had our very own Odemwingie moment at Hibs 11 years earlier involving a certain Mixu Paatelainen.
The big difference with Mixu’s case was that his bold as brass approach to winning a deal actually worked!
I always think back to this when the first week of pre-season training comes round because there we were in the summer of 2002, bracing ourselves for a pounding on Arthur’s Seat when who walks by but Mixu in his full training gear.
The striker had left us a year earlier after Alex McLeish decided not to renew his contract. He went to France with Strasbourg.
I thought that was the end of it with the big man.
But there we were 12 months later, Bobby Williamson had taken over by this point, and we were preparing for pre-season in the normal manner with hill runs from hell.
I turned round and clocked Mixu straight away, I thought he must be back on holiday but then noticed his gear.
He’d been through the routine often enough to know exactly where we’d be and had decided to rock up and chance his arm.
He just asked Bobby casual as you like if he could join in the runs. A few hours later he was putting us all to shame.
Big Mixu was a one pace pony but he could run all day and this plod round Arthur’s Seat was perfect for him.
He was bursting his a*se to impress and by the end of the week he’d got himself a year’s contract!
I was delighted though. Because when I was a kid coming through at Easter Road a few years earlier he was the one along with Craig Brewster who looked after me and the other young guys.
They spurred us on, demanded levels and standards were met. More than anything they were both cracking players whose experience and ability brought the best out of me.
I’m not sure if Lee Johnson is planning on setting out the cones on Arthur’s Seat but he could well do with an experienced head in the mould of Mixu rocking up at training.
Johnson’s not been hanging about with five new signings already in the door.
But while there’s youth and potential in the likes of Lewis Miller and Momodou Bojang, I’d like to see more of the calibre of David Marshall.
I think the lack of experience among the signings will be a concern to the Hibs supporters. The squad already was young and a lot of the signings are under 22 years old.
What’s needed is a couple of older heads, players who have hundreds of games under their belt at a good level and are at the peak of their career.
Hibs are going to lose Lewis Stevenson and Darren McGregor who maybe have one more year in them and it looks like Paul McGinn could be on the way out before them.
Signing projects that could make the club money is okay but it’s no use to a manager having a good team in 18 months time.
As Shaun Maloney proved there’s no settling in period at Hibs. Lee Johnson needs a squad ready to hit the ground running next month.
They need proven signings not projects. An experienced centre half, a winger and a seasoned striker is crucial. I thought Regan Charles-Cook would have been a perfect fit but he’s off to Belgium.
Aiden McGeady is in Johnson’s targets and I really hope the club do everything they possibly can to get him in at Easter Road.
At the moment the only fit strikers are 19 and 20. They badly need experience up top and that should be the number one priority - to bring in a Paatelainen or Brewster type.
Listen, it’s early doors. Lots of players will still be on sun loungers and giving their minds a rest from football.
There’ll be a few nervy players out there too wondering if and where their next deal might be. Those guys should take a bit of inspiration from big Mixu.
The man who pulled an Odemwingie trying to get a deal - and got one!
