Why do some managers think that players that underperform for big sides will suddenly play well for a smaller side in the same division
That happens all the time. Look at West Ham alone in recent years with Joe Cole, Downing, Carroll.
Wtf did Joe Cole do for West Ham? I don't think Carroll was that bad for Liverpool and it was fairly obvious that it would work out for West Ham if he stayed injury free. Downing had already proven that he could be a good player for a decent team when at villa. I suppose what I really mean is players like Wes Brown, John O'Shea, Tom Cleverley. Ex Man Utd players that only got a club because they used to play for Man Utd