That got us thinking about Posh signings who exceeded expectations to become hits at London Road. Here are many such players with nominations from Posh fans on social media and from PT Posh writer Alan Swann.
Tomorrow (January 3) we’ll cover the players we thought would be good signings, but turned out to be big disappointments.
No current Posh players have been included apart from one from a previous spell at London Road.
5. IAN BENNETT
Goalkeeper Bennett hadn't made a single Football League appearance when new boss Chris Turner made him his first signing for Posh in March, 1991. Bennett arrived on a free transfer from Newcastle and knocked popular veteran Fred Barber out of the side the following season before becoming the number one for the 1992-93 campaign in the old Division One. Bennett was brilliant that season as Posh registered a 10th place finish, still the best finish in the club's Football League history.
6. DWIGHT GAYLE
You'd have to have been a lower league aficionado to have heard of Gayle when he arrived to play for a Posh team struggling at the foot of the Championship table in November, 2012. By the the time Posh made the move from Dagenham & Redbridge permanent in January he'd proved he could score goals in the second tier and he, as much as anyone, was a huge factor as the team almost pulled off one of the greatest escapes from relegation in Championship history.
7. KEN CHARLERY
Posh boss Chris Turner made six deadline day transfers in March 1991 and one was a gangly, clumsy right-winger from Maidstone. Charlery looked like he'd have no chance of playing first-team football regularly, especially as the team won promotion to the old Division Three six weeks after he arrived. But by the end of the following season he's been christened 'King' Ken Charlery after a 26-goal campaign which included both goals in a 2-1 play-off final win over Stockport at Wembley in 1992 as Posh booked a place in the second tier of English football for the first time. A switch of position to centre forward liberated Charlery.
8. IVAN TONEY
Striker Toney had been sent on loan to several Football League clubs before Posh took the plunge and signed him from Newcastle United for a reported £250k. It had been reported Accrington Striker Kayden Jackson was the first-choice Posh striker target, but he diverted to Ipswich instead. How fortunate for Posh as Toney, after a sluggish start at the club, turned into one of the best forwards ever seen at London Road.