Which players do you think had the most potential but just didn't live up to it(for whatever reason)? For me it's the following: Michael Owen - the move to Madrid was a bad move - heck I saw that all the way from South Africa why couldn't he? Nicholas Anelka - Although he ain't doin 2 badly, he really could have been a superstar! Alan Smith - there are just no words!!!
Hugo Viana. A talent bigger then ronaldo/quaresma voted best young player in the world..and then went to newcastle. Thankdully they didnt get ronaldo like they wanted..as it would have been a shame to see them ruin him like Viana
Rob Jones, although it was more down to injury. I was sorry to see him retire from the game so young.
I don't think including Alan Smith is completely fair. The broken leg is the biggest factor in any consideration of what he has/can become.
Peter Enckelman. Finnish 'keeper whose embarrassing own goal blunder in the Birmingham derby way back in 2002 has haunted him to this very day. Shattered confidence and a move away from Villa: he's made less than five appearances for Blackburn since 2004.
Liam Miller: Should have not left Celtic where he had broken into the team and was set to play a massive part in the first XI. United came calling and for some reason Miller decided he was able to break the Keane/Scholes partnership. Instead he barely made the bench stunted his development and ended up having to move to the lower leagues for a game. Still young and could possibly develop with games at Sunderland but could've easily been big time by now.
Anyone remember an Everton striker called Danny Cadamarteri? He scored a wonder goal in the Liverpool derby in around 98 I think. Was tipped to be a future England number 9 for sure and highly regarded as a better player than Owen due to his superior pace and strength. However, he is now wallowing in the lower regions of English football. Last time I heard he was playing for Bradford although he did go to Leeds for a while. He was also summoned to court for alledgedly assaulting a girl in Leeds. He was one of my favourite players at the time...
Depends what you mean by "potential". Scott Parker had "potential" at Charlton, but he was already an established Premiership player - can you compare that to the situation of Cadamateri or some other young flash in the pan? The best youth player I've seen since Robbie Fowler was a lad called Johnny Miles, a striker in the Liverpool youth team and, under Houllier, the reserves. He broke Fowler's youth scoring record, then Rush's (he scored 115 goals in a season at U-15 level - and this is Premiership youth teams, not Sunday League). He never got anywhere near the first team and fuck knows what he's doing now, probably flipping burgers somewhere. Point is, there's degrees of potential and degrees of waste. PS - Surprised no one's said "Gazza" yet.
I'll nominate another Scouser. Billy Kenny - in the early 1990s a new talent emerged in the Everton youth ranks. Within a short time of making his debut he was playing for the England U21 team with a full cap seeming inevitable. A strong yet skillful midfielder he could have been a star. He picked up an injury but instead of fighting back he started drinking heavily. Then moved onto drugs. Now plays in the non-league world. Still only 34 years old. He could be retiring from a glittering career never having to work again. Sad.
I think most of you are spot on with Jeffers. Gazza as well- such a shame as he was such a talented player who I think none of his saw reach his true potential Good shout on Lee Sharpe- forgot about him. As for Cadametri- this may be a little harsh. Like most footballers he made an early impact and suddenly was labelled as the next wonder kid (how many times have we heard that) and I think his skill level was revealed for the type of player he really is. I dont think Owen belongs on this list- his goal scoring record was outstanding prior to his move to Spain and he has been unlucky with injuries as well. I think Worst Transfer Moves may be more appropriate. J. Cole and A. Smith dont belong on this list. Both play for pretty much regularly for their club sides (although J. Cole is yet to start this season) and appear for the National team as well (although I will Smith open for debate) and both have been rather unlucky with injuries. So far it has to be Franny Jeffers for me. Take a moment to look how much money was thrown around on him and it may suprise you.
Diouf, not only was he wasted potential, but wasted money. The two time African player of the year came to liverpool for 10 million pound.
Joe Cole is Faaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrr from wasted potential. sometimes it's too early to say but I agree about Miller, perhaps Quincy Owusu-Abeyie and most definately Franny Jeffers(duh).
And we have a winner! Became a professional footballer at twenty-one, drunk too much, smoked, did drugs, got arrested when arriving at Cardiff Central train station on the morning he was due to sign for us, retired at twenty-four and died of a heart-attack at thirty-eight. He was almost certainly good enough to play for England if he got his act together, too. There was a touch more wasted potential with Robin than, say, Joe Cole, Paul Gascoigne, Franny Jeffers or Michael Owen, in my opinion.
gazza could have a case made for him. so could George Best. he achieved so much at a very young age. only could have been better had he not given up by age 27.
WingTips1 - Gazza, definitely. What a talent, but what a waste. But aint it often the case with real characters.