Wasted potential!!!

Discussion in 'Premier League' started by afrikkano, Aug 26, 2007.

  1. afrikkano

    afrikkano New Member

    May 21, 2007
    johannesburg
    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?:confused:

    Nicholas Anelka - Although he ain't doin 2 badly, he really could have been a superstar!

    Alan Smith - there are just no words!!!
     
  2. Blizzaro

    Blizzaro New Member

    Oct 14, 2006
    Birmingham
    I think michael owen and Joe cole
     
  3. Quaresma

    Quaresma New Member

    Aug 1, 2003
    Steeltown
    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
     
  4. soccerrag

    soccerrag New Member

    Aug 24, 2007
    Rob Jones, although it was more down to injury. I was sorry to see him retire from the game so young.
     
  5. revelationx

    revelationx Member+

    Jun 5, 2006
    London
    Francis Jeffers. 'Nuff said.
     
  6. Alan_V

    Alan_V Member

    Apr 22, 2003
    Anaheim, CA via NJ
    Club:
    Blackburn Rovers FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    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.
     
  7. AussieLFCfan

    AussieLFCfan Member

    Apr 24, 2006
    Sydney, Australia
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Australia
    Harry Kewell, injuries have ruined his career.
     
  8. not_too_xabi

    not_too_xabi New Member

    Jul 13, 2007
    Durham, NC
    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.
     
  9. EvertonChris

    EvertonChris New Member

    Jun 3, 2004
    Club:
    Everton FC
    Beat me to it. Francis Jeffers is my pick aswell.
     
  10. leg_breaker

    leg_breaker Member

    Dec 23, 2005
    Robin Friday
     
  11. RonnieWhelan

    RonnieWhelan New Member

    Jun 28, 2007
    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.
     
  12. GranCanMan

    GranCanMan Member

    Jan 12, 2007
    Manchester
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    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...
     
  13. revelationx

    revelationx Member+

    Jun 5, 2006
    London
    An obvious one I've just remembered is Lee Sharp.
     
  14. Matt Clark

    Matt Clark Member

    Dec 19, 1999
    Liverpool
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    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.
     
  15. Tima

    Tima Member

    Oct 3, 2006
    Cambridge
    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.
     
  16. fernb8

    fernb8 Member+
    Staff Member

    Aug 12, 2002
    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.
     
  17. 3kuyt

    3kuyt New Member

    Aug 14, 2007
    Montreal
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    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.
     
  18. Barton8

    Barton8 New Member

    Jun 19, 2006
    Club:
    Portsmouth FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    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).
     
  19. Bluebirds Boyo

    Nov 26, 2006
    Bangkok, Thailand
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    Wales
    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. :rolleyes:

    [​IMG]
     
  20. Wingtips1

    Wingtips1 Member+

    May 3, 2004
    02116
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    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.
     
  21. zenden

    zenden Member+

    Nov 12, 2006
    yo estoy en Europa
    Club:
    CD Chivas de Guadalajara
    Nat'l Team:
    Mexico
    Milan Baros
     
  22. hasselbrad

    hasselbrad Member

    Jul 25, 2006
    Sugar Hill, GA
    Club:
    Atlanta
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Definitely Robin Friday.
     
  23. RonnieWhelan

    RonnieWhelan New Member

    Jun 28, 2007


    B0llocks. How can you comment a player you've never seen????
     
  24. NorthernBoy

    NorthernBoy Member

    Apr 20, 2007
    WingTips1 - Gazza, definitely. What a talent, but what a waste. But aint it often the case with real characters.
     
  25. afrikkano

    afrikkano New Member

    May 21, 2007
    johannesburg
    4got about him but yeah.
     

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