Review: The lost talents thread: Players who did not realize their potential

Discussion in 'Germany: National Teams' started by Epitome990, Nov 4, 2017.

  1. Epitome990

    Epitome990 Member+

    Jun 27, 2013
    Club:
    SV Werder Bremen
    Nat'l Team:
    Austria
    This thread is dedicated to those players who may have been considered as big talents when they were younger. But reasons such as injuries, attitude, lack of focus, poor decisions, etc they were never able to become the player that their original potential should have allowed them to be. I'll keep adding entries as time goes on. Everyone is welcome to contribute as well of course.

    Here are some players that come to my mind immediately:

    Marko Marin
    The player who was known as the "German Messi". At one point he was actually a NT player ahead of Marco Reus and was selected for the 2010 WC squad. He reached his career peak during his Werder Bremen days. But ended up transferring to Chelsea and that's where everything went wrong. Never getting a proper chance at Stamford Bridge, Marin went on a downward trending spiral of loan moves to Sevilla, Fiorentina, Anderlecht, and Trabzonspor. Before finally landing at Olympiacos. Still only at age 28, his best days are well behind him.

    Serdar Tasci
    I don't think he's had a bad career. But just like Marin earlier, Tasci was also brought into the German NT really early in his career and played (briefly) in WC 2010. Former captain of Stuttgart, he then made the move to Spartak Moscow in the Russian League and has basically not been heard of ever since. He did get brought in by Bayern a couple seasons ago when they needed an emergency CB for the squad. And I guess if anything, his club won the Russian league title last season. But otherwise after moving to Russia, he become irrelevant for Jogi and has not featured for the NT again.

    Holger Badstuber
    The big man is still playing professionally in the Bundesliga, but multiple major injuries have severely hindered him from reaching his full potential. At one point, I believe he was ahead of Boateng and Hummels even in terms of original expectations.

    Julian Schieber
    The Schiebs was actually a reasonably promising striker talent with Stuttgart many years ago. But he went to Dortmund and barely played for many years sitting on the bench for the most part. Had a chance when he first moved to Hertha, but got injured multiple times. Still 28 right now, but I don't think there's a way back for him.
     
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  2. Epitome990

    Epitome990 Member+

    Jun 27, 2013
    Club:
    SV Werder Bremen
    Nat'l Team:
    Austria
    #2 Epitome990, Nov 4, 2017
    Last edited: Nov 4, 2017
    Andreas Beck
    I actually don't know too much about him. But Beck used to be a NT player as well early in his career. But he moved to Besiktas for a while and just like Tasci, Jogi and everyone else here stopped caring about him.

    Samed Yesil
    A scoring machine for Germany U17, for what seems like a really long time ago. But he left Leverkusen and went to Liverpool. Consecutive major injuries have gotten the best of him. He couldn't even get a contract with a 3.Liga club last year. Ended up with Panonios after. He did score against some Europa League qualifying opponents, but honestly he has been poor with in the Greek League. Still not too late for him. But a mountain to climb to get back.

    Alexander Merkel
    This guy is a fraud. He has a famous last name and looks like someone who should be a good player. And was actually someone who got called up to the youth NT's a lot in the early stages of development. But the overhyped prospect underwhelmed tremendously. Seemed like he cared more about hanging out with famous teammates at AC Milan and partying in Italian nightclubs more than playing football. Merkel now struggles to get minutes in 2.BL for Bochum. He also apparently settled to represent Kazakhstan internationally, but even they don't want to call him up much.

    Lewis Holtby
    One of my favorite players in the last 10 years when he was at Mainz and Schalke. Former captain of Germany U21, the creative midfield looked like he could do everything on the pitch. And along with Schurrle, he had some of the greatest goal celebrations back in the day. But he went to England and fell off the map. He's now a mediocre player at HSV and has not gotten back to the same level as he was at before.

    Moritz Leitner
    Not as bad as Merkel. And never reached similar early achievements at Holtby. But Leitner actually played an important role for Germany youth teams between U19-21 levels. He is now at Augsburg, but seems like the coach does not want anything to do with him.

    Deniz Naki
    He used to be an important youth player for Germany, especially at the U19 level. He had one really good season with St. Pauli but fell off completely. I think he was arrested at some point. Something to do with political conspiracy or whatever in Turkey or somewhere. He's now playing in the Turkish second division.

    Florian Trinks
    A similar case as Merkel. I just don't think Trinks ever cared about playing football. They're just guys who could probably get a job as some daytime soap opera actor. He was actually pretty decent for Greuther Furth a few seasons ago and looked like he could have potential as at least an average first division player. But he regressed, moved to Hungary. Looks decent there at first, but everyone hated him after. Even the German coach, Thomas Doll. He's now playing in 3.Liga.

    Failed striker prospects:
    Several guys who scored a lot early on but never made the upward transition: Manuel Fischer, Richard Sukuta-Pasu, Peniel Mlapa.
     
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  3. Ger90

    Ger90 Member+

    May 13, 2016
    Club:
    FC Bayern München
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    #3 Ger90, Nov 4, 2017
    Last edited: Nov 4, 2017
    lol, your Yesil post hit me. I feel the same about him. Feels like he played almost like 10+ years ago. Then I remember, oh wait he's a 94 and could have participated at the U21 2017.

    I would add these players at the top of my head.
    -Rene Adler
    -Tim Wiese
    -Michael Rensing
    -Marcell Jansen
    -Florian Jungwirth
    -Bender Twins, Lars and Sven
    -Lennart Thy
    -Dennis Aogo
    -Pierre-Michel Lasogga


    do you count Germans who played for other countries or just German players?
     
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  4. Epitome990

    Epitome990 Member+

    Jun 27, 2013
    Club:
    SV Werder Bremen
    Nat'l Team:
    Austria
    I guess since I've already included Alex Merkel (the Kazakh), we can include Germans who now represent other countries. ;)

    As long as they more or less fit the general theme of this topic.
     
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  5. Epitome990

    Epitome990 Member+

    Jun 27, 2013
    Club:
    SV Werder Bremen
    Nat'l Team:
    Austria
    Adding a couple more for now:

    Sinan Kurt
    People called him "Marco Reus Jr." before. But right now seems like it has more to do with his physical resemblance than actual playing ability. Moved from Gladbach to Bayern a bit too soon. He then went to Hertha for a fresh chance. But Dardai has repeatedly called him out for being overweight and lacking motivation. Still someone who can technically play for the U21. But I don't think he's going to make it.

    Maximilian Beister
    I feel bad for this guy. Not a major NT level talent, but he showed some good skill early on and should have been at least an above average BL player. Did well for Fortuna Dusseldorf as a youngster, and showed glimpses of ability for HSV too for a while. But injuries derailed his career. Moved to Mainz and bounced back a forth before a few clubs, even one in Australia but never found his way again. He's now a free agent.
     
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  6. Ger90

    Ger90 Member+

    May 13, 2016
    Club:
    FC Bayern München
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    few quick others
    -Sasha Bigalke
    -Kevin Großkreutz
    -here's a famous one, because of attitude issues Kevin Kuranyi
    -Erik Durm
    -Alexander Esswein
    -David Odonkor

    I would also say that some of the players especially early ones who one Fritz Walter medals whether U17 or U19 didn't amount to much.

    in terms of German on foreign teams from what I can think of for now
    -Julian Green, look at him now doesn't seem good enough even for 2BL
    -Ashkan Dejagah
     
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  7. Epitome990

    Epitome990 Member+

    Jun 27, 2013
    Club:
    SV Werder Bremen
    Nat'l Team:
    Austria
    #7 Epitome990, Nov 4, 2017
    Last edited: Nov 4, 2017
    Oh wow, I had to search back and now remember that Sasha Bigalke was actually an important youth player back then lol.

    Ever since winning the 2014 WC, Grosskreutz has gone downhill career wise. He should at least playing regularly somewhere in the first division.

    Shame about Durm's injury. At one point, he looked like one of Germany's next fullback. This is pretty recent too.

    True about Kuranyi. I forgot about this guy. He probably could have stuck around with the NT a few years longer, if he had better attitude and didn't move to Russia. A very capable BL striker back in the day with Stuttgart and Schalke.

    Maybe more debatable, but I know the following are players who have been mentioned as potential talents in the past before:

    -Johannes Geis, Zhi Gin Lam, Robin Yalcin, Koray Gunter, Shawn and Devante Parker, Marian Sarr

    Another German on foreign team. I wonder if Gedion Zelalem who is now with the USA, will be on this list in the future. Injuries have hit him hard in recent years. And he hasn't exactly figured out his club situation. He's not good enough to make it at Arsenal. Possibly even Donis Avdijaj as well considering how he's been going downhill.
     
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  8. Ger90

    Ger90 Member+

    May 13, 2016
    Club:
    FC Bayern München
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    crazy thing about Kuranyi is that he scored double digits in 8 consecutive seasons in Germany. Forget his 1st pro season where he only played 5 games with 1 goal. 8/9 were double digits. Pretty much his attitude and his move to Russia killed his career.

    Durm did seem like he had huge potential, made the WC squad after his 1st pro season. That's very rare.

    Johannes Geis not sure why he went to Spain on a loan. He's barely playing any minutes and sometimes doesn't even make the squad....

    Shawn Parker outside of youth NT, doesn't seem like he amounted to much.

    yeah I have doubts too about Zelalem making it and highly unlikely he'll succeed at Arsenal. Gnabry was smart he got outta there. Donis Avdijaj isn't playing at all, even Fabian Reese is getting minutes.
     
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  9. nekkibasara

    nekkibasara Member+

    Apr 12, 2004
    Fairfax, Virginia
    Club:
    FC Bayern München
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    At the end of the day Kyurani wasn't good enough to supplant Klose, Podolski and Gomez as a forward. Add the attitude issues, and apparent lack of ambition (moving to Russia) and you have a washed up prospect.

    Others that I can think of are Daniel Bierofka aka the next Ballack. Tobias Rau and rock bassist Anreas Goerlitz.
     
  10. Ger90

    Ger90 Member+

    May 13, 2016
    Club:
    FC Bayern München
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    thing about Kuranyi even when he was behind he still did overall well in NT.
    19 goals in 52 games.

    it took us years and years before Werner even showed up. In that time no striker outside of Klose, Gomez, and Podolski were anywhere near the rate of Kuranyi whether club or NT. Low for some time tried plenty of striker and none where anywhere near the 4.
     
  11. Epitome990

    Epitome990 Member+

    Jun 27, 2013
    Club:
    SV Werder Bremen
    Nat'l Team:
    Austria
    Finally figured out who I was missing earlier. Patrick Helmes, when he first emerged with Köln looked like he would have been a pretty legit striker prospect. He also had a big first season when he first moved to Leverkusen, scoring 21 goals in 34 games in 2008/09 as a 24 year old. But injuries ruined his career, and he was not able to play consistently even after moving to Wolfsburg and eventually back to Köln before retiring for good.

    If Helmes was healthy, I think he's a player who during his prime years could have helped fill the striker role for the NT.

    Meanwhile there's Stefan Kiessling. I think he's had a pretty fulfilling career on the club level for the most part. He's even won the scoring title back in 2012-13, leading the Bundesliga with 25 goals that season as a Leverkusen player. I'm mentioning here because he's a player that Jogi had skipped out on earlier when he was in his prime. He's basically a better Sandro Wagner who is around today, but Kiess was never given a chance much with the NT.
     
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  12. Epitome990

    Epitome990 Member+

    Jun 27, 2013
    Club:
    SV Werder Bremen
    Nat'l Team:
    Austria
    Sebastian Deisler...what would have been. Shame about the injuries and depression. :unsure:

     
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  13. Epitome990

    Epitome990 Member+

    Jun 27, 2013
    Club:
    SV Werder Bremen
    Nat'l Team:
    Austria
    Not sure if Marvin Pourie was rated enough back then to be considered in this thread. He bounced around many clubs in his career, and is still playing in Denmark. One of his issues seems like he's just a douche bag on and off the pitch.
     
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  14. Ger90

    Ger90 Member+

    May 13, 2016
    Club:
    FC Bayern München
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    in terms of NT wise
    -Mehmet Scholl, for never being healthy to play in a WC. Helped win the 96 EC though

    if Reus and Gundo fail to make the WC because of injury or form. Then they will be added for sure on this list.
     
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  15. Epitome990

    Epitome990 Member+

    Jun 27, 2013
    Club:
    SV Werder Bremen
    Nat'l Team:
    Austria
    A couple more injury casualties; Andreas Hinkel and Christoph Metzelder.

    Hinkel was a good player for Stuttgart and could have been a steady back up for Lahm on the NT. But with his move abroad (Sevilla and Celtic) not working out for him and subsequent injuries, he fell off the radar and retired early.

    Metzelder started off as a regular NT player when he was with Dortmund. But he was very injury prone too. His move to Real Madrid was where his career went further downwards. Ended up playing for Schalke for a few seasons towards his final years.
     
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  16. Epitome990

    Epitome990 Member+

    Jun 27, 2013
    Club:
    SV Werder Bremen
    Nat'l Team:
    Austria
    #16 Epitome990, Nov 5, 2017
    Last edited: Nov 5, 2017
    Moved in from:

    https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/ge...cussion-2017-18.2056425/page-26#post-36049531

    I was curious in seeing Didavi's youth NT history. And his final match played with Germany U21 had quite a few players on the team who would fit this category. ;)

    https://www.transfermarkt.com/spielbericht/index/spielbericht/1136349

    Esswein, Lasogga, Holtby, Didavi, Kirchoff, Sobiech, and Funk in the starting XI.

    Contento, Hornschuh, Jung, Neumann, Leitner, and Mlapa on the bench.
     
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  17. Ger90

    Ger90 Member+

    May 13, 2016
    Club:
    FC Bayern München
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    wow, that's hilarious a squad full of players who never made the senior team.
    Draxler, Trapp and Rudy are the only ones who made it and Holtby only for a few games.
     
  18. MatthausSammer

    MatthausSammer Moderator
    Staff Member

    Dec 9, 2012
    Canada
    Club:
    Borussia Dortmund
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    This thread is depressing... :(
     
  19. Epitome990

    Epitome990 Member+

    Jun 27, 2013
    Club:
    SV Werder Bremen
    Nat'l Team:
    Austria
    Most often there's enough players that work out in the long term, to get past the ones that didn't. And not every youth prospect should be expected to make it as a big time player. But I do find it interesting looking back in history and contemplating what if scenarios. Albeit, in a hindsight is 20/20 context.
     
  20. Karl-Heinz Riedle

    Aug 27, 2009
    Dublin, Ireland
    Club:
    Cork City
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    Andreas Gorlitz, Tobias Rau, Andreas Hinkel, Christian Pander, Samed Yesil, Kraft, Rensing
     
  21. Karl-Heinz Riedle

    Aug 27, 2009
    Dublin, Ireland
    Club:
    Cork City
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    Savio Nsereko ?

    Deniz Naki?
     
  22. Epitome990

    Epitome990 Member+

    Jun 27, 2013
    Club:
    SV Werder Bremen
    Nat'l Team:
    Austria
    Was Nsereko really that rated as a legit talent back then?

    Seems like West Ham and Fiorentina just got scammed pretty bad, and he bounced around a thousand clubs afterwards.
     
  23. Epitome990

    Epitome990 Member+

    Jun 27, 2013
    Club:
    SV Werder Bremen
    Nat'l Team:
    Austria
    Lol this actually happened:

    https://talksport.com/football/west-hams-ultimate-flop-whatever-happened-savio-nsereko-171103260749

    However, while the list of obscure clubs West Ham’s former record signing has played for is a story in itself, what will forever engrain Savio into the memory bank is the utterly ridiculous situation he found himself in back in October 2012.

    The Ugandan-born footballer was arrested in the Thai resort of Pattaya after reportedly faking his own kidnap in order to extort €25,000 of ransom money from his own family.

    Nothing quite illustrates Savio’s downfall better than this…
     
  24. Karl-Heinz Riedle

    Aug 27, 2009
    Dublin, Ireland
    Club:
    Cork City
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    I think Nsereko was highly rated back then.

    Shawn Parker, Fabian Bäcker, Pascal Testroet, Juvhel Tsoumou n Kevin Schiedhauer are some of the other names

    Said Benkarit n Martinez-Palacios were once the best rated 1995-born striker prospects . It's intertesting to see Davie Selke n Tim Kleindienst made their way up
     
  25. Epitome990

    Epitome990 Member+

    Jun 27, 2013
    Club:
    SV Werder Bremen
    Nat'l Team:
    Austria
    That's kind of stretching it with some of those names. Scoring a lot of goals in your early years doesn't necessarily mean a player becomes successful as a professional. Most of those players didn't even remain relevant past U19. There's many factors involved to determine where they end up.
     
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