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Failed victims of initial hype/over-expectation

  • 17-03-2008 11:05AM
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,584 ✭✭✭


    Hard to think of a title for this one!

    What Im saying is, how many players can you think of who either did not/seem to not be reaching their full expected potential compared to what was expected of them from the off?

    Michael Owen: fair is fair, he has had an injury plagued career, but jesus that quote from the commentator after his goal in 98 against Argentina about what a player he would turn out to be in the future must be depressing for him to remember when he struggles to be fit to play for relegation dodgers.

    Paul McShane: after his rock solid defending and virtual captaincy of the team v the Czechs in Dublin, the form just hasnt been reproduced for club or country. Obviously there is alot of time in the future, but it just aint like that debut so far.

    Anthony Stokes: after the hype of his SPL season he has nearly disappeared off the radar.

    Any others? Anyone think of any player who, for example, scored 2 plus on his club or international debut/early days, but after the initial elation that caused was found out as a pretty mediocre player?


«134

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,725 ✭✭✭ibh


    Gianluigi Lentini always springs to mind. I know he had a terrible car accident but i remember how unbelievable he was with Torino before his accident.

    Ariel Ortega is another one. Even though he played regularly for Argentina he never seemed to fulfill his potential.

    David Connolly for Ireland is another one. He just flattered to deceive. He wasn't good enough.

    Also agree with Paul McShane. Looked like a mature strong defender. How wrong we were.
    I think the opposite is true of Richard Dunne. He started off so shaky and unreliable but grew into a good defender.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,455 ✭✭✭evil_seed


    Diouf. Destroyed France on his own in the world cup then went on to be muck


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 10,921 ✭✭✭✭Pigman II


    When I noticed The Traitor had *finally* dropped McBobbelhead back in January I felt the guy was finally showing that he might know something about this management game.

    Personally I think the guy is so bad that I'd have either O'Brien or O'Shea at CB for us in a heartbeat.

    (BTW does anyone else think it might have been a bad idea incorporating stickfigures in the logo at physioroom.com? :confused:http://www.physioroom.com/news/english_premier_league/epl_injury_table.php)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,346 ✭✭✭✭homerjay2005


    for united anyway, hmmm, let me think -


    these came with a reputaion, miller being the one that alot was expected of from good performances for celtic in champions league, the other 2 had huge pedigree and high pressure for instant results.

    liam miller
    veron
    kleberson.

    john o shea, even though he is still class ( :D ) was touted as being the best since sliced bread at united, his first season he was unreal, he still does a good job, but he was brilliant that first year.

    others, surely walcott has been a let down so far, does he have wat it takes to do it at the top level, i dont think so anyway, but thats just my opinion.

    liverpool went through a phase of signing players for about 5 years that were a big let down, diouff, diao, chearou, id even put kuyt up there, though the other 3 were much more hyped.

    shevchenko for chelsea, i thought "oh sh*t", when he signed.
    theres so many really.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,617 ✭✭✭✭PHB


    McShane can still be a good defender, he's still young and learning.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,825 ✭✭✭Mikeyt086


    There is an endless amount of Brazilian "Next Ronaldinho's" for this list, to get the ball rolling...

    Kerlon - "The Little Seal" had so much hype, he was a YouTube prodigy, then he almost signed for Middlesbrough... ?

    Kleberson - LOL, started for Brazil in the World Cup final, one of the worst United signings ever.

    Adriano - I watched the 2005 Confederations Cup and i was shocked with what i had seen, after a good season with Inter this guy was looking like the best striker in the world, then i kept a closer eye next season and he was amazing again... Then... Nothing.

    Oh and also, this thread is the life story of one, Hugo Viana.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,346 ✭✭✭✭homerjay2005


    Mikeyt086 wrote: »
    There is an endless amount of Brazilian "Next Ronaldinho's" for this list, to get the ball rolling...

    Kerlon - "The Little Seal" had so much hype, he was a YouTube prodigy, then he almost signed for Middlesbrough... ?

    Oh and also, this thread is the life story of one, Hugo Viana.

    who is kerlon on the books of now, i thought he was supposed to be a united player with no work permit? he is a great mystery.

    as for viano, he is not the only player to be signed for the geordies with a big reputation but only to fail. could have been good that lad. Dyer, Owen, Duff, the list is endless.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,617 ✭✭✭✭PHB


    Kerlon is still at Cruzerio, only scored one goal so far this season. Looks like he's still adjusting to the higher levels of the game, I'd say it'll be at least a year or two until he comes to Europe, and then he'll probably go to France, Portual or Holland, then to one of the major leagues.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,452 ✭✭✭✭Dont be at yourself


    Cassano. Touted as the future of Italian football, he has since gone completely off-the-rails. No doubting his talent, but he seems to be struggling to come to terms with the huge expectations on him. He might yet get it together though.

    Aaron Lennon seems to be disappearing off the map now since the emergence of Gabby, Ashley Young and David Bentley. I never rated him *that* highly, but it doesn't seem like he'll fulfil the hype.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,836 ✭✭✭Vokes


    Yeh, Lentini is the big one. World record fee at the time wasn't it?

    And maybe Mark Kennedy? A record fee for a 18-19yo at the time i think and big things were expected of him at Liverpool. He didn't really take off tbh.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 448 ✭✭jimmyboy


    Willo Flood


  • Subscribers Posts: 32,872 ✭✭✭✭5starpool


    Lee Martin.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 10,921 ✭✭✭✭Pigman II


    Which one? The guy from Man United or the guy from Man United?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,478 ✭✭✭Bubs101


    Theo Walcott hasn't exactly produced nor has Mikel since being signed. I would have agreed with Cassano befiore but he has had a great season this year and had a few good ones for Roma. He's just a dickhead


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,617 ✭✭✭✭PHB


    I think Obi Mikel has been excellent, looks like a top class player imo.
    Walcott is still like 18 :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,096 ✭✭✭An Citeog


    First player that came to mind was Freddy Adu. He's still young but I don't think he'll reach the heights that people were predicting when he made his debut at 14.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,346 ✭✭✭✭homerjay2005


    SofaK wrote: »
    Yeh, Lentini is the big one. World record fee at the time wasn't it?

    And maybe Mark Kennedy? A record fee for a 18-19yo at the time i think and big things were expected of him at Liverpool. He didn't really take off tbh.

    lentini was unlucky though, i think that accident runied him.

    Mark kennedy, well, 2 words, mark kennedy and liverpool. big things are expected of every player at liverpool, and more often that not over the past 10 years, they have failed to love up to it.kennedy was never going to be anything special.

    freddy adu, ah yes, the biggest case of championship manager syndrom ever :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,725 ✭✭✭ibh


    SofaK wrote: »
    Yeh, Lentini is the big one. World record fee at the time wasn't it?

    And maybe Mark Kennedy? A record fee for a 18-19yo at the time i think and big things were expected of him at Liverpool. He didn't really take off tbh.

    Yea it was a record. Think it was £13-14m if i remember correctly.

    Agreed on the Mark Kennedy one.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 5,530 ✭✭✭Fuzzy_Dunlop


    PHB wrote: »
    I think Obi Mikel has been excellent, looks like a top class player imo.
    Walcott is still like 18 :)

    19 today or yesterday i believe actually:) Agree that he hasn't exactly lived up to the huge expectations yet, but i think he's slowly but surely improving. When he comes off the bench he now seems much more capable of making something happen. When he learns to compose himself more i think he'll come good


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,589 ✭✭✭✭Necronomicon


    Helder Postiga is another one that springs to mind.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,077 ✭✭✭✭Xavi6


    Titus Bramble and Richard Wright - from their Ipswich days.

    Martin Phillips - City signed him as a teenager for £1 million from Exeter and he was meant to be the next Giggs. Most people on here are going to say 'who'?

    Eric Djemba Djemba

    Sean Dundee/Eric Meijer - Both scored big in Germany and their physical style was expected to suit the Premiership. It didn't.

    Karel Poborsky - He scored THAT goal in Euro 96 and went to United. Did next to nothing. A good player though to be fair.

    More will spring to mind soon no doubt.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 34,404 ✭✭✭✭~Rebel~


    Mark Gonzalez was one. Heard great things before he signed, Rafa bought him in spite of a cruciate injury, he raised his profile further during a fantastic second half of season loan at Sociedad, single handedly keeping them up with his goals, including a screamer against Real. Then scored on his debut for pool in the champions league qualifiers with only 2minutes on the pitch. Sold after a year. in hindsight i'd prefer we kept him and gave him another chance and just sold Kewell instead.

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    https://subscriptions.boards.ie/



  • Closed Accounts Posts: 17,661 ✭✭✭✭Helix


    terry dixon... "the irish rooney", released by spurs last month


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 36,714 ✭✭✭✭LuckyLloyd


    Stefan Iverson


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,825 ✭✭✭Mikeyt086


    Im dissappointed with Adu, i actually belive he posseses world class talent, but it seems he belived his own hype in the US... I was a touch dissappointed United didnt take him after his trial, i think under Ferguson we could have had a big player, just look at what he does at the underage World Cups.

    Terry Dixon, wow, what on earth...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,825 ✭✭✭Charlie


    As a Newcastle fan, far too many players have been signed and touted as being the next someone. Some that spring to mind are Luque, although he wasn't really given a fair shot either and Stéphane Guivarc'h, the world cup winner!

    - Anyone remember that Irish lad who signed with Juve and was touted as being the ext big thing? EDIT: According to Wikipedia, he's carving out a carear in the MLS.

    - Danny Cadamarteri at Everton

    - First few times I saw Pongole at Liverpool I thought he was going to be the new Kop legend.

    - I have still yet to see what the hype is surrounding Stewart Downing so I am anticipating his place on such a list in 5 years time.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 17,661 ✭✭✭✭Helix


    franny jeffers and richie humphreys


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,784 ✭✭✭redzerdrog


    defo liam millar


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,267 ✭✭✭Exit


    Stan Collymore was the British record transfer at 8.5 million, and I think his career pretty much went downhill from there on.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,346 ✭✭✭✭homerjay2005



    - Danny Cadamarteri at Everton
    .


    i remember him, what a haircut! i say that lad couldnt handle the headlines.....disappeared fairly fast once he "made it". john motson loved him though.


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