Top TEN players ‘tipped for the top’ who failed to live up to the hype
Before the start of the new campaign I wrote a piece about the young Premier League starlets to watch out for. Amongst these much heralded and discussed youngsters were the likes of Marc Albrighton, Jack Wilshere, Jack Rodwell and Phil Jones. Whilst these players undoubtedly have promising futures, football is full of talented players tipped by managers, team-mates and fans who did not make the grade. Below are ten of those who were lavished with praise but failed to match expectations.
Lee Hendrie
Aged 33, the former Aston Villa player is currently without a club following his departure from Derby County. The midfielder who along with Gareth Barry was once the talk of Villa Park was tipped to be a future England star. He made one substitute appearance for the national team and was signed by Sheffield United in 2007. He was subsequently farmed out to Leicester City and Blackpool. Henrie played the latter half of last season at Brighton and Hove Albion.
Francis Jeffers
With his ‘fox in the box’ label still intact, Jeffers was signed by Arsene Wenger from Everton for £8 million on 2001. He failed spectacularly at Highbury, leaving in 2004 after which his playing destinations seemed to have been planned with all the precision of a drunk throwing darts at a map. The 29-year old striker recently had a prolonged period at Hillsborough but was ostracized after head-butting Port Vale player, Tommy Fraser in the League Cup last year. He trained with Blackpool this summer but has not yet been offered a contract by Ian Holloway.
Neil Mellor
He progressed rapidly through the youth and reserve teams at Liverpool before joining West Ham on loan which only brought a meagre goal return. The strong, burly striker returned to Anfield to score the winner against Arsenal in 2004 and netted against Olympiakos in the Champions League. Injuries and inconsistent form saw him move to Preston North End in 2006 but has since joined up with former manager, Alan Irvine at Sheffield Wednesday.
Michael Ricketts
The centre-forward once earned an England cap after coming to prominence after playing a crucial role in Bolton Wanderers’ promotion to the PL. His impressive goal tally continued in the top flight where he scored the winning goal in the Trotters’ 2-1 away victory at Old Trafford. He was signed by Middlesbrough for £3 million in 2003 but in the intervening years has turned out for numerous clubs across the leagues. He is a free agent after being released by Tranmere Rovers this summer.
Luke Chadwick
Cambridge born Chadwick came through the youth system at Old Trafford but could not cement a regular place in the Manchester United line-up. The midfielder who spent long periods on loan was eventually bought by West Ham in 2004. Further loan spells and transfers continued for Chadwick who can now be found plying his trade at MK Dons.
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The top ten flops all came from the last 15 years? Wow, what are the chances? Or perhaps you only started watching football in the mid-1990s. Yeah, that sounds more likely.
The Manchester United youngsters in your list (Chadwick, Eckersley, Cooke and Thornley) were never “hyped” at all. They were decent players who just weren’t good enough for United – there’s no shame in that.
I don’t remember any hype about Balaban or Hendrie either but the rest of your list is okay for what it is.
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Ben Thornley does not deserve to be on this list because he didn’t ‘fail’ at anything. A near career-ending injury when he was still in his teens, in a reserve game against Blackburn, by Nicky Marker ended any chance he had of performing at the top level.
It was only through sheer determination and hard graft that Thornley was able to carve out a professional career at all.
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Did Chadwick’s demise coincide with the mickey being ripped out of him on They Think It’s All Over?
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see how frgie is good in nurturing great talents … so do those at villa park
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Spot on Gash Asne. Apart from Gary Pallister, Paul Ince, Mark Robins, Ryan Giggs, Andrei Kanchelskis, Lee Sharpe, Roy Keane, David Beckham, Gary Neville, Nicky Butt, Phil Neville, Paul Scholes, Wes Brown, John O’Shea, Cristiano Ronaldo, Darren Fletcher, Wayne Rooney, Nani, Anderson, Jonny Evans, Rafael, Darron Gibson and a few others, I can’t think of any young talents nurtured by Fergie at United. He’s no Arsene Wenger that’s for sure!
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Lee Hendrie, really?
He had 9/10 quality years at Villa Park scoring some great goals
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the difference is that was of three squads may be for over 2 decades … may be couple of years more except the fergi babies .. which make the whole of your list …. check out the whole arsenal squad .. you fake gooner …. for the past 14 years … and you will know that … nurturing is not about … buying for 20 some thing million … did you have any idea for how much anderson … nani .. christiano ronaldo … rooney cost united … hahaha very funny…
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