Top TEN players ‘tipped for the top’ who failed to live up to the hype
Richard Eckersley
It may be perfunctory to write off the talent of 21-year old right-back Eckersley. Having featured for the Manchester United first-team in the latter stages of the 2008/09 season, he stunned the club by rejecting a new contract. He opted to join Burnley but made just three cup appearances before being loaned to Plymouth Argyle earlier this year. The full-back has not found favour with Brian Laws who has not selected Eckersley for a league match this season.
Jody Morris
Contemporary of John Terry, the former Chelsea player Morris was tipped for stardom at Stamford Bridge. The 31-year old made over 100 appearances for the west London club, picking up an FA Cup winners medal in 2000. However in his quest to secure a starting berth he left for Elland Road in 2003 but failed to make an impression. Spells at Rotherham and Millwall follwed but Morris can now be found at SPL side St Johnstone.
Terry Cooke
Scorer of the winning penalty as Manchester United claimed the 1995 FA Youth Cup, midfielder Cooke was set to follow Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and David Beckham in the first-team. He transferred to rivals Manchester City but failed to assert his influence once more before being signed by Grimsby and then Sheffield Wednesday. In the past few years he has been spotted playing for the Colorado Rapids and North Queensland Fury.
Ben Thornley
Another Manchester United alumnus, Thornely played with Beckham, Nicky Butt and Gary Neville in the 1992 FA Youth Cup. The right-footed left-winger was highly regarded by Sir Alex Ferguson but found his opportunities hindered by injury. He left United in 1998 and played for a range of clubs before dropping to non-league football. He is presently on the books of Witton Albion.
Bosko Balaban
The former Dinamo Zagreb forward joined Aston Villa for £5.8 million in 2001 with a reputation as a prolific goal-scorer. He did not discover that free-scoring form at Villa and was loaned back to the Croatian club. Accused of laziness by Graham Taylor, the Croatian whose goal to games ration remains steady, currently plays for Greek side Panionios.
Any glaring omissions? Let me know in the comments below…
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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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