Players Who were supposed to be the "Next big Thing" but weren't

jobless

royston drenthe - signed by Real Madrid after youth world cup... never happened for him there and became bit of a journey man

dfx-

Javier Saviola for me, then he got pushed out by Eto'o and never got back

Hercule Poirot

callaway92 wrote: »

This is a complete myth...not sure why people say this so much.

Young player of the tournament was given to him solely based on his miracle deflected goal against Poland

Utter bollox, he got young player of the tournament because of his ability to win and keep the ball in the middle of the pitch

Sheridan81

Yeah Renato Sanches was really impressive at Euro 2016; so much potential there. He's only 20 years of age so I don't think he should be in this thread; ditto Odegaard.

Deleted User wrote: »

Not sure I get the analogy. It seems to be just putting the names of footballers together.

I think if Gascoigne was not a big thing, then no English midfielder ever was a big thing. Or at least this side of 1966.

What analogy? That's how all those players were described when young.
Two people mentioned Balotelli as never becoming a big thing. If Gazza was a big thing, then so is Balotelli, in my opinion.

Emmanuel Frimpong was supposed to be so good that Wenger encouraged England to cap him before he played for Ghana. He's now playing for Ermis Aradippou.

Abou Diaby, the next Vieira, didn't amount to much but Paul Pogba still praises him for his skills to this day.

Giampaolo Pazzini, the next Pippo Inzaghi, became more like the next Simone Inzaghi.

2ndcoming

Richard Hillman wrote: »

Michael Owen won the Balon D'or ffs :pac:

That whole post missed the topic by a country mile.

KaiserGunner

Sheridan81 wrote: »

Abou Diaby, the next Vieira, didn't amount to much but Paul Pogba still praises him for his skills to this day.

.

Injuries really killed his career. Was a phenomenal talent and did have some big performances during his Arsenal career. Sad to see how his career went in the end.

Throwing out an Irish lad here, Stephen Bradley. Captained Arsenal reserves and was hailed as the next big thing. Now Shamrock Rovers manager. Read an interesting interview, in which he said that he was effectively paid too much at Arsenal and as a result some of the hunger left him.

billymitchell

Dani Pacheco is another that springs to mind.

Sheridan81

Anyone remember this guy? There's a new book coming out about this subject.
https://www.football365.com/news/giuliano-maiorana-man-uniteds-next-next-big-thing

Nicola Ventola and Stefano Okaka Chuka were both highly touted, and two of the youngest debutants ever in Serie A.

Scorpion Sting

Gael Kakuta

Los Lobos

Jon Stead always springs to mind when this subject comes up, 68 appearances in two seasons with 22 goals for Huddersfield, 2002 to 2004

He was called the best player outside the Premier league back then, played for all the England teams right up to the under 21's, and seemed destined for greatness.

He ended up at Blackburn.

I've always kept an eye on the terriers and really thought he was destined for greatness back then, I could see him being a force for England

But he just slowly fizzled out, he's 35 now and at Notts County

Zebra3

georgiecasey wrote: »

bojan is always the first name i think of when this question is posed. there was major hype for him when messi was becoming messi and the whispers were bojan was even better.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/may/18/bojan-krkic-interview-anxiety-attacks-football

Good interview with him there with Sid Lowe.

Lucas Hood

astradave wrote: »

Strictly from a United perspective Rodrigo Possebon and Giuseppe Rossi.. Both suffered horrible injuries in their teens, I’m not sure about Possebon but Rossi forged a decent enough career without ever hitting the heights expected of him

That's a myth about Possebon , it was a horrible tackle but he wasn't badly hurt. He played again less than a month later.

pgj2015

Gabriel Obertan, was supposed to be the next zidane.

Arghus

As an Arsenal fan one that hurts is Abou Diaby. Suffered a horror injury in a wreckless tackle back in '06 and then spent all of his remaining time at the club constantly battling to stay fit, without much success. He had so much natural ability, if he'd had more luck I think he could have been truly world class.

When Arsenal played away to Liverpool in the early stages of the 12/13 season Diaby was utterly, utterly dominant in midfield: the best player on the field that day by miles, totally ran the show: at times he reminded me of an adult playing football with little kids. He looked to have it all - skill, strength, vision, stamina. A couple of weeks later he got injured, again, and only played a tiny amount of games for the rest of the season. Awful waste.

Talisman

Richard Hillman wrote: »

Michael Owen won the Balon D'or ffs :pac:

The pinnacle of his career at the age of 20/21.

Sheridan81

Alan Dzagoev was tipped to be a big star but injuries dragged him down.

Nani and Stephen El Sharaawy were compared to Cronaldo in their early days.

Mattia Destro and Massimo Maccerone were both expected to be big stars for Italy. Maccerone was brilliant for under-21 Italy team. Middlebrough fans will remember him for scoring late goals in their UEFA Cup run and he had a decent career with Siena and Empoli in his later years.

callaway92

Hercule Poirot wrote: »

Utter bollox, he got young player of the tournament because of his ability to win and keep the ball in the middle of the pitch

Classy comment.

He didn't impress me in the tournie at all. Got the award based on a miracle goal

mikeym

Ali Dia

Jimbob1977

Some of these players had reasonable careers, but never fulfilled their true true potential

Francis Jeffers
Royston Drenthe
Danny Welbeck
Klaas Jan Huntelaar
Matt Jansen
Federico Macheda
Danny Cadamateri
Julian Joachim
Rafael Van der Vaart
Denilson
Nii Lamptey
Ravel Morrison
Erik Nevland
Mikel Forssel

Cookiemunster

Talisman wrote: »

The pinnacle of his career at the age of 20/21.

He also scored 40 international goals and is the fifth highest scorer in England history.

blueser

There's been many down the years. Of the current crop, Martial would have to be up there. Seeing how Raheem (and Kev, and Leroy, even Fabian!) flourished last season, it'd be fascinating to see what Pep could bring out of the lad. I rate Martial very highly but for some reason, he seems to have stagnated under Mourinho.

pgj2015

Jimbob1977 wrote: »

Some of these players had reasonable careers, but never fulfilled their true true potential

Francis Jeffers
Royston Drenthe
Danny Welbeck
Klaas Jan Huntelaar
Matt Jansen
Federico Macheda
Danny Cadamateri
Julian Joachim
Rafael Van der Vaart
Denilson
Nii Lamptey
Ravel Morrison
Erik Nevland
Mikel Forssel

yes, that is the whole point of the thread,players who were supposed to be the next big thing but weren't


ravel morrison was once described by Sir Alex Ferguson as 'the best kid he'd ever seen' aged 14, he is now 25 and playing in mexico, not sure that is a reasonable career.

pgj2015

blueser wrote: »

There's been many down the years. Of the current crop, Martial would have to be up there. Seeing how Raheem (and Kev, and Leroy, even Fabian!) flourished last season, it'd be fascinating to see what Pep could bring out of the lad. I rate Martial very highly but for some reason, he seems to have stagnated under Mourinho.

martial is still only 22

blueser

pgj2015 wrote: »

martial is still only 22

I know. Not sure what age has to do with the context of the thread. I remember him bursting onto the scene (that Liverpool game at OT and Martin Tyler nearly spontaneously combusting!). He obviously had real potential to go on and and be "the next big thing", but something's gone wrong somewhere. As you intimated though, he does have time to get things back on track. Whether that's at utd or not, I'm not sure.

Jimbob1977

pgj2015 wrote: »

yes, that is the whole point of the thread

I was trying to draw a distinction between people who started well, but faded into obscurity quickly (like Jeffers)..... versus people who should/could have been world class, but settled into average clubs (like Denilson and Huntelaar).

There are various levels of 'didn't realise their potential'.

Ordinary man

Jon flanagan. 1 or 2 decent games and he was hyped up as a world beater.

Gbear

Ordinary man wrote: »

Jon flanagan. 1 or 2 decent games and he was hyped up as a world beater.

I don't think that's really what the perception was. He was known to be limited - he was subbed off after half an hour in his first game against Utd because he was on the verge of getting sent off.

He clearly wasn't a very talented footballer.

He came in out of necessity and performed beyond all expectations, but I don't think many ever really had him pegged as a long term option.
Sure it was left-back where he was playing and he's a right back by trade. He clearly wasn't going to stay there.

Harry Palmr

Some stupid suggestions on this thread, clearly designed to get a cheap rise.

pgj2015

Gbear wrote: »

I don't think that's really what the perception was. He was known to be limited - he was subbed off after half an hour in his first game against Utd because he was on the verge of getting sent off.

He clearly wasn't a very talented footballer.

He came in out of necessity and performed beyond all expectations, but I don't think many ever really had him pegged as a long term option.
Sure it was left-back where he was playing and he's a right back by trade. He clearly wasn't going to stay there.

http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2017/04/12/from-cafu-praise-to-burnley-bench-the-sad-demise-of-jon-flanagan/

Sheridan81

Hugo Viana; outstanding for underage Portugal teams, compared to Rui Costa, moved to Newcastle and disappointed.

James Vaughan; youngest ever Premier League goalscorer, his career was blighted by injury.

Josh McEachran; played for Chelsea as a 17 year-old, now playing for Brentford.

Adriano; one of the most naturally gifted athetes ever, much like Paul McGrath, he had a lot of personal problems with drink and drugs. If he'd got his head straight he would have been a legend like Ronaldo, Romario, Rivaldo and co.

Gbear

pgj2015 wrote: »

http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2017/04/12/from-cafu-praise-to-burnley-bench-the-sad-demise-of-jon-flanagan/

The Scouse Cafu nickname was always said with tongue firmly in cheek.

He was considered a bit of a joke before 13/14. His buccaneering performances got him a great deal of affection, but I don't think anyone who watched him regularly thought he was any more talented a footballer.

Ordinary man

Ordinary man wrote: »

Jon flanagan. 1 or 2 decent games and he was hyped up as a world beater.

Different kind of beater now

Harry Palmr

thebaz

Micah Richards was touted as the next great defender when at Man City - now he seams to just waste on the fringes at Aston Villa , unable to shift him , on massive wages.

lawred2

Franny Jeffers

jayo26

Talisman wrote: »

The pinnacle of his career at the age of 20/21.

Nah sure he won the premierleague at the age of 32.

jayo26

Dessie baker was going to be a superstar at one point I think back in mid 90s.

Umpalumpa

There was a west ham youth footballer I think his surname was Byrne(I think).I remember west ham had Joe Cole and lampard coming through at the time
Harry redknap was giving an interview and was asked about this possible superstar Joe Cole but Harry said he was more excited about Byrne as he said he was a bigger prospect.

Never made the break through

Steven81

Robinho comes to my mind.
Ryan Babel too

house45

Neill mellor, I think he played up front for Liverpool from what I can remember was serposed to be the next Michel Owen.

Iused2likebusts

Umpalumpa wrote: »

There was a west ham youth footballer I think his surname was Byrne(I think).I remember west ham had Joe Cole and lampard coming through at the time
Harry redknap was giving an interview and was asked about this possible superstar Joe Cole but Harry said he was more excited about Byrne as he said he was a bigger prospect.

Never made the break through

Shaun Byrne. He ended up playing LOI with Dublin City.

jobless

as everton fan i hear about this lad a lot..Billy kenny.. was supposed to have been the next big thing..... but ended up retired at 21 with a drug addiction

https://ahalftimereport.com/2015/05/19/from-englands-hottest-prospect-to-retired-at-21-the-story-of-billy-kenny/