Ones that got away

[Bottega Don]

Which players have left your club potentially early on in their career or for very little who went on to be far better than they were for your clubs?

This isn't players that were fantastic players for your club and moved on to bigger and better things, it's players that your club let go for probably not being good enough and they turned out to be very good.

 

[SkyBlueElephant]

Sturridge was poached from us at 16, so it wasn't that he wasn't good enough but its potentially one that got away.

We had Keegan on trial when he was kid and we turned him down.

 

[Aaron-Bcfc]

Bolasie. Derek McInnes thought it was too attacking to play Adomah and Bolasie at the same time.

 

[TimeyWimey]

Can't think of anyone off the top of my head who got released and went on to have an amazing career. There are a fair few who got released and came back through the leagues to have a good career in L1 or L2 such as Mark Roberts, Gareth Evans, Adam Yates (and others) but that more tallies with the fact they were released when we were in the Championship or had ambitions (lmfao jk) to return to Champ. We also released Antoni Sarcevic but that was cos he is a twat.

There's probably some really obvious answer that isn't coming to me.

 

[Dion'sHead]

Dan Crowley at Arsenal, Daniel Sturridge, Che Adams at Sheffield United.

There's some more but I'll have to have more of a think.

 

[Dion'sHead]

Oh, try and beat these.

COVENTRY City tried to buy Man United striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy in 1997, Sky Blue coach Ray Clarke has revealed....

COVENTRY City tried to buy Man United striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy in 1997, Sky Blue coach Ray Clarke has revealed.
And in his former guise as the club's European scout, Clarke also tried to sign Thierry Henry, Mario Melchiot and Boudewijn Zenden.
Speaking on the www.ccfc.co.ukwebsite, Clarke said: "We tried to buy Van Nistelrooy four years ago.
"I watched him as a 20-year-old and recommended him to the club. Unfortunately we could not clinch the deal and now he has joined Manchester United for #24 million.
"I spotted Henry as a 20-year-old playing for a French second division club and I tracked him. Gordon Strachan went over to watch him, but we could not do the deal and he is now at Arsenal.
"Bear in mind we were watching all these players when they were youngsters and had not attracted the attention of the top clubs."
Zenden, Melchiot, Freddie Ljungberg and Erik Bakke were also targets that never bore fruit for City as Clarke scoured the whole of Europe searching for talent that, at the time, would befit the Premiership.
He was recalled to England in the summer and is now helping Roland Nilsson and Richard Money run team affairs since the departure of Strachan.
Clarke said: "I will do whatever I can to help the club. Everyone here must put their shoulders to the wheel to support Roland in any way they can."


And


Gordon Strachan has revealed Coventry City were once in the running to sign Italian legend Andrea Pirlo as a youngster.
In a tweet from the Strachan Football Foundation, the Scotland boss said: "When I was manager of Coventry I met up with Andrea Pirlo's agent to bring him to the club when he was a youth team striker"
Pirlo went on to become a stalwart of AC Milan side of the 2000s as a deep-lying playmaker before making the switch to Juventus in 2011.
He has made 101 appearances for his country and was one of the stand-out stars of Euro 2012, where he scored an audacious chipped penalty against England in a shoot-out.

 

[Fedora Dale]

Geoff Thomas and John Pemberton.

Both played as youngsters for Dale. However, our youth policy at that time was non-existent so both moved to Crewe and eventually Div 1/ Premiership with Palace.

 

[Shrimpurh]

Michael Kightly. Gary Hooper

 

[KevinMcallister]

Cantona

 

[GFCSludge]

We told Peter Beardsley he'd never make it as a league player

 

[GFC4EVA]

we also told Demba Ba he wasn't good enough

 

[THE TERRACEMAN]

Jamie Vardy, when he was at Halifax, we had agreed a fee and a contract but then manager Paul Peschisolido got cold feet about the deal and Vardy signed for Fleetwood Town. The source of this info ? Ben Robinson Burton Albion chairman.

 

[Jockney]

Let Matt Jarvis go as a 17-year-old. He joined Gillingham and then went on to play in the Premier League.

Lewis Grabban was mostly toss for us and hardly set the world alight for Brentford either but is now technically a Premier League player.

There are almost certainly others. Can't remember anymore right now, though.

 

[TimeyWimey]

Jamie Vardy, when he was at Halifax, we had agreed a fee and a contract but then manager Paul Peschisolido got cold feet about the deal and Vardy signed for Fleetwood Town. The source of this info ? Ben Robinson Burton Albion chairman.

He's one we had on trial but turned him down. Price you pay for employing Gudjon Thordarson.

Also, not one we missed out on but there is a classic quote along these terms from Dario when we were looking for a new keeper... "They say Shrewsbury want £1m for their keeper Hart, but I wouldn't give anything for him". Mind you, it is from a manager who would probably abolish goalkeepers if he could.

 

[Cheese & Biscuits]

Harlee Dean for us. Came through our youth team, made a couple of sub appearances and now a regular in The Championship.

 

[Craig]

Jon Parkin came through our youth system and played a dozen games before moving on and being a pretty consistent goalscorer throughout his career. Geoff Horsfield had a trial as a youngster but was told he wasn't good enough. Similar story to Parkin. Demba Ba was told he wasn't good enough a few years before signing for Newcastle. David Speedie was sold to Darlington and went on to have a successful career.

 

[Zeus]

Nobody will ever top Sheff Utd on this thread so I won't even bother trying.

 

[DaveOAFC]

Marc Tierney left for nothing to Colchester played in the prem for Norwich.
Andy Hughes had a decent career after leaving us for Reading and Leeds.

We had Sami Hypia on trial, chairman wouldn't splash out 40k on him. Tips up at Liverpool a few years later and was class for them.

Sure there's more.

 

[TheWednesday]

Jamie Vardy, Grant Holt, just a couple off my head. We had a player in the 90's who we sold to Juventus or someone for a pittance who then went onto be sold for about £13M, can't remember his name was a bit before my time.

 

[blademan89]

Oh, try and beat these.

COVENTRY City tried to buy Man United striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy in 1997, Sky Blue coach Ray Clarke has revealed....

COVENTRY City tried to buy Man United striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy in 1997, Sky Blue coach Ray Clarke has revealed.
And in his former guise as the club's European scout, Clarke also tried to sign Thierry Henry, Mario Melchiot and Boudewijn Zenden.
Speaking on the www.ccfc.co.ukwebsite, Clarke said: "We tried to buy Van Nistelrooy four years ago.
"I watched him as a 20-year-old and recommended him to the club. Unfortunately we could not clinch the deal and now he has joined Manchester United for #24 million.
"I spotted Henry as a 20-year-old playing for a French second division club and I tracked him. Gordon Strachan went over to watch him, but we could not do the deal and he is now at Arsenal.
"Bear in mind we were watching all these players when they were youngsters and had not attracted the attention of the top clubs."
Zenden, Melchiot, Freddie Ljungberg and Erik Bakke were also targets that never bore fruit for City as Clarke scoured the whole of Europe searching for talent that, at the time, would befit the Premiership.
He was recalled to England in the summer and is now helping Roland Nilsson and Richard Money run team affairs since the departure of Strachan.
Clarke said: "I will do whatever I can to help the club. Everyone here must put their shoulders to the wheel to support Roland in any way they can."


And


Gordon Strachan has revealed Coventry City were once in the running to sign Italian legend Andrea Pirlo as a youngster.
In a tweet from the Strachan Football Foundation, the Scotland boss said: "When I was manager of Coventry I met up with Andrea Pirlo's agent to bring him to the club when he was a youth team striker"
Pirlo went on to become a stalwart of AC Milan side of the 2000s as a deep-lying playmaker before making the switch to Juventus in 2011.
He has made 101 appearances for his country and was one of the stand-out stars of Euro 2012, where he scored an audacious chipped penalty against England in a shoot-out.

They would of all signed for bristol city

 

[Jamo]

Jon Parkin came through our youth system and played a dozen games before moving on and being a pretty consistent goalscorer throughout his career. Geoff Horsfield had a trial as a youngster but was told he wasn't good enough. Similar story to Parkin. Demba Ba was told he wasn't good enough a few years before signing for Newcastle. David Speedie was sold to Darlington and went on to have a successful career.

Add David Hirst to that list, Wednesday legend, and Jordan Rhodes who left our academy aged 15. John Stones as well who looks likely to be an England regular.

 

[TheWednesday]

Eric Cantona.

 

[Aaron-Bcfc]

Richard Keogh could be another from us. Wasn't really rated here but has gone on to be one of the better centre backs in the Championship.

Our youth coaches didn't think Rolando Aaron's was good enough. Broke into Newcastles side this season

 

[Krazy8]

Our youth coaches didn't think Rolando Aaron's was good enough. Broke into Newcastles side this season

Does that prove them wrong?

 

[Posh Hammer]

Russell Martin was sold for a couple of hundred thousand and was seen by many as not being good enough. Now captain at Norwich.

Also, I don't think anybody expected Jimmy Bullard to go on to have the career he did at the top level. He was complete pony when he joined.

 

[blademan89]

Nobody will ever top Sheff Utd on this thread so I won't even bother trying.

Correct we win this one hands down no need to mention his name

 

[Son of Cod]

Neil Woods released Cameron Jerome from our youth squad because he was a pain in arse to manage.

Jamie Vardy, Grant Holt, just a couple off my head. We had a player in the 90's who we sold to Juventus or someone for a pittance who then went onto be sold for about £13M, can't remember his name was a bit before my time.

Kovacevic or whatever his name was? Played for Lazio and Real Sociedad too. I remember thinking he was alright at Wednesday, but his transfer got labelled a disaster if I remember rightly?

 

[blade1889]

Oh, try and beat these.

COVENTRY City tried to buy Man United striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy in 1997, Sky Blue coach Ray Clarke has revealed....

COVENTRY City tried to buy Man United striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy in 1997, Sky Blue coach Ray Clarke has revealed.
And in his former guise as the club's European scout, Clarke also tried to sign Thierry Henry, Mario Melchiot and Boudewijn Zenden.
Speaking on the www.ccfc.co.ukwebsite, Clarke said: "We tried to buy Van Nistelrooy four years ago.
"I watched him as a 20-year-old and recommended him to the club. Unfortunately we could not clinch the deal and now he has joined Manchester United for #24 million.
"I spotted Henry as a 20-year-old playing for a French second division club and I tracked him. Gordon Strachan went over to watch him, but we could not do the deal and he is now at Arsenal.
"Bear in mind we were watching all these players when they were youngsters and had not attracted the attention of the top clubs."
Zenden, Melchiot, Freddie Ljungberg and Erik Bakke were also targets that never bore fruit for City as Clarke scoured the whole of Europe searching for talent that, at the time, would befit the Premiership.
He was recalled to England in the summer and is now helping Roland Nilsson and Richard Money run team affairs since the departure of Strachan.
Clarke said: "I will do whatever I can to help the club. Everyone here must put their shoulders to the wheel to support Roland in any way they can."


And


Gordon Strachan has revealed Coventry City were once in the running to sign Italian legend Andrea Pirlo as a youngster.
In a tweet from the Strachan Football Foundation, the Scotland boss said: "When I was manager of Coventry I met up with Andrea Pirlo's agent to bring him to the club when he was a youth team striker"
Pirlo went on to become a stalwart of AC Milan side of the 2000s as a deep-lying playmaker before making the switch to Juventus in 2011.
He has made 101 appearances for his country and was one of the stand-out stars of Euro 2012, where he scored an audacious chipped penalty against England in a shoot-out.

Nobody will ever top Sheff Utd on this thread so I won't even bother trying.

Correct we win this one hands down no need to mention his name

Feel like somebody needs to tell Dion's Head.

As well as the obvious we also turned down RDM as manager (according to our chairman) before we appointed Wilson as he spent too much time on the golf course. That season RDM won the Champions League.

In terms of actually releasing good players I cant think of any though.

 

[Look Out There Are Llamas]

Nicky Shorey came through our youth system, made a few appearances but couldn't displace Matt Lockwood. Went on to have a great career noticeably for Reading and was capped for England.

Aaron McLean was deemed not good enough and dropped down to Aldershot and Grays in non league...

Gary (Taylor-)Fletcher was signed for a fee, never cut it at Orient, moved to Lincoln on a free...

 

[Cashis]

Finnish girl from when I went to Bulgaria.