Players who were wasted talents

[lordofthepies]

Haven't got a clue who this fella is but according to his wiki page he has never featured in the FL. And probably never will, cos clubs only tolerate a shit attitude and turn a blind eye when the player's got bags of talent.

He came through our academy and played a few games at the start of a season for us under Davies but then drifted out of the team and was released at the end of that season. He came through in the same group as Powell, Clayton, Ray and Garratt and was very highly rated but it never really happened for him with us. I'm not sure if that was due to attitude or not.

 

[lordofthepies]

Dale Jennings has to be up there. From Tranmere to Bayern and now he’s playing for Runcorn Town.

I don't think he's still at Runcorn Town (not even the biggest team in Runcorn). Pretty sure he hasn't played a game for them this season.

 

[lordofthepies]

I would add Francis Tierney. He was one of the best prospects we've had; he played in the same team as Robbie Fowler as a kid and Fowler is on the record saying Tierney was a much better player at that stage. In the mid-90s, Dario said he was the best 16 year old he'd coached at that point.

After a couple of seasons in the first team, we agreed a fee to sell him to Liverpool. Mysteriously, the move didn't happen and the clubs announced that they'd decided that he wasn't quite ready to move. Over the next few years, he appeared less and less in the first team, partly due to injury, and ended up getting released at 23 and gradually drifting down to non-league. He became a hero to Doncaster fans as he scored the goal that got them promoted back in to the league but he should have achieved so much more. There were a lot of rumours of drug use but I don't know for sure that it was a contributing factor.

 

[chipmunx]

Billy Kenny - the ex Eveton youngster - one of the biggest wastes of talent in the last 20 years.

 

[devilofajob]

Richard Brodie. Talented but loved a gamble by all accounts.
Currently at Skelmersdale

 

[Chris FGR]

Jack Wilshere.

 

[Posh Harry]

Richard Brodie. Talented but loved a gamble by all accounts.
Currently at Skelmersdale

And was a massive, massive prick. Allegedly

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Brendan Daniels did have a chance with us but was overtaken by Colclough after failing to impress. Many said he was too laid-back in training but his general attitude was alright with us, that seems to have changed since he dropped into non league sadly.

Francis Tierney was before my time but a few of the older heads I know have mentioned the drug abuse rumours too. I can see that being the case.

 

[BeeArmy]

Andre Blackman, left wing/back. Yoof at Arsenal, bags of talent though a flawed character/temperament, saw innumerable clubs from Conference to L1/2 and Scots Prem think they could get something from him that everyone else had failed to. Bit like serial marriers/divorcers - a triumph of hope over experience. According to Wiki, now at Ebbsfleet.

Feel sorry for his Mum. Lovely lady who gave him every support and followed him around the country for games. Not in the same league (to my knowledge) as Nile Ranger but sad all the same ... for his Mum if not for him.

One of the worst left backs to play for us

 

[shoddycollins]

Courtney Meppen-Walter

Former Man City first year pro and England U19 captain, he spent eight months in prison after causing the deaths of two people while speeding in his Mercedes.

After getting out of prison, still only 19, he became part of our squad of cheaply signed misfits and unfits trying to avoid relegation from League One under Graham Kavanagh. He was still though clearly a class above in his early games. He was still talented and seemed like he had the right attitude; most United fans could see he showed contrition for a tragic accident brought about by his own selfishness and recklessness rather than anything truly unforgivable; but his fitness slipped a lot towards the end of the season and he piled on the pounds.

After relegation and Kavanagh's sacking, he became severely out of shape and dropped out of the squad, though Curle kept faith in him for a little while, referring to him as 'his project' and apparently his daughter's favourite player. Things didn't improve and he seemed to hit Nando's hard and got in trouble with the club on a couple of occasions for his attitude in training.

He was released two years after signing, having not made an appearance in his second full season with us and is now at Chorley, still only 25.

 

[chipmunx]

Courtney Meppen-Walter

Former Man City first year pro and England U19 captain, he spent eight months in prison after causing the deaths of two people while speeding in his Mercedes.

After getting out of prison, still only 19, he became part of our squad of cheaply signed misfits and unfits trying to avoid relegation from League One under Graham Kavanagh. He was still though clearly a class above in his early games. He was still talented and seemed like he had the right attitude; most United fans could see he showed contrition for a tragic accident brought about by his own selfishness and recklessness rather than anything truly unforgivable; but his fitness slipped a lot towards the end of the season and he piled on the pounds.

After relegation and Kavanagh's sacking, he became severely out of shape and dropped out of the squad, though Curle kept faith in him for a little while, referring to him as 'his project' and apparently his daughter's favourite player. Things didn't improve and he seemed to hit Nando's hard and got in trouble with the club on a couple of occasions for his attitude in training.

He was released two years after signing, having not made an appearance in his second full season with us and is now at Chorley, still only 25.

won't disagree with any of that - was good for Chorley at National League North level, but seams out of his depth now in the National League... does seam to like his food a lot....

 

[shoddycollins]

won't disagree with any of that - was good for Chorley at National League North level, but seams out of his depth now in the National League... does seam to like his food a lot....

When I googled him he's like double the size he was when he signed for us. He spent a lot of time in the gym too doing weights and other exercises that are pretty useless for a professional footballer. I was also surprised at how young he still is. He also recently got done for drink driving.

 

[Fishpimps <{{{><]

And was a massive, massive prick. Allegedly

Your being very harsh on pricks there!

 

[Moomin]

I would add Francis Tierney. He was one of the best prospects we've had; he played in the same team as Robbie Fowler as a kid and Fowler is on the record saying Tierney was a much better player at that stage. In the mid-90s, Dario said he was the best 16 year old he'd coached at that point.

After a couple of seasons in the first team, we agreed a fee to sell him to Liverpool. Mysteriously, the move didn't happen and the clubs announced that they'd decided that he wasn't quite ready to move. Over the next few years, he appeared less and less in the first team, partly due to injury, and ended up getting released at 23 and gradually drifting down to non-league. He became a hero to Doncaster fans as he scored the goal that got them promoted back in to the league but he should have achieved so much more. There were a lot of rumours of drug use but I don't know for sure that it was a contributing factor.

We had Tierney for a short time before he went down the leagues. He was superb on his debut, won us the game but then just couldn’t be arsed.

We lost 6-1 at Cardiff and manager Noel Blake asked players to put their hand up if they didn’t give 100%. Tierney put his hand up and never played for us again.

 

[Grumpy Grecian]

Eoin Doyle.
If it weren't for those nasty Yorkie-bars he could have had the world at their feet this season.

 

[les.gtfc]

And was a massive, massive prick. Allegedly

To be fair Brodie wasn't that talented. Just talented at being a massive c-u-n-t.

 

[Casey]

Brodie was with Crawley the season we were promoted to the football league. Basically used as a sub and still scored around fifteen goals...plus the header into the bar at Old Trafford. What would you give for a sub striker who scores fifteen a season?

As a non League side the amount of players we had who were wasting their talent was incredible. From my earlier days of watching Wayne Peacock on to Cliff Cant and Dave Myers and in and on.

Can't was Arsenal's reserve team captain and could hit fifty yards passes of either foot and had the ability to open up defences whenever. Also had the ability to neck ten pints a night and seemed to enjoy a pie or two. Lovely bloke and a lovely player though. If he could have stayed off the booze ... Who knows.

Just have to add Gary Mosely. His claim to fame is giving Martin Allen his nickname when he mixed up Laurel and Hardy. He meant to say Allen looked like Stan Laurel but said Ollie instead. A top rate keeper. Good in the air, on the ground and his kicking was ok too. Why he ever came to Crawley I'll never know but way to good for us. I don't think it was attitude as he sat in the bar drinking orange juice while all his teammates were getting pissed. Definitely a Championship keeper.

Casey