Michael Johnson, Clrnc.

Antonio Cassano is another one who hasnt been mentioned yet.

Clrnc wrote:

I could think of a few interesting names. Bojinov, Aisatti, Babel, Dos Santos, Drenthe, Bojan, Kerlon, Kluivert, D'alessandro.

Really? He should have lasted longer than he did but Kluvert still had a mean career. During most of his Barca period there were very few strikers who could match his individual level. He was absolutely electric. Lovely partnership with Rivaldo too.

His career basically finished at Barcelona when he was only 27. I think he should have had a better career. Almost nobody remembers him as one of the great strikers these days.

Darius Vassell, Stephen Hughes, Michael Bridges, Riquelme.

Bryant wrote:

Michael Johnson, Clrnc.

Because this was at the start of the page I thought that was your list.

Joachim

Sicario wrote:

Darius Vassell, Stephen Hughes, Michael Bridges, Riquelme.

Serious? 3 of them is shit.

alvaro recoba, jonathan woodgate, cavenaghi

Technically, if we're including injury prone players, surely someone like van Basten would win this thread hands down?

Yeah, van Basten was such an unlucky player. He probably only managed half the games he would have had he not lost so much time being out injured. I absolutely loved that Milan side, and Gullit was my first proper football hero. Wasn't too happy when he ended up at fucking Chelsea. :angry:

This may be a bit controversial, but I'm going to nominate Ronaldo here. He went on to win a ton of things, but for me he never hit the same heights as before that 98 WC final. At 20 he was head and shoulders above anyone else on the planet IMO. He was still the best player in the world after that, but he could, and should, have been even better.

@lorddulaarsenal wrote:

Joachim

Good shout. I'm going to throw in the boys Real stole from us: Baptista and Robinho

Adriano and Benarfa are good shouts. Diaby an obvious one. I hope our no.10 doesn't make this list in a few years.

Clrnc wrote:

His career basically finished at Barcelona when he was only 27. I think he should have had a better career. Almost nobody remembers him as one of the great strikers these days.

He won Champions League with Ajax, picked up the golden boot in the Euros, became Holland's all-time top scorer and left Barca as their 6th highest goalscorer ever in La Liga. I get what you mean about expecting even more, but he's not a great example of a player who wasted his potential.

Kluivert is mainly about injury. He had a lot of really good seasons. I once bumped into him in a mall in Amsterdam in 05 or 06. Man could barely walk. He had real injury issues.

Claudius wrote:

 I once bumped into him in a mall in Amsterdam in 05 or 06. Man could barely walk. He had real injury issues.

kinell mate how much of a brute must you be?

Gold.

The main problem with Giovinco is definitely a lack of ambition. He could have moved at any point if he wanted more playing time. He was one of the best players in Serie A during his loan spell at Parma in 11/12. Then he went back to Juventus and warmed their bench for three seasons before signing for an MLS club at the age of 28. That's just inexcusably lazy when you're blessed with that kind of talent.

I see the MLS still has brilliant defenders.

Klaus wrote:

The main problem with Giovinco is definitely a lack of ambition. He could have moved at any point if he wanted more playing time. He was one of the best players in Serie A during his loan spell at Parma in 11/12. Then he went back to Juventus and warmed their bench for three seasons before signing for an MLS club at the age of 28. That's just inexcusably lazy when you're blessed with that kind of talent.

Didn't know it was his refusal to move, thought Juve just didn't give him enough opportunities. He must be a die-hard Juve fan isn't it?

I still remember him tearing Chelsea apart in the UCL.

You're probably right MD but injuries and personal issues have thwarted a bigger career. I appreciate the thought though.

Was watching Levante vs Valencia, Rossi scored the only goal and then I was reminded of how a unfulfilled talent he is due to injuries.

Quaresma belongs here. So much talent. So little done with it

Ariel Ortega

Seen a few listed here that you'd have to think had pretty good careers, e.g. Kluivert.

How is potential defined?
How is not living up to potential defined?

A lot of intangibles to take into account...

Ronaldinho

Not really unfulfilled, more wasted.

Ronaldinho should be going down as one of the top five of all time but he pissed his career away quite early and got extremely lazy and chubby and only ended up in the top 10-20 of all time.

That's true, but I will look back to Ronaldinho playing more favorably that someone like Lampard who certainly fulfilled his potential.

Goes without saying.