View Full Version : Youngsters who never made it
I came across this article about young players who have never really lived up to their big reputations
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/02082007/58/premiership-pressure-youth-failure.html
With all the talk about the kid who is going to man utd, it shows you just how many kids who are supposed to be the next big thing never make it.
Wombourne Wolf
07-08-2007, 07:06
I remember Sonny Pike being talked up as the next big thing when i was younger, didnt he go over to Ajax's famed academy.
leedswolf
07-08-2007, 09:02
I remember a young lad (originally from Wolvo), who moved to leeds with his parents and was 'snapped up' by an Italian team when he was about 15/16. He went to the same school in leeds as my son and his family upped sticks and moved to Italy. Never heard of him since ...............
PabloWolfo
07-08-2007, 09:06
There was a lad a few years ago called Darryl Smith (striker) who played in Wolves youth. He was talked of as having a massive future but never really made the grade, or got injured or got a billy big biscuits attitude. Either way, he kinda dropped of the face of the Earth...
Oldgold Wolfcub
07-08-2007, 09:59
Nardiello and Taylor hardly have pulled up any trees since the deal that took them to Man U as youngsters.
I always thought ryan green would be pretty good, but then he did his knee ligaments against sheff utd, plus he got too big for his boots. Now he plays for bristol rovers.
High as a Kightly
07-08-2007, 10:57
There was a lad a few years ago called Darryl Smith (striker) who played in Wolves youth. He was talked of as having a massive future but never really made the grade, or got injured or got a billy big biscuits attitude. Either way, he kinda dropped of the face of the Earth...
Coaching Trysull Tigers now.
Each year Sky broadcast the Home Internationals for schoolboys. About 5/6 years ago they covered one of the NI games who had a lad called Andrew Dickson playing up front. His playing style reminded me of Tony Woodcock and I was delighted to hear he had signed for us. He made it into the Youth Team and then disappeared. I spoke to one of the coaches with yhe Academy not long afterwards and was told he was too big for his boots,thought he was better than he was and became lazy-hence he was released-never to be heard of again. That lad should have made it because from what I saw at the time he was our best prospect since Robbie-what a waste.
PabloWolfo
07-08-2007, 11:46
Coaching Trysull Tigers now.
They were in Wombourne Pool Bar at the weekend when i popped in for a pint, so Darryl was probably with them, although I don't remember what he looks like...Best of luck to him.
Edmund Dantes
07-08-2007, 12:41
What a terrible article. Calling lads who are still 18 years old, failures.
i thought it was a bit harsh on walcott. He hasnt really had much of a chance to show what he can do.
Taffywolf
07-08-2007, 12:59
Mark Jones was highly rated but then dissapeared into the lower leagues..
i forgot about jones. He was on a par with michael owen at england youth level.
Wombourne Wolf
07-08-2007, 13:39
There was a lad a few years ago called Darryl Smith (striker) who played in Wolves youth. He was talked of as having a massive future but never really made the grade, or got injured or got a billy big biscuits attitude. Either way, he kinda dropped of the face of the Earth...
Went to the same school - he was superb, im suprised he never made it to be honest. I think after Wolves released him, he had a stint at QPR.
johnybig32
07-08-2007, 13:42
Glenn Crowe
Templeton Peck
07-08-2007, 13:55
i thought it was a bit harsh on walcott. He hasnt really had much of a chance to show what he can do.
£12m transfer, one world cup and probably a first team regular for Arsenal this season. I wish my career had failed to that extent when I hit 18. Oh and his missus is fit.
PabloWolfo
07-08-2007, 14:07
Went to the same school - he was superb, im suprised he never made it to be honest. I think after Wolves released him, he had a stint at QPR.
My cousin was at Ounsdale with him but he's not heard anything about him since his time at Wolves. I went there but I was about 5 years above him, so like I said earlier on the thread, I've absolutely no idea what he looks like.
Adrian_Monk
07-08-2007, 18:06
I played against Mark Jones in school football. I didn't think he was that good to be honest, no surprise that he never quite made the grade.
Does anyone remember the guy who went on to manage Swansea after being unbeaten for about five years at Sunday league level? He only lasted about 3 weeks.....Kevin someone or other. Well the team that he managed at Sunday league level had this Cypriot kind called Kostas Kosta who looked like an absolute world beater....I heard he got through trials at Man Utd but never heard anything again.
Deutsch Wolf
07-08-2007, 18:34
Kevin Cullis?
Guiliano Maiorana looked like he was going to be a world beater at Man Utd, sadly got an awful injury and had to retire. I think our very own Mr Bothroyd was extremely highly thought of at Arsenal when he was coming through the ranks - and then spoiled it all by throwing his shirt at Don Howe after he took him off.
SOUTHBANK_BULLY
07-08-2007, 18:39
i went to school at pool hayes with mark jones , he wasnt a bad striker to be honest was free scoring for the school team and his sunday league team , then went to lilleshall for a year , ended up staying in the same dorm as owen
signed for villa and was stuck in the reserves , wolves signed him and the rest is history
he's currently working at asda in cannock
fullmoon
07-08-2007, 19:06
Our very own Mark Davies! As long as he carries a downright attitude not to the liking of the gaffer....It's history for him too.
C'mon Mark! If you are reading this,prove me wrong!
Dr Wolfenstein
07-08-2007, 19:24
I always thought ryan green would be pretty good, but then he did his knee ligaments against sheff utd, plus he got too big for his boots. Now he plays for bristol rovers.
Cornes?
Wombourne Wolf
07-08-2007, 19:49
I played against Mark Jones in school football. I didn't think he was that good to be honest, no surprise that he never quite made the grade.
Does anyone remember the guy who went on to manage Swansea after being unbeaten for about five years at Sunday league level? He only lasted about 3 weeks.....Kevin someone or other. Well the team that he managed at Sunday league level had this Cypriot kind called Kostas Kosta who looked like an absolute world beater....I heard he got through trials at Man Utd but never heard anything again.
Didnt that Costa kid start off at Bilbrook before moving to Cullis's Cradley Youth? Anyone remember playing against Marvin Robinson (Grammer School or Regis I think) - he made it to the lower divisions and is still at somewhere like Lincoln City.
cooper_J
07-08-2007, 19:50
Glenn Crowe
I don't know if he can be called a complete faliure.
Went on to be one of the top scorers in the history of the league of Ireland and, if I remember rightly, was the first player playing in the LOI to play for Ireland in about 25 years.
Great goal at Charlton on his debut too.
Deutsch Wolf
07-08-2007, 19:50
Apparently, I've played against Karl Henry in a few kickabouts. Can't say I remember it though!
cooper_J
07-08-2007, 19:52
Didnt that Costa kid start off at Bilbrook before moving to Cullis's Cradley Youth? Anyone remember playing against Marvin Robinson (Grammer School or Regis I think) - he made it to the lower divisions and is still at somewhere like Lincoln City.
Yeah, he played for the Grammer and was on the books at Derby I think.
His career hit the skids when he got done for headbutting his girlfriend in the Canal.
Wombourne Wolf
07-08-2007, 20:55
Yeah, he played for the Grammer and was on the books at Derby I think.
His career hit the skids when he got done for headbutting his girlfriend in the Canal.
Very mouthy and full of himself if I remember rightly. Thats right he started off at Derby.
Denis Pierce(sp)
Was at the Coseley school, the same year as me, and frightingly fast when we played them. Signed for the Wolves and I think played once. Never heard of him since.
Deutsch Wolf
07-08-2007, 21:12
He had a run of about 8-10 games in 1996/7 but ended up being dropped for Robbie Dennison at left wing back!
Went on to Notts County and Peterborough.
He had a run of about 8-10 games in 1996/7 but ended up being dropped for Robbie Dennison at left wing back!
Went on to Notts County and Peterborough.
Thanks. I was in germany at the time and lost track of anything other than results.
Dennis Pearce has had a relatively distinguished career in the lower levels - in that he's made a decent living from the game. He played for Worcester and Telford last season.
AmericanWolf
07-08-2007, 21:51
Makes you wonder how well Evans's next crop of wonder-kids are going to do. Kyle Bennett seems to be the one everyone's talking about. Anyone heard anything new?
Dr Wolfenstein
08-08-2007, 00:17
Michael Branch & Danny Cadamartri at Everton
