This has probably been done to death, but I've never seen a topic on this so here goes!
Talking about hyped up and overrated players recently, plus seeing a lot of World Cup footage of great players got me to thinking just who in your opinion was the greatest skilled players that never fulfilled their potential (all time) and which players are currently "wasting" awesome talent?
The player who I have seen in my lifetime who played nowhere near his potential was Paul Gazza Gascoigne. In the era he broke through, very few English players were blessed with his vision and creativity. Italia 90 should have just been the start for him, but injuries and poor lifestyle ultimately robbed him and the world of the Paul Gascoigne that the game should have seen. The sublimely talented livewire - driving England from the very heart of midfield. A Paul Gascoigne that could have so easily graced Milan, Madrid, Manchester or Juventus. A Paul Gascoigne competing in up to four World Cups (1990,94,98,2002) A Gascoigne plying his trade in the Champions' Cup and collecting titles and trophies.
IMO a player who's decline was every bit as tragic as George Best - but at least he won the European Cup and starred in a final.
As for players not fulfilling their potential - I gotta go with Michael Owen. Unfortunately injuries have greatly reduced the searing pace that Owen used to torture defenders with and plunder goals for club and country alike. He's still a top player, but he could have been so much more.
Mike
Talking about hyped up and overrated players recently, plus seeing a lot of World Cup footage of great players got me to thinking just who in your opinion was the greatest skilled players that never fulfilled their potential (all time) and which players are currently "wasting" awesome talent?
The player who I have seen in my lifetime who played nowhere near his potential was Paul Gazza Gascoigne. In the era he broke through, very few English players were blessed with his vision and creativity. Italia 90 should have just been the start for him, but injuries and poor lifestyle ultimately robbed him and the world of the Paul Gascoigne that the game should have seen. The sublimely talented livewire - driving England from the very heart of midfield. A Paul Gascoigne that could have so easily graced Milan, Madrid, Manchester or Juventus. A Paul Gascoigne competing in up to four World Cups (1990,94,98,2002) A Gascoigne plying his trade in the Champions' Cup and collecting titles and trophies.
IMO a player who's decline was every bit as tragic as George Best - but at least he won the European Cup and starred in a final.
As for players not fulfilling their potential - I gotta go with Michael Owen. Unfortunately injuries have greatly reduced the searing pace that Owen used to torture defenders with and plunder goals for club and country alike. He's still a top player, but he could have been so much more.
Mike
He was only about 30
