I'm not sure if it was that, playing under such an inept manager in Simon Davey in terms of a negative brand of football, or being used him as a lone striker on his full debut away at Newcastle. I mean 4-5-1 with Mostto up front? As mad as playing Robbie Williams in central midfield and JCR as a sweeper.
Maybe not a failure , but when we cornered the market for New zealand talent , was disappointing that none of them panned out for us.
For what we paid and the reputation he arrived with, I'd have to say Mike Sheron is pretty high on my list.
Rory Fallon! He had a 20 finish on Champ Man. I always thought he was gonna be a great player just based on that stat.
Was slightly optimistic when we signed Frimpong. I thought given Wenger's belief in him and him starting some PL games he would be decent. Nope.
In his second season with us, he began like a house on fire, something like eight goals in the first 12 games. Then went 18 without a goal. Similarly, in the next campaign he'd got about six in 15 and didn't score another in something like 19 games. Year after he got 10 in 12 over a couple of months but nothing in between. Scored in bunches. 40 goals in around 160 games. Not the sort of strike-rate he'd enjoyed elsewhere. But he did make a lot of goals for others, and I always liked watching him. He was a bit of a boo boy though back in those days. Him and Eaden used to get some right hammer, even though we enjoyed (in 1999/2000) one of our best seasons. Whatever floats your boat I suppose. As for the topic, I'd probably go Kayode Odejayi. At times he looked like he had it in him to be top drawer, he really did. And he showed it very rarely, as we all know. But when others used to berate him I'd defend him, hoping he'd come good and become consistently decent. But it never materialised, despite so many opportunities.
Jennings and Mido are the two that stand out for how spectacularly they failed given how much talent they had if they could be bothered.
So wanted Thiam to be given a fair crack of the whip. I still believe there's a great talent in there.
Not failures through any fault of their own, but players like Ian Wardle, Gwyn Thomas, Iain Hume and Phil Gridlet who were injured and never recovered - or Chris Jackson from his crash. Its a fine line between success and failure and you forget how much luck is needed to succeed in the game.
Can you remember Stuart Barraclough’s son. He came on as a sub a few times for the Reds and looked like a chip off the old block. Unfortunately he picked up an injury which I assume finished his career.
Considering the amount we paid for Sheron, I was quite disappointed tbh. I wasn't a boo boy, just disappointed.