01 Feb 2023 23:42:09
Okay- everyone just be cool. This is just a thought. With Bellingham sought after at such an exorbitant price- I'd love to know peoples thoughts on which English players lived up to their full potential since the premier league kicked off. As in- the way they burst on to the scene taking the footballing world by the throat and how they progressed after. I can't help but feel so many starlets fall by the wayside with pressure from the media and everyone and everything after. I ask because as an example- (one solitary example) - I look at a starlet like Rooney who looked the absolute dogs no no bits, but I can't help feel he could have been truly truly great. Him as a 17 year old looked like he could have destroyed the world. And then he didn't. I'm also not going to blame the club he played for. I just wonder is there a terrible pressure on young lads in the premier league. Do they buckle- do they not knuckle down? Are we spending 200 million on the next Rooney? Who will be good. Real good. But perhaps- better business could be done elsewhere.

1.) 02 Feb 2023
02 Feb 2023 00:24:52
Just on Rooney from a United perspective.

Obviously he had a lot of things away from the pitch which put him down in peoples eyes (some of his actions etc deserve that. ) but on the pitch I think he was unlucky. He never quite got to be the main man at United, he sacrificed a lot of personal glory to enable Ronaldo to get the goals and deliver titles etc. Later in his career he then had to sacrifice for Van Persie. The one real full season he was the main man was 09-10 where I still think he was on a par with Messi and ronaldo until he got hurt against Munich.

Personally I think he is a true great of the English game. United and Englands top scorer and won countless trophies. Captained club and country. He’s never going to be remembered as one of the top 3/ 4 players of all time, but then again I’ll probably tell my kids and grandkids about him the way my grandad tells me about Denis Law etc.

On Bellingham I think he’s an unbelievable talent, and the World Cup was the first time I’ve properly watched him consistently. He has an aura about him, you don’t think you’re watching a kid playing. I worry he will end up at anfield, because he’s going to be special. As football fans we just need to be careful not to overhype, or put to much pressure on young lads shoulders from day one. Because like you say Aoe, the pressure can get to them, as they’re only human at the end of the day.

2.) 02 Feb 2023
02 Feb 2023 08:41:07
Rooney without a shadow of a doubt. He doesn’t get the universal recognition he should get. His numbers are phenomenal, not to mention he was a great footballer in general. Other than that I’m struggling to name another.

3.) 02 Feb 2023
02 Feb 2023 12:19:02
Despite fading a bit in the last few years of his Liverpool career, surely you have to include Gerrard? In terms of physical achievements, maybe he didn't live up to the potential but that was arguably down to the team around him (at least at club level) as how many of the trophies that Gerrard did lift would have been won without him? In terms of talent, you have to say he reached his potential when most rated him as the best midfielder in the world at one point.

4.) 03 Feb 2023
03 Feb 2023 00:20:14
I can’t think of any that have burst on to the scene and fulfilled their potential but I’ll give you an English player who has totally surprised me at how good he became. Harry Kane.
For a lad that went on numerous loans to Championship teams and did nothing and was behind an absolutely shocking player in Soldado in the pecking order at Spurs he got his chance in the first team and absolutely ran with it.
I remember saying to a Spurs fan friend of mine that they have Soldado who can’t hit a barn door and Harry Kane who’ll end up playing most of his career in league 1.
Egg on my face or what?!
Fair play to him he’s a player who is absolutely making the most of his level of talent through sheer hard work and a will to succeed.

5.) 03 Feb 2023
03 Feb 2023 03:36:31
what about rio ferdinand? People couldn't believe how much was paid to buy him but he did ok.