The Never Made It's

Thought it would be interesting (and different!) to do a thread about players who could have been bigger than what they were.

My first nomination is Michael Reddy, I remember seeing him play play for the under 21's against Austria (and score a cracker too). Never really made it at Sunderland and since dropping down the English divisions, he's ended up playing professional football in Greenland and now the Falkland Islands! Pretty unfortunate that this guys career was practically over at 26.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Reddy

living in Greenland and the Malvinas Islands sounds a great life to me though. Wonder what the caillini in Greenland are like .. though I see he married a local girl on Islas Malvinas.

remember him playing against Pats on that famous night down in Buckley Park .. well actually can't remember him .. was slightly more engrossed on sucking the ball into the Killkenny goal after hearing the Dundalk v Shels scoreline

Richard Sadlier (not his fault though) and Sean Thornton. Liam Miller could be a choice in a few years. I guess it depends on the definition of "never made it" though.

David Connolly, David Kelly and Mark Kelly

Andy Reid, Stephen Ireland;)

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Originally Posted by Carrigaline

Thought it would be interesting (and different!) to do a thread about players who could have been bigger than what they were.

My first nomination is Michael Reddy, I remember seeing him play play for the under 21's against Austria (and score a cracker too). Never really made it at Sunderland and since dropping down the English divisions, he's ended up playing professional football in Greenland and now the Falkland Islands! Pretty unfortunate that this guys career was practically over at 26.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Reddy

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Read somewhere that that story was made up but who knows what to believe.
http://www.readytogo.net/smb/showpos...39&postcount=1

Heres my nominations.
Jim Goodwin
Alan Mahon
Barry Quinn
Alan O'Brien
Michael Doyle
Graham Barrett
All have Senior Caps, can't see them getting any more

Richie Partridge.

Kieron Brady (Sunderland ) was supposed to be a great prospect, so was Lee Power when he broke through at Norwich in the 80's. Phil Babb never fulfilled the promise he showed in USA 94, and I remeber pat Nevin descibing Alan Mahon as the best player he had ever played with, but the biggest Irish flop of all time has got to be Martin Murray. Everton bought him from Home Farm when he was 17 and hailed as the most naturally talented player of all time ("better than George Best" etc). Never played for the first team and I think ended up back at Home Farm.

Some of those named are harsh. Players like Michael Doyle were never stars at youth level, and they've made nice careers for themselves. Doyle certainly hasn't disappointed.

When i say Shaun Byrne captain the winning u18 team i thought he'd be a megastar. Did he even play football at any adult level?

Stephen McPhail? never made it at international level, but solid enough career in the championship

Sean Thornton - bags of talent, terrible attitude.


There was a guy at West Ham a few years back, a centre midfielder who was meant to be next thing......Shaun something or another?????

EDIT: Just saw the post of Shaun Byrne was who i was thinking of.

Richie Partridge would have to be top of my list. :)

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Originally Posted by Dodge

Some of those named are harsh. Players like Michael Doyle were never stars at youth level, and they've made nice careers for themselves. Doyle certainly hasn't disappointed.

When i say Shaun Byrne captain the winning u18 team i thought he'd be a megastar. Did he even play football at any adult level?

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Veru true about Mick Doyle. Most definitely he's knocked a decent career out of the game.

Dominic Foley, wasted his chances at club level
Stephen Elliot could be one in a few years if he doesnt get his attitude right, same for anthony stokes.
and what about that Daly fella who was meant to be the next quinn?
mark kennedy. alan mahon. alan moore. paul heffernan. cant think of any more at the moment but you could make a team out of the amount of people who didnt fulfill early potential

Ashley Grimes, Pearce O'Leary..........Eamon Dunphy

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Originally Posted by Dodge

Some of those named are harsh. Players like Michael Doyle were never stars at youth level, and they've made nice careers for themselves. Doyle certainly hasn't disappointed.

When i say Shaun Byrne captain the winning u18 team i thought he'd be a megastar. Did he even play football at any adult level?

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He did, he even played Premier Division football for DC in 2004 but then went back to the English non-league game. No great shakes but pretty solid.

Liam George was another one from the succesful youth teams of the 90's. With the youth players though you would let them off because they hadnt played at senior level so it was hard to know how they would be suited to it.

Ritchie Partridge is the best example of a never made it i think, he had a succesful spell on loan with Coventry and it looked like he might be pushing place for the Liverpool team but in the end i think the rest of his career has been played at a lower level than what Coventry were at.

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Originally Posted by richieos

Dominic Foley, wasted his chances at club level
Stephen Elliot could be one in a few years if he doesnt get his attitude right, same for anthony stokes.
and what about that Daly fella who was meant to be the next quinn?
mark kennedy. alan mahon. alan moore. paul heffernan. cant think of any more at the moment but you could make a team out of the amount of people who didnt fulfill early potential

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In fairness to the fella i think he has surprised a few people,me included, by having a succesful career in Belgium.

Mark Kennedy for me in terms of hype and end product... After his move to Liverpool (the most expensive teen in England at the tim he was describe as a cross between Rush, Dalglish and Barnes in the Sunday World....

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Originally Posted by dr_peepee

Mark Kennedy for me in terms of hype and end product... After his move to Liverpool (the most expensive teen in England at the tim he was describe as a cross between Rush, Dalglish and Barnes in the Sunday World....

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and he was but sadly it was Jennifer, Kelly and Prentiss rather than Ian, Kenny and John :)

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Originally Posted by macdermesser

David Connolly, David Kelly and Mark Kelly

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Well given that David was stuck in leg braces during his formative years, I think he carved out an outstanding career - in fact even without that handicap.