“I always said he’d be shite so I did”

Howdy,

First off, apologies for the slow as shit blogging ratio this week folks, will try to rectify that beginning now.

So, time to get some stuff off ODF’s chest. In the past few weeks certain fringe players have come under pressure to perform around the upper echelons of the Premier League, and indeed in Man United’s case the Carling Cup final.

The praise or damnation has been varied with some castigated as rubbish by the frankly batshit-crazier-by-the-day English and Irish press before they’ve had a chance to settle into the first team (Carlos Vela, Nabil El Zhar, Quaresma), and others crowned as world-11 in-waiting material (basically everyone under 25 who played for Man United last Sunday).

Now among that batch of United players deified time and time again since the Tin Pot Cup Final, Ben Foster has gotten the bulk of the column inches thanks to his penalty shoot-out save. Now, while I’m delighted he has discovered ye olde iPod at last, he really only had the wayward shooting of Aaron Lennon and a penalty at perfect height from Jamie O’Hara to trouble him on Sunday. Cue Manchester-based hacks in particular crawling out of Fergie’s hole to say he’ll be England number one in no time. Hope he patted ye all on the head for that shite lads.

Of course, we at ODF can hardly tell the world that Foster definitely won’t make it either; or indeed that Vela, Quaresma or El Zhar will prove the broadsheet reaction to their performances wrong in due time. Right now they’re all just targets for over the top bombast or fairly heavy handed fury.

A few performances doesn’t make or break a player, indeed Foster can just ask John O’Shea, who was set to be a world beater after some amazing performances in the latter parts of the 02/03 season and who is only marginally living up to that potential now. He could also look towards Emanuel Adebayor who spent the majority of his early Arsenal career being labelled as a Kanu-alike without the talent before becoming a striker most sides in the world would love to have.

While it’s a phrase that is too often used in the news pages these days, unfortunately we do have to wait for the ‘fullness of time’ to properly judge a player. With this in mind, and with hopefully a little more evidence on my side, I thought I’d try and find a starting eleven who were once considered to be the next big thing; who started their footballing life off as Foster-esque media darlings; but players who often ended up being as talented as a bag of flour.

For this list they have be those who flattered to deceive at the highest level only to find their home in the lower echelons of the game. The race to the back of the class is on. McPhail, Harte, Raul Bravo… and they’re just the Leeds contenders.

It’s the defence on Thursday, midfield and strikers Friday… but before I begin – any suggestions from your end folks?

Cheers, JJ