Player with the most unfulfilled potential

[Sausage]

Nathan Peel - scored two belters against Plymouth and then couldn't hit a cow's arse with a banjo.

[Cleveleys_claret]

Cane Hanley (?), so much potential

[Croydon Claret]

Nathan Peel - scored two belters against Plymouth and then couldn't hit a cow's arse with a banjo.

I remember when he came on loan. Seemed like the perfect ticket, to cries of "sign him up" then went downhill rapidly once signed permanently

[Burnley1989]

Graham Branch was our most skillful player for a time, but only in training. Stan used to give him whiskey to battle the nerves apparently.

Funnily enough I once asked one of our famous strikers of that era and he told me he was terrible

[tiger76]

Another one that springs to mind is Richard Chaplow,he was an exciting prospect,and has had a decent career,but when he burst onto the scene he promised much more,injuries blighted him over the years,and he never quite achieved the level he might have done.

[elwaclaret]

Phil Cav and Ashley Hoskin would both have played at the very top but for devastating injuries. Probably Paul Smith too but for his long illness.

[dsr]

Ian Duerden was very skilful but had a poor attitude. Should have made league standard at least.

[Spike]

Most of John Bond’s signing left whatever potential they previously had behind them when they came to us

[Fretters]

Another one that springs to mind is Richard Chaplow,he was an exciting prospect,and has had a decent career,but when he burst onto the scene he promised much more,injuries blighted him over the years,and he never quite achieved the level he might have done.

He left for a bigger club too soon.

[turfytopper]

Adrian Randall comes to mind. Super skilfull for the time, and the level we were playing at, but time and time again he never showed up.

Could have been a top player if he'd knuckled down to it

First saw him play for Aldershot on the Turf and he was way above anything on the pitch that day... Me and my mate were singing ' sign him on, sign him on '.
Never saw him play that well again.

[Dyched]

Kev Mc. His performances vs Arsenal in the cup was superb. Should of been a lower level Yaya Toure type.

Kev Long. Should be playing every week in the Championship. Not many CB can sit on their arse for months and then play very well when called upon.

[turfytopper]

Tony Morley too never fully delivered for us although he was pretty good.

However he went well beyond his potential when he left us... Never given the opportunity at Burnley, such was the competition I guess?

[tiger76]

He left for a bigger club too soon.

In hindsight quite possibly,however i don't think we had much choice but to cash in at the time.

During those lean years we often sold in the January window,Andy Gray is another we sadly had to say good bye too mid-season.

That was just the reality of our situation,thankfully in the past decade whenever we've sold it's not always been for financial reasons,so we didn't have to accept derisory offers,and could hold out for top dollar ala Keane and Gray.

[claret2018]

Chris Eagles came to us as an exciting signing from Man Utd, and whilst performed inconsistently for us he was a talented player who left for a ‘bigger’ club (LOL).

His career since leaving us went massively downhill, to the point where he has been without a club since the end of the 17/18 season. He’s still only 33.

[Suratclaret]

Paul Smith...but for injuries, I'm sure he would have had a superb career.

[Fretters]

In hindsight quite possibly,however i don't think we had much choice but to cash in at the time.

During those lean years we often sold in the January window,Andy Gray is another we sadly had to say good bye too mid-season.

That was just the reality of our situation,thankfully in the past decade whenever we've sold it's not always been for financial reasons,so we didn't have to accept derisory offers,and could hold out for top dollar ala Keane and Gray.

Yep. Didn't we sell Blake and Chappy in January '05? Then sold Ade in January '06 and Gray in '08. Then we didn't sell anyone in '09 and ended up under a transfer embargo! Thank Christ we went up.

[Jambounchained]

Sonny Pike

[Culmclaret]

Another one for Kevin Young. He looked so good in 81/82: almost, but not quite as good as Trevor Steven. He struggled in 82/83 and it was all down hill from then on. He seemed to be a confidence player, a bit like Brady in some ways.

[houseboy]

Kevin Young and David Miller.

Above all Billy Rodaway. I thought he was a real talent, however but for a short spell in the First Division it never materialised.

Tony Morley too never fully delivered for us although he was pretty good.

I thought Morley was outstanding for us. Didn't always like his hair do's though.

[Down_Rover]

Peter Crouch anyone?

[KRBFC]

I always thought Alan Mahon had the ability to produce more

[Whatsupdoc]

Alan West

[tiger76]

I always thought Alan Mahon had the ability to produce more

Talented from what i remember of him,but lightweight and injury prone.

[ClaretTony]

In hindsight quite possibly,however i don't think we had much choice but to cash in at the time.

During those lean years we often sold in the January window,Andy Gray is another we sadly had to say good bye too mid-season.

That was just the reality of our situation,thankfully in the past decade whenever we've sold it's not always been for financial reasons,so we didn't have to accept derisory offers,and could hold out for top dollar ala Keane and Gray.

Gray wasn’t in that category. We sold him to Charlton with Coyle saying he didn’t want to play for us. Gray will tell that story very differently.

[ClaretTony]

I always thought Alan Mahon had the ability to produce more

Hugely talented but had a career of not playing enough nor matter which club or manager. From debut to last game was 16 years and only just over 200 starts.

[Steve1956]

Chris Eagles came to us as an exciting signing from Man Utd, and whilst performed inconsistently for us he was a talented player who left for a ‘bigger’ club (LOL).

His career since leaving us went massively downhill, to the point where he has been without a club since the end of the 17/18 season. He’s still only 33.

I wonder what Eagles drives these days?

[welsbyswife]

Mark Ford. Remember being excited when we signed him. What a let down.

[welsbyswife]

Nathan Peel - scored two belters against Plymouth and then couldn't hit a cow's arse with a banjo.

Missed a sitter away at Wigan I seem to remember. Header from close range. Sickener.

[Steve1956]

Randall was a joy to watch in the dark old days,he certainly lost his way,I saw him in Blackburn one weekday with a woman,that was probably his downfall,wasn't he partial to a bevy or two?

[welsbyswife]

Didn't Randall live out Barlick way? Remember hearing lots of reports of him out on the lash and worse for wear. Used to love the way he used to do kick ups from one foot to the other whilst jogging round the pitch in terms warm up.

[Croydon Claret]

Didn't Randall live out Barlick way? Remember hearing lots of reports of him out on the lash and worse for wear. Used to love the way he used to do kick ups from one foot to the other whilst jogging round the pitch in terms warm up.

There was an open day once where he did keepy uppies around the entire pitch.

That bloke had skill in bucket loads

[welsbyswife]

Notice you call them keepy uppies Croydon! North South split there. Definitely kick ups for me

[Claret Toni]

Colin Blant.

That lad had everything. Hard, aggressive, he could impose fear from the other side of the pitch.

Could and should have gone way past Stiles, Giles, Bremner, Harris, Smith, storey to name but a few.

[ClaretTony]

Didn't Randall live out Barlick way? Remember hearing lots of reports of him out on the lash and worse for wear. Used to love the way he used to do kick ups from one foot to the other whilst jogging round the pitch in terms warm up.

No, he lived on Lyndhurst Road about five minutes walk from the Turf. And I’d suggest the reports you got were far from correct although I’m not suggesting he didn’t like a drink.

[Claret Toni]

Kurt Nogan lived in Barlick and enjoyed the social side.

I believe he even managed to get arrested for being drunk & disorderly there, which was quite a feat, 'cos it was situation normal for the rest of the town.

[welsbyswife]

No, he lived on Lyndhurst Road about five minutes walk from the Turf. And I’d suggest the reports you got were far from correct although I’m not suggesting he didn’t like a drink.

No, I was getting mixed up with Kurt Nogan on the Barlick stories. Post above reminded me.

[basil6345789]

Tony Arins

[Clarets4me]

.... what about a Steve Davis Mk2? He should definitely played in the Premier League for me. In fact I’m convinced another manager once stated that about him, saying he was the best player not to have played in the PL, or one of them?

I'm sure I read that Spurs had him on their radar at one point, but Stan saw their chief scout watching him at Luton, and convinced him that he was " two yards short on pace ", for the top flight. A week later, we re-signed him ...