Players who made the most of their potential

welsbyswife · Post by **welsbyswife** » Sat Jun 29, 2019 11:46 am

On the back of the players who failed to fulfil their potential thread I started thinking of players who perhaps weren't as talented as some others but made the absolute maximum out of what they had.

Ben Mee and Andy Farrell were the first two to spring to mind.

gawthorpe_view · Post by **gawthorpe_view** » Sat Jun 29, 2019 11:51 am

Kevin Keegan.
Scott Arfield.
George Boyd.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Sat Jun 29, 2019 12:09 pm

The first name I thought of when I saw the thread title was the first one mentioned - Kevin Keegan

ElectroClaret · Post by **ElectroClaret** » Sat Jun 29, 2019 12:10 pm

Steve Kindon. The human battering ram.

welsbyswife · Post by **welsbyswife** » Sat Jun 29, 2019 12:11 pm

ClaretTony wrote:The first name I thought of when I saw the thread title was the first one mentioned - Kevin Keegan

I was thinking more from our perspective but no doubt Keegan gave absolutely everything.

Burnley1989 · Post by **Burnley1989** » Sat Jun 29, 2019 12:11 pm

At Burnley I’d go for Michael Duff

England I’d say Gary & Phil Neville

djemba-djemba · Post by **djemba-djemba** » Sat Jun 29, 2019 12:15 pm

Ian Measham

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Sat Jun 29, 2019 12:15 pm

welsbyswife wrote:I was thinking more from our perspective but no doubt Keegan gave absolutely everything.

Keegan had the ability to get the absolute best out of himself and all his team mates.

Burnley players, and recent years, I’d say Michael Duff & Scott Arfield.

Quickenthetempo · Post by **Quickenthetempo** » Sat Jun 29, 2019 12:24 pm

Dennis Irwin

CoolClaret · Post by **CoolClaret** » Sat Jun 29, 2019 12:27 pm

gawthorpe_view wrote:Kevin Keegan.
Scott Arfield.
George Boyd.

George Boyd was actually really, really technical.. It's his genes that let him down, if he was quick he'd have been a regular starter in the Premier League all his career.

Well, in my opinion anyway

welsbyswife · Post by **welsbyswife** » Sat Jun 29, 2019 12:40 pm

Quickenthetempo wrote:Dennis Irwin

I wouldn't say Irwin over achieved. He was a very good footballer. Just under rated because he wasn't flashy.

Croydon Claret · Post by **Croydon Claret** » Sat Jun 29, 2019 12:47 pm

David Eyres

Graham Alexander

All the class of 91/92

Dyched · Post by **Dyched** » Sat Jun 29, 2019 1:22 pm

James Milner

Greenmile · Post by **Greenmile** » Sat Jun 29, 2019 2:25 pm

Is there an argument that Ben Mee fits into this category?

Woodleyclaret · Post by **Woodleyclaret** » Sat Jun 29, 2019 4:28 pm

Jay Rodriguez always listened to advice from coaches and older pros and developed into a top player

Cajun · Post by **Cajun** » Sat Jun 29, 2019 4:43 pm

Uwe. Always gave the impression he was giving 110% and could get the best out of the Clarets around him.

dsr · Post by **dsr** » Sat Jun 29, 2019 4:45 pm

Andy Cooke and Ashley Barnes. Two forwards who realised that the ability to run through a brick wall is a valuable asset in a footballer, even if it isn't as glamorous a talent as the Cruyff turn. Cooke himself said in an interview that he had seen more naturally talented players than him, fail to make a career.

Greenmile · Post by **Greenmile** » Sat Jun 29, 2019 4:54 pm

dsr wrote:...Cooke himself said in an interview that he had seen more naturally talented players than him, fail to make a career.

I think almost every pro player will have a story like that. Was it Ben Thorne who was supposed to be the best player from the class of ‘92?

Very few players will make anything of a career based on talent alone.

Im_not_Robbie_Blake · Post by **Im_not_Robbie_Blake** » Sat Jun 29, 2019 4:59 pm

Les Thompson. A 'normal' bloke who lived the dream, playing left back for Burnley for a season culminating in victory at Wembley. I picture him celebrating with a claret and blue flag over him like a cape. He left the Wembley pitch and gave up football there and then, having reached a peak.

djemba-djemba · Post by **djemba-djemba** » Sat Jun 29, 2019 5:12 pm

Greenmile wrote:I think almost every pro player will have a story like that. Was it Ben Thorne who was supposed to be the best player from the class of ‘92?

Very few players will make anything of a career based on talent alone.

Ben Thornley

djemba-djemba · Post by **djemba-djemba** » Sat Jun 29, 2019 5:14 pm

Im_not_Robbie_Blake wrote:Les Thompson. A 'normal' bloke who lived the dream, playing left back for Burnley for a season culminating in victory at Wembley. I picture him celebrating with a claret and blue flag over him like a cape. He left the Wembley pitch and gave up football there and then, having reached a peak.

He went to Accrington Stanley didn't he after leaving Burnley in 1994.
Thought someone said he had been offered a new contract at Burnley that summer as well. Why on earth did he refuse?

dsr · Post by **dsr** » Sat Jun 29, 2019 8:38 pm

djemba-djemba wrote:He went to Accrington Stanley didn't he after leaving Burnley in 1994.
Thought someone said he had been offered a new contract at Burnley that summer as well. Why on earth did he refuse?

As I understood it, he was holding out for more money and the offer was suddenly withdrawn. Was that the year we signed Chris Vinnicombe? He wasn't an upgrade, but he was supposed to be.

welsbyswife · Post by **welsbyswife** » Sat Jun 29, 2019 10:02 pm

dsr wrote:As I understood it, he was holding out for more money and the offer was suddenly withdrawn. Was that the year we signed Chris Vinnicombe? He wasn't an upgrade, but he was supposed to be.

He wasn't the best but he was a far better footballer than Thompson who was playing at his absolute limit in the promotion season but was always an accident waiting to happen.

basil6345789 · Post by **basil6345789** » Sat Jun 29, 2019 11:39 pm

Lee Dixon

tarkys_ears · Post by **tarkys_ears** » Sat Jun 29, 2019 11:52 pm

Ashley Barnes

tim_noone · Post by **tim_noone** » Sun Jun 30, 2019 1:01 am

Kieron Trippier. Tom Heaton And Nick Pope.

Players who made the most of their potential

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