Bergen Blade
Well-Known Member
On occasions there's been players who've shown some promise, but still haven't got a run in the first team.
The 'promise' may have been shown in the reserves, the youth team, in an odd outing for the first team, or there may just have been some hope due to their background.
Looking back it may have been good reasons for not playing them. Off the field issues, attitude, professionalism, injuries. And maybe they weren't that good after all?
But still, at the time, you wanted the player to at least get on the pitch and fail, before reluctantly deciding to agree with the manager who never picked him.
Simon Francis - Looked promising when he first arrived. A tall, elegant right back who liked to attack. The following season we played Andy Liddell at right wing. Liddell was a great crosser, but couldn't dribble and was crying out for an attacking right back to support him. Francis seemed perfect for it, but Warnock never picked him and he later moved to Southend. In the end Francis ended up being a regular in the Premier League, so clearly had the ability. He later admitted his attitude was poor when he was at United.
Ian Ross - A youngster who reserve and youth team watchers said was going to be brilliant. Was he a youth international as well? I really wanted to see him get a chance. When Michael Brown left it was said his replacement was already at the club, and most thought this was Ross. I don't think it was ever confirmed? Was it Warnock's quote? Anyway Ross only appeared in a couple of cup games for us and didn't do much later in his career.
Ismaila Coulibaly - did well in Norway, and in his first loan spell in Belgium. Seemed to stay for years without playing and then he suddenly got a start, playing really well against Tottenham. At that point I wanted to see more of him, but again he disappeared. A couple of seasons later he was put in the team, but looked too nervous and was poor. Five years after signing, he left, having only started some cup games.
Nathan Thomas - Two starts for us, two goals! His career suggests it wasn't a record he would have been able to keep up, but still...
Nils Zätterström - A young full international for Sweden signed and then moved on before he's played a minute for us? Strange!
Louie Marsh - As impressive and dominant as the likes of Arblaster, Peck, Brooks and Seriki in our youth teams, the club has not prioritised blooding him in the first team. Will he get another chance or has he already been written off?
Who's got more to mention?
The 'promise' may have been shown in the reserves, the youth team, in an odd outing for the first team, or there may just have been some hope due to their background.
Looking back it may have been good reasons for not playing them. Off the field issues, attitude, professionalism, injuries. And maybe they weren't that good after all?
But still, at the time, you wanted the player to at least get on the pitch and fail, before reluctantly deciding to agree with the manager who never picked him.
Simon Francis - Looked promising when he first arrived. A tall, elegant right back who liked to attack. The following season we played Andy Liddell at right wing. Liddell was a great crosser, but couldn't dribble and was crying out for an attacking right back to support him. Francis seemed perfect for it, but Warnock never picked him and he later moved to Southend. In the end Francis ended up being a regular in the Premier League, so clearly had the ability. He later admitted his attitude was poor when he was at United.
Ian Ross - A youngster who reserve and youth team watchers said was going to be brilliant. Was he a youth international as well? I really wanted to see him get a chance. When Michael Brown left it was said his replacement was already at the club, and most thought this was Ross. I don't think it was ever confirmed? Was it Warnock's quote? Anyway Ross only appeared in a couple of cup games for us and didn't do much later in his career.
Ismaila Coulibaly - did well in Norway, and in his first loan spell in Belgium. Seemed to stay for years without playing and then he suddenly got a start, playing really well against Tottenham. At that point I wanted to see more of him, but again he disappeared. A couple of seasons later he was put in the team, but looked too nervous and was poor. Five years after signing, he left, having only started some cup games.
Nathan Thomas - Two starts for us, two goals! His career suggests it wasn't a record he would have been able to keep up, but still...
Nils Zätterström - A young full international for Sweden signed and then moved on before he's played a minute for us? Strange!
Louie Marsh - As impressive and dominant as the likes of Arblaster, Peck, Brooks and Seriki in our youth teams, the club has not prioritised blooding him in the first team. Will he get another chance or has he already been written off?
Who's got more to mention?
