Biggest Career Meltdowns

[cmonurz]

Was going to suggest Joaquin - a few years ago he was considered one of the most promising young players in the world. Hadn't heard much of him since he became just 'good' at Betis, but turns out he's been at Valencia and then Malaga carving out a decent if unspectacular career.

[Anfield Kopite]

Billy Kenny. One which only us scousers may know about. Came through the ranks at Everton. M.O.T.M. in a merseyside derby. Fell by the wayside in a haze of cocaine abuse after becoming involved with 'The County Road Cutters'. Waste.

[RobRoyal]

Sebastian Deisler

Another career oxf*rd up by injuries. Done his cruciate ligaments. Twice i think.

Perhaps more pertinently, he also suffered from depression.

[handbags_harris]

Sebastian Deisler

Nice of you to mention him. When he was a youngster before being snapped up by Borussia Moenchengladbach I actually played against him. I used to play for a team called Schwarz-Weiss Elmpt, he played for Bruggen, the club just down the road. Wore goalkeeper gloves while playing outfield so certainly stood out for that reason alone...

[Simon's Church]

Michael Johnson of Man City fame apparently. He's 24

[cmonurz]

http://hereisthecity.com/2012/12/06/wha ... l-johnson/

Article on Johnson, he's chronically injured (hence being fat, I guess), but riding a five year contract City gave him in 2009.

[paultheroyal]

Didi Hammam judging by Twitter tonight!

[cmonurz]

Didi Hammam judging by Twitter tonight!

Tbf to Hamman he's been very up front with the gambling and family problems he has suffered. Barton made himself look like a total cock, again.

[Big Foot]

Michael Johnson of Man City fame apparently. He's 24

Logged on to post that

He looked like such a good player there a few years ago around the time Sven was in charge

[Arch]

Chris Gunter?

[Wimb]

Ronaldinho is a good shout considering just how quickly he went from being World No1 to medicore back in Brazil.

Struggle to think of many for Reading, although Darren Caskey quickly disappeared off the footballing radar after being released from Reading. Could probably include Reading in his downall as just a few years before he was captaining the likes of Neville, Scholes, Fowler as England won the Euro U-18 championship, not to mention getting games in the Premier League for Spurs.

To a lesser level, I've always pondered quite how Simon Sheppard went from being a promising U21 international goalkeeper to utter shambles at Reading and then disappearing from professional football entirely within the space of 6 months. Obviously the main reason was because he was utter sh1te but it's odd to see a keeper fall apart at such a high level so quickly.

[Big Foot]

Good article on Michael Johnson here - http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013 ... ester-city

[cmonurz]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013 ... ester-city

Triggered by that photo appearing online, City have announced that Johnson was released from his £40k a week contract after christmas. £2m a year since 2009 for not playing, lovely.

[cmonurz]

Sort of related, there’s a basketball player called Greg Oden, record-setter at college and was No.1 pick, by Portland, in the 2007 draft. He’s 7ft tall and since then he’s had knee surgery after knee surgery as his body resists the demands of the professional game. In 5 full seasons, he hasn’t played at all in 3 of them due to injury, and played just 50% of games in the other too.

During that time he’s taken $41m in salary. Will never have to work, and he’s almost literally never had a career.

Anyway, keep general sport off general football!

[Royal Biscuitman]

Mark Bosnich (Chelsea) - drug allegation
Thomas Brolin (Leeds)
Massimo Taibi (Man Utd - He only played four matches, one of them being a 5–0 defeat at Chelsea)
Ali Dia - had the world at his feet until it came to actually playing football.
Andy McLaren (Reading) - Drugs
Mass Sar - A God on his home debut for Reading.

[M Brook]

Joey Beauchump aka Mummy's boy
Champagne Charlie Nicholas

[Super_horns]

Ronaldinho is a good shout considering just how quickly he went from being World No1 to medicore back in Brazil.

Struggle to think of many for Reading, although Darren Caskey quickly disappeared off the footballing radar after being released from Reading. Could probably include Reading in his downall as just a few years before he was captaining the likes of Neville, Scholes, Fowler as England won the Euro U-18 championship, not to mention getting games in the Premier League for Spurs.

To a lesser level, I've always pondered quite how Simon Sheppard went from being a promising U21 international goalkeeper to utter shambles at Reading and then disappearing from professional football entirely within the space of 6 months. Obviously the main reason was because he was utter sh1te but it's odd to see a keeper fall apart at such a high level so quickly.

Both played for us and looked out of place in a negative way which says something..

Slightly before my time but we had a really good lad called Rod Thomas who was the next "John Barnes" after a few appearances before ending up with Carlise and Chester in non-league.

If Sean Murray keeps on getting into trouble off the pitch he'll go the same way sadly

As for Johnson...maybe a case of too much too soon in terms of money and hype.

Maybe the injuries got to him mentally plus not having the will to re-gain fitness fully knowing he would still get the nice weekly wage whereas some youngster in the lower leagues or even with us wouldn't have that type of deal to fall back on.

[Wax Jacket]

saw Rod Thomas play a bit for Carlisle

[Wimb]

Ronaldinho is a good shout considering just how quickly he went from being World No1 to medicore back in Brazil.

Struggle to think of many for Reading, although Darren Caskey quickly disappeared off the footballing radar after being released from Reading. Could probably include Reading in his downall as just a few years before he was captaining the likes of Neville, Scholes, Fowler as England won the Euro U-18 championship, not to mention getting games in the Premier League for Spurs.

To a lesser level, I've always pondered quite how Simon Sheppard went from being a promising U21 international goalkeeper to utter shambles at Reading and then disappearing from professional football entirely within the space of 6 months. Obviously the main reason was because he was utter sh1te but it's odd to see a keeper fall apart at such a high level so quickly.

Both played for us and looked out of place in a negative way which says something..

Slightly before my time but we had a really good lad called Rod Thomas who was the next "John Barnes" after a few appearances before ending up with Carlise and Chester in non-league.

If Sean Murray keeps on getting into trouble off the pitch he'll go the same way sadly

As for Johnson...maybe a case of too much too soon in terms of money and hype.

Maybe the injuries got to him mentally plus not having the will to re-gain fitness fully knowing he would still get the nice weekly wage whereas some youngster in the lower leagues or even with us wouldn't have that type of deal to fall back on.

Was Sheppard that shambolic for Watford? He was an utter, utter mess at Reading.

[From Despair To Where?]

Andy McLaren (Reading) - Drugs

I'd disagree with that. His sacking was a watershed. He got busted after years of drug and alcohol abuse but after that, he cleaned himself up, returned to the Scottish Premier, regained his past form and got capped for Scotland as a result.

There were reasons behind his drug addiction. His autobigraphy is, no pun intended, quite a sobering read.