A falling from grace

[Nic83]

A thread instigated from another horrendous performance by one Harry not so Kewell tonight, who besides him, for one reason or another went from superstar to well....not so superstar?

I'm looking for players who at one stage looked like they could have the footballing world at their feet, to average players.

Steve macmanaman springs to mind. When he went to Real, he tried to become another player, a player he just wasn't. He tried to make himself some sort of midfield passing maestro and stopped doing what he was good at - running at defenders.

Another, it pains me to say is Damien Duff, Chelsea ruined him. I think when he went there, he was surrounded by such talent that he felt he didn't need to ''do it all'' himself anymore and rather than go at and rip defenders apart like he did for blackburn and Ireland and maybe his first season at the bridge, he started passing too often and well, lost it a bit. Hope for him though, I expect Keegan may reignite his spark at the Toon.

Then there's Big Ron. The best player I've EVER seen in the flesh.

[Dave Benson Phillips]

He won 2 Champions Leagues whilst at Real, fall from grace my arse.

[Nic83]

And what did he do after that Brains? Ah yes, came back, played for about a season at city and then retired at an unusually young age

Go to bed

[Shaggy]

How's about Rafa Benitez?

Oh Rafa........where did it all go wrong????

[Dave Benson Phillips]

I'm looking for players who at one stage looked like they could have the footballing world at their feet, to average players.

Steve macmanaman springs to mind. When he went to Real, he tried to become another player, a player he just wasn't. He tried to make himself some sort of midfield passing maestro and stopped doing what he was good at - running at defenders.

You're a ****, if you were referring to his Man City career why didnt you ****ing say that. Instead you stupidly reference his Real career (an unequivocal success) and claim it was a failure because he tried to change his style of play, didn't seem to matter when he was winning two european cups did it?

Oh yeah, Alonso was world class tonight again huh

[Nic83]

Fair shout.

You in the new manager camp yet Shaggy? I'd say I'm 60/40 in favour of a freshen up now.

[Dave Benson Phillips]

P.S

Mcmanaman lost his spot at Real to Beckham, then lost it at City to SWP.

So basically he lost his place in his club sides to the two people that followed him at Englands RM spot...hardly a fall from grace.

[Nic83]

You're a *******, if you were referring to his Man City career why didnt you ****ing say that. Instead you stupidly reference his Real career (an unequivocal success) and claim it was a failure because he tried to change his style of play, didn't seem to matter when he was winning two european cups did it?

Oh yeah, Alonso was world class tonight again huh

Please stop, mods tell this ****er to stop ruining my thread. Cheers.

PS, when I referenced his Real career, that was my whole point. He lost it THERE (he became a poorer player THERE). As dumb as they come...

P.S

Mcmanaman lost his spot at Real to Beckham, then lost it at City to SWP.

So basically he lost his place in his club sides to the two people that followed him at Englands RM spot...hardly a fall from grace.

That is totally irrelevant.

Please stop right now.

I'd love to slap you.

EDIT: You've ruined my thread you cunt. Mods, could you please delete this and all other stupid posts in the thread. Livvy, first job a s new mod!

[Nic83]

Benson phillips, you talk like someone I know from another site. I wouldn't be surprised at all if it was indeed you. Would explain your ott reactions over nothing.

[Dave Benson Phillips]

You've obviously been taking lessons at the DJS school of moderating; insult any that disagrees with you, delete their posts then try and get them banned.

How did he become a poorer player at Madrid? He was worshipped there by his teammates, the fans and the president. He came back to England the wrong side of 30 and was replaced by the same player that now plays for England on the right wing. If you cant see how thats not a fall from grace you're blind as well as thick.

[Dave Benson Phillips]

However, McManaman increasingly saw his playing time reduced each year, as that same year, the club adopted an at the time unstated policy now well known as the Galáctico system, with worldclass names like Luís Figo and Zinedine Zidane arriving each year and standing above him in the pecking order. At the time though, McManaman was known for his dogged determination to stay positive for the club's cause, even if it meant he had less playing time. It was widely reported in the Spanish media that McManaman's resilience to the team won the respect of his fellow professionals like Raúl, Zidane, Guti, Iván Helguera, and his two best friends at the club, Figo and Ronaldo, who backed him publicly on several occasions in press interviews. McManaman was also twice voted as the Real Madrid supporters' favourite player at the club in his tenure, and according to El País, in 2001, fans saluted him with their 'white handkerchiefs' (as a terrace favourite) after he acrobatically scored a 'wonder goal' against Real Oviedo that year.

Eventually, the Board, including Florentino Pérez relented, declaring that a "man like that would always have a place in my club".

[Dave Benson Phillips]

P.S

Real Madrid being the worlds most successful club, you might as well list every player they've ever ****ing sold. ****. ginger.

[Nic83]

Wow, a quote from some clown no doubt. Listen Merse, all I was on about was his free flowing dribbling attacking footy that he played in his LFC days was no more when he came back from Spain. That's all. I have no idea why you took the ****ing thread so seriously and decided to have a go. Well, unless as I suspect you have a vendetta against me from 6CM.

[johnp]

[johnp]

FWIW Macca went to Real to win things, and he did.
The fact that he came back to City, and didn't do it, isn't really a fall from grace.
Very few player go out at the very top of their game. Most just drift off. Just my opinion of course :wink: