George Best

Paul Gascoigne

Kezman

Best might have been finished at the top by 26, but was very good to world class between the ages of 17-25. 

Gazza had some great times at Spurs and Rangers.

Kezman scored 275 career goals.

Wasters would be Stephen Ireland, Ravel Morrison, Ihattaren, etc.

Stephen Ireland was so good during the 08/09 season under Hughes. 

Shades of Scholes/Fabregas.

Best and Gazza while having some great years threw their careers away as far as I'm concerned.  Best was more concerned with being a playboy and Gazza through his own idiocy injured himself on a few occassions.  1991 he was out of control in the FA Cup Final.  He returns from injury and is all set to play again and injures the same knee in a niteclub.   He goes to Italy and is angry in training and tries to hack a youth player in training and does it again. His diet was terrible and if you look at him in 1992/1993 he was way overweight. He slowly regains his career at Rangers and England.  He missed out on the 1998 WC due to his drinking and behaviour.

Kezman had a few good years then decided to be a coke head at Chelsea. 

David Bentley

Anto Stokes

His Republican background? I know of a similar fan who feels the same about McClean for that very reason 

Pretty sure after retiring in his mid twenties, he has since managed to run a couple of successful businesses.

Best is no different to Paul McGrath. Despite being alcoholics, they still reached a world class level for a number of years. Best won two First Division titles, a European Cup and Balon d'Or. He achieved more than most.

Gazza should have won more trophies. English football was still very unprofessional in the 90's. Lots of overweight players, drinkers, drug takers and gamblers. He wasn't alone. That only started to change when Wenger joined Arsenal and others started to embrace sports science. Big Sam was one of the first in the early 00's. 

Roberto_Carlow wrote: Tony Watt, who peaked with his goal against Barcelona. I managed to watch him live a good few times and his talent was insane. He has managed to at least have a prolonged professional career, but his talent should have seen him playing at a much higher level.

He never had that lightbulb moment.

Ross Barkley (maybe just not very good)

Dele Alli  (Although being harsh there considering his circumstances)

I’m not similar to that fan. McClean is easily one of my favourite players to ever wear the green. Has played under all circumstances and feels the way the fans feel in defeat. He is part of a rare breed of modern players who would pick his international duties over his club ones at every juncture. He has suffered unbelievable and unjustifiable levels of vitriol from incredibly closed minded fans, and has often had to ‘go it alone’ when defending himself. 100 caps and counting, and some key contributions. I don’t think there is a player who is spiritually closer to the fans than McClean is.

Even from his own teams supporters 

What republican background has McClean? I’d be more worried about the company you keep.

Probably a FG voter - disregard! 😏

Sad, and it shouldn't happen. His unwavering desire to represent his country should be the approach every player takes.

James is a hero in my eyes 

If you are Irish and support the REPUBLIC of Ireland, you have a republican background. Clown.

Drinkwater was another total fool who had the talent but nothing upstairs .

Going back there are so many others 

😂😂

Are you confusing Kezman with Adrian Mutu?

I'm not calling him a waster but his career went massively downhill once he left Man Utd.  Lee Sharpe.

I cant even picture him playing for Leeds.

Then after that it was goodnight Vienna.

 Yep close the thread as we have the winners 

He was regular in two La Liga winning Real Madrid sides and a key player for Milan when they won Serie A in 2011.

He also played 100 times for Brazil.

Neymar surpassed him, but he definitely wasn't a waster.

Jesus, 100 caps. There you are now

The Whitleys overachieved for their ability 

They weren’t great and were never prospects 

Gascoigne had mental issues that were never treated correctly. Throw in money, fame and drink he was doomed to be honest. Same with Stephen Ireland, he was some player. I played against him in a challenge match when he was about 14 or 15 probably not long before he went to Man City and he was an absolute genius of a player the Cobh manager told us beforehand he was going to England so just be careful. Some of our lads tried to kick him around the place but when I say we couldn’t get near him I mean he was 5 seconds ahead of everyone even at that age. We had a chat with him after the match and wished him well and I’ll always remember him as being a nice chap. He was the first player I played against that was going to England so I always remembered him. It’s sad to see what happened his career but again like Gazza he had obvious problems that probably weren’t dealt with or not dealt with properly. Michael Johnson the exact same story. 

Never mind mentioning that the thread was started by a lad who has had more profiles on here than Robbie Keane has had boyhood

Clubs.