Biggest waste of talent in a Villa shirt ever?

[supertom]

We've signed our share of decent players over the years. Big talents and for whatever reason, a lot of them have been disappointingly shite.
So who ranks as the most talented waste of space we've ever had. We've had a lot, sometimes we signed players like Ginola who were past their best, but even still never delivered anything like what we could have expected. Of the current group my pick is N'Zogbia. Lots of ability but hasn't delivered a bloody thing.

All time though, Mr Stanley Victor Collymore. World class on his day. Had it all, pace, power, technique, a rollicking shot. Can't remember before or since being so let down by a marquee signing like that.

[Mortimer's Bear]

Stan Collymore for me.

Dalian Atkinson could have been an England regular too had he applied himself. Although he scored some fantastic goals for us, his attitude let him down.

[Ron Manager]

We've signed our share of decent players over the years. Big talents and for whatever reason, a lot of them have been disappointingly shite.
So who ranks as the most talented waste of space we've ever had. We've had a lot, sometimes we signed players like Ginola who were past their best, but even still never delivered anything like what we could have expected. Of the current group my pick is N'Zogbia. Lots of ability but hasn't delivered a bloody thing.

All time though, Mr Stanley Victor Collymore. World class on his day. Had it all, pace, power, technique, a rollicking shot. Can't remember before or since being so let down by a marquee signing like that.

and for a 6' 2" centre forward couldnt head a ball for toffee!  A legend in his own mind.

[nigel]

Another vote for Collymore

Yes, M.Bear, Atkinson didn't cover himself with glory either.
Agree with supertom on the current version being CN'Z

[dave.woodhall]

Collymore could have been a good player for us but Atkinson could have been world-class. He had everything; pace, strength, he could run with the ball, pass, shoot, head, score, create. There wasn't a player in the world who wouldn't have been glad to have part of his game. And I'm still not sure whether he was our biggest waste of talent because Mark Bosnich could have been the best goalkeeper around.   

[Reuben]

A lot of people mention Sasa Curcic with this type of topic.  I don't really remember him specifically which probably says enough!

I am sure Nigel Callaghan should have been better.  He had promise but never fulfilled.

[Pete3206]

Stan Collymore.

[Merv]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/blog/_/name/astonvilla/id/96?cc=5739

I pondered this very subject on my blog this week. Hard to look further than Collymore.

[Ron Manager]

Derek Dougan.  Loads of talent but hardly ever showed it at Villa Park

He got his finger out at Peterborough and Leicester, and when he got to Wolves he was the complete centre forward

[Darlo Dave]

Although he had more than his share of moments of brilliance, I am for ever frustrated of the thought, as to how good Dalian Atkinson could have been. If he'd had the same attitude as Saunders, he'd have been up there with the all time greats.   

[olaftab]

Stan Collymore without any doubt. That man had more talent than any forwards of that era around the world but he ....

[Damo70]

I agree with all those who have said Atkinson and Collymore. Also, even though he had nearly ten years at the top, for me Bosnich was well on his way to becoming as good as any keeper in the world around the mid nineties. He had already lost his way when United signed him, as Ferguson obviously sussed very quickly. Then for very different reasons of being such a waste of talent there is Gary Shaw,who was as good as finished at twenty four.

[PeterWithesShin]

Dalian was a better player than Collymore. As Dave says, he had everything. Possibly the most complete player i've seen. However, I think a mix of attitude and Carew syndrome (the inability to do it every week) means that instead of talking about one of the greatest players of all time, he's talked about as one of the most frustrating Villa players of all time.

[ACVilla]

Out of the current lot I would say Barry Bannan.

He has that touch of class that most don't have but he is just pissing it all away, literally.

The next Lee Hendrie.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

Stanley Victor for me. I thought it was going to be the piece in the jigsaw for us to really push on towards the glory we had in the early 80s.