Hands up - players you've wrongly written off

[Jon Crofts]

The usual suspects, Delph, Cleverley & Hutton.

When Delph arrived under ONeil, Leeds fans were raving about him but all we saw really was a boy in a mans world, a guaranteed yellow card and not a lot else, he's certainly starting to fulfil his potential.

Cleverley just looked like a pub player, disinterested and actually not very good, all of a sudden his confidence is back and him & Delph are a great pairing.

Hutton, a horrible player, can't really call him a footballer he was an oaf.  But fair play to him, when whichever genius put him in the bomb squad and ostracised him and others he knuckled down, went out on loan and even played for his country came back into the side for whatever reason and put in some shifts, scored a marvellous volley against Leicester but still has flashes of oafishness (against Leicester he should have been dismissed in 9/10 games)  I think his talent has peaked but he's a far, far better footballer now than he was when he arrived under TSM v0.1

[passitsideways]

I think the development paths of players like Delph and Aaron Ramsey are compelling examples of why people should be particularly patient with young, skilful central midfielders coming back from serious injuries. The physical challenge of coming back is one thing, but then you have to ally that with all the multi-tasking that playing in central midfield involves. Hopefully Gary Gardner's another one who comes good after perseverance by all parties involved.

[onje_villa]

Would just like to point out I don't think any of Clark, Baker or Cleverly have "made it" yet. Certainly there have been encouraging signs and Cleverly has had an excellent few weeks but just like we perhaps wrote off people a little hastily perhaps others are being slightly inflated. Still that's the fun in a forum!

As for N'Zog, well I think his attitude has improved certainly but there's still not a great deal of end product really. Westwood has always looked a very tidy player in the making.

[onje_villa]

I think the development paths of players like Delph and Aaron Ramsey are compelling examples of why people should be particularly patient with young, skilful central midfielders coming back from serious injuries. The physical challenge of coming back is one thing, but then you have to ally that with all the multi-tasking that playing in central midfield involves. Hopefully Gary Gardner's another one who comes good after perseverance by all parties involved.

Very good point, hopefully will be the same case with Okore, he looked a real prospect when we signed him.

[Breezeblock]

A few years ago We were away at Fulham and the new striker missed an absolute sitter right in front of us.  My 12-year-old  daughter could have put it away blindfolded.  I turned to the old fella and said "He'll never make a premier league striker while he's got a hole up his arse!".  The old man concurred.  That young striker?  Chap called Christian Benteke. Oops!   

[brontebilly]

Delph was absymal in the early part of Lambert's first season, wasnt there talk of him going on loan to a championship side back then? Remember him being taken off for his own good in a couple of home games.

Doubt there has ever been a player to make a comeback at the club like Hutton. Think Sherwood has done well getting something out of the likes of Gabby and Nzogbia, not that there would be too many tears shed if they left in the summer. Clark and Baker had a lot of critics for a long time, both have showed a lot of character.

Juan Pablo Angel came back from a stint AWOL to be one of the top scorers in the league under O'Leary.

[john e]

anyone remember Ugo Ehiogu's debut, think it was against Norwich

written of in 90 minutes by most people there

[PeterWithesShin]

anyone remember Ugo Ehiogu's debut, think it was against Norwich

written of in 90 minutes by most people there

It wasn't his debut.

[john e]

anyone remember Ugo Ehiogu's debut, think it was against Norwich

written of in 90 minutes by most people there

It wasn't his debut.

it was a long time ago, and I'm old and forgetful

[peter w]

A few years ago We were away at Fulham and the new striker missed an absolute sitter right in front of us.  My 12-year-old  daughter could have put it away blindfolded.  I turned to the old fella and said "He'll never make a premier league striker while he's got a hole up his arse!".  The old man concurred.  That young striker?  Chap called Christian Benteke. Oops!   

Except it wasn't a sitter...

[Villa in Denmark]

I think the development paths of players like Delph and Aaron Ramsey are compelling examples of why people should be particularly patient with young, skilful central midfielders coming back from serious injuries. The physical challenge of coming back is one thing, but then you have to ally that with all the multi-tasking that playing in central midfield involves. Hopefully Gary Gardner's another one who comes good after perseverance by all parties involved.

Very good point, hopefully will be the same case with Okore, he looked a real prospect when we signed him.

He's not looked to shabby since he came back.  Don't forget he's still young (22/23) in what's effectively his first season at this level.  Compare and contrast to Baker and Clark in their first seasons.

Oh and a hands up for Baker.  He may never be first choice, but I was convinced that he'd do well in league 1, but his discipline and positioning have improved beyond recognition this season.

[paul_e]

Baker is better than I thought and is now at least worth a squad place (but he's not good enough to start regularly in this league and isn't fit enough to do it anyway).

Cleverley has always looked massively overrated to me, his current form is the best I've seen from him and if he can keep it up I'll happily withdraw my criticism of him.

Petrov was always someone I criticised but that was never down to ability or effort, it was down to the fact that he always looked out on his feet after an hour.

[Breezeblock]

anyone remember Ugo Ehiogu's debut, think it was against Norwich

written of in 90 minutes by most people there

Fairly sure Ehiogu's (home) debut was a cup match v Oxford United and he had a blinder.

[Breezeblock]

A few years ago We were away at Fulham and the new striker missed an absolute sitter right in front of us.  My 12-year-old  daughter could have put it away blindfolded.  I turned to the old fella and said "He'll never make a premier league striker while he's got a hole up his arse!".  The old man concurred.  That young striker?  Chap called Christian Benteke. Oops!   

Except it wasn't a sitter...

Beg to differ there mate. Right on his head on the edge of the 6-yard box with the goalie stranded and he put it wide, high and not very handsome.  And it wasn't just that miss - he'd missed a few at the other end in the first half.

[dekko]

Today there are a few articles knocking around from the Birmingham mail etc that are suggesting that Helenius, Sylla, Tonev and Luna won't have a future at the club.  Bennett and Gardner on the other hand will get a chance.