Ex-Cobblers players with the most unrealised talent

[bungle]

Ishmel Demontagnac was definitely in the 'huge natural ability but poor attitude' category. A skilful winger who should have had a much better career.

On the loanee front, I still remember the seeing Matthew Rush waltz past defenders. Had a decent enough career.

An interesting reverse of this question is to think about players who looked fairy underwhelming but went on to have amazing careers. Calvert Lewin would be the obvious example. Looked promising certainly but I doubt there's many Cobblers fans who would have pegged him for future England caps. Kyle Walker was excellent for us, but again I would never have predicted that he'd have quite the career that he's had. As tcobb says, it's all about the capacity for learning/improvement. Top players are constantly getting better; mediocre players plateau and stop learning.

[Zen Master]

For all his faults you can’t knock his effort at tackling Dele Alli

[WadeyCobbler]

Regardless of their output for us, in terms of natural talent which Cobblers players over the years do you think could have gone on to a higher level

Agree with a lot of the players already spoken about including Efon Elad, that bottle of fizzy pop.
The late Martin Aldridge I thought could have become a prolific scorer in the top flight or worst case Championship level, but never realised his potential.
Jason Burnham looked cool and composed in his early years. What happened to him? Similarly Mark Parsons of the same era.
Ian Benjamin was class but never went beyond League One level after us. Roy Hunter, James Hunt, Ali Gibb all spring to mind. Paul Hubertz, certainly never made it in England, no idea where he ended up. Whilst at the other end of the scale Ron-Robert Zieler ended up winning a Champions League!

[EB Claret]

Adam Smith? remember how good he was for nine months?
Anyone else remember Godfrey Ingram?

[everbrite]

Barry Lines - good cricketer too. John Kurila did well for us even out tackling Dave McKay at the 1-1 draw at Tottenham. Peter Kane went to Arsenal and failed. Bunn is another Candidate as is Jacobs, both never justified the high transfer fees (for us that is)! The club is littered with examples of past failures and relatively few successes like Phil Neal and Knocker Gregory.

[Jim Hall Fixit]

Eric Sabin, Pedj Bojic and Derek Asamoah!!!

[Melbourne Cobbler]

Hands down Ian Taylor. Twice turned down the opportunity to play for Barbados as he wanted to play for England but never did, absolute travesty. Always the complete professional, started life as a forklift truck driver which probably explains the difference between him and some of these petulant players who are handed careers on a plate.

[everbrite]

Eric Sabin, Pedj Bojic and Derek Asamoah!!!

All three were reasonable successes here - Sabin was sometimes brilliant and clearly blessed with pace and talent. He really should have gone onto better things!

[lordjord]

Adam Smith? remember how good he was for nine months?
Anyone else remember Godfrey Ingram?

Adam Smith popped up in my head also. His performance against Leyton Orient at home is without doubt the best goalkeepers performance in my time here. Everything seemed to be going for him (think Derby came in with a really tiny offer at one point) but then it all went downhill. I wonder if the Man U game killed his confidence as he had a nightmare on a nationally televised game.

Still, would never have thought he would have to drop down to the conference, really surprised he never made it further.

[Winslow Lee]

His career was blighted and eventually ended by injury but Matthew Rush had great talent.

[Saint Cobbler]

[Saint Cobbler]

Oh, this one worked. Always get 'you are not permitted to post replies on this board'

[Madrid Cobbler]

Barry Lines - good cricketer too. John Kurila did well for us even out tackling Dave McKay at the 1-1 draw at Tottenham. Peter Kane went to Arsenal and failed. Bunn is another Candidate as is Jacobs, both never justified the high transfer fees (for us that is)! The club is littered with examples of past failures and relatively few successes like Phil Neal and Knocker Gregory.

I suppose more failures than successes at a higher level is normal for a club like ours, but there have been other successes: Richard Hill, Trevor Morley, Eddie McGoldrick and George Reilly all played a considerable number of games in the top flight after playing for us and there are perhaps one or two more as well.

[The 12th Marquis of Sixfields]

Hands down Ian Taylor. Twice turned down the opportunity to play for Barbados as he wanted to play for England but never did, absolute travesty. Always the complete professional, started life as a forklift truck driver which probably explains the difference between him and some of these petulant players who are handed careers on a plate.

Not sure he had unrealised talent. He played well over 200 games for Villa and was (I think) voted their player of the 90s

[Melbourne Cobbler]

Not sure he had unrealised talent. He played well over 200 games for Villa and was (I think) voted their player of the 90s

Fair enough but as far as England goes apparently Dennis Wise got picked in front of him as did David Batty and Carlton Palmer. They were taking the pi55.

[WadeyCobbler]

I suppose more failures than successes at a higher level is normal for a club like ours, but there have been other successes: Richard Hill, Trevor Morley, Eddie McGoldrick and George Reilly all played a considerable number of games in the top flight after playing for us and there are perhaps one or two more as well.

Richard Hill never get to realise his potential as the man who signed him, Graham Taylor left Watford and then he moved to Oxford before suffering a career ending injury. A real shame for the biggest star of the all conquering 86/87 side.