Five Premier League Wonderkids Who Failed To Live Up To Expectations (Part 1)

David Tully

3 years ago

Categories: Galleries, West Ham United News

Tags: Arsenal, aston villa, Chelsea, Everton, Leeds United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Sheffield United, Southampton, Spurs, West Ham, Wolves

Players get touted as being “wonderkids” all the time but only a small handful ever really make the step up to senior level and live up to the hype.

Many more fall by the wayside and find themselves playing for clubs nobody would have thought they’d end up playing for.

So, in this series, we will look at a number of teenage prodigies, profiling their careers and seeing where they are plying their trade now.

Press the next page as we look at five young players, touted for superstardom, who did not reach their potential.

Ravel Morrison

The midfielder was once heralded by Sir Alex Ferguson as the most talented player he had seen coming through the academy at Carrington but his senior career has led to him moving to 12 different clubs over the past decade.

Morrison has played in Italy, Mexico and Sweden, whilst also spending a few years at West Ham. He is currently playing in the Netherlands for ADO Den Haag.

Jack Rodwell

After breaking through at Everton, he landed a £12m move to Manchester City in 2012 but injuries blighted his two-year spell at the Etihad Stadium. He subsequently moved to Sunderland which turned out to be a disaster for the player.

Rodwell spent the first three years in the first team but after relegation to the Championship, controversy ensued when the Black Cats tried to cancel his contract. With the player earning £70,000 a week and not playing, it led to a standoff between the defender and the club, which eventually led to him leaving on a free transfer in 2018. He has tried to rebuild his career at Blackburn before moving to Sheffield United in 2019. He has played just two games since making the switch to the Blades.

Saido Berahino

The striker had a fantastic start to life in professional football, bagging himself 20 goals in the 2014/15 season for West Brom. However, a £12m switch to Stoke City in January 2017 saw him begin to struggle in front of goal.

Berahino failed to score during his first two seasons at the Bet365 Stadium and combined with his poor attitude and discipline off the pitch, his star began to fade very quickly. He is currently playing in the Belgian Pro League.

John Bostock

Tottenham landed the highly-rated teenager from Crystal Palace ahead of a number of other clubs in 2008, but despite being touted as one of the most exciting young players in the country, he struggled to make a first-team breakthrough.

Bostock went on loan to five different clubs before making a permanent move to Antwerp in 2013. After spells in Belgium, France and Turkey, he now finds himself a free agent after being released by Toulouse in October.

Jack Wilshere

The former England international has been hailed as one of the most talented English players of his generation but his career never really hit the heights that it should have.

During Wilshere’s ten years in Arsenal’s first team, he was only a regular starter for four of them due to injury. His move to West Ham failed to work out with him leaving on a free transfer earlier this season. He has yet to find a new club.