Rio Ferdinand and Joe Cole pick 'wasted potential XI' including Arsenal star
Rio Ferdinand and Joe Cole named their 'Unfulfilled FC' as they devised a team full of players who never delivered on their potential.
There have been a host of youngsters who've been tipped to make the top only to fail to make the grade - whether that be as a result of injuries, focus or just bad luck. Jack Wilshere was among a host of Englishmen named in the XI as the Arsenal academy graduate failed to hit the heights expected.
Chris Kirkland, previously of Liverpool, was named as the goalkeeper with a host of injuries meaning he never managed to establish himself at Anfield. Ledley King and Micah Richards formed half of the back four with the ex-Tottenham man hailed for his talent throughout his career.
Richards managed to land a Premier League title with Manchester City but called time on his career at 31 as he, like King, struggled with injuries. Jorge Andrade and Royston Drenthe were the other two members of the back four with the latter eventually ending up at Everton and then Reading.
As a youngster, he burst onto the scene with Feyenoord and was named the best player at the U21 Euros in 2007. That earned him a move to Real Madrid, but his career quickly nosedived and he added himself to the list of players who failed to deliver on their promise.
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In midfield, Wilshere is joined by former Gunners colleague Abou Diaby. The dynamic Frenchman was tipped for huge things but endured an injury-hit career like few others. Adel Taarabt, once of QPR and Tottenham, and Andres D'Alessandro were named on the flanks.
Mario Balotelli was one half of the front two with the flamboyant Italian playing for several top European sides, occasionally showcasing his quality, but failing to deliver consistently. Brazilian international and former Inter Milan star Adriano was also selected - and is the man that most frustrates Ferdinand.
Jack Wilshere and Abou Diaby were both tipped for huge things at ArsenalHe told TNT Sports: "There's one name that just came to me when we were talking, Moussa Dembele was one, every single player who played with him said he was an unbelievable talent. The one that jumps out to me is Adriano, he was like heralded as the next coming of R9, left-footed, absolute machine, had everything.
"There's different elements that take away from players or mean they don't fulfil potential, for him a family bereavement, I think his father passed away and I heard Zanetti his captain talk about that moment and say it took a lot out of him. Injuries really took away the power and the poise for him to go on and fulfil that potential. There was no doubt this guy if things had worked out for him he would have gone on to be a world class."
Unfulfilled FC: Kirkland, Richards, King, Andrade, Drenthe; Taarabt, Wilshere, Diaby, D'Alessandro; Adriano, Balotelli
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