Thetownend.com

Amazed to read today that Phil Jones is leaving Man Utd. I can't be the only one surprised he was still there. Have they been keeping him in a cupboard or something?

Dele Alli

Jack Rodwell.

Where's he now?

Hell of a shout, that one.

Only 32 playing in Australia.

Kalvin Phillips

Chris Smalling

Phil Jones:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65646016

That's the story that prompted the thread. Who knew he was still in the United squad?

Ellis Iandilo

I ought to read upwards!

I thought he'd left about 2 years ago.

I so nearly did the very same thing...luckily I happened to scroll up to the original post, which I don't often do!

So a lot of Roy Hodgsons England team that are only in their early 30s but disappeared from the game in England based on Smalling and Rodwell.

Jagielka is 40 now and was still playing championship football last season.

Ashley young still going strong at nearly 38

Jay Bothroyd

Seth Johnson. England international

This means forgotten in the literal sense because I can't remember him at all. Name sounds vaguely familiar.

Michael Ricketts

Leeds offer him 35k a week when he only wanted 10 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Michael Bridges

Michael Johnson - Man City midfielder. Career only lasted 6 years between 2006 and 2012. Was tipped for the top and was brilliant for a time before injuries and mental health issues ruined him.

Jordan Ibe - Liverpool winger signed for £15 million by Bournemouth in 2016. As good as retired now at only 27 having last played for Derby in 2021.

Came on against us in the Carling Cup when we lost on pens after being out with a long term injury....unless i'm thinking of someone else.

Was an Estate agent last time i checked. Sven had him tipped as the next big thing.


Probably made so much money he can't be arsed to go on trial anywhere for a few grand a week.

Stephen Ireland. Nearly came to us… and then he didn’t!

By definition, it's quite hard to think of players when you'd forgotten they existed but somehow I've managed it....

Brad Smith - played a few games for us in 2016 on loan from Liverpool. Didn't do a hell of a lot and was sent back to Liverpool who sold him to Bournemouth for a mind boggling £6m (allegedly). Is now with Houston Dynamo in the MLS.

Any bit part players or even some more prominent players under Lee Powers reign of terror take up zero space in my memory. Mainly because I didn't pay for another ticket after the Bristol Rovers rained off debacle. He definitely qualifies.

So true. Going back through the depths of those Power era squads is a veritable "who the fuck is who"... Jeremy Balmy anyone?

Eccentric goalkeeper John Burridge

Magera..... 6 and 1/2 feet and couldnt head a ball for toffee....

Wasn’t that great with his feet either.

Yet still managed to get 4 caps for the Czech Republic and after he left us scored 60 goals in 180 games in the Czech top division and is still playing in the lower leagues there.

Whatever happened to EasyJet or whatever his name was.

His Wiki went cold

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eti%C3%ABnne_Esajas

Pyjamas was another one.

He would of strolled into this seasons squad!

Willie Carson

Perhaps we should have gone for his namesake Bam?

Which proves my point about players coming here with a reputation and being shit. Or being here without a reputation and being shit. Then fucking off elsewhere and prove otherwise. Leaves you scratching your head and wondering why.

Magera would have probably come good if he’d have been given a bit more time to settle into the English game. Scored a few crackers didn’t he (one against Vale?)

As for the subject.

Just seen an article on Twitter with Klopp saying Arthur Melo will be leaving Liverpool in the summer. He’s at Liverpool?

he's made a huge impact up in Merseyside hasn't he! Chelsea have had quite a few players down the years that seem to have been there for years without playing any matches. I can't remember exactly who but i'm sure they had a Dutch RB who simply never played, I thought it was Michaeal Reiziger but I googled him and it wasn't him.

Winston Bogarde

"On 1 September 2022, Liverpool announced the loan signing of Arthur.[17] Juventus specified that Liverpool had paid €4.5 million in loan fees, with an option to purchase the player for €37.5 million at the end of the one-year loan."

Weird

…and that was 00-04 so before the days of Chelsea (…and others) signing up loads of young talent and basically sending them out on loan for 4/5 years then getting rid before they’d even played…

Fabian Delph

Delph retired aged 32 despite playing 11 Premier League games that season...

I guess money is why players dropping down the leagues is so rare these days. No need to do it anymore.

Mark Walters was my favourite player when I was younger but you just don't see those sorts and we were still in the Championship I suppose. Matty Taylor is probably the closest since then for a 'Premier League quality' player.

Although Charlie probably fits the bill...

1 goal in 18 appearances for us, a low drive from 18 yards at Vale.

Henrik Ojamma

Some retire early for whatever reason and make a succes of what they turn to with Jermaine Jenas & Michael Doughty two examples. Another wasted career of a talented player who disappeared early is Francis Jeffers.

Scored 8 goals last season for his team Flora as they won the Estonian Premium Liiga, still only 32.

Most are financially set by the time the top paying clubs are done with them. From there it all comes down to how much love for the game do they have? Its either a massively reduced wage in the lower leagues or a bit of a lesser wage and moving to another country.

who remembers John McCloughlin.

Played over 200 games for us, got 2 promotions, and is now a French polisher!

Was that back in the 70's🤔

Yep. From Pompey, I think.

Yeah I remember him a right back I think.

That's the fella! Thanks! :)