either they didn't get enough caps, were overlooked, injured or underacheived.. Matt Murray B Bonds S Bruce L King J Dicks D Bentley D Rocastle M Le Tissier P Beagrie S Collymore S Bull
Always felt that Carlton Cole was on the verge of greatness but never quite got there, along with Darren Bent, who has failed to impress at international level.
I think there's loads of players who come into that category. Basically every striker that's played in the last 7 or 8 years apart from Rooney and Owen. Because there are so few international games, and only 2 strikers spots available, it always seems to me like a player gets tried at international level, does OK but then by the time the next game comes it's someone else who is in top form and deserves the place instead or they get injured or whatever. Until someone actually pulls away from that pack and becomes established alongside Rooney, it will keep going on. In fact having mentioned Owen, he's a good candidate for this list. His career should have been miles better than it has turned out to be because of injuries etc.
I agree with you, he played fantastic in a friendly against Holland and Capello never looked at him again.. strange
no joke, whilst watching the England failing to reach Euro 2008, I was thinking Windass could help this team.. at his best he was good enough IMO..
The fact Capello keeps overlooking Micah Richards at the moment is criminal, performed much better than Glen Johnson this season. Without his injuries we could well have seen more of the Michael Owen from between 1998-2005
Robbie Fowler should've got more caps, before he knacked his knee in '98 he was second only to Shearer for 3 years bagging 30+ goals for 3 seasons in a row, shame for him that Sheringham was such a perfect partner for Shearer
Stan Bowles Rodney Marsh Tony Currie Frank Worthington Peter Osgood Paul Reaney all criminally under used. Colin Bell lost years through injury.
The first name on everyone's lists should be Duncan Edwards. (Not to mention Tommy Taylor, Edie Colman etc.) That said, Le Tissier is a classic example - it's a shame England never found a way to make use of his incredible talent. Jonathan Woodgate was nothing less than incredible in driving Leeds to the Champions League semis - but since then it's all been downhill. A great England centre-half that never happened.
Jimmy Rimmer, Dave Jones, Steve Bloor, Dave Needham, Billy Bonds, Alan Hudson, Steve Perryman, Dennis Mortimer, John Hollins, Charlie George, Jimmy Greenhoff 6 caps between them!
not just more england caps, his career in general could have been so much more, as you say for 3/4 years when he 1st burst on to the scene he was unplayable...
Ian Wright was also unlucky - he and Fowler were just around at the wrong time England-wise, as Shearer was the clear top man and Sheringham proved to be the best foil for him. What England would give for a goalscorer like Fowler or Wright now...
Wright got 33 caps, so had a decent England career, he also scored 9, which wasn't too shabby. Fowler also got 26 caps and scored 7, but as dj says, he should have done more in his career. Bizarrely, he went to play in the Thai league this year and despite only scoring a couple of times, he became a massive hit with the fans, so when they sacked the manager after a poor run of results, they appointed him player/coach. For anyone who's interested, his team are currently 3rd, but not doing too well of late, they've lost 4 of their last 5 games.
