Being a football tragic like every other Manager lover, you cannot help but to be captivated by the concept of the book. Although I have found it difficult to get my hands on a copy due to living in Australia, the idea of players that just never quite made it in the real life got me thinking as to which Everton players fall into this category.
Now I believe the book goes into detail about causing divorces, and ruining honeymoons, for the average ‘manager’, but my focus is on the players who had their career’s ‘ruined’ by Football Manager, as the likes of Cherno Samba claim. Nevertheless, here is my list of Evertonians who come under the ‘not quite’ bracket. If I forget anyone, or am I too harsh, please feel free to let me know.
Lars Stubhaug: The young Norwegian keeper was one of the hot prospects of the 2007 game in particular. The then 17-year-old I remember distinctly would become back up to Tim Howard within the first two years or so. Nowadays, Stubhaug is back in Norway playing for Honefoss after representing his county’s Under-19s and Under-21s side during his time at Everton.
John-Paul Kissock: This guy may as well have been nicknamed wonderkid. We all believed he was going to be star, he was a gun on the game but for whatever reason his career never eventuated. The left winger was another one from the ’07 game, he would challenge for a first team place within two years of the game. Now, however JP is contracted to Luton Town (remember them?), in the Conference League.
Scott Spencer: Signed from Oldham, and supposedly as good as Wayne Rooney. I just laughed loudly as well, no need to panic. In the game he was probably better than the before mentioned duo, scored plenty of goals in the Under-18s (in the game) and challenged from the start. He currently plays for Hyde FC, where according to the ever credible Wikipedia; he’s scored 33 goals in 34 games. If only he went close to mirroring those figures for us.
Scott Phelan: Gun right winger, again from the ‘07 game. Scored plenty of goals and had plenty of assists in the virtual world. Was an English youth international, so must have had some potential, but he never played a senior game for us. Phelan is currently with Altrincham having had stints at Bradford and Halifax Town.
Patrick Boyle: The young Scottish full-back was a solid prospect in the 05-07 games. I believe he came close to getting a senior game, and he might have played in a few Cup matches from memory. Left us in ’08 after failing to secure another deal, went back to Scotland and is now contracted to Dunfermline Athletic in the Scottish First Division.
Bjarni Vidarrson: He was an industrious defensive midfielder from Iceland, who was bred into a footballing family. Came to Everton as a 16-year-old, and was prominent throughout the academy team, and I think might have made a few bench appearances for the seniors. In the game, he was a good prospect in ’06 and ’07, but like the others, just didn’t quite make the breakthrough. Interestingly enough, he has played for his country at senior level (albeit once) and now is playing for Silkeborg in Denmark.
James Vaughan: Not much needs to be said. Injuries crippled any chance he had of being the star we thought he was going to be. Now at Norwich, and a real shame, because I really felt that he was going to be something else, especially after the Crystal Palace game all those years ago. Maybe not a victim of Football Manager fever because we saw plenty of him, but he was tipped to be a star in the game as well, which never came into fruition.
Jose Baxter: Again someone who was dubbed a future star. In the game he was good, but he is only 20 in real life, so it may be difficult to say whether he’s a victim of Manager. But, he was supposed to be a one of those players in the upper echelon of potential. He showed glimpses and now… he’s a free-agent. Shame, because I really felt he had talent, time will tell how good he turns out.
I am sure there a names I have forgotten, definitely a few from before the 2006 game which is when I started playing, so I would love to hear any names that I have missed. Hopefully the game has brought joy to many of you guys, and not tension, and break ups as illustrated in the book. Bring on FM 2013; our team is looking better than it ever has!
Reader Comments (34)
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2 Posted 30/08/2012 at 15:08:55
Stephen Hughes, Simon Davies, Claus Thompson (although I think he had 4 for pace), Amokachi was good before he came to us, John Ebbrell was brilliant on a very early edition, Stuart Barlow always had 20 pace and would bang a few in.
3 Posted 30/08/2012 at 15:38:54
4 Posted 30/08/2012 at 15:55:06
5 Posted 30/08/2012 at 16:05:08
6 Posted 30/08/2012 at 16:18:10
Was unreal, just had a weird position.
Jon O'Connor was awesome (real career never reached his Champ Manager heights)
7 Posted 30/08/2012 at 16:23:55
8 Posted 30/08/2012 at 16:40:48
Funnily enough my last version (2009) Fellaini always becomes a world class goalscoring midfielder.
9 Posted 30/08/2012 at 17:57:20
10 Posted 30/08/2012 at 19:00:27
I had to quit the game cold turkey as it's the only thing in life I get hooked on. Bloody thing is released again soon and I may have to go back for one more hit. Just one...
11 Posted 30/08/2012 at 20:18:13
12 Posted 30/08/2012 at 20:50:11
The funniest tale I ever heard about the narcotic effects of the game was that a woman filing for divorce told a courtroom that one night she woke up alone in bed & wondered where her husband was.
She then padded downstairs only to find him dressed up in a suit, conducting a post-match 'interview' - in the mirror...
13 Posted 30/08/2012 at 21:12:48
14 Posted 30/08/2012 at 22:28:00
15 Posted 30/08/2012 at 22:31:23
I hope that story is true, a little bit of wee came out when I read it.
16 Posted 30/08/2012 at 22:29:57
May the sun shine forever on the Collyer brothers.
17 Posted 31/08/2012 at 01:17:55
That story is brilliant! Reminds of this video I saw a few weeks ago..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNtMZuc7_BY
Regadring James Wallace, he had some good potential in the game. I signed him to Southampton in the '12 game, and he was serviceable. Sometimes though, I feel compelled to be upset at player departues in the real life, knowing the impact it has on Manager. Rodwell was an example of this....but thankfully reason eventually takes over.
18 Posted 31/08/2012 at 02:14:04
TONTON ZOLA MOUKOKO
If only he had made it. Derbys equivilent to Leo Messi!!
19 Posted 31/08/2012 at 07:23:14
Shandy down the wing putting crosses in and Beattie banging them in.
A few seasons in to the game in a more recent version Maggie Gueye has been a star. Player of the season in a premier league and FA Cup winning season.
Can't say I have ever got as far as conducting an interview with myself, but have looked back at meeting notes from work to see formations, planned signings etc.
20 Posted 31/08/2012 at 11:12:47
He was 17 at the start of the game in 98 or so... a Forward (Right) but had incredible stats. May have actually been called Richard but we abbreviated it (we did that kind of thing!).
I reckon I read later that he had a knee problem and never made the grade.
Going to bug the hell of me until I remember it!
21 Posted 31/08/2012 at 13:09:37
Footy Manager just takes over your life. I'm 34 and me and my mates still call and text tactics and future stars!! I seem to remember Niclas Alexandersson being brilliant on it and playing in every position.
And the 2001 version, whatever you did with Everton, you went down, with the likes of Farrelly and Danny Williamson, you were knackered!!
22 Posted 31/08/2012 at 13:24:36
Other gems you could pick up back then was Andri Sigporsson and Kennedy Bakirciouglu. You could pick them up for about £250k and they would be world-beaters. If only it was that easy!
23 Posted 31/08/2012 at 15:22:53
Interesting read here on Lamptey, for those who may be interested:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nii_Lamptey
Once tipped as 'the new Pelé' & Belgian football even changed their minimum age limit requirements in order for him to make his debut!
24 Posted 31/08/2012 at 15:30:00
25 Posted 31/08/2012 at 16:49:46
And John, nah it was definitely a Richard. It will come to me long after this thread's forgotten!
26 Posted 31/08/2012 at 17:14:36
Went to Marine but looks like he was plagued with injuries.
RICHIE TOWNSEND
“...Striker in his third season after joining from Welsh Leaguers Cwmbran. Began as a schoolboy with Marine before moving to Everton...” ( Rushden & Diamonds, Feb. 2000 )
27 Posted 31/08/2012 at 19:59:19
28 Posted 31/08/2012 at 20:59:55
29 Posted 01/09/2012 at 01:45:48
Do you know the detials about the deal with Sports Interactive? Does anyone?
30 Posted 01/09/2012 at 14:40:38
31 Posted 01/09/2012 at 14:26:27
32 Posted 03/09/2012 at 10:59:49
33 Posted 03/09/2012 at 14:17:30
I Sold Rodwell to Man Utd at 10pm on transfer deadline day for £30million and there was no time to get a replacement in.
34 Posted 03/09/2012 at 14:27:11
He would take one season to develop (having signed for about £250k) and then suddenly become a world beater!! I don't know if he ever really existed in real life??
I also fell for the Bakayoko hype, and was bitterly disappointed when he turned out to be utter crap in real life.
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1 Posted 30/08/2012 at 15:01:08
Richard Wright, always a solid keeper.
Rodrigo, was surprisingly good one season.