but Le Tallec is a good example of where Peter Crouch was...

...signed as a highly-rated youngster, then basically forgotten about with everyone wondering if he actually was any good at all and just needing a chance to prove himself.

Huckerby - a highly-rated (at times) winger who often got bought for a large sum and then quickly replaced by someone even more high-profile, but ultimately not considered good enough to start at a below-average Premier side.

Both of them "wonder whatever happened to...?" types. Neither was, at the time, considered to be "one of the best forwards in the Premier league".

Had he been frozen out of the team as expected, Bowyer could have been the "Huckerby" figure (although his history and personality are obviously different).

But let's face it - this time around the "Huckerby" would have to be either a central midfielder or defender, which is of course far less exciting.

Posted By: Steve in Holland, Sep 4, 12:51:59