Dare I say Torres ? He's had a bit of a renaissance this past 2 years at Atletico, albeit not to the level he was at Liverpool pre-injury, but not as bad as the Chelsea days.
Players with Torres-like collapses who managed to return to their best
- Thread starter Hound Dog
- Start date
How about our very own Nani?
Looked like he was finished once shipped off to Sporting and then regains form in turkey and had an incredible euros getting him a big move to Valencia.
Also Van der Saar rotting away at Fulham and looked on the way to retirement then went on too be one of our best keepers of all time.
That's just 2 of the top of my head
Looked like he was finished once shipped off to Sporting and then regains form in turkey and had an incredible euros getting him a big move to Valencia.
Also Van der Saar rotting away at Fulham and looked on the way to retirement then went on too be one of our best keepers of all time.
That's just 2 of the top of my head
Well if it was all about goals then Cavani wouldn't be mentioned in this thread, Zlatan at Barca was a shadow of the player he was meant to be there.tbf to horsechoker, Zlatan scored 21 goals that season, so I'm not sure how you could describe that as a collapse. The raging is lovely tho
Not a great example but Anelka's career never went the way it really should have done before he had a bit of a renaissance and ended up winning the golden boot at Chelsea.
Forlan is a great shout.
And @horsechoker , you should become a screenwriter. I literally read that five times, and saw it in different scenes.
And @horsechoker , you should become a screenwriter. I literally read that five times, and saw it in different scenes.
He had terrible knee injuries in that time period I think.
He faded badly after the first knee injury, he was actually pretty good when he played after the 98 World Cup, the 1999 Copa America being a case in point, he just struggled with injuries (was unfit against us in 99) and then had the biggie and that basically ended what could've been the greatest player in the history of the game. He came back for the 2002 World Cup a changed player, no longer quite the force of nature he was when he was young and it was testament to his quality that he won the Golden Boot and then the Pichichi. With two shitty knees and weight issues he still managed a few great seasons for Madrid.
We were robbed of something impossibly special when his knee gave way that first time.
Luc Toni
That is the exact same thing I thought of when I read the op
Chicharito
Robben
Might remember wrongly, but didn't his form dive incredibly with the injuries he got at Chelsea?
Hazard
Might be too shot term to mention, but last season was dreadful.
Di Maria
Same as with Hazard. Had a bad year here, had a ridiculous great season at PSG afterwards.
Might remember wrongly, but didn't his form dive incredibly with the injuries he got at Chelsea?
Hazard
Might be too shot term to mention, but last season was dreadful.
Di Maria
Same as with Hazard. Had a bad year here, had a ridiculous great season at PSG afterwards.
Maybe stretching it a little here, but Andy Cole? Prolific for Newcastle, his reputation went downhill (unfairly it must be said) after THAT West Ham game, and he struggled to establish himself at United during the 95/96 and 96/97 seasons. Began to come into his own once Cantona left, but the general disappointment of the 97/98 season left him in a precarious position with Fergie signing Yorke and trying for Kluivert.
But ironically enough, Yorke's arrival provided the catalyst for his own revival, and by the 99/00 season he was our most important striker, and generally from 98 - 01 established himself firmly as a fan favourite, forever casting aside the Hoddle-fuelled doubts that had plagued him earlier.
But ironically enough, Yorke's arrival provided the catalyst for his own revival, and by the 99/00 season he was our most important striker, and generally from 98 - 01 established himself firmly as a fan favourite, forever casting aside the Hoddle-fuelled doubts that had plagued him earlier.
Watching Ivanovic lately, I'm wondering if he is on steroids now.
Perfect timing
Those Trainspotting quotes make me really sad, so much truth to it yet strangely it somehow feels like I never fully realised it up until now despite seeing the film at least five times.
Maybe Cruijff at Feijenoord, that was quite something. But it was a very long time ago.
Maybe Cruijff at Feijenoord, that was quite something. But it was a very long time ago.
I'm dying.
The nation level makes a comeback!
Walter Samuel.
Most expensive defender in the world when he joined Roma:
Filipe Luís (considering his Chelsea stint), Lamela (arguably the best young player in Serie A to disappointment at Tottenham, to then regaining a lot of his lost form), Hernán Crespo at Chelsea before resurrecting himself at Inter and Milan, Dennis Bergkamp at Ajax-Internazionale (was even termed Donkey of the Week)-Arsenal - didn't reach his Ballon D'Or Top 3 standard but still exceptional, Pirlo (though the substandard quality of his ultimate season at Milan had a lot to do with Allegri), Barzagli (really good at Palermo - regular Italy national team player, progressively poor at Wolfsburg - leading to a sub-€1 million transfer, then a Top 5 CB in the world at his peak at Juventus), Cannavaro pre-post Internazionale - reaching the peak of his career. The decline of some wasn't as pronounced as Torres, though.
Most expensive defender in the world when he joined Roma:
Quality in Rome - where he was elected to ESM Team of the Year twice. Minor liability at Madrid:
Before regaining his ability and form at Internazionale under José - culminating in the treble season where he was imperious.
Filipe Luís (considering his Chelsea stint), Lamela (arguably the best young player in Serie A to disappointment at Tottenham, to then regaining a lot of his lost form), Hernán Crespo at Chelsea before resurrecting himself at Inter and Milan, Dennis Bergkamp at Ajax-Internazionale (was even termed Donkey of the Week)-Arsenal - didn't reach his Ballon D'Or Top 3 standard but still exceptional, Pirlo (though the substandard quality of his ultimate season at Milan had a lot to do with Allegri), Barzagli (really good at Palermo - regular Italy national team player, progressively poor at Wolfsburg - leading to a sub-€1 million transfer, then a Top 5 CB in the world at his peak at Juventus), Cannavaro pre-post Internazionale - reaching the peak of his career. The decline of some wasn't as pronounced as Torres, though.
Van Der Saar when he signed for Juventus, was first choice but dodgy as hell, lacked any confidence at all. Juve then signed Buffon and he didnt want to be No.2. Went to Fulham and then turned into one of the best for us.
Bergkamp was so good for Ajax but couldn't hit the barn door at Inter. Turned into one of the best forwards in Europe with Arsenal.
To an extent Henry, was an awesome player at Monaco in his youth. Moved to Juve and was complete rubbish.
Bergkamp was so good for Ajax but couldn't hit the barn door at Inter. Turned into one of the best forwards in Europe with Arsenal.
To an extent Henry, was an awesome player at Monaco in his youth. Moved to Juve and was complete rubbish.
Claudio Pizarro had a ridiculously bad 2-goal season at Chelsea, returned to Germany at Bremen and in the next two years he scored 28 each season. Moved to Bayern again, won the CL with them.
Lassana Diarra...
Exactly who I was about to say . This may be controversial , but I think anelka had it in him to be a ballon d'or contender he just quite simply didn't give a feck 95% of the time . When he wanted a new contract , or a move to a big team , he simply raised his game to levels he knew he could perform comfortably at . He'd then get his move, bump up his pay and then go back to not giving a toss .
David de gea is a good example for a goalkeeper . Although he was young , he was excellent at athletico , and we all remember how shaky he was when he first moved to OT. Now he's rivalling neuer for worlds best .
De Gea was never as shaky as it was made out by the press. After a few months he was solid for the whole season
Hopefully, Balotelli will be on this list soon.
VdS? Looked poor in Italy, went to Fulham and got back to his normal self. Moved to United and then won everything.
An all-time classic
I thought the thread was about Valencia until I read the OP. If he carries on the way he has then he'd be up there, but it's unlikely he'll ever get back to the point where his services are demanded on the wing again instead.
Please tell me there's a reference I'm missing here. This is absolutely fantastic
The enigma that is fontaine..
Well actually it is not a striker friendly league. But I agree, he redeemed himself.
Nani did not have a very good season in Turkey. In fact Fener was begging Chinese clubs to buy him up until Euro started.
But his whole career has been up and down. Even in United, he had 3 months of excellence following 3 months of benchwarming.
Yes, that's the answer to everything now
Great pick up.I'd love to read the original
Lol, well played.
I am always hearing it to the tune of California Love.
====
SORRY IT'S THE PHONE
NATIONLEVEEEEL
NATION
NATION
NATIONLEVEL
NATIONAL LEVEL
https://www.redcafe.net/threads/rivaldo-still-hasnt-retired.406175/#post-17727948I'd love to read the original
I think this is it.
I'm still reading through that thread, but somebody needs to make one of those videos out of it. I don't know what they're called, or really how to describe them very well, but they're sort of animated videos where the dialogue uses some sort of text-to-speech thing. I really hope someone knows what I'm talking about so I don't look foolish.
Was just thinking exactly that. He had a pretty good goal ratio at one point at Real didnt he. Went on a couple of scoring streaks.