Football prodigies - the fine line between success and failure

“Martinelli by the way, everybody should remember that name.” High praise from Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, singling out Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli after their recent Carabao Cup semi-final clash.

It is reminiscent of Clive Tyldesley’s infamous “remember the name” commentary following a 16-year-old Wayne Rooney winning goal for Everton against Arsenal. Tyldesley’s statement that day in October 2002 would prove to be apt. Rooney’s name is not just remembered but etched into football history.

Whether Martinelli fulfils his undoubted potential will remain to be seen. For every Rooney, there are several other prodigious talents that, for various reasons, fail to live up to their early promise.

Mentality

Seldom will a player be able to rely on their ability alone. Arguably one of the most wasted talents in English football, Ravel Morrison, was lauded by Sir Alex Ferguson as possessing “as much natural talent as any youngster we ever signed.” He was considered the outstanding player in the Manchester United academy as they won the FA youth cup in 2011, outshining the likes of Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard. However, he would only go on to make 3 senior appearances for the club, all in the league cup. Off-field behaviour and a lack of dedication and focus would ultimately see his career never reach the heights that his talent merited. Ferguson would later disclose that the player was not "emotionally or mentally strong enough." and "kept getting into trouble."

Almost simultaneously, on the blue side of Manchester, there were high hopes for their very own home-grown phenomenon. Michael Johnson was tipped for greatness by many around the club with former team-mate, Dietmar Hamann, describing him as the “most complete young player I’ve ever seen.” It was quite the accolade from someone who played alongside the likes of Steven Gerrard and Michael Ballack.

Like Morrison, Johnson’s downfall was mainly due to problems away from the pitch. It is difficult to comprehend the impact of having such vast exposure from the outside world at such an early age. Some may start to believe their own hype and take their eye off the ball. In an interview with Football London, Chelsea youngster Josh McEachran admitted “I was this 17-year-old kid playing forChelsea, being talked about as a future England player. I honestly thought I’dcracked it.”

For Johnson it almost had the opposite effect. By his own admission he struggled with mental health and self-esteem. The adulation he was receiving from footballing quarters made no difference as “that praise was for football. I knew I was a good footballer. I always had a sort of unwavering belief in myself as a footballer.” His struggles stemmed from anxiety and a lack of confidence away from football, which he admits wasn’t conducive for someone “going into the public eye.” His mental health and, ultimately, a lack of motivation resulted in a premature end to his football career at the age of 24.  

Conversely, players with limited ability, but an abundance of commitment and mental fortitude, can go on to have stellar careers. Lee Sharpe famously recalls finding Gary Neville, after training, throwing balls repeatedly against a gym wall “practicing longthrows, Gary Neville’s idea of fun.” Clearly, it was not Neville’s idea of fun, more the commitment to continually improve every aspect of his game. Comparing the careers of Sharpe and Neville only serves to emphasise this point. That of the more talented Sharpe largely overshadowed by Neville’s illustrious career.

Environment

A player’s career may suffer the misfortune of bad timing or circumstance. Although it would be far too simplistic to view this in isolation, it can certainly have a detrimental effect. Josh McEachran, like Morrison, was a standout player in Chelsea’s 2010 FA youth cup winning side. His performances caught the eye of then manager, Carlo Ancelotti, who made him a permanent fixture in the first team squad for the 2010/11 season. Making 17 senior appearances in all competitions that season, McEachran was even offered a five-year contract to join Real Madrid but decided to stay with Chelsea.

In an unfortunate twist of fate, Ancelotti – who was moulding McEachran into a deep lying midfielder as he did with Andrea Pirlo - would later be relieved of his duties. Different managers came and went, but none trusted McEachran or saw him fitting into their plans, as Ancelotti did. It was a case of 'what if' for McEachran, who eventually departed Chelsea for the lower leagues.

On the flip side, Phil Foden, a player in the same mould as McEachran, is an example of a player that has benefitted from the right environment and good management. His early Manchester City career was heavily scrutinised with many outsiders strongly advocating a loan move to enhance his development. However, he stayed at the club and continued to learn from Pep Guardiola – and the myriad of elite players in training – which afforded him the time to develop. A decision that is now bearing fruit for both the club and the player.

That is not to say that the loan system doesn’t work. The likes of Harry Kane, John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, David Beckham, among others, all gained valuable experience and playing time by going out on loan to the lower leagues. As much as anything else, it provided them with a grounding and humility that helped shape their careers.

Injuries     

An unfortunate part of football, injuries can severely hinder a player’s progression. That was the situation for Jack Rodwell - another who was thrust into the limelight at an early age. Making his senior debut for Everton as a 16-year-old, he became their youngest ever player to represent them in Europe. He would quickly become a first team regular with former team-mate, Landon Donovan, suggesting he is the “future of England” and a “world-beater.”

His performances were rewarded with an England senior call up in 2011, before being snapped up by Manchester City – newly crowned Premier League champions - in 2012. It would prove to be a frustrating period for Rodwell with recurring injuries restricting him to just 16 Premier League appearances – many as a substitute - across two seasons in Manchester. He was subsequently sold to Sunderland in 2014 and on a downward trajectory ever since – neatly epitomised by his unwelcome record for the most Premier League games (39) without a win, in which he started.

Summary

The reality, to a greater or lesser extent, is that a player’s success or failure will be defined by a combination of all these factors. And the template for developing any one individual will rarely be the same. However, the common denominator in most cases is the focus, desire and dedication to succeed. Players are far more likely to achieve success with it than without it.