The Mamaluke wrote:
Yes, and David Cross had a beard like Peter Sutcliffe. My point is, how do we know unless he gets a chance. Lee has been a prolific scorer at U16, U18 and U21 level but these days, because of the money involved owners and managers are highly risk averse ! If Lee was scoring goals back then he would have had a chance by now (notwithstanding the 10 min run out at Old Trafford). In Germany, France, Spain, Holland, Argentina, African nation of your choice, young players are playing at the top level more quickly. Once they become good enough they often fetch up here. It's why (imho) we have a national team who have achieved the square root of fuck all for a very long time.
But it's not just about giving people a chance is it?  The game has changed.  Can't remember what TV or radio it was on, but it was only in the last few weeks I heard some pundit talking about how glad Lineker must be that he was born when he was because he would never have had the same career now, because the way most teams play is just not set up for that kind of a player.  Hardly rocket science.