I dunno, it's not from meeting them, more that i think those that make it have a certain nastiness, a certain single mindedness, Shearer, Defoe, Costa, Firmino, Van Persie, Aguero, Ibra, Long, Deeney, Vardy, - they all seem like they'd murder your granny for a goal.
Gabby had it coming through, he wanted to shame defenders, he'd chip away at them all game, in their ear games were a fight - it's what's gone from him. It's what stopped Vassell doing justice to his enormous talent, he was shy, he just wanted to play.
Thierry Henry said English football was a fight, he celebrated every goal in front of the away fans, he was arrogant and a bully. Delfouneso always looked like he wanted to help a defender up, shake his hand, share a smile; Shearer always looked like he wanted him dead.
I'm sure they're all great company off the pitch and I think that's where I'm in the wrong in the way I've described RHM - but in my experience of watching youth football, there are lots of players that have the talent to come through, the ones that really seem to do well though always seem to have an edge.