CS: I cannot put myself in the mindset of our people t throughout our entire golus. Maybe there was speculation (as there was by the third Chabad Rebbe) but nothing came of it, and it died out.
Other factors: for much of our history, world Jewry was separated. Ashkenazim hardly knew of the Rambam, and Sephardim hardly knew of Rashi. Which would make speculation unlikely.
Yankel berel wasn’t addressing whether there was speculation as to the identity of Mashiach he asked you: Was there no group of people thirsting for geula like you, in the whole 1900 plus years since the Hurban ?
Note, thirsting for the geula, not speculating as to identity.