This season, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United stars have been amongst the big disappointments. Read the Premier League letdown XI here.
Simon Mignolet (Liverpool)
No player has made more errors leading to goals than Simon Mignolet this season.
Although the Liverpool goalkeeper remains a fine shot-stopper, his distribution is far inferior to that of previous Anfield custodian Pepe Reina – only finding Reds team-mates with 15% of his kicks from hands.
Liverpool are in the Premier League title race due to their wonderful attacking players and tactical flexibility shown by manager Brendan Rodgers. Due to the £9m transfer fee, we feel more could be expected from Simon Mignolet.
Ashley Cole (Chelsea)
Last season, Ashley Cole was still being hailed as one of the very best left backs in world football.
This term he has been consigned to the bench to grow an admittedly magnificent beard, with Cesar Azpilicueta.
Still, at least he ought to be fresh for the World Cup.
For what it’s worth, despite Cole’s experience, we’d probably bring Luke Shaw as backup to Leighton Baines. At least he has some form to speak of.
Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur)
In what has been an underwhelming season for Tottenham Hotspur, it ought to have been the club’s best and most established players who stepped up.
Having been voted into the Premier League PFA Team of the Year for 2012-13, Jan Vertonghen has been an enormous disappointment this term.
The Belgian should be one of Spurs’ but instead his head has dropped, and he looks disinterested and eager for the season to end.
With that kind of mentality though, the big European move he may be hoping for may well fail to materialise.
Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United)
Rio Ferdinand was also voted into the Premier League PFA Team of the Year last term, but has struggled with back injuries, pace and general ineptitude.
Last season Man Utd lost just five of their 38 Premier League games. In the current campaign, they have already lost double that number, and Ferdinand making around half the tackles per game (0.7) to last season (1.3) is certainly not helping.
Sascha Riether (Fulham)
Fulham have conceded a frankly ludicrous 74 goals in 33 games.
While they have scored more than four other Premier League teams, no side has conceded within ten goals of the Cottagers’ total, and that is a big reason for their perilous position.
Riether was quietly impressive in his first season on loan at Fulham, and promptly signed for the west London team on a permanent deal.
He has been an unmitigated disaster since.
Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United)
David Moyes has spent over £42 million on Marouane Fellaini in signing him for both Everton and Manchester United.
However, it was clear that he was unconvinced by the Belgian even though he knew him best – he waited until he had failed to sign other targets such as Cesc Fabregas and Thiago Alcantara to move for his old player, signing him for an inflated price after his minimum fee release clause expired.
Now, it seems evident why Moyes was hesitant. Fellaini looks clumsy and laboured in possession, and his flailing elbows always look likely to land him in trouble.
Santi Cazorla (Arsenal)
Santi Cazorla gave an interview this week in which he dissected Arsenal’s mental fragility, but compared to last season, the Spaniard is himself having a poor campaign.
Cazorla scored 12 Premier League goals and provided 11 assists in 2012-13. This term he has only scored four and assisted four.
Cazorla missed games in the autumn through injury, but has still played in 27 of Arsenal’s 33 Premier League matches this season, and increased productivity from the 29 year-old might make the difference for the Gunners’ chances of claiming fourth place in the top flight and winning the FA Cup.
Hatem Ben Arfa (Newcastle United)
Hatem Ben Arfa has only started 13 of Newcastle United’s Premier League games this season, and although the Frenchman possesses the capability to produce moments of magic, he is inconsistent and his lack of defensive effort puts his team under pressure.
Ben Arfa has a huge amount of talent, but can be selfish with the ball in his quest for glory.
Erik Lamela (Tottenham Hotspur)
Of all Tottenham Hotspur’s signings, the £30 million acquisition of Erik Lamela from AS Roma was thought to be the most exciting, with the Argentine considered the natural heir to Gareth Bale.
15 league goals and 5 assists last season for AS Roma suggested Spurs had a talented star for both the present and future on their hands, the 21 year-old exhibiting pace, skill and finishing in Serie A.
In nine Premier League games for Tottenham, Lamela has failed to get on the scoresheet, providing a single assist.
His value has likely plummeted, meaning that Spurs will either have to hope he recovers his old form or sell him at a loss.
Ricky Van Wolfswinkel (Norwich City)
Ricky Van Wolfswinkel scored on his Norwich City debut, but has not found the back of the net since.
The Dutchman has terrible movement, and rarely involves himself in build up play, averaging around 25 touches per match – an astonishing low total.
The Canaries record signing hasn’t completed 90 minutes for the club since September, with Chris Hughton clearly exasperated with effectively playing with ten men.
It remains to be seen what Van Wolfswinkel’s role will be under Neil Adams.
Roberto Soldado (Tottenham Hotspur)
Roberto Soldado was immensely prolific at Valencia, scoring 81 goals in his three seasons at the Mestalla, but he has not been able to translate that form to the Premier League.
After signing for Tottenham Hotspur for £26 million, Soldado has scored just six times in the English top flight – four of which have been from the penalty spot.
Full team on next page!