These players will have been hoping for better this season…
With eleven games having gone in the Premier League this season and it being an international break, now is a good time to assess how the players have been faring so far.
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With this in mind Football365 created a list of ten players who will have started the season off with renewed hope, but have now found that hope to be misplaced. Here is CaughtOffside’s offering…
10) Arouna Kone, Everton
Since singing for Everton for £6 million in 2013, the Ivorian has had his share of bad luck. First he saw Romelu Lukaku come in to the club and take his place in the team, and then he has had injury after injury. He has only played 81 minutes for the club so far, in one of the most unsuccessful Premier League transfers to date.
9) Mohamed Salah, Chelsea
He was stolen from under the noses of Premier League rivals Liverpool when signed for the London club, but the Egyptian has failed to make an impact. He may have looked at this season as a chance to start again at Stamford Bridge, but he has failed so far and could be sold in January.
8) Fabio Borini, Liverpool
When Borini chose to reject a move to Sunderland and fight for his place at Anfield, many Liverpool fans were hopeful he could become at the very least a solid back up striker for the club. However, he has since looked poor when he has played and is yet to score a goal. A move to the Black Cats could be back on in January.
7) Darren Bent, Aston Villa
The former England forward has had a strange time in the last few years at Villa. Signed for £24 million in 2011, he first had injury problems and then just disappeared from team selection. This campaign has been no different, only playing 62 minutes so far for Paul Lambert’s side despite the injury to Christian Benteke.
6) Wilson Palacios, Stoke City
The Honduran has amazingly played more his country than his club since April 2012, with 17 starts for his nation and just ten for his club. This has continued this season; which is surprising for a player that cost Tottenham and Stoke paid a combined £18 million for.
5) Kevin Nolan, West Ham
With Nolan suffering from injury early in the season, West Ham completely changed their style of play. Despite being club captain he has since struggled to get back in the side, and was actually booed when he was first reintroduced from the bench against QPR last month.
4) Yaya Sanogo, Arsenal
Last season Sanogo was Arsene Wenger’s back up striker at the North London club. However, this year he has slipped down the pecking order with the arrival of Danny Welbeck and the return to fitness of Theo Walcott. He may now be used as part of a part exchange deal by the Gunners.
3) Paulinho, Tottenham
The midfielder has become a fringe player since the arrival of new manager Mauricio Pochettino. Despite making 37 appearances last year in all competitions, the 26-year-old has only made six so far this time round, mostly from the bench. He could go back to his native Brazil in January.
2) Anderson, Manchester United
The United flop has struggled since his arrival at Old Trafford, but this summer may have seen a chance to impress his new manager after Louis Van Gaal said he had an open mind about all of his players. However he failed to do so, and has now found himself on the bench for another season.
1) Matija Nastasic, Manchester City
The 19-year-old made a flying start at the Citizens, making thirty appearances in his first season as they won the Premier League under Roberto Mancini. However he has since had injury problems and new manager Manuel Pellegrini doesn’t seem to play him even when he is fit. The fact that Eliaquim Mangala was signed in the summer says a lot for the Serb’s chances of hanging around at the Etihad.