These players get far too much criticism from fans and pundits…
The Premier League is full of players going in and out of form and ones who seem to struggle against certain teams or at certain grounds. Because of this, we see players get criticism when they don’t necessarily deserve it, as they are, for all intent and purposes, good players.
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Here are six Premier League players who are continually criticised, but aren’t actually that bad…
Joe Allen
OK, so Allen was once described as the ‘Welsh Xavi’ by Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, who brought him to Anfield for a fee of £15 million, having managed him at Swansea. Allen comes off the back of a magnificent display against Manchester City, proving his doubters that he has quality and can still offer something to the Reds.
Marouane Fellaini
Fellaini is another player who followed his former manager to their new club, moving to Manchester United for a fee of £27.5 million thanks to then Red Devils manager David Moyes who had recently moved from Everton. After a disappointing first season at Old Trafford, Fellaini seems to have come into his own under Louis van Gaal, scoring three Premier League goals and finding a role where he looks at home.
Stewart Downing
Stewart Downing’s reputation definitely suffered from his spell at Liverpool where he was, admittedly, shocking. Since then he has joined West Ham and the ‘big fish in a small pond’ feeling seems to be working, having assisted eight goals this season and scoring five. While he will probably never set the world alight, he is a talent at his level.
Olivier Giroud
The Frenchman has recently come under fire as he was part of the embarrassing 3-1 home defeat against Monaco, missing many guilt edge opportunities. Giroud, though, is a class act and since becoming a Gunner in 2012, has scored 50 goals after a slow start to life in the Premier League.
Simon Mignolet
The Belgian keeper looked all at sea in a Liverpool side which seemed to have rapidly declined since very nearly winning the title last year. Mignolet has re-ignited the Reds’ season with 10 clean sheets, showing that he is one of the best shot stoppers in the world and when his goal is peppered, he will stand up and be counted with the rest of his team.
Fernando Torres
Ever since making the move from Liverpool to Chelsea, Torres has been the butt of many jokes as he failed to find the blistering form which saw him amaze Anfield. A loan move back to his boyhood club, Atletico Madrid, has helped Torres rediscover some form, proving that home definitely is where the heart is.