Premier League: The underperforming XI

It is the international break, so that gives us time to evaluate who has been under-performing this season. There is a lot of talk about who is on top and on fire and in form but there are players who have not lived up to the expectations or have not shown what they are capable of. Here is a list of who we think have underperformed this season in the English Premier League. 

Woijciech Szczensy

Clean Sheets: 6 out of 30 starts

He has been the subject of continuous praise and approval by Arsene Wenger but his performances this season tell a sorry stat. Among the top ten clubs only West Brom's Ben Foster has lesser clean sheets than him,he has only kept 6 clean sheets. It started well for him but the standard instead of rising has considerably fallen. No wonder Arsenal are looking for a new goal keeper.

Kyle Walker

Goals: 0 Assists: 6 out of 28 starts Clean Sheets: 6

He is a shadow of his last season's self this time around. He was never renowned for his defensive abilities, but now a days Walker gets dispossessed, caught out of position and is a continuous opening for opposition to attack. A lot was expected from his time around considering his performances last season but boy has he disappointed us all. Get you act straight Walker as the football world forgets very quickly!

David Luiz

Goals: 1 Assists: 1 Clean Sheets: 11 out of 23 starts

As a center back, he has looked awful throughout. Do not get fooled by those 11 clean sheets. A bit of a spark here and there but he shows 9 times out of 10 that he is just not center back material. Maybe he will only play in that Defensive Midfield position very soon as he lacks the very basic qualities of a center back and seems like he is not learning them either. Average performances throughout as a CB has disappointed the Chelsea fans who were thinking that he will improve defensively. 

Vincent Kompany

Goals: 0 Assists: 0 Clean Sheets: 8 out of 21 starts.

A list like this is nothing without a controversial entry. City fans will be furious after reading this, but in our opinion Kompany has under-performed. Player of the season last time around has not lived up to the expectations at all. He is injured now, but his performances over the season already had him inducted in this one, how can I say that? There have been games where a young Nastasic has looked better than the City captain. Get back to the level Komp, City needs you at that level!

Davide Santon:

Goal: 1 Assists: 4 Clean Sheets: 3 out of 30 starts

It was hard to find a Left-back under performing this season, Benoit Ekotto came to mind but he has been injured for more than half of the campaign and the rest are doing fine like Evra,Baines,Cole,Clichy,Kolarov, nothing spectacular was expected from the latter two in that regard as well. So, I came to Santon, a decent buy who looked like a very composed defender has not looked good at all. Maybe, the hype surrounding him or that show of good bit skills was too temporary and short-lived.

Mikel Arteta: 

Goals: 4 Assists: 2 Pass Completion Rate: 94%

 

Another contagious name, is'nt it? Mikel Arteta was handed the responsibility of initiating attacks at Arsenal. Who will complain that he has failed in doing that miserably. There have been games where oppositions have sit deep and Arsenal have been very very slow in piercing the ball through them to get chances, and Arteta's been the main reason of that slowness. He did that job reasonably well last season but he has lost the edge this time around. Arsenal not only need a new stopper but need a new holder as well. Arteta can not hold it up nor pass it quickly enough, and he is definitely not going to replace Cazorla as the attacker of the pivot.

Yaya Toure:

Goals: 5 Assists: 3 Pass Completion Rate: 89.2%

He was the difference between City winning the title last season and City being 15 points behind this one. It took him a lot of time to get out of his slumber of the mid-season break, and when finally he did get out, he was gone to the AFCON. The powerhouse has under-perfomed. period! From what we saw from his last season, his performances this time around have not even being a shadow. He needs to get his hunger back and quick, as I do not know how patient City owners or fans are!

Luis Nani:

Goals:1 Assists: 3 

Biggest under-achiever may be an understatement for Nani as after enlightening the premiership for two consecutive seasons he has been all but absent throughout United's campaign. Surplus to requirement? Not focused enough? Bust up with Fergie? A possible winter transfer move! All of the above have been discussed this season regarding Nani and the season got all but worse with that red card against Real Madrid. The candidate that gets my vote for flop the season.

Clint Dempsey
Goals: 5 Assists: 5

Such was the drama at the last hours of summer transfer deadline day that made us wonder just how much the stock value of an American has risen. Clint Dempsey enjoyed a decent season at Fulham but it was inevitable that he would move on having scored 17 goals. Liverpool were devastated at being unable to sign him, Spurs seemed elated. 30 games later, and Dempsey is yet to stamp down a place in the starting XI and has only found the back of the net a mere 5 times, albeit, he is the only player available for spurs to play "in the hole".

Fernando Torres:

Goals: 7 Assists: 8

Was something expected from him? After that start to the season maybe, but he has endured another difficult season at Chelsea. He may end up winning another trophy but he has been poor again. Low on confidence throughout, and now out of the good books of the Chelsea faithful, his Bridge career looks over. There is no trust in him now and there must be something wrong if he is kept beyond the summer window. Getting rid of him is the only way forward! 

Nikicia Jelavic / Papiss Cisse

Goals: 7 Assists: 2 (Both)

Both burst on the scene after joining their respective clubs in January last season. With goals coming from everywhere, both of them were termed as prime assets of their teams. Both have been disappointing all season. Jelavic scores here and there, looks good but is not getting the goals he or Everton would have liked. Cisse has endured a nightmare season so far, it has improved just a little in the few weeks but already he is a prime candidate of top-level underachiever this season. Both would be wishing for a close to the season, to have a break and then come back firing on all cylinders next time around.

 Here is a pictorial view of the XI. This list is of those players who were expected to better than what they have done this season so far!

A lot more was expected from you guys!