With 10 games gone already in the Premier League 2015/16 season we now have enough matches behind us to draw some early conclusions. Earlier this week we looked at the job security of every Premier League manager, and who’s at risk of the sack, and then we picked our Premier League team of the season so far.
Next up, together with Ross Tyson, let’s take a look at those who have failed to impress and need to up their game as we head towards the league’s halfway point…
Premier League underachievers so far
Wayne Rooney, Manchester United
This season Wayne Rooney became England’s all-time record goal scorer, but domestically he’s left a lot to be desired. Two goals in 9 appearances is pitiful for a striker of Rooney’s stature, and his all-round play for Manchester United has been bang average too, a penalty miss in the League Cup against Middlesbrough epitomising the growing sense that Rooney is less and less reliable for United.
There was a moment in the Manchester Derby where he turned and played a 50 yard pass straight out of play with nobody in sight – summing up his season perfectly. (RT)
Florian Thauvin, Newcastle United
Florian Thauvin’s impact on the Premier League has been the polar opposite of former teammates André Ayew and Dimitri Payet so far. It’s early days but England’s top flight looks too fast for Thauvin.
He’s not featured in either of Newcastle’s best performances (the draw against Chelsea and 6-2 win over Norwich) and when he has played he’s only succeeded in losing the ball – a 67.8% pass completion rate one of the worst in the Newcastle squad, let alone the Premier League.
Sadly, the sharpest thing about the Frenchman since his arrival has been his pre-match attire. (RT)
Thauvin follows Mbembas style a week after he rockdd up in a tuxedo before the game, very classy #nufc pic.twitter.com/Y5tcCe2x7P
— FootieHomework (@FootieHomework) August 30, 2015
Phillipe Coutinho, Liverpool
The boy who would be king looked like he would step up when he fired home what’s becoming a trademark long range curler against Stoke. But you’d be hard-pressed to remember much else he’s done this season.
Coutinho could be a key player for Jürgen Klopp and Liverpool this season and beyond (Or perhaps Barcelona if his pal Neymar gets his wish) but he’ll need to get out of the shot-dragging, sparkless abyss in which he currently finds himself. (RT)
SEE ALSO: Why Juergen Klopp fits English football’s cult of the manager perfectly
Xherdan Shaqiri, Stoke City
Xherdan Shaqiri is a player I rate very highly and he looked ready made for the Premier League. It’s not worked out in the Potteries for the biggest calves in football as yet, though.
Despite playing in his preferred position in Mark Hughes’ team of ex-Champions League winners, the Swiss Superman hasn’t got going – but then again nor have Stoke. See also: Ibrahim Afellay. (RT)
SEE ALSO: Xherdan Shaqiri and how the Premier League became the new NBA
Chelsea FC
We could put Eden Hazard in – he’s meant to be one of the best in the world and has been almost anonymous. Then again we could put John Terry – he’s gone from being a leader to a liability. Hmm… what about Branislav Ivanovic? Right now it looks like any winger who can change direction will send him to the stands for a hot dog.
Oh, and how can we forget Diego Costa, who spent the summer on the hot dogs? Then there’s Matic and Cesc – last season’s dream midfield pairing this year they look like they’re new to the sport. Tell you what, let’s just put down Chelsea FC. (RT)
Jordan Ayew, Aston Villa
503 minutes, one goal, £9million. It took just two games for Jordan Ayew to drop from first-team starter to bench warmer, and the 24-year-old’s big money move to Villa Park has been less than fruitful thus far.
The Ghanaian international hit 12 goals and five assists for Lorient in Ligue 1 last season, but already looks unlikely to get near those numbers without a significant improvement under Aston Villa’s next manager.
Ayew was also averaging 1.1 key passes per game and 1.2 successful dribbles in 2014/15, but is down to 0.2 key passes per game and 0.7 successful dribbles – reverting back to the type of numbers that prompted Marseille to let him go in the first place. Even when he did finally score, his big brother only went and upstaged him. Harsh.
Memphis Depay, Manchester United
Perhaps the expectations have been far too high for Memphis Depay to live up to following his multi-million pound move to Old Trafford. Or perhaps he’s been hanging around with Chris Brown’s ex-girlfriend and wearing fake gold teeth to nightclubs too much. Either way, it’s been a difficult start for the Dutch young star, who has fallen foul of Louis van Gaal’s notoriously low patience levels and been dropped to Manchester United’s bench as a result.
Depay has probably been the biggest victim of Luke Shaw’s season-ending injury more than anyone bar Shaw himself. The pair were not only forming a promising partnership down United’s left hand side, but a serious budding bromance.
Without Shaw’s overlapping runs down the left Depay has looked lost at times – though it should be remembered how long it took a lad called Cristiano Ronaldo to adapt to the number 7 shirt at Old Trafford after arriving as another young winger with promise, and that didn’t turn out too badly.
Gylfi Sigurdsson, Swansea City
A stunning free-kick against Aston Villa nearly spared him, but Gylfi Sigurdsson hasn’t hit the heights he did last season yet.
Though the Iceland international is still mustering the same average number of shots on goal (2.1), his pass completion rate is down, he’s only managed one assist (well off track compared to last season’s 10) and is producing less than half the number of key passes per game (2.3 v 1) and successful dribbles (1 v 0.4).
The 26-year-old didn’t seem too bothered about this in a recent chat with South Wales Evening Post, though, so if his confidence isn’t down perhaps an upturn in fortunes is just around the corner.
Rudy Gestede, Aston Villa
Villa fans seem almost unanimous in their feeling that Rudy Gestede has been a massive waste of space this season so far, after joining for £6million this summer. And who are we to argue? He can’t be as bad as the song they made up for him though, surely.
Younes Kaboul, Sunderland
Throwback to August when Gary Neville absolutely bodied Sunderland new signing Younes Kaboul on Sky’s Monday Night Football. Big Younes doesn’t need us to rub any more salt in the wounds. Brutal.
Gary Neville absolutely TEARS Younes Kaboul apart with his analysis on Monday Night Football.Squawka Football
Posted by Squawka on Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Who has disappointed this season so far in your opinion? Let us know below, on Twitter @JustFootball or on Facebook.
The post Wayne Rooney, Coutinho, Chelsea FC… 10 Premier League underachievers this season so far appeared first on Just Football.