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Premiership flops XI (so far…)
Yesterday we featured our Premiership team of the season (so far, of course). Today it's the list no player wants to be on – the Prem flops of the season. Who's failing to live up to the hype and their massive transfer fee?
Click below to read our selection…
Premiership flops XI (so far…)
Again, we've gone for a 4-4-2 formation:
GK: Carlo Cudicini (Chelsea)
When Petr Cech fractured his skull, Cudicini would have expected a long spell as Chelski's No.1 keeper. After all, he had served his time on the bench and we all knew he was a quality keeper. But CC had a strop when Mourinho picked Hilario ahead of him and he never managed to convince his manager that he is a better option than the Portuguese. Currently injured too.
Dishonourable mentions: Andreas Isaksson (Man City), Roy Carroll (West Ham)
RB: Emmanuel Eboue (Arsenal)
So much talent, but the Ivorian has been wildly inconsistent and prone to major lapses at the back – is Eboue guilty of believing his own hype after his excellent form last season?
Dishonourable mentions: John Panstil (West Ham)
CB: Robert Huth (Middlesbrough)
Huth has all the physical attributes to play in the Premiership, but he has failed to settle at Boro. Currently out of action with a broken foot, fans at the Riverside are yet to see the best of the German.
Dishonourable mentions: Djimi Traore (Charlton)
CB: Andre Ooijer (Blackburn)
Ooijer is a Dutch international but you wouldn't know it from his early-season form, when he was all over the place. Has settled down now, but has hardly been a success at Ewood.
Dishonourable mentions: David Weir (Everton)
LB: Fabio Aurelio (Liverpool)
You get the feeling that Aurelio, a stylish Brazilian full-back, is not really suited to the demands of the Premiership. We hope he proves us wrong, but you can't argue against the fact that he's made an inauspicious start at Anfield.
Dishonourable mentions: Celestine Babayaro (Newcastle)
CMF: Michael Ballack (Chelsea)
Booed by some Chelsea fans recently and you can't blame them, not at the cost of £120,000 a week. He seems unwilling to get stuck in and has never been a great team man. Ballack is obviously a huge talent but he's yet to come up with the goods in the Premiership, despite a few good performances in Europe.
Dishonourable mentions: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Danny Murphy (Spurs)
CMF: Javier Mascherano (West Ham)
Mascherano won rave reviews at the World Cup in Germany. Now he can't even get in West Ham's match-day squad, let alone their first team. Will have to move on in January, because his time at Upton Park has been a total failure; the young Argentine would surely fare better in Serie A or Spain's Primera Liga.
Dishonourable mentions: Michael Carrick (Man Utd), Xabi Alonso (Liverpool)
RMF: Mark Gonzalez (Liverpool)
Mark who? asked Liverpool fans of a player who took his time in arriving at Anfield. The Chilean winger has looked lightweight so far, but it's early days, so we'll give him the benefit of the doubt. (We know he plays on the left usually, but he had to make the team somewhere).
Dishonourable mentions: Kieron Dyer (Newcastle)
LMF: Damien Duff (Newcastle)
Why did Duff go to Newcastle? He was the last player they needed, and it's no great shock that he's looked utterly out of sorts so far. Does he have a strong enough personality to make an impact at St James's? The jury's still out…
Dishonourable mentions: DeMarcus Beasley (Man City), Tomas Rosicky (Arsenal)
CF: Andriy Shevchenko (Chelsea)
Outgunned by Didier Drogba and regularly substituted well before the business end of most Prem matches. How did it come to this? Sheva is pining for the comforts of Milan and it shows.
Dishonourable mentions: Carlos Tevez (West Ham), Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Charlton), Julio Baptista (Arsenal)
CF: Thierry Henry (Arsenal)
How much does Henry regret his decision not to go to Barcelona? Either way, he seems distracted and his relationship with Arsene Wenger has clearly worsened. And just how bad is his mysterious hamstring injury?
Dishonourable mentions: James Beattie (Everton), Giorgios Samaras (Man City)
Who have we missed? Add a comment and let us know…
December 21, 2006 in Lists | Permalink
Comments
You forgot Alan Smith, Wes Brown, Mikael Silvestre, and Wayne Rooney, but that's not much of surprise now, is it?
Ha ha ha ha...
Posted by: Brian | Dec 21, 2006 3:21:11 PM
so its either current or former chelsea players with a few injured players chucked in is it? ;)
Posted by: c-fos | Dec 21, 2006 3:29:14 PM
Alan Smith's just back from a horrific injury and Wayne Rooney has hardly flopped… Silvestre, maybe.
You can't argue with Ballack & Sheva can you c-fos?
Posted by: Ollie, Pies Ed. | Dec 21, 2006 3:40:49 PM
C-Fos forgot to mention your envy for Liverpool, which would make up most the other list.
Alan Smith was being talked up by Fergie before the season began and yes, Rooney has been a flop since he has yet to live up to the hype. He's a poor man's Michael Owen at best.
If it weren't for Shevchenko or Ballack, Drogba wouldn't have near as many goals.
Posted by: Brian | Dec 21, 2006 4:11:25 PM
Far from disapointed, I'm just worried about Alan Smith, you know? I watched the match where he was injured and it just made me sick to my stomach.
Carlos Bocanegra of Fulham.
Posted by: 61 and 49 | Dec 21, 2006 4:13:44 PM
even this chelsea supporter can't argue with ballack and sheva being included...but come on - cudicini?
"But CC had a strop when Mourinho picked Hilario ahead of him and he never managed to convince his manager that he is a better option than the Portuguese. Currently injured too."
Cudicini was only benched for three games once he was fit to return -- 28 Oct. (Sheff.); 31 Oct. (Barca); 5 Nov (Spurs). After that, he started six straight matches, including the Blues' most important match of the season vs. ManU, before picking up another injury.
that's not a flop. that's unlucky.
Posted by: MannyJello | Dec 21, 2006 4:19:56 PM
Cudicini doesn't belong on the list at all. Shevchenko I can't argue with. Ballack is only on the list because of the outrageousness of his salary. He's not done that badly. I'm not impressed but he wouldn't make my team. Besides he's done well in Europe which is the only reason why they bought him. I don't see how Henry is in this list either. He's obviously Arsenal's main man since they're destinctly a tier below when he's not in the side. Not his dominant self but flop is harsh. How does JFH make the list?? Did anyone expect anything?? If you're going to put him on the list then there are about 7 or 8 other Charlton players who should be there as well.
Posted by: joe | Dec 21, 2006 11:04:32 PM
Personally, I would have just put the whole West Ham squad up.
Posted by: mof gimmers | Dec 22, 2006 12:35:31 PM
Khalid Boulahrouz
Posted by: kazama | Dec 22, 2006 4:32:05 PM
I would say Boularouz too except for his tremendous performance against Barcelona when he blanked Ronaldinho.
Posted by: joe | Dec 22, 2006 9:11:03 PM
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