Top 3 Biggest Scapegoats In EPL – Mesut Ozil Takes Top Spot, Liverpool’s Midfield General Comes Second

The Premier League is beyond doubt one of the most entertaining competitions in Europe but it is also very demanding. Fans from across the world are quick to pounce on players who are mediocre, sometimes even when they are not. So it does not come as a surprise that fans of various clubs in the country often turn against their players and vent their frustration on the players who let them down (so they think). This has over the years seen a number of players turn into scapegoats for the fans and also for the social media trolls.  Here are 3 such players who are the top 3 scapegoats in the Premier League this season:

3. Luke Shaw (Manchester United):

A scapegoat not just for the fans but also for the manager, Luke Shaw, is one of the stars of the future in England but he is not enjoying his time in Manchester. The English star was expected to be the future right-back for the national team and was expected to be the first choice at the Old Trafford as well. He started in decent manner under the new manager Jose Mourinho but a couple of below-par performances have seen him lose his place in the side. Though he is not really hated by the fans, he is a player that Mourinho does not trust and at his age, it will be hurtful for the full-back. He needs a regular run in the first team to get back to his best but Mourinho, pushed by his demanding fans, has not been able to get him back into the first team. Shaw remains the biggest scapegoat for United this season.

 

2. Emre Can (Liverpool):

The Reds were atrocious in the first month of the year and one player who had to take all the heat was German midfielder Emre Can. The 23-year old midfield general was touted as the next best thing for Liverpool in the previous season but he did himself no favors by putting in some ordinary performances in the midfield for Liverpool in various competitions. Liverpool are still in the top-4 race and most Liverpool fans do not want Can starting games this season. With no other competition keeping them busy, Klopp might not go to Can unless there is an injury but the Reds fans are already calling for him to be sold. Italian giants Juventus are interested in his signature and the fact that these rumours are surfacing out of nowhere hints about the mood in Emre Can’s camp. Surely, Can has been a scapegoat but we do feel that he does not deserve the criticism, well, at least not entirely.

 

1.Mesut Ozil (Arsenal):

The German playmaker is among the best players in Europe in his position and was in the form of his life at the start of the current season. However, he has lost his touch since the turn of the year and has not been able to help his side in the last few games, which has seen Arsenal drop to 4^th in the points table. They are also close to an exit in the Champions League and though none of the Arsenal players made themselves proud with the performance at the Allianz Arena, Ozil was the first to be blasted. Granted he was absent for most parts of the game, but Ozil is an impact player and does not deserve this much abuse from the Gooners. Ozil needs an all-round striker to finish his key passes. Current strikers Giroud is not so good with making runs while Sanchez is not an aerial threat. Maybe someone like Higuain will form a formidable partnership with the German pass machine.