Worst Premier League XI 2014/15
Aside from Chelsea and Southampton, the rest of the Premier League have struggled to maintain a consistent run of results. So while there have been some sublime displays from those two clubs, there have also been so shocking performances by others.
In the interest of parity, only players who have played at least five games this season have been considered. So this immediately discounts the likes of Adel Taarabt and Claudio Yacob who, although awful haven’t really played enough to make it into the side.
So here is the list of the worst players in the League so far this season. This is how the team would look like, in a 5-3-2 formation.
Goalkeeper:
Vito Mannone
If there was one area of the pitch, where there was plenty of competition was for the goalkeeping slot. And it all came down to two Sunderland keepers, one from the past, Simon Mignolet and the current one, Vito Mannone. In the end, the latter just gets the vote, because of goals directly resulting from his mistake. Former Arsenal man has had to endure a horrible start to the season and although the defence in front of him haven’t done too well, the Italian shot stopper hasn’t done himself too many favours as well.
Defence:
Santiago Vergini – Rio Ferdinand – Dejan Lovren – Eliaquim Mangala – Kyle Naughton
One of the main reasons why there is a five-man defence is because of the pathetic displays that some defenders have coughed up so far this season. Taking his place at right back is none other than Sunderland’s Santiago Vergini. The Argentine might have earned a call up to the national squad but he most certainly scored the own goal of the season against Southampton and that alone is enough for him to merit a place in the line up. On the other flank, it is an Englishman in Kyle Naughton. At 26, Naughton isn’t what you call an experienced defender, but the full back who can play on the right or the left hand side has already picked up two red cards this season and put his team in situations that they should never be in.
When your team wins immediately after you are out of the team and looks so much better, then you know you aren’t helping them move forward. Rio Ferdinand’s lack of pace forced Harry Redknapp to play three at the back at the start of the season, with disastrous consequences. Fomer Manchester United star’s absence has helped QPR as Richard Dunne and Steven Caulker have formed a formidable partnership. The other two positions are filled in by two players who cost a lot of money in the summer. Dejan Lovren and Eliaquim Mangala haven’t had the greatest of starts with their new club and have time and again been exposed. While the Croatian has been a shadow of the former self and has been found wanting positionally, Mangala’s form has been such that teams have actually gone into the game targeting him specifically and have succeeded too.
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