7 Demba Ba
Demba Ba’s impressive return of 13 goals in 19 appearances saw him earn a January move to Chelsea. He was opportunistically purchased due to a low contract clause, and was expected to challenge the misfiring Fernando Torres for a starting berth in the side. After impressing in the early days of his Chelsea career, he has only managed 9 goals in 36 appearances, losing the influence up front that he demonstrated so impressively on Tyneside.
6 Lewis Holtby
Tottenham were seen as pulling off a real coup when they beat a host of top European clubs to secure Holtby’s signature on a pre-contract agreement in January. The club even paid Schalke to get the player 6 months early, but he has only started 9 Premier League games and Tottenham’s large outlay on players during the summer has seen him almost permanently resigned to a place on the bench. He is not seen as such a coup any longer.
5 Joe Hart
Nobody would have predicted such a disappointing 2013 for Joe Hart, after his vital role in helping Man City secure the Premier League title in 2012. At one point he was seen as the long-awaited solution to England’s goal-keeping problems, but has now been dropped by Manuel Pellegrini after a number of errors in games. His dropping from the Man City starting XI then saw him dropped by Roy Hodgson in the England squad. It has been a year to forget for Joe Hart.
Nobody would have predicted such a disappointing 2013 for Joe Hart, after his vital role in helping Man City secure the Premier League title in 2012. At one point he was seen as the long-awaited solution to England’s goal-keeping problems, but has now been dropped by Manuel Pellegrini after a number of errors in games. His dropping from the Man City starting XI then saw him dropped by Roy Hodgson in the England squad. It has been a year to forget for Joe Hart.
4 Alex Song
Alex Song’s impressive form for Arsenal in 2012 saw him secure a surprise move to Barcelona in the summer of that year. The fee of £15m appeared a relatively reasonable fee for a very consistent player, but he has still yet to become a first-team regular at the Nou Camp. The transfer has consequently been questioned and he has regularly been linked with a return to the Premier League. He has only started 23 games since his move and almost become forgotten about.
Alex Song’s impressive form for Arsenal in 2012 saw him secure a surprise move to Barcelona in the summer of that year. The fee of £15m appeared a relatively reasonable fee for a very consistent player, but he has still yet to become a first-team regular at the Nou Camp. The transfer has consequently been questioned and he has regularly been linked with a return to the Premier League. He has only started 23 games since his move and almost become forgotten about.
3 Iker Casillas
Another goal-keeper with a major fall from grace is Real Madrid’s Iker Casillas. His career-long spell at the Bernabeu made him almost untouchable, until his collapsed relationship with Jose Mourinho saw him shut out of the starting XI. Diego Lopez was signed as a result, and has remained first-choice, even after Mourinho’s departure to Chelsea. Casillas is yet to start a La Liga game this season, and is consequently unlikely to be Spain’s starting goal-keeper at the World Cup next summer.
Another goal-keeper with a major fall from grace is Real Madrid’s Iker Casillas. His career-long spell at the Bernabeu made him almost untouchable, until his collapsed relationship with Jose Mourinho saw him shut out of the starting XI. Diego Lopez was signed as a result, and has remained first-choice, even after Mourinho’s departure to Chelsea. Casillas is yet to start a La Liga game this season, and is consequently unlikely to be Spain’s starting goal-keeper at the World Cup next summer.
2 Jack Wilshere
Jack Wilshere’s return from injury for the 2012/13 season was greeted with much expectation from Arsenal fans, after he was ruled out for the entire previous season. However, on-going injury problems have prohibited him from finding the form that resulted in him being awarded the PFA Young Player of the Year award in 2010/11. In the first half of 2013/14, his midfield influence has also been somewhat displaced by the emergence of a new Aaron Ramsey.
Jack Wilshere’s return from injury for the 2012/13 season was greeted with much expectation from Arsenal fans, after he was ruled out for the entire previous season. However, on-going injury problems have prohibited him from finding the form that resulted in him being awarded the PFA Young Player of the Year award in 2010/11. In the first half of 2013/14, his midfield influence has also been somewhat displaced by the emergence of a new Aaron Ramsey.
1 Shinji Kagawa
When Shinji Kagawa was signed by Sir Alex Ferguson in 2012, it was seen by many as a major coup that would benefit the Man United team for many years. Despite a hat-trick against Norwich, his performances have not matched what he produced for Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga. David Moyes’ arrival has also not appeared to rejuvenate him, with the player often being frustrated when being played out of position. He has only started 5 Premier League games in 2013/14 and has been linked with a return to the Bundesliga.
When Shinji Kagawa was signed by Sir Alex Ferguson in 2012, it was seen by many as a major coup that would benefit the Man United team for many years. Despite a hat-trick against Norwich, his performances have not matched what he produced for Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga. David Moyes’ arrival has also not appeared to rejuvenate him, with the player often being frustrated when being played out of position. He has only started 5 Premier League games in 2013/14 and has been linked with a return to the Bundesliga.
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