Player Focus: The Undesirables - Premier League's Most Ineffective XI
For the likes of Hazard, Kane and Aguero it's been a season to savour, from a personal perspective at least. For some, however, it's been one they'd rather forget in a hurry, so they won't thank us for publishing this!
We've compiled an XI of players with some of the least desirable stats in the Premier League, of all those to make more than 10 appearances this season. Some of the following figures can perhaps be attributed to bad luck, but most are just bad!
We start in goal, where Tim Howard has had a disappointing campaign, along with a number of his Everton teammates. The American has had a hand (or two) in the Toffees' waning defensive record this season and of all keepers to have made more than 10 appearances this season his save success rate is the worst (59.8%).
While he has offered a real threat for relegated Burnley going forwards, as expected, Kieran Trippier's attacking approach has meant his positioning has been exposed at times. He's also proved to be far from solid when it comes to stopping opponents from getting past him, and has been beaten by an opposition dribble more times than any other full-back (46).
On the opposite side Glen Johnson has confirmed that he doesn't expect to be offered a new deal at Liverpool, and that may be a wise idea as far as all parties are concerned. The former England regular has struggled in recent seasons and this time around he has the worst cross accuracy of any full-back, with a meagre 9.4%.
At the heart of the defence Jordi Amat takes his place in our 'Ineffective XI' for the second season running, holding the worst aerial success rate (36%) of any centre-back. Meanwhile Jonas Olsson is a more than worthy partner, with no outfielder committing more errors leading to goals (3) despite the fact that the Swede has made just 11 appearances.
Adam Johnson takes his place on the left wing having seen his end product drop this season, registering 0 assists despite laying on 33 chances thus far. Meanwhile, as far as the player to have had the most shots without scoring this season, Jesus Navas (42) has been most wasteful, appearing on the opposite flank.
At the heart of the midfield the arrival of summer signing Sandro at QPR failed to have the desired effect in what was an admittedly disrupted campaign for the Brazilian. In a fall from grace from his peak at Tottenham, the middle man has the worst pass accuracy of all central midfielders this season, at just 73%.
He's joined in the thick of things by former teammate Mousa Dembele, who has had a disappointing campaign under Mauricio Pochettino. It's one that may well end in his departure from Tottenham, and his frustration has come out on the pitch at times, making fewer tackles per foul (0.7) than any other central midfielder in the league.
Up front Enner Valencia gets a start having scored just 4 goals in 30 appearances thus far, though some of those strikes have been ones to remember. That said, the Ecuador international has missed more big chances this season (7) without converting a single one than any other player.
Yaya Sanogo completes our XI having failed to make his mark at either Arsenal or Palace since a move to the Premier League. The Frenchman is still very young of course, but his finishing has been wayward to say the least, hitting the target with just 11.8% of his efforts at goal this season - the worst shot accuracy of any Premier League forward.
Who would make up your statistical ineffective XI? Let us know in the comments below
You can't have Adam Johnson on there for have the most key passes without an assist. Is he suppose to score from his own cross? The statistic of key passes is to show that a player is putting his team in scoring positions. It is not his job then to finish them.
I am amazed and puzzled as to how and why Mario Balotelli didn't make it to this list??!!
Wow. Excellent trolling by WhoScored.
No shock to see Johnson in there. He's an awful full-back!
Balotelli or lovren