10 Star Names of the Premier League Who Have Begun to Fade
No matter the club, players fluctuate in and out of form; some start horribly and end splendidly—others begin setting the world alight and end with barely a flicker.
Footballers in the Premier League tend to have more of the latter about them.
Whether fatigue, lack of physicality, injury and/or mental functions unbeknownst to supporters/media members, players can disappear from view at a moment's notice.
Star men garner the most attention and are normally the ones accosted for being "off their game" in some capacity. Is this finger-pointing fair? On balance, probably not.
Players who have every eyeball on them distract from others having the same issue; in a star-driven league, however, the Premier League almost demands its talismanic figures to be willing participants in their own narrative—whether positive or negative.
Here are 10 men who have worked themselves ragged, and are now feeling the effects as 2014/15 wanes.
Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal)
1 of 10
First 16 EPL matchdays: 9 goals, 5 assists
Last 15 EPL matchdays: 5 goals, 3 assists
Arsenal have been the Premier League's best side over the past three months. Taking 30 of 33 available points since 4 January, the Gunners have climbed up the table and currently reside in second place.
This uptake in form, however, has not come as a result of summer signing Alexis Sanchez. Almost single-handedly keeping the north Londoners afloat in the season's first half, the Chilean international has predictably regressed after an impressive opening act.
Scoring a beauty and assisting once in a 4-1 drubbing of Liverpool last Saturday, Arsene Wenger would love his £30 million man restored to full capacity if a serious title charge is meant to be launched.
Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea)
2 of 10
First 15 EPL matchdays: 6 clean sheets
Last 15 EPL matchdays: 3 clean sheets
The shining light of Chelsea's loan policy, Thibaut Courtois has officially taken over Petr Cech's position between Stamford Bridge's goalposts.
In his first season as Jose Mourinho's "No. 1," the young Belgian has been largely fantastic, but was bailed out after two poor mistakes vs. Hull City and Stoke City. Attempting outfield moves, Courtois gifted the Tigers an equalising goal. In Chelsea's following fixture, he was caught off his line by Charlie Adam—conceding a 60-yard-plus wonder goal.
Unquestionably talented, there have been a few shaky moments from the Blues' goalkeeper, but by and large they are correctable—Mourinho has his future goalkeeper for the next decade.
Cesc Fabregas (Chelsea)
3 of 10
First 15 EPL matchdays: 1 goal, 11 assists
Last 15 EPL matchdays: 1 goal, 6 assists
Seen as the replacement for Frank Lampard in Chelsea's future midfield, Cesc Fabregas began the 2014/15 season in fantastic form—guiding the Blues through 21 unbeaten games in all competitions.
Slowed by injury, suspension and apparent fatigue in the season's latter stages, the Spanish playmaker has yet to fully recapture his all-conquering pace seen before the winter holiday schedule.
Needing four more assists to break the all-time Premier League record (currently by Thierry Henry in 2002/03 at 20), one cannot classify Fabregas' complete campaign as "lacklustre," just the second half.
Oscar (Chelsea)
4 of 10
First 15 EPL matchdays: 3 goals, 4 assists
Last 15 EPL matchdays: 3 goals, 3 assists
Playing in the 2012 Olympics, Chelsea's 2012-13 season, the 2013 Confederations Cup, Chelsea's 2013-14 season, the 2014 World Cup and now the 2014/15 season (with the 2015 Copa America looming), there has been little time for Oscar to recuperate since his Stamford Bridge arrival.
It shows.
Playing in 25 EPL games for Chelsea this season, Oscar has only played 90 minutes on seven occasions (being substituted at halftime twice).
No doubt gifted, the Brazilian international could do with a lengthy off-season—but it is not forthcoming.
Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)
5 of 10
First 16 EPL matchdays: 14 goals, 3 assists
Last 15 EPL matchdays: 3 goals, 3 assists
On pace for over 40 goals at one point this season, Sergio Aguero's curtail in production has coincided with Manchester City's floundering point total.
Missing five league games in mid-season with an injured knee ligament, Aguero's reintroduction to Manuel Pellegrini's first team has been rocky. Since the Argentine's return vs. Everton on Matchday 21, City have dropped 18 of 33 available points (just under 55 percent)—falling from second to fourth.
Aguero is arguably the Premier League's best striker when fully fit, but he cannot seem to play a whole campaign without finding himself on the physiotherapist's table—a shame really.
Wilfried Bony (Manchester City/Swansea City)
6 of 10
First 16 EPL matchdays: 8 goals, 2 assists
Last 15 EPL matchdays: 2 goals, 0 assists
Valued at £32 million by Swansea City, Manchester City bought Wilfried Bony this January. Winning the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations the same month with Cote d’Ivoire—Bony has struggled adapting to a new environment.
As is his right.
Moving from big fish in a little pond to a medium-size fish in a lake creates new challenges. Behind Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko on Manuel Pellegrini's "No. 9" depth chart, there are massive hurdles for the Ivorian to successfully leap.
Bony's goals for Swansea kept the Welsh side in a mid-table position, whether he can help right the Citizens' teetering ship is dependent on Pellegrini's level of faith.
Frank Lampard (Manchester City)
7 of 10
First 16 EPL matchdays: 4 goals, 1 assist
Last 15 EPL matchdays: 1 goal, 0 assists
Meant to be playing at Yankee Stadium with New York City FC in MLS, Frank Lampard's Mancunian excursion started in the best possible fashion.
Responsible for four points of Manchester City's early tally (including an equaliser against former employers Chelsea), it looked the Sky Blues' summer business was spot on, but the 36-year-old midfielder has not been as prolific in the season's second half.
Used primarily as a substitute, the Premier League's fourth all-time scorer has been handicapped by City's dwindling form; it is difficult to affect games in limited minutes when your team is struggling.
Angel Di Maria (Manchester United)
8 of 10
First 16 EPL matchdays: 3 goals, 6 assists
Last 15 EPL matchdays: 0 goals, 4 assists
For the price of £59.7 million, Manchester United supporters might have expected more in the goals department from their record, summer signing Angel Di Maria.
Starting with three goals in his first five league appearances, Di Maria looked to have the English game sorted in a matter of minutes, but—as is customary—the EPL is unforgiving with its newer members.
Hampered by an injured hamstring, general wear and Louis van Gaal's personnel shifts, the Argentine has been used as a substitute in recent weeks. While Van Gaal's philosophy seems to take hold for the Red Devils, Old Trafford's most expensive piece is yet to find his true identity.
Graziano Pelle (Southampton)
9 of 10
First 16 EPL matchdays: 7 goals, 2 assists
Last 15 EPL matchdays: 1 goal, 0 assists
Southampton sold many players last summer who were thought to be better than their replacements, it turns out Saints were wiser than most.
Also losing Mauricio Pochettino last off-season, Southampton appointed Ronald Koeman as their boss; the Dutchman brought along one of his favoured players from season's past, Graziano Pelle, and the Italian striker was simply fantastic early in the season.
Of late, however, Pelle has taken a dramatic downturn in his production. Not coincidentally, a Saints side who were punching well above their weight—at one time second—in the early-to-middling portions of the campaign, have fallen to seventh.
Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur)
10 of 10
First 16 EPL matchdays: 6 goals, 1 assist
Last 15 EPL matchdays: 3 goals, 1 assist
Going by their squad, Tottenham Hotspur have underperformed in 2014/15. Harry Kane has come from almost nowhere and given Spurs 19 Premier League goals, but even those cannot shake the north Londoners loose from their Europa League curse.
One who gets caught in the White Hart Lane mire is Christian Eriksen. The Danish international is without question Tottenham's priced possession, but even with an in-form centre-forward, the play-making midfielder is handcuffed in his ability.
The hardest working player in the Spurs dressing room in terms of yards run, there appears every excuse for Eriksen's late-season drop.
*Stats via WhoScored.com; transfer fees via Soccerbase.com where not noted.
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