Yaya Toure and 10 EPL Players Who Need to Step Up Their Game
For every Sergio Aguero that has shone for their team this season, there has been a disappointing Yaya Toure. But which Premier League player has performed the farthest below expectations?
Will Toure claim the dubious honour of the No. 1 spot, or could the likes of Manchester City team-mate Eliaquim Mangala or Liverpool's Mario Balotelli pip him to the post?
From goal-shy strikers to panic-stricken defenders, these players haven't performed. As the Premier League hurtles towards the busy Christmas period with frightening speed, teams can't afford to field any liabilities.
To rank this list, players have been judged on their performances this year in light of: the expectation placed upon them by reputation, transfer fee or the standards they've set themselves in previous years; individual errors; and the impact their poor performance has had on their team.
Here are the top 10 players who have disappointed this season and need to step up their game.
Honourable Mentions
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The Spaniard has continued to disappoint for Spurs this season, managing a meagre total of just two goals. However, unlike his team-mate Emmanuel Adebayor, who ranks at No. 5 on this list, Soldado's profligacy has had less of an impact on Spurs' fortunes.
The forward has largely been deployed in the Europa League and Capital One Cup so far, but despite Soldado's disappointing displays Spurs have performed well in both competitions.
Per Mertesacker, Arsenal
Arsenal's defensive issues have resurfaced once again this year, and Mertesacker has been guilty of costly individual errors, such as Anderlecht's equaliser in their recent 3-3 Champions League draw, as noted by David Hytner of the Guardian.
However, because of Arsenal's numerous injuries at the back and with very little protection offered by their midfield, Mertesacker cannot be expected to prop up the Gunners' defence by himself. This means the German misses out on this list.
Emmanuel Riviere, Newcastle United
The £6 million striker has struggled for goals since his arrival from AS Monaco in the summer. A brace against Crystal Palace in the League Cup is all the Frenchman has mustered, despite being given plenty of game time by Alan Pardew.
Riviere narrowly misses out on the No. 10 spot, which is occupied by team-mate Remy Cabella.
10. Remy Cabella, Newcastle United
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Kicking off the top 10 is Newcastle's £12 million midfielder Remy Cabella.
Brought in to fill the creative gap left by Yohan Cabaye's departure, the Frenchman arrived with an exciting reputation for flair and an eye for goal, bagging 14 for Montpellier last season.
Despite an impressive debut against Manchester City, Cabella has yet to score for the Toon and has only produced a solitary assist.
Sky Sports reported Alan Pardew has warned the playmaker he needs to adapt to the physical nature of the Premier League, something he is yet to do.
According to Damian Spellman of the Press Association (via the Daily Mail), Cabella told L'Equipe: "Alan Pardew wants me to be decisive, to score goals. Up to now, I have not done that."
Failing to live up to his reputation or price tag while Newcastle struggled early on earns Cabella a place on the list ahead of compatriot Emmanuel Riviere.
9. Robin Van Persie
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Dutchman Robin van Persie has spent the last few years forging a reputation as one of the most clinical strikers in world football.
Many expected Van Persie to flourish under new Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal, as he captained the Dutch national side under the 63-year-old, and the pair share a lot of admiration for one another, per Mark Ogden of The Telegraph.
Unsurprisingly, Van Persie has been handed 10 starts this season.
However, despite the backing of the manager and the wealth of attacking and creative talent around him at United, the 31-year-old has netted just three times.
According to Squawka, Van Persie has won only 35 per cent of his duels this year, the worst in the United squad save only for Paddy McNair.
Van Persie's slow start is a significant factor in the failure of United's current tactic of "We'll score one more than you," and his failure to match his own high standards sees him claim ninth spot on this list.
Despite contributing more to his team than Remy Cabella to Newcastle, the Dutchman places above the Frenchman because his Premier League experience and reputation as a world-class forward holds him to a higher standard of play.
8. Rio Ferdinand, QPR
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A free signing for Harry Redknapp's side in the summer, Rio Ferdinand was brought in to provide Queens Park Rangers' defence with some much-needed stability.
The former England captain should have added a wealth of experience and a calming influence to Rangers' back four. Instead, a series of poor performances have seen him dropped in favour of Richard Dunne, per Tom Sheen of The Independent.
QPR's defence has been dreadful and the Hoops have conceded more than any other team (22) at an average of two goals per game.
The defender admitted to Charles Perrin of the Express: "Yes, it's been difficult. I've had to readjust, the way of thinking and of playing is different to what I was used to at United."
To make matters worse for Ferdinand, he is currently serving a three-match ban after using an offensive, slang term on Twitter.
Ferdinand needs to step up, or his last year in football could be hellish indeed.
7. Vito Mannone, Sunderland
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Taking seventh place on the list is Sunderland goalkeeper Vito Mannone.
The Black Cats keeper impressed last season, playing a key role in Sunderland's survival. Mannone also made two saves in the League Cup semi-final penalty shoot-out against Manchester United, so he started this season with some high expectations, as noted by Callum Mackenzie of Bleacher Report.
Unfortunately, he has not lived up to them and so takes his place here.
After the abysmal outing at Southampton that saw Mannone ship eight goals, the Italian was unable to make amends and gifted Alexis Sanchez a goal as Sunderland lost 2-0 at home to Arsenal.
Mannone has since been dropped to the bench and will need to display his form from last season to re-establish himself as the Black Cats' No. 1.
6. Aaron Ramsey, Arsenal
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Writing for the Guardian, Martin Laurence notes last season was Aaron Ramsey's best in an Arsenal shirt. The first half of Ramsey's campaign in particular was magnificent, earning the Welshman six goals and four assists in his first 10 appearances.
By contrast, Ramsey has struggled this season and has managed just two goals and one assist.
While the impact of the dip in the midfielder's attacking contribution has been negated by the goals of Alexis Sanchez, Ramsey earns sixth spot on this list thanks to his alarming drop off in his defensive contribution.
Whereas the 23-year-old averaged an impressive 4.7 tackles per game at the start of last season, this has fallen to just 1.9 this year.
With the Gunners' defence often suffering from a lack of protection from their midfielders, their title hopes have once again vanished. Arsenal look set to progress in the Champions League, but finishing second will almost guarantee a tricky tie in the next round.
Ramsey must take his share of the blame and regain the confidence he enjoyed in the previous campaign in order to improve.
5. Emmanuel Adebayor, Tottenham Hotspur
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No stranger to controversy, Emmanuel Adebayor recently told Amy Lawrence of the Guardian that the booing from Spurs fans means their players would rather play away from White Hart Lane.
He said: "Right now, to tell you the truth, I think a lot of players, when they put on the shirt and go out on the pitch, are finding it hard in the head."
Spurs fans are understandably unhappy with their team. Three defeats in their last four Premier League matches leaves Tottenham in 12th place, well below their aim of finishing in the Champions League spots.
Spurs have struggled for Premier League goals this term and no player embodies this struggle more than Adebayor.
His two goals in 10 matches have severely hampered Spurs' ambitions this season. If the striker doesn't improve, he could find himself replaced by Harry Kane or sold in January, per Tom Collomosse of the London Evening Standard.
This sees Adebayor place higher than former strike partner Robin van Persie. Both strikers have been short on goals this year, but the latter has at least scored an important one for his team—his late equaliser against Chelsea.
4. Dejan Lovren, Liverpool
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Dejan Lovren arrived at Liverpool with huge expectations this summer.
Setting the Reds back £20 million, it was hoped the Croatian would be able to rectify the defensive problems that cost Liverpool the title last season.
However, despite being ever-present for his side, Liverpool have only kept two clean sheets so far and appear not to have improved whatsoever.
As noted by Allan Jiang of Bleacher Report, Lovren is unrecognisable from the commanding Saints centre-back he was last year.
This has cost the Reds dearly, and the club will be lucky to even challenge for a Champions League place.
Though Lovren and Ferdinand have disappointed for similar reasons, Lovren places higher on this list thanks to the huge sum spent on recruiting him and the added expectation this brought.
3. Eliaquim Mangala, Manchester City
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On his debut against Chelsea, 6'2" Eliaquim Mangala looked every inch the £32 million centre-back Manchester City had paid for.
Unfortunately, Mangala has been unable to replicate this performance and been exposed repeatedly in City's league and European games.
Manuel Pellegrini recruited the Frenchman as a long-term centre-back partner for Vincent Kompany. Until Mangala adapts to the rigours of Premier League football, City's defence will continue to suffer.
The 23-year-old's frequent errors even led to West Ham United boss Sam Allardyce admitting Mangala had been identified as a weak link in City's back line.
Speaking to Stuart Brennan of the Manchester Evening News, Allardyce said: "He's only just joined the Premier League... He's finding his feet and we made big strides down that left-hand side and caused a lot of problems."
His struggles have impacted heavily on the team, as City now find themselves eight points behind league leaders Chelsea, out of the League Cup and with their European campaign dangling by the barest thread.
As with a number of players on this list, Mangala arrived with a big reputation and a bigger price tag. Because he has cost City so much—both in points and in transfer fees—he finds himself third ahead of Dejan Lovren. One City player though, has disappointed even more...
2. Mario Balotelli, Liverpool
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Why always him?
Brendan Rodgers paid AC Milan £16 million this summer for Mario Balotelli to fill Luis Suarez's considerable boots.
So far, Balotelli doesn't look fit to clean them.
The mercurial Italian is yet to score in nine league appearances for Liverpool, despite registering 25 attempts, and has won just 36 per cent of his duels according to Squawka.
With Daniel Sturridge sidelined by injury, Balotelli has been left to lead the line for the Reds this season but has failed to make an impact whatsoever. Sturridge's absence made it all the more crucial that Balotelli provide goals, which further compounds his failure to do so.
What the 24-year-old has impacted upon is Liverpool's fortunes.
After finishing second and spending over £100 million in the summer, there was a feeling Liverpool had to go one step further this season and win the title.
That is now a distant memory, and the Reds are unlikely to replicate anything close to that form again this year.
Because of his Premier League experience and how spectacularly he has fallen short of the standard set by Luis Suarez, Balotelli nudges ahead of Eliaquim Mangala for second place.
1. Yaya Toure, Manchester City
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Sealing the No. 1 spot is Yaya Toure. Despite the large transfer fee splashed out on Mangala, who's new to the Premier League, and Balotelli, who's divisive nature ensured mixed expectations, Toure has disappointed the most this season.
Toure was instrumental to City's title success last season, scoring league 20 goals and making nine assists along the way. The Ivorian combined power, skill and finesse as he won games almost single-handedly at times.
So far this season, the 31-year-old has been largely anonymous and contributed just two goals in the league, scoring one and assisting the other.
What further separates Toure from the rest of this list is his complete failure to step up in big Champions League games.
One of City's primary ambitions is to succeed in Europe, something they have thus far failed to do.
For a realistic chance of progressing beyond the group stage, City needed to win both games against CSKA Moscow. After surrendering a two-goal lead in the first match to draw 2-2, and trailing 2-1 in the second and down to 10 men, Toure recklessly got himself a red card and City inevitably lost.
For such an experienced player, Toure is falling well below the standards he set last year. For City to have any hope of success this season, the midfielder needs to improve dramatically.
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