Picking a World Football Worst XI for January 2015
The depths of winter affect some players more than others, with January providing one or two shocking performances in the glare of ice and snow.
The Bundesliga has been closed for business since the turn of the new year and only returns in the coming days—leaving the focus on other leagues around Europe.
Here, we review a collection of players who have had a disappointing January and therefore make our worst XI team of the month:
(All statistics via WhoScored.com, unless stated.)
1. Wojciech Szczesny
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Arsenal's No. 1 Wojciech Szczesny began the month with a horror show at Southampton which saw the Gunners beaten on the south coast.
The performance led to a foolish Szczesny being caught smoking in the showers after the match, leading to a £20,000 fine from Arsene Wenger, per John Cross of the Mirror.
The Polish player has since spent much of the month rooted to the Gunners bench as his career in north London looks in danger.
There is no doubt he is a talented player, but he also is his own worst enemy.
2. Carles Planas
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Carles Planas came through Barcelona's famed La Masia but was released by the Camp Nou giants in the summer.
He promptly signed a deal to play for Celta Vigo and has featured 10 times for his new club in La Liga.
But the full-back has had a horrible January for Os Celticos, having been sent off in the team's 1-0 defeat to Sevilla.
He returned to the first team recently to complete 90 minutes against both Athletic Bilbao in the Copa Del Rey and Getafe in the Spanish league—only for his side to ship six goals with Planas in defence.
3. Guirane N'Daw
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Senegalese defensive player Guirane N'Daw has had a chequered career, having featured on loan for both Birmingham City and Ipswich Town in England and now playing his football at Ligue 1's bottom club Metz.
The player has featured 21 times for the Les Grenats this term in the French league, and what a horrible season it has been for the player.
N'Daw played in three games through January, with Metz unable to win a solitary match and conceding five times in the process.
4. Dedryck Boyata
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The 24-year-old Belgian player Dedryck Boyata has been one of Manchester City's most highly rated youngsters in the past, but the centre-back was recently at the heart of the side which crashed out of the FA Cup in embarrassment against Middlesbrough at home.
Boyata also completed 90 minutes in the previous round against lowly Sheffield Wednesday, with the EPL champions only scraping through 2-1.
The writing has been on the wall all month for Boyata. He is not likely to feature again this season unless injuries force the issue.
5. Nicolas Burdisso
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Genoa have conceded goals for fun through January, and Nicolas Burdisso has been at the heart of the team for every single minute of those matches.
The centre-back has watched 10 goals fly past him and his team-mates during their four games in the month.
The collapse in form has seen Genoa stall in seventh place in Serie A, without a victory to their name since December 7.
6. Ricardo Horta
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Malaga midfielder Ricardo Horta has seen plenty of match time during the month of January—but his team has only won a single game out of eight fixtures since New Year's Day.
Horta did manage to find the back of the net in the two-legged Copa Del Rey tie against Levante, but the 20-year-old has been inept against all other La Liga opposition.
7. John Obi Mikel
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John Obi Mikel is still a trusted squad member at Chelsea, but his stock recently crashed at the hands of Bradford City, as the lower-league club dumped the EPL leaders out of the FA Cup.
The defeat was one of the most surprising giant-killings of recent years, and unfortunately for Mikel, he was the midfield enforcer until his exit.
Bradford hammered four goals past the home side on the day—with the Nigerian sustaining an injury and being substituted by Jose Mourinho.
Mikel still has much to offer his club—but January has been a month to forget for the 27-year-old.
8. Karl Henry
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Veteran Karl Henry has performed the defensive midfield function well for Queens Park Rangers in the past, but the Englishman has suffered in the past few weeks.
QPR have hemorrhaged goals throughout the month with the 32-year-old present, including a terrible 3-0 cup exit at Loftus Road against Sheffield United.
Henry played 61 minutes of that match before Harry Redknapp made the inevitable change.
Henry's performance levels have recently not been good enough, and this could be his last season as a player in the top flight.
9. Steven Naismith
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Scottish attacker Steven Naismith has performed well above his expected station at times in the past year—but not during the last couple of months.
Everton are rock bottom of the Premier League form guide, and Naismith's overall form has been less than inspirational.
He is a player who divides opinion in terms of those who rate him and those who do not.
But the Toffees are without a win since mid-December and Naismith has started in every match.
10. Thomas Toure
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Bordeaux's versatile attacker Thomas Toure is a cultured individual, but he has not scored for his club since November.
And during the previous four weeks, Toure's team have played five times and been victorious on just one occasion—which the player just so happened to miss!
At 21 years old, Toure has his best years ahead of him, but with his club on the slide down to seventh place in Ligue 1, it might not be a happy end to the season for the players of Les Girondins.
11. Gabriel Agbonlahor
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Gabriel Agbonlahor is something of an enigma.
The 28-year-old forward has been in and around Aston Villa's first team since 2005, but his goal record in the past couple of seasons has been shockingly poor.
Agbonlahor has featured in three games in January, playing full matches against Crystal Palace, Leicester and Liverpool.
And in all three games, Villa have failed to score with Gabby pulling the strings.
In the Midlands club's other fixtures during the month—two FA Cup ties—Villa have scored and won both matches without the player featuring.
How long does Agbonlahor have left as a top-class forward? Only his manager can answer that question.
