20 Players Who Should Forget About 2014-15 and Focus on Next Season
We all know the feeling. Sometimes it is just better to accept your fate and focus on improving in what lies ahead.
For some footballers, that is exactly how they’ll be viewing the 2014/15 season. That doesn’t mean that they are bad players, just that they need a fresh challenge or a fresh club to get going again.
Here are 20 men who’ll already have the future on their minds.
Rickie Lambert
1 of 20
The Liverpool dream has turned into something of a nightmare for Rickie Lambert, who has seen the Reds dramatically improve since adopting a change of style which makes it difficult for him to get a game.
He could have left the club in January but has decided to stick around, with a change of clubs looking extremely likely in the summer.
Radamel Falcao
2 of 20
Will Manchester United pay the exorbitant fees it would cost them to sign Radamel Falcao on a permanent basis? That remains to be seen, but the Colombian has hardly done anything during this campaign to warrant such an expense.
Perhaps he would be better off returning to Monaco, or even having a spell back in Spanish football?
Roberto Soldado
3 of 20
He’s become something of a recurring Premier League joke since his big-money move to Tottenham Hotspur in 2013, and it would be a huge shock if Roberto Soldado didn’t bring his disappointing spell in English football to an end in the summer.
The forward was once highly rated and can be so again, but that almost certainly will never happen for as long as he’s at White Hart Lane.
Emmanuel Adebayor
4 of 20
One man who is probably delighted for the presence of Soldado is Emmanuel Adebayor, who has joined his team-mate on the sidelines watching the rapid rise of Harry Kane during 2014/15.
As for the Togolese, a future away from Tottenham surely beckons, with Spurs fans doubtless hoping that future is a fairly immediate one.
Fabio Borini
5 of 20
There was a brief spell in January—around about the time he scored at Aston Villa—that Fabio Borini looked as though he might have a future at Liverpool, but exits from a couple of cup competitions have severely hampered his chances of playing time.
The Italian now looks to be little more than a spare part at Anfield, and after coming close to leaving the Reds last summer, he now has to accept that 2015/16 should bring about a new challenge at a new club.
Ricky Alvarez
6 of 20
Once so highly rated, the loan move to Sunderland just hasn’t worked out for Argentinian winger Ricky Alvarez—who is still owned by Inter Milan.
Whether he will be next season remains to be seen, but surely another move will be needed for a player who was so highly regarded during his time in his homeland with Velez Sarsfield.
Jon Flanagan
7 of 20
Remember Liverpool’s title challenge? It featured a young Scouser playing at left-back called Jon Flanagan.
The youngster has completely faded from view during 2014/15 because of a serious knee injury diagnosed in pre-season, but he is finally closing in on a return to the team and will doubtless be eyeing 2015/16 as a season in which he can make a long and sustained impact on the team.
Thomas Vermaelen
8 of 20
Thomas Vermaelen is a Barcelona player. No, really, he is!
The Belgian’s injury curse has been ever-present since he moved to Catalonia in the summer, so much so that he has never actually pulled on the famous colours in a competitive game for the club.
A summer of rest followed by a good 2015/16 season must now be pretty high on his wish list.
Ross Barkley
9 of 20
It’s just not been Everton’s season—in the Premier League at least—and as a result (or perhaps because), it just hasn’t gone well for Ross Barkley.
Clearly still one of English football’s best and brightest young talents, Barkley should be excused a season in which he’s often struggled given his age. Hopefully he can bounce back and enjoy a stellar 2015/16 to further confirm his talent.
Eliaquim Mangala
10 of 20
He’s had something of a nightmare first season at Manchester City, but there have to be reasons why the Premier League champions shelled out so much money on Eliaquim Mangala. The Frenchman will be hoping to show just that next season.
With question marks appearing over Vincent Kompany’s status at the club, Mangala could well recover and take his place as the leader of the City back four next season—although he’ll need to dramatically improve for that to happen.
Angel Di Maria
11 of 20
It has to get better for Angel Di Maria at Manchester United, doesn’t it?
Given the amount of money United paid for him, they are unlikely to let the Argentinian go without a fight. The former Real Madrid man certainly possesses the talent to improve and eventually enjoy a long and successful career at Old Trafford.
He’ll have to get better this season if he wants to take his place in the Champions League in 2015/16, though.
Robin van Persie
12 of 20
Is Robin van Persie’s time at Manchester United up?
The Dutchman has struggled at the club this season despite the presence of his former international manager and Dutch compatriot Louis van Gaal. Perhaps it is time for him to leave the Premier League behind and instead take his undoubted talents to another division?
Loic Remy
13 of 20
There’s a good chance that Loic Remy won’t ever make the grade at Chelsea, and if the Blues end up signing a big-name forward to replace Didier Drogba in the summer, then the Frenchman should really think about cutting his time at Stamford Bridge short.
He is too good a player to simply sit on the bench, and a fresh start somewhere else could be the answer for a player that Chelsea will doubtless be happy to make a small profit on.
Jack Wilshere
14 of 20
The campaign started well for Jack Wilshere, who turned in a fantastic performance and scored a fine goal in Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Manchester City in September.
Sadly, though, his injury jinx has struck since then and seen this season go the way of too many others for Wilshere, who must now be looking forward to 2015/16 and hopefully yet another change in fortunes.
Douglas
15 of 20
A somewhat curious presence in the Barcelona first-team squad, Brazilian full-back Douglas has made just one La Liga appearance and three in the Copa Del Rey during his first campaign in Catalonia.
Whether he’ll get a second one remains to be seen, but surely a loan move elsewhere is now imperative for a 24-year-old who many are surprised is even at the Camp Nou in the first place.
Thiago Alcantara
16 of 20
Immensely talented but also immensely unlucky, Thiago Alcantara’s skills have been missing from the Bayern Munich squad for far too long ever since his arrival at the club from Barcelona in 2013.
A knee ligament injury has ruined his time in Bavaria, and the Spain international will be hoping that 2015/16 offers him a lot more luck and a chance to take his place in one of the world’s most talented teams.
Dejan Lovren
17 of 20
Recent football history is full of players who have struggled in their first campaign at a club only to go on and improve in the second, and Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren can only prove that he adds to their ranks.
The Croatian has seen his reputation torn to shreds ever since moving to Anfield in a lucrative deal in the summer, but with the support of manager Brendan Rodgers, he’ll be hoping to bounce back and become a regular in the team.
Tim Howard
18 of 20
Call it a post-World Cup comedown if you like, but Tim Howard simply hasn’t been the same player we all saw impress for the USA in Brazil during this campaign at Everton.
The American international has started to look his age and has been the subject of immense frustration from the Everton faithful, so much so that a switch to the MLS might be what’s needed to ignite the closing few years of his career.
Juan Mata
19 of 20
Marginalised to the point of departure by Jose Mourinho at Chelsea, Juan Mata might be forgiven for thinking the same thing is happening to him again at Manchester United under Louis van Gaal.
Clearly there is something about the gifted Spaniard game which doesn’t quite sit well with these bosses, and Mata must surely be forgiven for hoping that it’ll all be plainer sailing for him in the 2015/16 campaign, wherever he is playing.
Paulinho
20 of 20
Occasionally impressive during his first season at Tottenham, Brazilian midfielder Paulinho has seen his stock dramatically fall during a campaign in which Mauricio Pochettino has preferred the youth and energy of Ryan Mason and Nabil Bentaleb.
A move perhaps beckons for Paulinho in the summer, and he might well need one if he is to reignite a previously impressive career which has won him many admirers.
