5 Man City Players Whose Stock Tumbled in the 2014/15 Premier League Season

Having finished the Premier League season with six wins in succession, Manchester City enter the summer in far better mood than after their derby defeat to Manchester United in April, but that run doesn't mask the deficiencies of their campaign. 

Quite simply, City's performances haven't been good enough. They finished eight points behind the champions, Chelsea, and exited both domestic-cup competitions in desperately disappointing circumstances. 

Their manager, Manuel Pellegrini, has taken the majority of the flack, but his players must also bear some responsibility. Some have been excellent, such as Sergio Aguero and David Silva, but too many have not performed at their best. 

Here's five whose reputations have suffered after a poor season. 

1. Edin Dzeko

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Four league goals represent a woeful return for Edin Dzeko, City's Bosnian striker who has, so often in the past, been the man for the big occasion. It's a particularly paltry number when one considers he averaged almost 15 league goals over the three previous seasons. 

Something isn't quite right. It's very possible he needs a move to reignite his career. He's 29 and has spent four-and-a-half seasons at the Etihad. Things sometimes go stagnant, and perhaps a transfer away is what he needs to rediscover his best. 

He has scored hugely important goals during his City career and, if he does exit, he will be remembered as a very important player for the club. 

2. Fernando

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Having moved to City last summer in a £12 million move from Porto, big things were expected of Fernando. He was seen as the out-and-out defensive midfielder City hadn't had since Nigel De Jong departed for AC Milan in 2012, a player who could bring new options to the makeup of City's midfield. 

But, in truth, he's struggled. A lack of mobility appears to have hindered him, and despite his frame, he's often looked to be lacking something physically, too. 

Often, players need a year to fully get to grips with the Premier League and then excel once they adapt. Fernando could be another example. He showed flashes of brilliance in his first couple of games and has looked much more disciplined in the closing weeks. 

Next season will be a big one for him.

3. Samir Nasri

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Consistency has often been Samir Nasri's problem at City, and this season has been no different. 

In Pellegrini's first year in charge, Nasri was like a new signing, vastly improved on the 2012/13 campaign where he'd been woefully out of form. 

But this season has been mixed. He peaked in December when he produced a series of top-quality displays, demonstrating his best attributes. He is a skilful player, one of the most adept in the City squad at keeping possession, but he does not lack tenacity and determination either. 

However, his form deteriorated badly. So much so that after City's defeat away at Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League back in March, a game in which he was taken off at half-time, he lost his place and never really recovered. 

An injury almost immediately after coming on as a substitute against Tottenham Hotspur on May 3 ended his season prematurely, but, effectively, it was over in the Camp Nou. 

4. Stevan Jovetic

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Stevan Jovetic's transfer to City simply hasn't worked out, and a summer move away from the club, most likely back to Serie A where his stock remains high, surely beckons. 

Whereas his first season was written off because of a horrendous run of injuries, this one comes with no such caveats. He's been given plenty of opportunities and has failed to take them. 

Profligate finishing and a headless-chicken approach to making runs have seen him frustrate rather than excite. The talent is clearly there, yet footballing intelligence and appreciation of space on the pitch certainly isn't. 

5. Vincent Kompany

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Perhaps the most alarming decline of all has been that of Vincent Kompany, whose standing has fallen dramatically in recent months. 

The Belgian, who has been held up as the Premier League's best defender in recent years, struggled badly this season. Pulled out of position too easily and too rash with his challenges, he became a liability, bereft of confidence and completely out of sorts. 

The sight of him making substitute appearances once he was dropped from the starting XI was bizarre but just. City need the old Kompany back.