Player Focus: High Profile Players Underwhelming in the Premier League

It’s been a strange start to the Premier League season to say the least. Reigning champions Chelsea sit just three points above the relegation zone while Leicester, who toyed with it for much of last season, are 14 points clear of the Blues and just one point off top spot in third.

Those two teams are the real success and failure stories of the campaign so far, with Jamie Vardy’s remarkable goalscoring exploits and Riyad Mahrez’s majestic form inspiring the Foxes thus far. The Leicester pair are the two highest rated players in the top-flight according to WhoScored, with the likes of Ozil, Payet and Martial among the star performers from elsewhere in the league.

While the aforementioned players have flourished, however, there are a number to have seriously underwhelmed - with almost the entire Chelsea squad certainly falling into that bracket. Here we look at five players - and no more than one from each club - that have made a surprisingly slow start to the 2015/16 based on our ratings.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - 6.55 rating

After a curtain raiser that offered so much promise for the season ahead as Oxlade-Chamberlain scored the only goal of the game for a rating of 7.95 from WhoScored in the Community Shield against Chelsea, it has been another frustrating period for the youngster, of which there have been many since a move to Arsenal. It’s his goal contribution that needed the most improvement after all, but since that day at the beginning of August the England international has failed to register a goal or an assist across 15 appearances for the Gunners in all competitions.

While it’s of course worth mentioning that 9 of said appearances have come from the bench - indicative of the fact that here is a player Arsene Wenger still hasn’t been wholly convinced by - such a poor return for a player in his position and of his potential remains a concern. While he can beat an opponent with ease, with no player to have made at least 5 appearances completing a dribble more often (every 18.3 minutes), Oxalde-Chamberlain’s end product is lacking. in 13 league and Champions League appearances this season the 22-year old has created just 10 chances and hit the target with 2 of 16 shots.

Gylfi Sigurdsson - 6.53 rating

He may have made a telling contribution with a free-kick against Aston Villa - Swansea’s solitary win in their last 8 league matches - but such moments have been few and far between from Sigurdsson for his club this season. With his other goal this season a consolation from the spot against Southampton, the playmaker’s impact in open play has been pretty minimal thus far after a strong season on his return to Wales last time out.

Sigurdsson has kept his manager’s faith to date, starting all but one of Swansea’s league matches this season, despite letting standards slip this time around. He has just 1 assist from 1 key pass per game - 10 from an average 2.3 per game last season - while 1.4 tackles and interceptions per game combined is down from 2.4 in 2014/15.

Saido Berahino - 6.50 rating

His season so far may have been shrouded by an ill-advised transfer dispute as the young striker sought a move to Spurs but Berahino has been pretty unconvincing nonetheless. A tally of 3 league goals thus far is far from disastrous - scrappy though efforts against Villa and Sunderland may have been - but when he hasn’t registered on the scoresheet, in 7 of 10 league appearances - the forward has been pretty anonymous to say the least.

Indeed, in said games in which he has failed to score Berahino has failed to pick up a rating in excess of 6.41 from WhoScored and if he is to earn a move to a bigger club he will need to show greater commitment and consistency. The 22-year old has averaged just 1 shot per game this season - down from 2.3 last - and created just 3 chances for teammates in total, leaving him with the worst rating of all West Brom players to start at least 5 times.

Emre Can - 6.48 rating

It’s fair to say Liverpool fans were expecting big things from Emre Can, restored into a favoured central midfield role this season, but it’s also true that to now he has failed to really deliver for the Reds. The young German was credited as Rodgers' one real success story from last summer’s dealings but has struggled to kick on this season at the heart of a Liverpool side that looks unconvincing without new captain Jordan Henderson.

Of all outfielders to start at least 10 times Can has the lowest rating in the entire Premier League, seemingly struggling to find his purpose in something of a makeshift Liverpool midfield. The youngster’s defensive figures are modest - averaging 1.8 tackles and 1.6 interceptions per game - whilst he is having very little impact going forward. It’s telling that Can is averaging fewer shots and less than half the number of dribbles (0.6 from 1.3 per game) as last season despite featuring in defence for the vast majority of the 2014/15 campaign.

John Terry - 6.34 rating

The lowest rated outfielder to have featured at least 7 times this season without making a single substitute appearance, John Terry’s fall from superiority has mirrored that of his side. Considered the best centre-back in the Premier League last season by many, the Chelsea captain has been among those to fall foul of his manager’s wielding axe this season, and it must be said not without reason.

Now 34, Terry is showing the signs of abating that many felt were beginning to become evident in his game prior to an excellent 2014/15 campaign. Christian Benteke’s goal at Stamford Bridge last month was an example of the former England man not getting anywhere near tight enough to his opponent and it hasn’t been an isolated incident this season. The veteran’s figures for tackles (0.9 per game), aerial duels won (1.7) and clearances (3.3) have all dropped, while his lack of pace is being exposed more often where his positioning was formerly a saving grace.

Which of these players have you been most disappointed by this season? Let us know in the comments below