With a mere 13 matches left in the season, it is a do or die situation for a number of clubs. A few of them want to solidify their positions while many want improvements, especially the teams at the bottom.
While a number of players in the bottom half of the table have failed to rise to the occasions, there have been a couple of players in teams fighting for Champions League and the title who have failed to get going.
Let us take a look at 3 players who have flattered to deceive till now this season.
JOHN STONES
Granted that the England International hasn’t been an outright failure and has indeed put in some commendable displays till now but when one brings in a defender for around £50m, a degree of consistency is expected. His breakthrough season came a couple of years ago and after he was embroiled in an ultimately futile transfer saga involving Chelsea last season, his levels haven’t been the same. Last season, Stones was culpable of conceding the most number of points from direct mistakes and he has been error-prone again this season. Guardiola and Stones have the potential to be one of the best partnerships in the world and it is clear he wants to build him in the mould of Pique but by the evidence on show, there is a good amount of time left for that to be achieved.
ROSS BARKLEY
The Everton midfielder has been a source of unrealized potential and a growing source of frustration for the Goodison faithful and also in his role as an England player. He has all the attributes. Pace, physicality, technically adept and has flair to go along with it.
But season after season, he has failed to realise his full potential and this time around, things haven’t been too different. He has 4 goals and 5 assists in 23 matches in the League so far and needs to step up in productivity and consistency a couple of notches higher, at the very least.
EMRE CAN
The German midfielder was expected to have a big season and with someone like Klopp at the helm, it was given that Can would be taking over the control of the midfield and run the show. He is defensively sound and can run with the ball and at the same time is a good passer and with a tinge of hard-work was capable of doing wonders this season. But things haven’t worked out for him and he has been truly deplorable lately. Singled out for a number of losses, he has failed to complete simple passes and has looked like a rabbit caught in headlights at times. He simply hasn’t been good enough and has to improve considerably else a summer exit is looking likely.
