Overrated Premier League Xi
Paul Robinson - Blackburn Rovers
The leading theorize that Blackburn Rovers are in the position that they are is exchanging Brad Freidel, (currently flying high in 4th place with Aston Villa) for Mr. "I'm so bad that even David James is in front of me in the England pecking order". What a disappointment, in a stronger era for English goal keepers, this guy would be playing in the championship or below.
Andrea Dossena - Liverpool
8 million pounds, and you buy this??? whether he is currently injured or Rafa has just gotten tired of his under par displays, Emilio Insua is currently occupying the left back spot at Anfield.
Anton Ferdinand
8 million pounds more and 4 league wins later, Mr. Ferdinand Jr. Has showed us all just how he plays nothing like his brother and has a stinking attitude to match, the term black sheep of the family comes to mind.
Ledley King/Jonathan Woodgate - Spurs
The heart of the Tottenham Hotspur defence is made from balsa wood. Touch them and they break, since their league debuts in the 1998 season, between the 2 of them they have amassed 415 league games between them. Signed 3 times for a total of over 28 million pounds, Woodgate can be thought about one of England's great defensive flops. King, a 1 club man must consider himself a nearly man, so much talent...such a shame.
Branislav Ivanovic - Chelsea
In a year of representing Chelsea, after a 9 million pound move from Russia, the Serbian has amassed 6 league starts for the blues, playing only once against a top side and losing. A hefty price tag for a bit part player. Maybe he will supervene Nemanja Vidic and his second season may furnish good potential displays.
Cristiano Ronaldo - Man Utd
Yes he's the world player of the year, English league champion, Uefa Champions league champion and world club championship champion, but this year he has been an awful disappointment. It seems he played so well last year to lure in Real Madrid, an offer that came and Sir Alex Ferguson let go of. This year he's looked as if he's lost his interest in playing football. Only 2 of his 8 league goals this year have come against top half opposition.
Samir Nasri - Arsenal
Fantastic against Man Utd. He went to sleep against Aston Villa in the 2-2 draw at the Emirates. His first season in the top flight of English football, obviously a step up from Ligue 1, but approximately 16 million pounds has not yet been justified from a player hailed as Arsenal's most recent savior.
Luca Modric - Spurs
A solitary consolation goal in the loss to Newcastle, his only offering so far in the league, a player deemed to be the next big thing after Euro 2008, the Croatian play maker has come out of the blocks at walking pace to start his Spurs career. 16 million pounds plus looked like a agreement in June, now it looks like money wasted. Hopefully he can set the league on fire in January.
Aaron Lennon - Spurs Again!!!
1 league goal all term, and none in any other competition. That's no sort of a return from a player with his pace, skill and natural talent. If only things had been separate for him at the world cup in '06 instead of his air-kick against Portugal in extra time. He'll need to prove his worth if the Spurs don't want to get pulled into a tight relegation battle.
Robbie Keane - Liverpool
Liverpool have a history of overspending on useless front men, Fernando Torres being the irregularity to the rule. Keane, instead of showboating against Atletico Madrid in the game Liverpool drew in the group stages, should have put the game away in the 1st half. Just one small example of how he isn't fitting into the Red's attacking system. Goals against Bolton and Wba hardly justify 20 million pounds plus for a 28 year old supposedly in his prime.
Jermaine Defoe - Portsmouth
For the simple theorize that he hasn't scored in the league since November, and that someone will probably come in and spend 10 million pounds plus on him in the change window, just to find out that his best days are behind him.