EPL Worst Team Of The Season 2009-10

EPL Worst Team Of The Season 2009-10

GK: Manuel Almunia (Arsenal)
The Spaniard's sustained ineptitude just edges team-mate Lukasz Fabianski's preference for short, sharp, unfathomable moments of idiocy. At one point this season Almunia was saving under half the shots hit at him on target. A replacement must be found in the summer. Just not Fabianski, eh, Arsene?


DR: Mario Melchiot (Wigan Athletic)
The former Chelsea man looks about ten years removed from his best, and he is still only 33. The Latics' whole back line was poor this year — as Spurs proved back in November — but Melchiot gets in by virtue of the fact that Wigan conceded over two goals a game when he was on the pitch. 


DC: Andre Bikey (Burnley)The Clarets have worse defenders on their books — a couple, actually — but none quite as infuriating as Bikey. The Cameroonian international is a supremely talented and physical footballer, but one blessed with the mentality of a spoiled 12-year-old. When will he learn?


DC: Mikael Silvestre (Arsenal)Note it down to experience, Arsene. When Sir Alex Ferguson is prepared to see one of his arch-rivals sign one of his squad members for a cut-price fee, it isn't because he has gone temporarily senile. It's because the player in question is flat-out past it.


DL: Jonathon Spector (West Ham United)
While the likes of Dempsey and Donovan were doing good work for the profile of American football, Spector — admittedly often being played out of position on the left — was doing his best to undermine it. West Ham players were all rubbish — but Spector still stood out.


MR: John Utaka (Portsmouth)Being on a reported £80,000-a-week went against Utaka all season, despite his insistence he was on less than half that figure. The forward scored just one goal in 18 league appearances all year, struggling just to get into Avram Grant's regular XI. Even for £80pw that would still be a poor return.


MC: Jimmy Bullard (Hull City)Perhaps it was just asking too much for Bullard to be the saviour of a relegation team again. But football's funny man wasn't even close this year — with that penalty miss against Sunderland a lowlight — and his deadly cocktail of high wages and injuries looks likely to leave Tigers fans cursing for years.


MC: Fabrice Muamba (Bolton Wanderers)Muamba played nearly 3000 minutes for the Trotters this season, under two different managers, so he obviously has fans within the game. But what did he really achieve? One goal, no assists, 11 yellow cards and seeing his side concede 55 goals. Bully for him.


ML: Robbie Keane (Tottenham Hotspur)Keane slots in on the left as it seems that is where both Messrs Benitez and Redknapp feel he is best suited these days — if the substitutes' bench is unavailable, that is. The Irishman went from starter, to early sub, to benchwarmer, to loanee in about six months at Spurs. A spectacular slump.


ST: Emmanuel Adebayor (Manchester City)His seven games missed through suspensions (not to mention his ill-fated African Cup of Nations trip) almost certainly helped scupper City's Champions League bid. Drogba's talent, Adriano's attitude. In the end, 14 goals in 26 games is just a reminder of what could have been — but what also still can be for Ade.




ST: Christian Benitez (Birmingham City)It speaks volumes for Alex McLeish's work this season that the Blues finished in the top ten despite their big summer forward gamble failing to pay off at all. Benitez has the enviable ability to look dangerous often, without ever actually finding the net. The 'new Afonso Alves' is a tag no-one should want to carry.
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