Sport
Premier League players who had the worst 2020
For many people, 2020 has been a miserable year and that has included certain footballers playing in the Premier League. Ranging from poor form to terrible behaviour and some big names being entirely of teams rendering them useless and for others, it has been a real shock to the system. Looking back over the past 12 months, who has had a nightmare start to the decade? Let’s have a look at the Premier League players who had the worst 2020 and will be hoping for better things to come.
The six Premier League players who had the worst 2020
Mesut Ozil (Arsenal)
Everyone at The Emirates is patiently waiting for the Mesut Ozil nightmare to end once and for all. The German international was presented with a fresh start upon the arrival of Mikel Arteta last December when he had the chance to prove his worth to the club. Unfortunately it was one he didn’t take.
Ozil always seemed disinterested when playing with the skill and defence-splitting passes which once made him an Arsenal hero nowhere in sight. It’s a skillset that The Gunners desperately need to end their freefall but something that they can’t seem to conjure out of the club’s highest earner. The fact that Arteta chose to not list the German in either his domestic or European squads confirms Ozil will be nothing but a spectator until his contract ends in July 2021. The quicker that arrives the better for all concerned.
Kepa (Chelsea)
There aren’t many Premier League players who endured a worse 2020 than Chelsea’s Spanish keeper, who arguably had the worst of all. When Kepa moved to Stamford Bridge from Athletic Bilbao, he became the most expensive goalkeeper in the history of the sport. Did they get their money’s worth? Nope.
The Spaniard has been the source of several high-profile mistakes over the past 12 months which put their status in the top 4 very much at risk for much of last season. Frank Lampard noticed this and brought in Edouard Mendy from Rennes who has very much displaced Kepa as number 1 at Stamford Bridge. Since then, Chelsea’s fortunes have improved and the Spaniard is very much on the outside looking in. Very much a waste of money and talent, with Kepa apparently struggling even to find a loan move now.
Danny Rose (Tottenham)
Danny Rose has tried his best to maintain a spot in the England squad but his presence for the Three Lions is dwindling. A loan move to Newcastle gave him a chance to maintain regular first team football but a lack of spectacular performances meant that The Geordies never followed it up with a permanent transfer. Since then, Rose has been nothing more than a fan at Spurs having been left off their 25-man squad for the Premier League and no chance of regular football for the foreseeable future. A move away in January is pivotal for Rose to earn his England spot back before it disappears forever.
Jesse Lingard (Manchester United)
A few seasons ago, Jesse Lingard was a key part of the United first team and regularly chipping in with both goals and assists. 2020 has been the worst year of the winger’s career, one of several Premier League players who will make that claim, and he is struggling to get any game time for The Red Devils full stop. This is due to his lack of end product with his only goal this year coming in the final day of the elongated 2019/20 season against Leicester in July.
With others around him like Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford producing more and youngsters such as Mason Greenwood stepping up to the mark, Lingard’s place in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad is now hanging by a thread. Lingard has also lost his spot in the England team and doesn’t look like getting it back anytime soon. He has a lot of work to do in 2021 if he wants to reach such rosy heights again anytime soon.
Joelinton (Newcastle)
Newcastle’s Joelinton has struggled to prove to The Toon Army why he became one of the club’s biggest signings when he joined from Hoffenheim last season. The Brazilian has struggled to show any sort of consistency in front of goal having scored just twice all year. He has been constantly mocked for his ability to miss chances and the signing of Callum Wilson from Bournemouth in August has only added further torment to his fortunes. It’s never good when your centre-backs are outscoring you and Joelinton knows that his opportunities will only dwindle in the coming months. It’s time to step up or step aside for the Brazilian living on Tyneside.
Jack Wilshere (West Ham)
Rounding off our list of Premier League players who have had a shocking 2020 is Jack Wilshere, who may just have experienced the worst of a shocking few seasons. Wilshere is ending the year without a club after a torrid time at West Ham. The midfielder joined The Hammers in 2018 hoping to reinvent himself and find the form that had fans touting him as a superstar in waiting. However, persistent injury woes combined with a lack of commitment throughout 2020 saw him drop out of the West Ham squad altogether.
Wilshere’s contract was terminated by the club in October and has since been rejected by clubs such as Rangers in Scotland. It’s a massive fall from grace for someone who was once England’s brightest talents. Though apparently he still believes he belongs at a big club.
You could earn up to £100 (or currency equivalent) in bonus funds by joining Colossus with our New Player Bonus. Click here to join the action.
