2019-20 PL: 4 stars who have failed to replicate previous season’s heroics
We are nearing the halfway mark in the Premier League season as the 2019-20 campaign enters into the ever-busy festive period ahead of Christmas and New Year. The excitement levels are surely set to soar sky-high with less than three weeks left for the transfer window to reopen in January.
As it has always been the case in every Premier League season, the fans have already been lucky enough to witness some moments of sheer brilliance sparked by some incredible individual performances so far this term.
Some of the big-money arrivals this past summer have already settled down and started to deliver the goods while others have struggled to live up to the expectations.
Seasoned campaigners like David Silva, Sergio Aguero, Mo Salah, Sadio Mane, Jamie Vardy and several others have lived up to the hype once again this season after a wonderful campaign last time around.
However, others have failed miserably to reach the same lofty heights from last season and it’s certainly worth taking a look at that list. Here are 4 Premier League stars who have failed to replicate the previous season’s heroics so far this term:-
1. Ryan Fraser (Bournemouth)
The Scottish international finished the 2018-19 campaign with an overwhelming tally of 7 goals and 14 assists in 38 appearances for the Cherries, with Chelsea’s Eden Hazard being the only player to register more assists than the diminutive wing wizard.
However, amidst a contract stand-off at the Vitality Stadium, things have gone downhill for Fraser in a drastic manner this term, with the 25-year-old looking like a shadow of his former glorious self in the previous season.
Fraser has only scored once and assisted thrice in 15 Premier League appearances for Bournemouth so far in the ongoing campaign. If his mediocre displays are anything to go by, there has hardly been any sign to suggest that he could possibly go on to replicate his incredible tally from the 2018-19 season.
There’s still more than half of the season left to run but an entry into the list of one-season wonders in the Premier League certainly looks on the horizon for the Bournemouth man.
2. Gerard Deulofeu (Watford)
With an impressive tally of 10 goals and 5 assists in 30 Premier League appearances, not to mention his brace against Wolves in the semi-final of the FA Cup last year, the former La Masia youth graduate finished the 2018-19 campaign as one of Watford’s most influential performers in front of goal.
However, his significant fall in grace has coincided with Watford’s struggles at the bottom of the table this term, with Deulofeu only managing 2 goals and 2 assists in 16 league outings for the Hornets so far.
The injury absence of club-captain Troy Deeney, who was his designated partner up top last season, has certainly had a negative impact on the Spaniard’s performances.
Nigel Pearson recently took over the reins as Watford’s third manager in the ongoing season following the dismissal of Javi Gracia and Quique Sanchez Flores and it remains to be seen whether he manages to spark a dramatic turnaround in Deulofeu’s lacklustre form.
Indeed, that could well be the difference between survival and relegation for the Hornets.
3. Felipe Anderson (West Ham)
The Brazilian, who came through the door at the London Stadium as a club-record signing back in the summer of 2018, went on to enjoy a fantastic debut season in the Premier League at West Ham last term.
An impressive tally of 9 goals and 4 assists in 36 appearances, coupled with his somewhat mercurial nature as a playmaker, was somewhat reminiscent of the great Paolo Di Canio as the Hammers rallied on to secure a top-ten finish under Manuel Pellegrini.
Anderson is yet to open his goal account for the season, registering only 3 assists in the process. His lacklustre displays are becoming a norm rather than an anomaly, which is certainly a worrying sign.
4. Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton)
Having recently parted ways with Marco Silva and still languishing in the bottom half of the standings in the Premier League, Everton’s terrible start to the season has largely been down to a collective failure rather than an individual one.
With that in mind, however, you just can’t help but single out Gylfi Sigurdson for his lack of impact this season, considering that the Icelandic international plundered as many as 13 goals and 6 assists in 38 appearances last term
Sigurdsson has only scored and assisted one apiece for the Toffees in 16 Premier League outings for the Toffees so far this term and Everton clearly need a lot more from their influential playmaker if they are to climb up the table in the coming months.
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