Shit-list English Premier League 21–22 half season

Earlier, we singled out the best team in the first half of this season. It is logical that now we need to single out the worst team. Let’s call this list by analogy with the past — shit-list.

On what basis was this squad selected?
For the most part, the emphasis in the selection was made on the individual mistakes of the players, on the mistakes that led to goals, as well as on the general feeling of the game of a particular player.
I think each of us before the start of the season has certain expectations for a particular player or team. In general, our expectations are our problems (Probably, this brilliant phrase of Andrei Arshavin is known abroad as well).
Again, most of the expectations are based on the performance of the players from the previous season, which allows us to expect a similar performance this season. I think the logic is more or less clear.

These are my candidates:
1. GK — Karl Darlow (Newcastle)
2. CB— Godfrey (Everton)
3. CB — Romero (Tottenham)
4. CB— Bednarek (Southampton)
5. CM — Saul (Chelsea)
6. CM— Pogba (Manchester United)
7. CM — Shelvey (Newcastle)
8. LM — Grealish (Manchester City)
9. RM— Sancho (Manchester United)
10. FRW — Kane (Tottenham)
11. FRW — Aubameyang (Arsenal)
Bonus: Players implicated in scandals and delinquency — Benjamin Mendy, Gylfi Sigurdsson and the nameless Brighton player.

1. Carl Darlow. It seems that no one expected from him super saves like Jose Sa, but he misses even more than he should. The team already has problems in defense (which you can read about in my article about Newcastle), and the goalkeeper also does not save. Now Dubravka has recovered, so there should be fewer mistakes and conceded goals.
2. Next, our team has three central defenders. Godfrey, Romero and Bednarek. They three are in different situations, but perform equally poorly this season.
   Godfrey in Everton doesn’t even show half of what he was bought a few years ago. This season he managed to play everywhere in defense and he’s bad everywhere. Even if we take only the last games, then it immediately becomes clear that he does not understand well what is required of him in defense. Often takes the wrong position, loses his opponent.
   In principle, the same could be said about Bednarek. But his situation is a little more complicated. Southampton plays very attractive football. Active pressing, high line of defense, high intensity. It’s always difficult to adapt to this. Here is Bednarek and he could not. With this style, his strengths fade into the background (winning challenges, heading, blocks). At the same time, weaknesses are striking (poor positioning, pace, reading situations). Perhaps, he should change the team, but with this style he is a failure.
   As for the third candidate for our “dream team”, it is Cristian Romero from Tottenham. Why is he, you ask? And I will answer. Romero was the best in Gasperini’s system at Atalanta. He is used to constant pressure, he knows how to play individually against the opponent. But most importantly, Atalanta played a lot with the ball and Romero didn’t have to defend much. On the other hand, in Tottenham with Nunu and with Conte, the intensity of the game in defense and the style of defense are extremely different. There is a small hope that with Conte, he will play at the level at which he played in Italy.
3. In the center, I’ll take the all-star trio: Saul, Pogba and the less-stellar Shelvey.
   There isn’t really much to talk about here. Saul has more of a mental problem. His self-doubt is very much felt. Although, initially it seemed that he would be useful in Chelsea. But he’s not.
   Paul Pogba has been in trouble for years. Sideways, it seems that he cannot decide whether he wants to play for Man United or not. He started this season brightly with 5 assists in two games. But then several unconvincing games followed, another injury and a blurry impression of the game. Let’s see what he will show in the new year. Up to date, he is a sheer disappointment.
   Shelvey, on the paper, could have become the leader of Newcastle in such a difficult period. But it seems he chose a different path. He still knows how to simultaneously lose position, not have time to return, cut off and foul. This is not exactly what you expect from a leader.
4. Two stars of English football will play along the wings — Grealish and Sancho.
   Both of them are clearly experiencing growth problems. As we say in Russia, it’s easy to be the first guy in the village, and it’s hard to stay a star among the stars. Grealish is actually not that bad, but high expectations due to the huge price make him looks worst.
   Sancho’s story is sadder. He’s not even 1/3 as good as he was in Dortmund. Higher speed, stronger rivals. All this affects the game of the young player. Solskjaer did not really want to help him, making the game even more uncomfortable for him. With the Ralf Rangnick at the wheel, the team’s play will be reminiscent of German clubs, and Sancho knows how to play that kind of football. We are waiting for him in the Hit-List of the second half of the season.
5. Well, the final pair of players, two strikers (although judging by how many they have scored this season, I would doubt their professional fitness)
   Harry Kane and Aubameyang.
   Kane’s personal tragedy, connected with the failed transfer to Man City, completely unsettled him. The top scorer of the Premier League is not like himself, only 2 goals and 1 assist in Premier League this season. I deeply hope that this is an abnormal season and that he will return to his level. In Tottenham or not.
   Things are even easier with Aubameyang. It seems that he simply does not want to play at the level at which we are used to seeing him anymore. The new contract became the starting point for the degradation of the Gabonese. Recently, discipline problems have been added to this. Apparently, in January someone is going to be sold.