The Most Overrated Players in the Premier League

Nicolas Otamendi

If Otamendi wasn’t a Man City player, he wouldn’t be as highly thought of as he is. Simply put, he can’t defend. He’s showed this on a number of occasions this season, most notably against Norwich where he also demonstrated his lack of ability when playing it out from the back. The combination of Fernandinho, Stones and Otamendi is essentially the reason why Liverpool have been so far out in front so far this campaign.

Michael Keane

Another Centre back who has lost the ability to defend. Keane was, for about half a season, the future of the England defence. Then he showed that you become a much worse defender when you move from a Burnley system, where you sit back and defend as a unit for 90 minutes, and move to Everton, where you actually have to defend 1 on 1 quite often. Keane’s defensive abilities somehow still get him into the England squad, despite there being much better options, but haven’t exactly shone for Everton this season or last. Despite a win last weekend Everton are still very much underperforming this season and that is in part due to shocking defensive efforts by Keane. The less said about his recent outings for England the better.

Danny Rose

Keane’s compatriot Danny Rose is held in high esteem at Spurs, and I can’t see why. Defensively he has never been the best and going forward his crossing is erratic. Ben Davies is far superior to him in almost every way, but especially in terms of his delivery into the box. Spurs problems this season have only been added to by poor performances by Rose. It also seems that whenever he hasn’t got his way in the past, he’s threatened to leave, and thus can’t be a great influence to have around the club, if he’s that willing to throw in the towel when he’s not selected.

Roberto Pereyra

If you look up the word ‘missing’ in the dictionary, you may see a picture of Roberto Pereyra. The Argentine Midfielder has gone missing far too often for Watford this season. In the past he would pop up with a goal or a good performance every now and then to remind you he’s there. This season on the other hand, other than a penalty against Arsenal, I can’t think of a single thing he’s done. Not that many Watford players have done much this season. But, considering he is supposed to be Watford’s Marquee player, he doesn’t half drift out of games like a discount Mesut Ozil.

Adama Traore

Wolves fans are very over excitable when it seems like they have a half decent team on their hands. Adama Traore is a player that Wolves fans are constantly saying is ‘improving’, but I don’t see it. He still looks like the same player that was playing in both the awful Villa and Middlesbrough sides of a few years ago. Oh wow, he can run fast and scored that one really good goal or got that one assist. Being able to run fast and picking up your 1 or 2 goals a season doesn’t make you a good player. Traore’s end product is diabolical, but his quick feet seem to mesmorise fans into thinking there’s something more to him, there isn’t, this is as good as he’ll get. Most likely 7^th will be as good as Wolves get too.

David Luiz

It goes without saying that David Luiz is an overrated prima donna. He’s an absolute liability who doesn’t put effort in, pulls out of blocks and tackles, and is exactly what Arsenal don’t need in their defence. But Arsenal don’t seem willing to improve at the moment so it’s not surprising they bought him.

Ross Barkley

Ross Barkley must be blackmailing Gareth Southgate to get into the England squad time after time. In a word, Barkley is average, and that’s on the best of days. He can’t play the youngster card either now because he’s 25, this is the best anyone will get out of him. He warms the bench most of the time for Chelsea, and when he does get on the pitch he hasn’t contributed to a single goal. It says a lot that he’s been pushed out of the team by Mason Mount, a young player with desire who puts in 100% effort, and has been rewarded for it. Barkley has put in far too many Lethargic performances for both Chelsea and Everton to be considered an exciting player any more.