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“Why isn’t he giving him a start!?” harks the cry from a bewildered fan in the audience. Sometimes we just can’t believe that, despite impressing when given chances and the clear ineptitude of some of those in front of them, why some players aren’t starting when they should be.
It happens almost every year but there will always be that glimmer of hope that if they keep being good, eventually they’ll get through to their managers. Here are 5 players that are occupying the bench when they should be starting for their clubs.
#5 Andreas Christensen
The Danish international might still only be 21, but already has a vast amount of experience under his belt. Two consistent seasons playing in the Bundesliga for Borussia Monchengladbach could not have prepared him better for the rigours of the Premier League and when he starts, he shows it.
Composed on the ball, strong in the air and great positionally, Christensen has all the tools you need in a modern-day centre-back. It’s rare to have someone with the combination of skills, experience and youth like he has, which Chelsea should be using more to their advantage.
Gary Cahill has never really impressed in the back three and when needed, he can fill in for when it makes more sense to push Cesar Azpilicueta out to the right wing-back position. In all honesty, since David Luiz’s suspension, he has shown Antonio Conte exactly why he should have a more regular presence in the starting eleven.
#4 Leon Bailey
Leon Bailey joined Bayer Leverkusen back in January to plenty of fanfare. Many wanting eyes had cast themselves over the Jamaican international but he chose the Bundesliga outfit, yet they didn’t start off like a match made in heaven.
The former Genk man struggled in his first half season, both for game-time and for form when he did sporadically get on the pitch. A reshuffle this summer has opened the space for many at the BayArena and Bailey is one man that is shining when he gets the chance.
His pace and creativity just inject something into Leverkusen’s somewhat pedestrian attack, scoring once and assisting twice so far this season. Both those goals created came in his only full 90 minutes, which should help him stake a claim ahead of the likes of Admir Mehmedi.
#3 Denis Suarez
Okay, the kid has waited long enough. Denis Suarez has been around the houses in his short career, from Manchester City to Sevilla to Villarreal and eventually back to Barcelona, where he should finally be breaking into that first-team line-up.
The 23-year-old has had a strong start to the season with two goals and two assists, three of those four coming in his two starts. His cleverness, ability to run with the ball and picking out the right pass is something the club desperately need as Andreas Iniesta can only do so much.
With his guile, they can continue to be a dangerous team more regularly and not pin everything on a bit of magic from either Lionel Messi or Luis Suarez, especially after losing Neymar. Sooner rather than later, we should be seeing the name Suarez twice on the Barcelona team sheet.
#2 Piotr Zielinski
Marek Hamsik is a Napoli hero, who will definitely pass Diego Maradona’s scoring record this season but my-oh-my, does he have a talented player breathing down his neck. Piotr Zielinski always felt like his heir apparent but he’s even been impressive from a deeper role this season.
The Polish international has regularly either been in the starting line-up alongside the Slovakian or has been a second-half replacement for him. The attacking intent between the two of them has made Mauricio Sarri’s side wonderfully entertaining so far this season but also successful so far.
The 23-year-old is still mainly occupying the bench though but that might not be the case for too long. If he can continue to produce like the two goals this campaign, he will force himself into one of the most exciting teams in European football.
#1 Anthony Martial
I’m not quite sure how much more you need to do as a footballer to get a regular start. Anthony Martial has had a sensational start to the season, even earning the club’s September Player of the Month award, yet he’s come off the bench almost twice as often as he’s been playing from the off.
Five goals and four assists so far for any player would be a fantastic headline after just nine games, yet only once has he started in the Premier League. Admittedly, Marcus Rashford has also shone in the early part of the season and Juan Mata is a dependable man on the opposite flank.
But, just for a moment, imagine the havoc that a Rashford-Lukaku-Martial strike force could create on opposition defences? For now, it will be just a pipe dream but in the not-too-distant future, if he keeps playing like this, Jose Mourinho will have no option other than to give him a go from minute one.
