'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
It’s all well and good seeing who is the best of the weekend, but how about the worst? This is not a team you want to be getting in to.
Flop Team of the Weekend: Fulham What has happened to Fulham? They’ve gone from being an anonymous mid table team to a few results away from relegation. If Fulham don’t get any more points from their two games, they will be stuck on 40. It should be enough but if the teams below each grab a win or two, it certainly won’t be. A home game against an already relegated Reading was an ideal chance to get those final 3 points needed for safety, but they were atrocious. Some appalling defending and bad finishing meant they lost 4-2 and find themselves in trouble. They went on their summer holiday about 4 weeks ago, and with everyone below them winning, they are right in it.
Anders Lindegaard – Manchester United And this is why it’s important that De Gea has kicked on so much. Lindegaard was seen as the man last year as De Gea bedded in slowly but he wasn’t great against Chelsea. It’s a slightly harsh selection with no real competition, but he didn’t cover himself in glory for Mata’s goal.
Billy Jones – West Brom If you watched the highlights you’ll be thinking, ‘are you mad? He was charging forwards all game!’ Yes, quite. But let me describe all three Wigan goals for you. Beausejour cross from left flank to Kone to head in. Maloney cross from left flank for McArthur to head in. Maloney cross from left flank for McManaman to tap in. You see the problem here? It’s not often that someone can be held accountable for three goals in a game, but unfortunately, Billy Jones had a game to forget.
Sebastien Bassong – Norwich Bassong has been the epitome of solidity this season for Norwich, but he had a bad game against Villa. Without his regular partner Michael Turner, he looked a little lost. He was caught backing away for the first Agbonlahor goal, then was made to look foolish for the second as the Villa striker sprinted past him from a run that Bassong didn’t pick up.
Philippe Senderos – Fulham No stranger to this type of team, but Senderos had a mare. Part of a defence that conceded four goals to relegated Reading, the most damning stat is that 3 of the 4 goals came through the middle of the defence. He also found time for his patented comedy clearances.
Joe Bennett – Aston Villa The young man had a disastrous showing against Norwich and should have seen about four yellow cards, so he was incredibly fortunate not to have seen red. Snodgrass ran him ragged, including a penalty won after a ridiculous challenge. As the other Villa youngsters have improved, he seems to have regressed lately.
Park Ji-Sung – QPR Park used to be Alex Ferguson’s go-to man for big games and he always scored against Arsenal. This time he didn’t even figure in the game. For a man on £70k per week who was introduced to the club to offer leadership and show the club how to win, he has done nothing but. His game was always based on fitness, effort and discipline rather than technical talent, but at 32, his legs are betraying him.
Tom Cleverley – Man United Cleverley hasn’t played for a while and on this evidence, won’t do again any time soon. He only completed 30 passes, a meagre 11 of which were forward, and didn’t make up for this with defensive output as he registered only two interceptions and nothing else of note. It was an uninspiring showing from a player with potential.
Anderson – Man United Unlike his sidekick, Anderson did at least try passing the ball forwards, 19 out of 32 is an impressive ratio, but none of these were in, or even near, the penalty box. He was given the keys to the car in midfield, but he couldn’t figure out how to get the engine running. He didn’t add any light to a really dull United showing.
John-Arne Riise – Fulham Riise operated at left back for Fulham, so it doesn’t look good for him that Reading right winger Hal Robson-Kanu scored twice, including a penalty that Riise gave away. Surprisingly, for a player famed for his work ethic and desire, he looked disinterested, and his performance summed up the mini malaise that Fulham have slipped in to.
Edin Dzeko – Man City He’s pretty much in just for that missed open goal which was one of only four touches in the penalty box. This includes another couple of off target shots and one straight at Michel Vorm. Not exactly a showing that will force him in to the Cup Final team.
Demba Ba – Chelsea Torres was bad, but Ba was awful. He must have taken a good three air swings and didn’t look like he was alive to the chances that Juan Mata was creating for him. He didn’t look like he was going to score if he was there all day. Surely Lukaku is a better option moving forward.
