By Jim James
We are now a well ways through the season, and we are 3 weeks now (nearly) since the end of the Summer Transfer Window. Most signings have got a chance to make a first impression, and the players we are looking at today, well, haven’t. These are signings that had the potential to be great additions to their teams, but, well, haven’t.
Mind you that little time has passed since these transfers and all of the players that we’ll be covering today have less than 10 games under their belt with their new teams, but it hasn’t looked good so far. However, time is on their side.
With Introductions out of the way, let’s begin!
Dishonorable Mentions:
Goncalo Guedes
Niklas Sule
Xaver Schlager
#10: Kalidou Koulibaly
For the price tag and expectations, we all expected a bit more from Kalidou Koulibaly. Perhaps if he was a defender that recently burst onto the scene and had a 25m price tag it would have been different.
His first two games started out well for Chelsea. 7.3 and 7.9 ratings with a goal vs Spurs, it has gone downhill from there. He played the full 90 in losses to Southampton and Zagreb as well as a fraudulent win vs West Ham, and got sent off in the 3-0 loss to Leeds. He was also dropped for Chelsea’s 1-all draw with RB Salzburg, not getting a 7.0+ in any of those. Again, disappointing for the price and expectations.
#9: Sadio Mane
This is a similar case to Koulibaly, as without the expectations and price, Mane wouldn’t get near this list.
He’s actually had 11 Bayern games including the Super Cup and DFB Pokal, and has 5 goals. However, 2 of them were either in the Super Cup or against a lower division side in the Pokal, so only 3 goals that matter, one of which he hasn’t gotten in a month. He hasn’t looked into it in a Bayern shirt, and looked out of place as a Striker, where most of his games have come. He has also failed to score in his last 5 games, not geeting even near a 7 in his last 4. Only time will tell to see if he can find his shooting boots.
#8: Charles De Ketelaere
Despite what you may think, CDK has had plenty of game time this season, making the Starting XI in 4 of Milan’s 7 Serie A games so far, but is still yet to score in 9 Appearances.
Mind you, he has been playing in the CAM role for Milan this season, but he’s a player that relies on his attacking abilities, which have not been showcased this season. Other than a Rogue 7.9 vs Bologna where he got an assist, the Belgian has a ways to go.
This is one of the ones that I think has good potential to turn around, as the jump from the Belgian Pro League to Serie A is a large one, and perhaps De Ketelaere just needs to be comfortable in Italian football.
#7: Tanguy Ndombele
One of two loanees on the list, Ndombele has been struggling for game time and when he has got it, has looked bad.
He’s made the Starting XI twice this season and when he has got it, has been subbed at the half both times. He’s had 5 games for Napoli and had one over 7.0 performance, the game vs Rangers, which is the only reason he’s this low. Stinkers vs Milan and Fiorentina and bang average performances vs Spezia and Lecce have seen an underwhelming start to what could have been a career revival for the Frenchman.
#6: Karim Adeyemi
Those of you who don’t watch German Football might be wondering what I’m on about. However, he has struggled so far in a Dortmund shirt. Two Injuries already have confined him to just 3 league games and only played 17% of minutes in those games. He’s been played in the Right-Winger role at Dortmund as well, which doesn’t appear to suit him at all. He hasn’t scored yet in the league or UCL either. Improvement is really needed, it would be a shame if this is another wasted talent.
#5: Ryan Gravenberch
A similar case as Adeyemi, Gravenberch hasn’t struggled with injuries but he’s not been played much at all. The most minutes he’s played in a league game was 33 vs Frankfurt, and he hasn’t even got a 7.0 rating yet either (outside of the Pokal). Early signs aren’t good for the German.
#4: Renan Lodi
Only this low because of the short length of time since his arrival, Renan Lodi has looked very bad in his time at Nottingham Forest.
An absolute stinker in his debut vs Man City followed by bad performances vs newly promoted sides Bournemouth and Fulham, if his form continues like this, Lodi could soon see his spot at Forest replaced by Jack Colback and once his loan spell is over, his Atleti place be replaced by Reinildo Mandrava.
#3: Hugo Ekitike
Rejecting Newcastle twice has bitten Hugo Ekitike in the butt so far. Even though I can’t blame him for taking the bright Paris lights over the Geordie weather, Newcastle would have likely been the better choice.
Only getting in 9% of minutes, Ekitike was left on the bench vs Lille, Monaco, Juve, Maccabi Haifa, and OL, and in the games he has played, he hasn’t got more than 22 minutes in a single game, and is yet to get a single Goal Contribution or anywhere near a 7.0 rating. Sources say Newcastle was the smart move.
#2: Kalvin Phillips
The spell at Man City has not gone to plan so far for Kalvin Phillips. It’s not that he’s been bad, no, he just hasn’t played. Only 14 minutes in total for Phillips, relegating the Leeds undroppable to glorified fan at the Etihad. A loan spell back to Leeds in January might be the thing for him, and people have been forgetting this transfer happened. Something needs to happen, quick, before this talent fades.
#1: Yves Bissouma
This is the perfect storm for being top of my list. He’s been struggling for minutes but not so much that we don’t know what he is yet, and he’s been bad when playing.
Bissouma has played 7 games for Spurs, only started one and has had 26 minutes per game, so not having the minutes he might want, but a solid amount still. He hasn’t got near a 7.0 yet, with a 6.8 being his best, and hasn’t even got a goal contribution. He’s been bang Average and even a player like 36-year-old Joao Moutinho has been doing much, much better than him. This will be a signing not remembered well by Spurs.
That’s all folks, this took a while so I hope you liked it. I have a lot of new things planned after this break, including FIFA 23 Things, but for now, I’ll see you next time!