Strikers – an integral part of the beautiful game. They score the goals to make us go ‘wow’, and miss the chances that make us howl. Last time out I discussed who are the best goal-scoring strikers in the Premier League, using a special algorithm which takes into account a couple of different factors.
You can check that article out here: The BEST GOAL-SCORING Premier League Strikers?
Next up in the series on EPL strikers, I’m going to take a look at the worst goal-scoring strikers in the Premier League this season. Remember, all these strikers must’ve made more than 10 appearances so far.
Who could be the worst? Could it be Chelsea’s major German summer signing, Timo Werner, or could it be a former Liverpool striker who’s struggling in Yorkshire?
The list is 46 places long, and today we’ll look at the bottom 10 (i.e. numbers 37-46). We’ll also be taking into account the most recent round of games.
37. Callum Robinson (West Brom)
The man has speed and style, but Callum Robinson could’ve made it big time if he had a better eye for goal.
The 26-year-old Irish international shows a clear physical brilliance. His pace and skill provide West Brom with a solid output. When he’s released down the wings, then he’s an asset for any team. Before this weekend’s victory at Chelsea, Robinson had only scored the two goals this season. His goals have come at a rate of one every 592.5 minutes – which, well, isn’t great.
His recent goals against Chelsea show his finishing capabilities, but the athletic attacker needs to show that ability at a larger rate.
38. Michy Batshuayi (Crystal Palace)
The Brussels born striker is now 27-years-old. It feels as if he’s aged overnight. Feels like yesterday that he was a young-whipper-snapper signing for Chelsea.
His career rap-sheet is a decent one: Marseille, Chelsea, Dortmund, Valencia and Crystal Palace. However, since signing for Chelsea, he is yet to score double figure league goals for any of the next clubs. His current loan spell at Palace has seen him score only the two goals (one of which was this last weekend). A return of one goal in 16 games is pretty awful, especially for a striker who prides himself on being a poacher-style goal scorer.
A goal every 698 minutes shows a story of multiple substitute appearances, even so, he needs to improve that record.
39. Matej Vydra (Burnley)
Three out of three (so far) for players that made the list but also scored this weekend. C’mon boys!
Matej Vydra is a good player, however he’s stuck in the similar place that David Nugent was famous for. Too good for the Championship, but not quite Premier League standard.
He has a certain directness and pace that makes him a threat, but his lack of goals has somewhat forced himself out of the limelight at Turf Moor. With one goal (before this weekend) this season, it hasn’t been a free-scoring one. A goal every 871 minutes isn’t ideal.
40. Karlan Grant (West Brom)
Still aged 23, Karlan Grant has a lot of years left ahead of him in football. His prolific years at Huddersfield saw him score 23 goals in 56 appearances, a rate that would have seen him top this list if he had replicated that this season.
With only the one goal in 17 appearances so far for West Brom, the player is yet to establish himself as a Premier League natural. He could quite easily find himself in that aforementioned Nugent Zone.
A goal every 1095 minutes. Bad.
41. Jay Rodriguez (Burnley)
Jay Rodriguez has had an interesting career. The 31-year-old was once destined for great things, but a horrific injury saw him miss much a season, and an England tournament whilst at Southampton. A move to West Brom saw him continue a fairly decent scoring rate, before a move back to first club Burnley somewhat slowed that.
Nine goals in 61 games for the Turf Moor side isn’t horrific, but that doesn’t tell the story of this season.
One goal in 1128 minutes does not show the attacker in a positive light. Could it just be Burnley’s tactics, or has the once-creative player lost that spark?
42. Oli McBurnie (Sheffield United)
At 24-years-old, the Scottish forward finds himself in a similar position to Karlan Grant. He certainly has time on his side.
The big money move to Sheffield United was slightly premature in my opinion, but the former Swansea man did score 22 goals for the Welsh side in the Championship the year before. However, he only netted the 6 times for United last season, and has only got the one goal this season.
A goal every 1223 minutes is appalling, but is symptomatic for a side and club that have been woeful this season. They’re lack of goals, partly due to McBurnie’s ‘efforts’, has seen them suffer greatly.
43. Joelinton (Newcastle United)
When Newcastle splashed out on a fancy Brazilian striker expectations were high. But he’s fallen well-short of the mark that Steve Bruce hoped he’d get too.
I feel bad for Joelinton. He’s a striker that has fallen victim to a club and manager not doing their homework properly. To sign an un-prolific youngster, who excelled playing off of two larger goal-scorers (Andrej Kramaric and Ishak Belfodil), and then expect him to be a successful target-man in a somewhat harder league, in a team with almost no creativity, is criminal.
He’s been disappointing in front of goal without doubt, but when he had only scored seven goals in the season that saw him get bought for £40 million, then… well… it’s not overly surprising.
One goal every 1447 minutes isn’t great. Of course, his goal against Spurs at the weekend improves this statistic, but as I mentioned we aren’t taking into account this weekends fixtures.
44. Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace)
Last season Ayew hit nine goals in 37 games, and whilst thats not a great tally, a 1:4 striker isn’t too bad. Though probably not ideal as your main goalscorer.
This season I was surprised to see he’s only scored one goal in 25 appearances. He was never prolific but most people would’ve expected better than that.
A goal every 1663 minutes.
45. Hal Robson-Kanu (West Brom)
The Welsh striker is known for one specific goal. The Cruyff-turn and finish that knocked Belgium out of Euro 2016, and sent Wales through to the semis. West Brom picked up the then-free agent.
He’s now featured in 133 league games for the Midlanders, and scored 19 times, however none of those have can this season. Zero goals in 10 games means he just scrapes onto the list, but has to sit rock bottom.
He’s not a prolific scorer, but he does offer a presence upfront, and his hold-up play can help knit attacks together.
46. Rhian Brewster (Sheffield United)
Born in 2000, young Rhian has had an eventful start to his career.
Constantly pipped to be the next big thing at Anfield, he finally got the professional game time on loan at Swansea. His 10 goals were a brilliant return from 20 league games. It seemed as if his Liverpool career had stalled though, so he fled the nest by joining Sheffield United in the summer.
21 league games later and the striker was still on the same goal tally: zero. Despite often being used as a substitute, Brewster has had more than his fair share of starting births, and to not have scored a single goal this year makes it hard for Chris Wilder or Paul Heckingbottom to pick him again.
There you have, the other end of the strikers list; the ones you don’t really want in your team. Surprised by these additions? Feel that it’s unfair on some players? Let us know.
