Who's been better/worse than YOU expected?

geeky

People who post on boards like this (including me) always like to say 'I told you so' or 'I was right all along about player x'.

So to turn that on its head, let's have a humble pie party. Who this season has been a real let-down or pleasant surprise for you? Players that you thought would either struggle or flourish but have done the opposite?

I'll kick it off:

Let downs
- Christopher Samba: even before his grand flounce, he's seemed less motivated and less dominant than he did last season, when he held the line so well for Blackburn. I really thought he'd push on this year, sign for a big club like Arsenal, and help turn them into real contenders.
- I thought Raul Meireles was exactly the kind of quick, passing midfielder that Chelsea needed. But particularly since Christmas, he's played like Michael Ballack with a bad haircut.

Pleasant surprises
- I really doubted that Juan Mata would adapt successfully to English football. He's been one of the few good things about Chelsea's season.
- Newcastle, generally.

Jax Teller

Aguero didn't think he would settle so quickly .

That_Guy

Let Downs:

Stewart Downing + Andy Carroll - Doesn't really need an explanation.

Chelsea - To be fair to them they are going through a bit of transition under Villas-Boas but their football has been dreadful at times this season given the players at their disposal. Fully expecting to finish 4th though.

Mark Hughes - I liked him as manager of Blackburn and Man City but seemed to get a bit too big for his boots in my opinion. Has spent a lot of money on players in January and he is not getting the best out of them at all.

Bolton - Going from the high flying surprise package of last season to fighting for their Premier League lives. Been very underwhelmed by Bolton this season. I know they've had a few injury nightmares and have sinced sold Cahill, they've been awful. Between themselves and Villa they play some of the worst football in the league.


Pleasant Surprises:

Yakubu - I know he's with a club who are in danger of going down but he's been excellent this season. His finishing has been quality at times too. Has led the line well for Blackburn at times.

Newcastle - I honestly had us down for relegation candidates given the amount of key players we've shipped during the summer but the players we've brought in for very little money (Cisse aside) has paid dividends for us and we're on the verge of Europa League football if we can start getting our performances back on track.

Lescott - I never really rated Lescott to be honest but I've seen him play a few times this season and has looked solid this season.

Manuel Neuer - Not a surprise as such but has kept 22 clean sheets in all competitions this season. He has made some very questionable decisions when in possession of the ball at times but other than that the chap is a very impressive keeper.

homerjay2005

Coletrickle88 wrote: »

Aguero didn't think he would settle so quickly .

he did cost €40million afterall though!

biggest surprise for me has been djemba ba, and Grant Holt also.

BOHtox

homerjay2005 wrote: »

he did cost €40million afterall though!

biggest surprise for me has been djemba ba, and Grant Holt also.

One of my biggest pet hates. It's Demba not Djemba

That_Guy

BOHtox wrote: »

One of my biggest pet hates. It's Demba not Djemba

What about Charlie Adams?

Morzadec

There was a great thread last year about awful predictions iirc.

Surprises:

Like everyone else Newcastle surprised me. I thought they'd be in the bottom half possibly fighting relegation. Spurs also surprised me, I didn't think they'd get top 4.

Let Downs:

I thought Wolves and Bolton would do better and comfortably avoid relegation. I also thought Chelsea would be there or thereabouts challenging for the title and certainly finishing easily in the top 4.

steelcityblues

Gareth Bale certainly has surpassed my expectations.

I thought last season he was the victim of too much hype based on the performance in Milan, but this season I think he's proving to be the 'real deal'.

Guy:Incognito

steelcityblues wrote: »

Gareth Bale certainly has surpassed my expectations.
.

His diving has definately come on leaps and bounds.


Next year is the one for Demba Ba. All too easy for players to be one season wonders thenjust amble along for a few years.

Iang87

Let down -

Andy Carroll and stuart downing and henderson. Really thought Downing and carroll would click giving one likes heading crosses and the other likes crossing to heads but no.

Pleasant surprise -

Fernando Torres form as a whole. :P
Newcastle and Demba Ba, Ba being the return imo of the old fashioned forward

Anyone

Surprises: Swansea-Not only are they doing well, they are doing it playing great football. Norwich-Same thing really.

Let Downs: Charlie Adam

Rekop dog

Surprises- Antonio Nocerino, having a fantastic season for Milan, wasn't really happy with the signing at the time but he's proved me wrong.

Pirlo, wasnt expecting him to regain the level of consistancy of old but he's been very good all season.

Let downs- Premier league defending as a whole- albeit leading to some fantastic entertainment.

David Luiz. Looked far more assured whenever I saw him at Benfica+ Brazil. Again brings the entertainment so suppose that's the best sort of let down.

Caveman1

Surprises: Moussa Dembele & Clint Dempsey for Fulham, Daniel Sturridge & James Maclean

Let Downs: Torres, Drogba, Ferdinand, Carroll & Downing

G1032

Morzadec wrote: »

Spurs also surprised me, I didn't think they'd get top 4.

They haven't got it yet........................:)

kryogen

Can anyone change the thread title so it makes a bit of sense?

Better than I expected - Norwich, whole team, Swansea, same

Vorm in particular
De Gea

Let down a little: Loads

Owen_S

There have been more let downs this season, but there were a few that exceeded my expectations.

I was weary about Scholes returning, but he has proven that he still has the quality to change games, in that sense he is better than I expected.

Lindegaard - Looks like a top keeper

Newcastle in general

The Yak(feeding on Venky's chicken)

Shane Long

And obviously McClean

Paco Rodriguez

Biggest surprise was Nocerino. A player that cost about 500,000 I thought wasnt going to impact greatly. Hes one of our best players.

Surprise let down for me is Alexandre Pato. I dont think he tries hard enough and he is like Mr Glass.

A predicted let down is Erby Emanuelson. A very ordinary player.

Seaneh

For Milan:

The Good:

Nocerino, the man has been fantastic, gives a lot going forward and can really get stuck in in his own half. The best bit of business by any club in Europe this year, Palermo were mugged!

The Bad:
Taye Taiwo, utterless useless, the man is a great athlete, can run all day and as strong as a horse but he has no brain, at all, can't tackle and can't cross, how he is a professional footballer I can't figure out.

Italy in General:

The Good:

German Denis, what a season he is having, really making hay while the sun is shining at Atalanta, looks a totally different player than I've seen before, playing his socks off!



The bad:

Fiorentina, have a very solid squad but are really struggling. No way they will keep Monti, Vargas or Jovetic next season.

G.K.

The Bad: Aston Villa