10 Premier League stars to miss most goalscoring chances this season so far

Oct 20, 2016 at 10:45 AM

facebook iconlinkedin iconmail icontwitter iconWhatsApp iconTelegram icon
10 Premier League stars to miss most goalscoring chances this season so far

It’s surreal to think that eight rounds of 2016/17’s Premier League fixtures have already taken place.

There have been plenty of talking points during the opening two months of the season and, thanks to the revered statisticians Opta, another interesting set of data has come to the fore after last weekend’s list of games.

The worst offenders for missing gilt-edged goalscoring opportunities has been revealed, and the list itself includes some names that make for interesting reading.

Opta defines a big-game chance as “when you expect the player to score, regardless if it is assisted or not”, with the opportunity having to “always be a shot”. Basically, if a player misses a sitter, it counts as a massive miss.

So, without further ado, here are the 10 Premier League stars who have missed the biggest chances so far this season:

10. Odion Ighalo (Three)

Watford v Ipswich Town - Sky Bet Championship

The 2016/17 campaign hasn’t been kind to Odion Ighalo so far.

The 27-year-old Watford striker has netted just two goals for the Hornets this season, compared to the five he had registered at the same stage of the last term.

The Nigeria international could be level with that statistic, however, if he hadn’t wasted three gilt-edged opportunities for his side throughout the opening two months of this season. Still, never mind eh, Odion?

9. Charlie Austin (Three)

Southampton v West Ham United - Premier League

Charlie Austin has come into his own at Southampton since the departure of Graziano Pelle to the Chinese Super League.

The January signing has already plundered seven goals in just nine appearances for Claude Puel’s men this term, but that hasn’t prevented Austin from missing his fair share of clear-cut chances.

Indeed, the 27-year-old has squandered three opportunities to add to his tally for the Saints, so it’s a good job he’s netted so often already for his side really!

8. Vincent Janssen (Three)

Tottenham Hotspur v Atletico De Madrid - 2016 International Champions Cup Australia

Vincent Janssen has struggled to adapt to the rigors of English football since he completed a summer switch to Tottenham Hotspur.

The former AZ Alkmaar striker has failed to find the back of the net in eight league appearances and, with three misses already to his name, it’s hard not to see why the 22-year-old forward’s confidence is shot to pieces.

The Netherlands international will need to find form quickly, though, with Son Heung-min and Harry Kane vying for the lone frontman position in Mauricio Pochettino’s side too.

7. Jamie Vardy (Three)

Manchester United v Leicester City - Premier League

He may have fired Leicester to an unprecedented Premier League title last season, but much like the Foxes have overall, Jamie Vardy has failed to hit the heights of 2015/16 so far this term.

The 29-year-old has just two league goals to his name and, having missed three glorious chances to add to that tally in recent weeks, is in need of a couple of strikes to regain his self-belief.

Perhaps he should start wearing that supposedly lucky wrist brace again…

6. Dele Alli (Three)

West Bromwich Albion v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League

Unlike most on this list, last season’s PFA Young Player of the Year Dele Alli has picked up where he left off last term.

The attacking midfielder has notched three goals in his last three Tottenham appearances but, much like those before him, could certainly have had more.

Three other chances to net goals for his club side have gone begging since the start of the season, and the 20-year-old will not be happy to have wasted those opportunities given how fiery his temper is on the pitch!

5. Paul Pogba (Three)

Manchester United v Southampton - Premier League

The world’s most expensive player may have opened his Manchester United account in the 4-1 thrashing of Leicester in September, but Paul Pogba should have registered more goals since his summer move from Juventus.

The last of six players all tied on three missed chances in the league, the midfielder knows a better goal return is expected of him, especially when you consider that, for the £89m fee spent on him, the Red Devils would have thought they were buying a complete package.

4. Romelu Lukaku (Four)

Everton v Stoke City - Premier League

Often criticized for his profligacy in front of goal, it’s perhaps not surprising to see Romelu Lukaku’s name featured on this list.

The Everton striker has found his goalscoring boots in recent weeks – six goals in his last five game will attest to that – but the 23-year-old has still let four other chances go begging so far this term.

If he hadn’t, the Toffees may be higher in the league than they are now. Ifs, buts, and maybes…

3. Jermain Defoe (Five)

Stoke City v Sunderland - Premier League

Bottom-placed side Sunderland have clearly struggled with goals at both ends of the field.

The only club without a league victory in England’s top flight, their cause has been hampered by main forward Jermain Defoe not finding the net on a regular basis.

The 34-year-old bears the brunt of the Black Cats’ attacking threat, but David Moyes’ side may not be languishing where they are if Defoe had added to his four goals in the opening months of 2016/17.

Then again, so shoddy have Sunderland been at the back, maybe they wouldn’t be.

2. Theo Walcott (Five)

FBL-ENG-PR-ARSENAL-CHELSEA

It’s quite possible that Theo Walcott would not have made this list if not for his profligacy against Swansea City on Saturday.

Despite bagging a brace in the 3-2 win at the Emirates, the England forward missed three glorious chances to register a hat-trick and instead fired himself to joint-second on the ‘missed chances’ table alongside Defoe.

The 27-year-old has started the season in decent form but could have been so much better for a player once hailed as the saving grace of English football. How times change…

1. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Six)

FBL-ENG-PR-WATFORD-MAN UTD

His ego won’t want to hear or believe it, but Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the worst offender when it comes to missing big goalscoring chances in Premier League matches.

The Manchester United frontman has squandered six opportunities already this term – a statistic that puts him out in front, at least for the time being.

The 35-year-old already has a strike rate of one-in-two since his free transfer move to Old Trafford but, thanks to his wastefulness in front of goal, both he and United are not where they’d like to be in the league standings after two months’ worth of football.

Related Article
Paul Pogba Has Long Back Answered The Newly Emerging Calls For His Return To Manchester United After Juventus Got Docked For 15 Points
Paul Pogba Has Long Back Answered The Newly Emerging Calls For His Return To Manchester United After Juventus Got Docked For 15 Points

Jan 24, 2023, 10:04 AM


Paul Pogba Makes Huge Admission About Cristiano Ronaldo From Their Time Together At Manchester United
Paul Pogba Makes Huge Admission About Cristiano Ronaldo From Their Time Together At Manchester United

Dec 26, 2022, 5:39 PM


Paul Pogba Extortion Case Update: France International’s Brother, Along With Three Others Arrested For Planning The Blackmailing Of 31-Year-Old
Paul Pogba Extortion Case Update: France International’s Brother, Along With Three Others Arrested For Planning The Blackmailing Of 31-Year-Old

Sep 15, 2022, 3:28 PM


Summer Transfer Window 2022: List Of Signings And Departures For Manchester United
Summer Transfer Window 2022: List Of Signings And Departures For Manchester United

Sep 2, 2022, 2:59 PM


Paul Pogba’s Brother Makes Shocking Revelations After Being Named As One Of The Accused In A €13 Million Extortion Case Towards The Juventus Midfielder
Paul Pogba’s Brother Makes Shocking Revelations After Being Named As One Of The Accused In A €13 Million Extortion Case Towards The Juventus Midfielder

Aug 29, 2022, 5:50 PM


Paul Pogba’s 2022 World Cup Hopes With France Hang By A Thread As Surgery Needed On His Knee Injury
Paul Pogba’s 2022 World Cup Hopes With France Hang By A Thread As Surgery Needed On His Knee Injury

Aug 3, 2022, 7:09 PM


Desktop Banner
Mobile Banner