The Worst Player on Every Premier League Team

This is an article filled with players who would make you exclaim “I’ll drive him to the airport myself if it means we get rid of him!” The players that give you sleepless nights and make you tremble every time they’re given the ball. This isn’t my opinion as well by the way. I’m getting all data on players from the Football Manager real time editor, so it will be the worst player according to their exact current ability in the FM26 database after the winter update. So it’s as close to a fact as you can get. I won’t include any player below 23 or 33, because otherwise the worst player will just be a 16-year-old each time and I also don’t want to get accused of elder abuse. In the event of a tie, the player with the lowest potential ability will be chosen. 

 

Arsenal – Christian Norgaard – 145 CA 

It seems that Arsenal think the same as he’s only played 6 games this season in the league. He was always a signing to bring more experience and depth. When you’ve got someone like Declan Rice ahead of you, it’s always going to be hard to get into the first team. 

 

Aston Villa – Leon Bailey – 137 CA

It’s been a bit of a fall from grace for Leon Bailey recently. He was once one of the most exciting players in the Bundesliga but is now out of favour at Villa. He went on loan to Roma but was recalled after an injury crisis. 

 

Bournemouth – Max Aarons – 124 CA 

Aarons feels like one of those players who’s been “about to kick on” for about five years now. The move from Norwich was supposed to be the step up, but he’s never really nailed down a consistent role. There’s just not enough impact at either end to justify a regular spot.

 

Brentford – Ellery Balcombe – 103 CA

Finally, we have a third choice goalkeeper on the list! Balcombe’s one of those keepers who’s had more loan spells than he’s had games. There’s nothing glaringly bad about him, but there’s also nothing that makes you think he’s ready to step up in the Premier League.

 

Brighton – Tom McGill – 97 CA 

Another third choice goalkeeper! The best job in football! 

 

Burnley – Ashley Barnes – 114 CA

Barnes feels like a relic of a very specific era of Burnley. The physicality, the 4-4-2 etc. But the game’s moved on, and so have Burnley. At 35, his legs aren’t there anymore, the impact off the bench is minimal and you’re not building anything around him at this point. He’s yet to score a goal in the Premier League this season which isn’t surprising for a struggling Burnley team. 

 

Chelsea – Mykhaylo Mudryk – 138 CA 

Putting the ban to the side for the moment, Mudryk is the definition of raw without the end product. The pace is ridiculous and there are flashes where you see why Chelsea paid what they did but they’re far too rare. At Chelsea’s level, you don’t get by on moments, you need output. Right now it just isn’t there.

 

Crystal Palace – Remi Matthews – 98 CA

We might be getting a few third choice goalkeepers here. So I’ll tell you who it would be if it wasn’t for him. Croatian left back, Borna Sosa.

 

Everton – Nathan Patterson – 127 CA 

In one of Everton’s best seasons in recent memory he’s played 239 minutes of football with an average rating of 6.57 (Whoscored). That should tell you all that you need to know. 

 

Fulham – Benjamin Lecomte – 128 CA 

If it wasn’t Benjamin and it was an outfield player, it would be Issa Diop (129 CA) 

 

Leeds – Sam Byram – 117 CA

Sam Byram has been a great servant to Leeds, playing for them at the start and end of his career. Sadly, he has never been much better than the very lower end Premier League – and even that’s probably coming to the end with age. He’s a good presence in the dressing room, but the drop off from Bogle & Gudmundsson to him is huge. 

 

Liverpool – Rhys Williams – 104 CA 

This one won’t surprise Liverpool fans. Rhys Williams had that brief spell where he was thrown in out of necessity and did a job. However, it’s pretty clear he was never meant to stick at this level. He lacks the pace and agility you need to play in Liverpool’s system, especially with how high the line is. Since then, he’s drifted further and further away from the first team and it now feels like he’s only there because no one’s quite sorted out the next move yet.

 

Man City – Marcus Bettinelli – 117 CA

Being the third goalkeeper at Man City is the undisputed best job in the world. Paid loads to do nothing at great facilities. If it wasn’t him, it would be Rayan Ait-Nouri… which shows you the levels of this Man City team. 

 

Man United – Tyrell Malacia – 134 CA

Malacia came in as a high-energy, aggressive option at left-back but he’s never really progressed beyond that first impression. The intensity is there but the quality in possession is inconsistent. With injuries stalling any momentum and others ahead of him in the pecking order, it looks like a long road back to the first XI 

 

Newcastle – Matthew Targett – 127 CA

Targett’s one of those players who quietly fell out of the picture and never really got back in. He was reliable enough when he first came in but Newcastle have moved on quickly, and he hasn’t kept up. Injuries haven’t helped, but even when available he’s struggled to displace anyone or make a real case for himself. At this point, he feels more like depth on paper than an actual option the manager trusts.

 

Nottingham Forest – Angus Gunn – 120 CA 

Third choice goalkeeper Klakon! If it’s not him, it’s Forest’s ageing centre back Willy Boly. 

 

Sunderland – Dennis Cirkin – 123 CA 

Dennis Cirkin has only played limited minutes since Sunderland got promoted to the Premier League and it’s very clear they have much stronger options now. 

 

Tottenham – Brandon Austin – 130 CA

There are too many options to choose from when it comes to Spurs. If it wasn’t Brandon, it would be Ben Davies, who’s the wrong side of 30. But honestly, there’s a lot of players who should have lower abilities than they’ve got on the game if this season is anything to go by. 

 

West Ham – Max Kilman – 128 CA

Kilman’s played a lot of minutes this season, which has been the problem for West Ham. He’s been a near ever-present in the league, yet West Ham’s defensive record has been abysmal. It’s no coincidence that their best run of form has come since he’s stopped getting into the start XI. 

 

Wolves – Hugo Bueno – 125 CA 

Not one of the worst ‘worst players’ on this list. Wolves’ problem this season is that they don’t have many players much better than this either. 

 

Conclusion 

Any players you’re surprised by? Who do you think is the worst player in the team you support? Let me know in the comment section!

 

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