Stats Analysis: WhoScored's Disappointing Signings XI

There have been some superb additions to the Premier League this season from the well-known to the relatively unknown but, while the likes of Aguero and Vorm flourish, many have somewhat stuttered when it comes to finding their feet at new clubs this season.

With this in mind WhoScored delves deeper into the deals that haven't really paid off as of yet, taking form from previous seasons, price tags and most importantly their figures from the campaign thus far into account. We have compiled a starting XI in a 4-5-1 formation from which some could feel aggrieved to be have been included but all could certainly have shown more to endear themselves to their new fan base.

Goalkeeper

In terms of who takes their place between the sticks the options are a little limited. Only 5 of the 20 Premier League clubs have made a change to their permanent keeper, and while the likes of Vorm and Friedel have been inspired and Given and Foster have been dependable, David De Gea has arguably been the least consistent thus far.

Brilliant at times, making some outstanding reflex stops, the word flappable would probably be an apt one to describe the young Spaniard thus far, and being so young that is understandable at such a high-profile club. Nevertheless the former Atletico Madrid stopper made an unconvincing competitive debut in the Community Shield and an inability to shake off his inconsistency has made his presence in the United XI of late exactly that - inconsistent.

Defence

The 21-year-old has made 2 costly errors leading to goals in the league this season, which is one less than our most high-profile defender in the line-up, Per Mertesacker. The German was brought to Arsenal to bring experience and organisation to a leaky back-line and has perhaps done so to some extent in said categories. However, defensively his statistics have been completely overshadowed by his teammates, in particular centre-back partner Koscielny, and some lapses of concentration have cost his team at times this season.

Alongside him we pick Stefan Savic, whose performances have been heavily scrutinised, particularly in the absence of Vincent Kompany so far. The young Montenegrin has made just 0.6 tackles per game over his 10 appearances this season, while Mertesacker's 0.8 per game is perhaps worse having started all 21 of his appearances compared to just 4 starts for the City man.

At full-back, Villa's Alan Hutton has been an uninspired signing to say the least, blocking almost as many balls with his hands as Shay Given, while Armand Traore has offered very little in a defensive sense since his move to QPR, prompting Mark Hughes to draft in Taye Taiwo on loan from AC Milan. The back four have made a measly combined tackles per game average of 5.2, of which Hutton accounts for almost half (2.5), and when considering the league's top tackler Alejandro Faurlin has averaged 4.5 per game this defence certainly lacks bite.

Midfield

In our midfield we have chosen Radosav Petrovic whose record last season, albeit in the Serbian Super Liga with Partizan Belgrade, of 9 goals in 25 games (and just 17 starts) might have seemed cause for some degree of excitement at Ewood Park. However, the 22-year-old has been played very deep under Steve Kean and mustered just 11 shots in 15 league appearances, failing to score or register an assist thus far. His defensive stats are reasonable at best for a central midfielder, with 1.5 tackles per game almost matched by an expensive 1.2 fouls per game.

Another team who may have hoped for goals from midfield from one of their signings is Bolton, whose signing of Swansea's Darren Pratley seemed shrewd. However, in 19 games for the Trotters he is yet to score having netted 12 in all competitions last term, while his 78.4% pass accuracy is meagre compared to his former teammates in Wales.

Our third central-midfielder is perhaps the unluckiest to make our XI, with Liverpool's Jordan Henderson never likely to amaze right away after his eye-catching £16m switch from Sunderland. A dependable and consistent performer, the youngster has been little more than that this season and his modest 6.57 WhoScored rating portrays that fact. The 21-year-old was not bought for his goals, or assists for that matter, but figures of just 1 apiece respectively despite never really playing as the deep-lying midfielder for the Reds will need improving if he is to realise his potential.

Attack

Out wide we opt for Henderson's teammate, and another pricey one at that, Stewart Downing. Finishing last season as Villa's Player of the Year having started every league game for the club and weighed in with 7 goals and as many assists, Kenny Dalglish splashed the cash on the England international in a £20m deal. Now 27, the price always seemed high for a player entering the last year of his contract and the move hasn't panned out how either the player or his manager would have liked. It is hard to criticise Downing for the unwanted accolade of having made the most key passes without registering an assist this season (41), but a total of 49 shots without a goal is somewhat inexcusable.

Gabriel Obertan is our final piece to this disjointed midfield jigsaw, and the Frenchman's 1 goal and 2 assists have hardly lit St. James' Park alight. Considered enough of a prospect for United to take a chance on the supposed creative winger, Obertan has completed just 1 dribble per game this season and has reached his target with just 9 of 50 crosses in 21 appearances (18%). Our midfield 5 have therefore scored just twice and picked up 3 assists between them over a combined total of 103 appearances.

After careful deliberation we hand the target man role in our disappointing signing XI to Jay Bothroyd. The former Cardiff man just staves off competition from the likes of Davids Goodwillie and Ngog, as well as teammate DJ Campbell by virtue of having more game time to impress. Bothroyd earned an England call-up last season for his form in the Championship, netting 19 goals and his free transfer to QPR seemed as though it would be a real coup for the club.

The big front man has, however, netted just twice in 16 appearances in the league, despite attempting 2.2 shots per game. Veteran teammate Heidar Helguson seemed surplus to requirements after a summer spree but has instead shown Bothroyd how it's done to net 8 times in 13 starts, though how much either will player after the January signings of messrs Cisse and Zamora is uncertain.