Some players are simply not good enough. But what about those who fail to deliver on their obvious talent, reputation, or the pricetag clubs paid for them? That's just disappointing.
ESPN FC's Disappointing XI is laid out in an attacking 3-5-2 formation.
Claudio Bravo (Manchester City)
When it comes to goalkeeping calamity this season, there is only one place to start. A double Copa America champion with Chile, who won all there was to win at Barcelona, became notorious for his inability to make a save at City. Pep Guardiola tried to point to Bravo's footballing qualities as an extra defender, but eventually had to drop his vanity project.
Lamine Kone (Sunderland)
Kone was a star of Sunderland's relegation escape last season, and attracted the attention of new Everton boss Ronald Koeman during the summer transfer window. He even told new Sunderland boss David Moyes that he wanted to leave Wearside, but had a change of heart and was given a new five-year contract. His reward to Sunderland was to deliver a season of ineptitude, proving little use as the club were relegated.
John Stones (Manchester City)
Stones was supposed to become the new Gerard Pique under Guardiola's guidance, but it has not yet worked out like that. His talent for bringing the ball out of defence remains an asset, but his defensive qualities are under more question than they ever were at Everton. He may not have been helped by the confusion that reigns in the City defence with Bravo around, but significant development is required from a player who cost around £47 million.
Matteo Darmian (Manchester United)
He has been played out of position, having lost his place at right-back to the excellent Antonio Valencia and having to cover for Luke Shaw's frequent injuries on the other side of defence, but Darmian continues to look anything but a reliable option for Jose Mourinho's United. Italian football has regained its reputation for defending excellence through the likes of Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini, but Darmian does not follow those traditions.
Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City)
Last season's PFA Player of the Year has shed his magical reputation 12 months on. Leicester's owners might wonder if they erred in failing to cash in the Algerian when they could. Four Premier League goals and three assists this season, compared with 17 and 11 from last, tell his story. Mahrez was especially unproductive during the descent that led to manager Claudio Ranieri's dismissal.
Granit Xhaka (Arsenal)
He has some support among Arsenal fans, but the £35m midfielder has yet to convince. His passing can be neat enough, if sometimes overly ambitious, but a lack of speed and an aggressive side that lacks skill in the tackle is a bad combination in the Premier League. Even Arsene Wenger admitted Switzerland international's problems with tackling in March after a suspension was followed by a series of bookings. Recent improvements in a new formation, however, suggest Xhaka might be at last be learning from previous mistakes.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Southampton)
When Southampton paid £13m for the former Bayern Munich prodigy it was seen as a bargain as the midfielder was considered one of the brightest young prospects in Europe. However the Dane has struggled badly, and found himself on the subs' bench for much of the second half of the season. Still 21, he has some growing up to do.
Moussa Sissoko (Tottenham)
Both of Spurs' big-money summer signings, Sissoko and striker Vincent Janssen, have flagged but at least the Dutchman has the excuse of being new to English football. Sissoko's prime contribution this season has been to former club Newcastle United, who funded their return from the Championship with the £35m Tottenham paid for him. Beyond that, he made next to no impact on Mauricio Pochettino's team.
Nolito (Manchester City)
Nolito started each of Spain's matches at Euro 2016, and it seemed Guardiola agreed with Vicente del Bosque's admiration for the winger when he signed him for £15.3m from Celta Vigo. Early in the season, as City won their first 10 matches, Nolito was a fixture in Guardiola's team, only to swiftly slip from view. A red card for a September headbutt on Bournemouth's Adam Smith certainly did not help his cause and the 30-year-old has since looked a mysterious purchase.
Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
This was the season Rooney became both Manchester United and England's all-time scorer, but it also registers as the worst campaign of his career. Having lost his place as United kingpin to Zlatan Ibrahimovic and also fallen behind 19-year-old Marcus Rashford, Rooney's infrequent appearances have done nothing to halt talk of decline. Gareth Southgate all but drew the curtain on his England career, and a United exit, despite Rooney's protestations, seems equally inevitable.
Simone Zaza (West Ham)
Zaza enjoyed a blink-and-miss-it West Ham career, though many Hammers fans could only watch him between their fingers. The only goal the Italian scored at the London Stadium was in a preseason friendly for parent club Juventus before his loan move to the Hammers. In his six matches for West Ham, he took 23 shots, but scored no goals while supplying no assists as he gained a reputation for shooting that endangered spectators' health. He was allowed to join Valencia in January, where he has recovered his touch, scoring six goals in 19 Liga matches.
John Brewin is a staff writer for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @JohnBrewinESPN.
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