The 2012-13 Premier League season once again hasn’t disappointed with some thrilling action, matches and goals. There have been some top class performances from players from all clubs but for all the positives, there are some players who haven’t lived up to expectations.

Here are five of the players who I feel haven’t performed to the level they are capable of this season:

Samir Nasri

The mercurial Frenchman, who had a decent first season at Manchester City in 2011-12, seems to have gone backwards this season.

It was expected that he would push on and show some of the form which made City splash out £22million on him in the summer of 2011 but it just hasn’t materialized. He has been described as a ‘passenger’ in recent weeks for his lacklustre displays which have seen him spend a lot of the season out of the side. The decision to turn his back on Robin van Persie’s free kick in the final minute of the Manchester derby, costing City the game, saw him come under heavy criticism and this moment sums up his season.

City will be looking for the Frenchman to find his best form in the coming weeks as they look to rejuvenate their flailing title challenge.

Shinji Kagawa

When Manchester United purchased Kagawa for £17million from Borussia Dortmund in the summer, there was much hype surrounding him. He was signed to give United an extra option in midfield as he offered the guile and creativity that had been lacking in their midfield in recent years. Unfortunately, the Japanese international has so far failed to deliver the sort of performances which were expected of him at the start of the season. It seems he will need a bit of time to adapt to the English game and get used to the pace of the league. Picking up a knee injury in the Champions League clash with Braga didn’t help him but now he is back fit again he needs to show the sort of performances that made United splash the cash on him.

Emmanuel Adebayor

After scoring 18 goals for Tottenham last season on loan from Manchester City, they decided to purchase Adebayor permanently at the beginning of the season.

Since this deal, Adebayor has only managed to score 3 goals in all competitions and hasn’t produced anywhere near the level of performance he showed last season. He obviously has the talent and on his day can be unplayable but this season he has been overshadowed by the brilliant Gareth Bale and fellow striker Jermain Defoe. His late return from the Africa Cup of Nations summed up his attitude this season which has seen Adebayor produce some lazy performances. With Spurs looking more and more likely to be in the market for a new striker in the summer, Adebayor will have to up his game if he is to receive regular first team football at the club in the future.

Esteban Granero

There was much expected from the Spaniard when he was signed for QPR from Real Madrid in the summer. After making 60 appearances in two seasons at the Bernabeu, it was expected that he would showcase his talents in the Premier League on a regular basis. This has not materialised as he has found it difficult to adapt to the English game. With QPR rooted to the bottom of the league, Granero has seen his chances in the starting line-up limited in recent weeks with manager Harry Redknapp preferring Shaun Derry and Stephane Mbia to him. Clubs in Spain are thought to be keeping a close eye on Granero as they prepare to make a move for the midfielder in the summer. It would be a shame as he obviously has talent but maybe his game just isn’t suited to the Premier League and especially not a relegation fight.

Joe Allen

Allen followed manager Brendan Rodgers to Liverpool from Swansea in the summer for a fee around £15million. After being thrown into Liverpool’s midfield almost straight away, he showed a lot of promise in his first few games for the club as Rodgers looked to transfer Swansea’s style of play to the Anfield club. However, in recent months his form has dipped and has recently found himself on the fringes of the first team whilst having to look on at his former club Swansea reaching a cup final and showing impressive form in his absence. Allen has found it hard to get noticed, having to share the midfield with captain Steven Gerrard and the returning Lucas Leiva amongst others. He has openly admitted that his form hasn’t been good enough and is looking to show the form which made Liverpool buy him in the summer.

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