Flop of the season: Premier League 2011-12 review | Marcus Christenson

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<div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.24.1.1/75718?ns=guardian&pageName=Flop+of+the+season%3A+Premier+League+2011-12+review+%7C+Marcus+Christenson%3AArticle%3A1742932&ch=Football&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=Premier+League+%28Football%29%2CFootball%2CSport%2CAston+Villa+%28Football%29%2CChelsea+%28Football%29%2CLiverpool+FC+%28Football%29%2CArsenal+FC+%28Football%29%2CWolverhampton+Wanderers+%28Football%29&c5=Europa+League%2CPremier+League&c6=Marcus+Christenson&c7=12-May-10&c8=1742932&c9=Article&c10=Blogpost&c11=Football&c13=Premier+League+2011-12+review+of+the+season&c25=Sport+blog&c30=content&c42=Sport&h2=GU%2FSport%2FFootball%2FPremier+League" width="1" height="1" /></div><p class="standfirst">From Charles N'Zogbia to Gervinho, there were plenty of players who did not live up to their pre-season hype. Are there others?</p><p><em>Welcome to guardian.co.uk's review of the 2011-12 Premier League season. An extraordinary campaign is nearing its end and we would like you to help us choose your favourite goal, the best signing and the best manager, as well as seven other categories. </em></p><p><em>We have nominated some contenders, but this is just to get the discussion going: we would like your suggestions so that we can compile the best into final polls that you can vote on. The season doesn't finish until Sunday afternoon so the nomination blogs will be up and running later that evening, with the polls open from Monday 14 May. Thanks.</em></p><h2>Charles N'Zogbia</h2><p>Fair enough, he did not have an easy task as he was supposed to replace Stewart Downing <em>and </em>Ashley Young, but he has almost lived up to the nickname given to him – wittingly or unwittingly – by Joe Kinnear: Charles Insomnia. Bought for £9.5m and was given the No10 shirt but has only scored two goals in 32 appearances and has seemed lethargic for most of the season. Villa desperately needed him to have a good season.</p><h2>Romelu Lukaku </h2><p>The young Belgian has not been given many chances but if he had been outstanding he would have played more often, especially considering the erratic form of Fernando Torres as well as Didier Drogba's injuries. As it is, 10 appearances and no goals in any competition is not an impressive record for an £18m signing. He may come good, of course, but there were few signs of that happening this season.</p><h2>Stewart Downing</h2><p>Whatever the transfer fee (£16m, £18m or £20m), it has not been a good season for the former Aston Villa winger. At times, he has looked confident and has perhaps suffered because Liverpool have often played without a target man in the area, but not a single Premier League goal so far for Liverpool does represent poor value for the club. Must have hit the woodwork more than five times, though.</p><h2>Gervinho</h2><p>Arsenal needed a striker to convert all the chances their attacking midfielders create, but instead they got Gervinho. There were flashes of brilliance and promise early on but his campaign never really got up and running after that red card at St James' Park on the first day of the season. Robin van Persie required help. He needed a friend who could chip in with 10 or 15 goals. He didn't get that. Gervinho has scored four goals for Arsenal this season, the last one coming in December. He was away for the Africa Cup of Nations but should still have scored more.</p><h2>Roger Johnson</h2><p>A terrible season for the Wolves captain. Not only did he suffer his second successive relegation, he also turned up drunk for training one Monday morning following the 5-0 defeat against Fulham, forcing him to issue an apologetic statement: "My conduct and approach to training on Monday was below the high standard the club rightly needs and demands of me, and what I demand of myself." He seemed a shrewd investment, even at £7m, but did not play nearly as well as he did for Birmingham the previous season.</p><p>• Now check out the other nine categories:</p><p><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/may/10/pundit-of-season-premier-league" title="">Pundit of the season</a></p><p><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/may/10/player-of-season-premier-league" title="">Player of the season</a></p><p><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/may/10/manager-of-season-premier-league" title="">Manager of the season</a></p><p><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/may/10/goal-of-season-2011-2012" title="">Goal of the season</a></p><p><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/may/10/match-of-the-season-premier-league" title="">Match of the season</a></p><p><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/may/10/signing-of-season-premier-league" title="">Signing of the season</a></p><p><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/may/10/gripe-of-the-season-premier-league" title="">Gripe of the season</a></p><p><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/may/10/innovations-for-future-premier-league" title="">Innovations for the future</a></p><div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/premierleague">Premier League</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/aston-villa">Aston Villa</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/chelsea">Chelsea</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/liverpool">Liverpool</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/arsenal">Arsenal</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/wolves">Wolverhampton Wanderers</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/marcuschristenson">Marcus Christenson</a></div><br/><div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> &copy; 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. 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