It is the time of the season where the awards are being prepared, and Here Is the 'Flop XI', the starting eleven which no player wants to be selected in but there is no escaping for some players because people just have to fill up this ironic special team.
We have taken a look at the worst signings of the season, based on price, expectation, and general under-performance, and picked a lead of 11, plus five substitutes - who have let themselves, their clubs, and their managers down over the campaign.
Here is the team...
The team will be lined up in 4 - 4- 2 formation, With Tal Ben Haim being the captain of the side, due to his experience in being in teams like this.
GK: Rob Green (QPR)
Rob Green was a disaster at QPR on his debut, conceding an early goal through his grasp which led to a 5-0 thrashing at home to Swansea, setting the tone for their whole campaign. His performance was so bad that the player signed on a free in the summer was discarded as Mark Hughes was so concerned he went out and bought Julio Cesar to replace him.
CB: Tal Ben Haim (QPR)
Several eyebrows were raised in January when Harry Redknapp brought in journeyman defender Tal Ben Haim to 'fix' QPR's defensive ails. Even on a short-term deal the fact he has played just 17 minutes of Premier League football since arriving means his transfer is as bad value for money as any QPR have made.
CB: Jose Bosingwa (QPR)
The third QPR man in our Flop XI - which sums up their season, Bosingwa is here for his poor displays couple with his high wages. The defender arrived at QPR as a Champions League winner with Chelsea, and has failed to take the team to a higher level. A high-profile falling out with Harry Redknapp has been repaired, but possibly too little too late.
CB: Maicon (Manchester City)
Manchester City's panic buy of Maicon was one of many they made on transfer deadline day, seemingly with Roberto Mancini's fixation on a 3-5-2 system in mind. By September he had given up with those tactics, and Maicon has been unable to dislodge Pablo Zabaleta from the right-back spot.
CM: Alou Diarra (West Ham)
Alou Diarra makes no bones about the fact he regrets his choice to sign with West Ham, barely given a chance under Sam Allardyce, also struggling to show he deserves one. The former Hoffenheim midfielder was sent to Rennes on loan in January, and is unlikely to play for the club again.
CM: Nuri Sahin (Liverpool)
Arsenal fans were disappointed when Liverpool beat them to the loan signing of Nuri Sahin, but they must be relieved. He was anonymous on his debut against Arsenal, and failed to shine in the Premier League at Anfield. Stuck behind Jonjo Shelvey and Jordan Henderson in the queue for places, Liverpool cut short his loan and big wages in January to allow him to take another loan to Dortmund.
RW: Marko Marin (Chelsea)
Marko Marin arrived with the hype of being nicknamed the 'German Messi' but he has been anything but. He was unlucky to start the season with a hamstring injury, but neither Di Matteo or Benitez have taken a liking to him, and he appears to be £7 million down the drain for the club. It's most likely he will be used as a bargaining chip in a transfer deal this summer.
LW: Scott Sinclair (Manchester City)
Scott Sinclair's season has been an embarassment, whichever way he wants to dress it up. His only goal came in Swansea's 5-0 thrashing of QPR, and at Manchester City he has been mostly an unused substitute or player for the final 10 minutes. He has not made a start in the Premier League since September and his career has taken a serious backwards step.
CF: Fabio Borini (Liverpool)
Liverpool's frustration at Fabio Borini is only enhanced by what they could have had instead. The Italian was signed for more than £10 million and while he has been unlucky with two injuries, it is also accurate to say his performances when fit were not good enough. The Italian is young and will improve, but for that sort of money Liverpool could have brought a number of top strikers including Jackson Martinez instead.
CF: Markus Rosenberg (West Brom)
Steve Clarke has made some very good signings at West Brom, with Claudio Yacob and the loan of Romelu Lukaku the highlights, but Markus Rosenberg is not one. The striker has had only a bit-part role, but has featured 17 times in the Premier League, mostly off the bench, but the Swedish international has not scored a single goal. The fact he was a free transfer will ease the pain somewhat.
CF: Modibo Maiga (West Ham)
A player who was not free, Modibo Maiga cost West Ham more than £5 million. In return he has provided the Hammers with just two goals, the last of which came in December. As signings go, this one is already looking like a miss, illustrated by the fact the West Ham desperately loaned two other strikers in January, Chamakh and Wellington - neither of who have inspired either.
Subs:
Yassine El Ghanassay (West Brom)
El Ghanassay was the Belgian starlet who was primed to be the sleeper star of the season, but it never panned out that way. His loan deal was terminated in January after Clarke told him he was unable to offer him the game time he needed.
Romain Amalfitano (Newcastle)
Newcastle's free summer signing has failed to make an impact, playing just five Premier League games. Questions will be asked whether they meant to sign his older brother, playing at Marseille, instead.
Hugo Rodallega (Fulham)
Rodallega was another free signing, but has scored just three goals in 24 Premier League games for the club. It is however one more than he scored last season for Wigan.
Vurnon Anita (Newcastle)
Anita was Newcastle's most significant piece of summer transfer business, but at £8 million the price looks steep. He may be versatile, but he has failed to hold down a regular spot in any position, prompting Newcastle to splash more cash in January. It quite suprising to find him on this list.
Oussama Assaidi (Liverpool)
Assaidi prompted cries of 'who?' when Liverpool signed him in the summer, and while he showed odd glimpses early in the season in the cup - something is not right. In total he has played 57 minutes of Premier League football all season.
Who else deserves a place in the team?
Article written by Dan Coombs, follow him @hitcdancoombs
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