Classification of Players

      When players are employees of a football club, they have more work-disrupting problems than the regular sick days and vacation days. They miss their scoring opportunities, they get injured, and they lose their spot in the first team. In soccer, there are a few types of players, and most of the classifications are very annoying.

Players that are Injured

Injuries are part of the game. When soccer is a job, bodies are the equipment and they periodically break down. A manager could have found a fantastic team, but when more than half of the starting defenders are injured, there is a major problem. That particular problem plagued Arsenal for much of last year, resulting in many goals against.
     The timing of injuries can also frustrate a player's opportunity to hold a spot in the starting line-up, while letting someone else take advantage of their mishap. Bacary Sagna has been out with a leg break for a long time. He used to be a star defender, but his replacement, Carl Jenkinson, may be competition for his regular spot as right defender.
     The timing of injuries can also be frustrating to everyone involved. When star center midfielder, Cesc Fabregas, left Arsenal, fans thought youngster Jack Wilshere might be able to take his place. Even the English national team has been placing their hopes on Wilshere for the 2014 World Cup. However, after his excellent form when he first joined the starting team, Wilshere has been injured for FOREVER. It may take along time to return to his top status, a frustrating disruption to his bright future.

Players that Could Be Playing Better

Perhaps more annoying than injuries, bad spells of soccer are cruel and confidence-thrashing. In this category, players have no excuse for their misplays except for their own lack of skill and fortune. They can fall into this category by transfering to a new team, being beat out for a position by a new signing, or sitting on the fence between substitute and starter.
     Olivier Giroud transfered to Arsenal this summer from Montpellier. Although he scored 25 goals in his French season, he only finally scored his first Premier League goal last weekend. Fans hope this will jump-start his striking power, and bring his potential to the Arsenal level.
     Personally, I am most sad to see Theo Walcott slip through the cracks. His inconsistency has recently lead him to the bench. He played a lot more last season than he does now, probably as a result of the latest summer signings. His lack of play has aroused transfer rumors, but with a goal and an assist last weekend, maybe he can make his way back up the ladder.

Players that We are Actually Happy With

We praise those players who are actually in form and have stayed away from injuries. These players cement their place in the starting line-up and push themselves into the fantastic highlight reels.
     Let me sing my praises to Lukas Podolski, Santi Cazorla, and Mikel Arteta, and let me pray to the soccer gods that these players stay high and far beyond the previous categories.