Sometimes soccer transfers just don’t work out how the clubs and players intended. This can happen for a number of reasons, and it’s not always obvious why things don’t work out.
In this article, we answer the question – why do players flop – and introduce you to some of the biggest flops in the history of the game.
So, why do soccer players flop?
Soccer players flop for a number of reasons. They might be homesick, or they might not feel welcome at their new club. Sometimes, players don’t get along with their teammates, which can affect their performance on the field. Below, we look at some of these reasons in detail and introduce you to three of the biggest flops in soccer history.
What does it mean when a soccer player flops?
When a player flops in soccer, it means that he or she has not performed at the levels expected of them. This can happen for a number of reasons at practically any time, but it typically occurs after a high-profile, big-money transfer between two clubs.
After all, if a player moves from one club to another on loan or for a nominal fee, people don’t pay a great deal of attention to the outcome. If things don’t work out, then everyone moves on quickly, and there’s not a great deal of uproar about the transfer.
However, if someone moves between two teams for huge amounts of money and then fails to perform, the decision to buy that player is then ridiculed, and the player is branded as a flop in the press. Let’s take a look at five reasons why a soccer player might flop.
Five reasons a player might not perform well at a new club
They’re homesick
Something that is often overlooked by fans and the media, in general, is that some soccer players struggle to adapt to new countries and cultures. After all, moving to a country where they don’t know the language can be particularly difficult.
Although not considered a flop, Sevilla player Jesus Navas famously suffered from homesickness during his time at Manchester City but was an asset to their squad and performed admirably in the English Premier League.
So, in some instances, a player might flop because they’re struggling to come to terms with their new home and environment, which is something we can all empathize with.
They don’t feel welcome
Some transfers just don’t feel like a good fit. Just look at Leo Messi’s high-profile transfer from Barcelona to PSG last year, and you will see what you mean. While Messi hasn’t flopped at PSG, he is not quite living up to the standards he set at Barcelona.
If a player doesn’t feel welcome at his or her new club, it can be another reason why they flop and don’t perform particularly well. So much goes on behind the scenes that we as fans don’t know about, and it’s difficult to speculate why a player isn’t a good fit.
But again, if a player doesn’t fit in well at a new club, they will struggle to play to the best of their abilities.
They don’t get along with their teammates
If you’ve ever played soccer, you will know that it’s impossible to get on with every person you play with. Whether it’s personal or just because you don’t know them very well, the chemistry between you and your teammates matters on the field.
So, if you’re not on the same page as your teammates and you don’t have great relationships with the people in your new squad, it will be difficult to perform well.
This undoubtedly happens in the professional game, but it is very rarely spoken of. Soccer locker rooms can be unforgiving places, and new signings can often struggle to fit into a new club from the outset, which can cause them to flop.
They’re used incorrectly by the coach
Have you ever watched a new signing perform extremely poorly for a while, only to appear like a totally new player when a new coach is appointed? Just look at Joelinton’s transformation at Newcastle United under Eddie Howe, for instance.
Sometimes, a coach doesn’t employ a system that benefits the new signing. In Joelinton’s example, Steve Bruce played him as a forward, but he couldn’t score! Then, Eddie Howe replaced Bruce in the dugout and employed Joelinton as a central midfielder.
In the space of half a season, Joelinton became one of the most combative and impressive central midfielders in the entire league and was the driving force behind his team’s resurgence in the league. Sometimes, a change of coach is required to help a new signing come out of their shell.
They feel the weight of expectation
When a player moves to a new team for big money, they often struggle with the pressure of public expectation. This happens so often in soccer, and every time a huge transfer fee is agreed upon, the new player doesn’t always hit the ground running.
For instance, Jack Grealish didn’t have the best season for Manchester City last season following his £100 million transfer from Aston Villa. While he hasn’t flopped, he will have to perform well next season to justify the price tag City paid for him.
Which players have flopped? (Three examples!)
Now that we’ve explained the reasons behind soccer players flopping, here are three of the biggest flops in Premier League history.
Fernando Torres at Chelsea
A caveat – Fernando Torres at Liverpool was one of the best strikers in the world. But Torres at Chelsea? Well, that’s another story.
Following his £50 million move from Anfield to Stamford Bridge, Torres struggled for form and has for a long time been seen as one of the biggest flops that Chelsea have signed.
Michael Owen at Newcastle
When Newcastle United signed Michael Owen from Real Madrid, the rest of the Premier League looked on in awe. But in reality, they got a Michael Owen who was a shadow of his former self.
A combination of disinterest and injuries persuaded Owen to leave Newcastle soon after he arrived, cementing his place as one of the club’s most expensive ever mistakes.
Robinho at Manchester City
When the Sheikhs completed their takeover of Manchester City, their fans were astonished that Brazilian superstar Robinho arrived at the Etihad Stadium.
However, after flattering to deceive and sticking around for a year, Robinho left Man City to make way for others, and the rest of his career has been plagued by legal issues and bad behavior. A flop in every sense of the word.
The verdict: Why do soccer players flop?
As we’ve explained, soccer players flop for a number of reasons. But it usually happens after a big-money transfer and is perhaps due to the weight of public expectation.
So, if your team signs someone this season for a big fee, be mindful that they could flop and prove to be an expensive mistake!