At the end of another season, and with quotas for home-grown players on the horizon, here's ten players Premiership teams would most definitely not miss from their lineup, and their wage bill:
1. Mido
Inexplicably brought back from footballing purgatory (otherwise known as Zamalek) by West Ham, and has managed to contribute even less than his £1,000 a week deserves. Missed a penalty, fluffed a number of golden chances, then got injured. Has been on Middlesbrough's books since 2007 but has been loaned out to three clubs since. He must be sodding hard to shift.
2. Mustapha Riga
The most anonymous number 10 to be playing in the Premiership. Two league starts in two seasons, no goals. Meant to be an attacking winger and scored 1 in 4 for Levante. Now kept out of the team by the likes of Joey O'Brien.
3. Salif Diao
Why? Played for four top flight teams, including Liverpool, and all he seems to do is get booked. Signed on the back of Senegal's amazing 2002 World Cup, and expected to take the league by storm. But as with the rest of his countrymen (I'm looking at you Diop, Diouf) managed to prove everybody very wrong.
4. Johann Elmander
Eight million pounds. Eight goals. In two seasons. Has been on two separate goal droughts of 9 months and 11 months respectively. Absolute waste of time and effort.
5. John Utaka
Not technically a Premiership player any more, but it has to be noted that he earned a reported £80,000 per week. Which is more than Portsmouth probably earn a month. For that, you absolutely have to give more than the occasional burst down the wing. Newly-promoted sides, sign him at your peril.
6. Mikael Silvestre
Described as a 'geriatric' to Arsene Wenger who reacted angrily. Which is bizarre, as Wenger probably has a vastly superior reaction time, at the age of 60. Arsenal are meant to have a policy of cutting players when they get past 30. Come on Arsene, Alex Ferguson wouldn't have sold him to you unless he was going to have a bloody good laugh about it.
7. Michael Ballack
What's going on? Never mind the Premier League, he's the seventh highest earning player in the world. I read a comment that he has one good game in five. Since when did this country start being kind to German footballers? He makes one good pass in five games. Abysmal.
8. Luis Boa Morte
Reportedly earns more than the West Ham manager. Who despite being confined to the technical area, has managed to cover more ground than him. Part of the worst spending spree in the club's history, and I'm including the summer of Paolo Futre and Florin Radicioiu. If he isn't making his last Hammers appearance this afternoon I'm.... oh my god he just scored.
9. Emiliano Insua
One of the focal points for Liverpool fans' frustration this season. It was a toss up between him and Ryan Babel, but I feel the latter could be infinitely more effective if he was played consistently and in the right position. Insua is supposed to be a left-back; at least that's what he says.
10. Moustapha Salifou
Villa's Togolese midfielder has made no appearances this season. In one of the smallest squads in the league, how the hell do you not get picked for even one game. His sole contribution to the Premiership has been a rather good chant, Villa fans chant his name to the tune of Daddy Cool by Boney M. Athough they haven't even been able to do that for 18 months.
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