2017 has come to an end, and in terms of football, it gave us one of the most exciting calendar years ever. We saw football of the highest order showcased on the grandest of stages by the world’s best teams. Individually, we also saw the likes of Harry Kane, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi excel in terms of goalscoring and all-round team influence. But for all the good we saw, the bad was just as prominent.
Here are the four worst team performances of 2017.
3Manchester City 7-2 Stoke City: October 14th, 2017.
This current Manchester City team are one of the best outlets we’ve seen in the Premier League. A 21-game unbeaten run in the Premier League suggests there isn’t a team that can stop them. Stoke City and Mark Hughes found that out the hard way when they visited the Etihad in October. This was only the second time Manchester City had scored seven goals in a Premier League game.
For Stoke City, this was also the second time they’ve conceded seven goals in a PL game; the last time was against Chelsea in 2010. The thrashing instantly put Mark Hughes job on the line, and now his job security is at an all-time low.
The 7-0 scoreline has done more than damage the manager’s reputation; it’s condemned Stoke to a season filled with struggle. The Potters now find themselves only 1 point above the relegation zone with the worst goal difference in the league.
