Outside90’s Rob Officer selects the best individual performances from all 12 rounds of the Premier League action for our Team of the Year so far.
Statistics have been gathered from two sources, and players have been selected on a number of criteria and value to their respective sides.
The EA Sports Player Performance Index is an accumulated points system that grades every player in the Premier League by awarding points for six key criteria. For an improved understanding of this criteria please click here.
Other statistics were gathered from European site ‘Who Scored‘. For anyone with a keen eye for statistics, it is a vault of information and interesting figures regarding your favourite European players.
- Jack BUTLAND – Goalkeeper (Stoke City)
Stokes 22-year-old keeper has come on in bounds and due to his excellent form, he has put pressure on England’s first-choice goalkeeper Joe Hart. Arsenal’s Petr Čech would be most people’s first choice for the season so far, but with Butland’s four clean-sheets and 50 saves in his 12 appearances (playing every minute of every game) he has withstood much more pressure than the glovemen in the top-half of the table. Butland’s save/shot ratio is 80.6%, the best of any Premier League goalkeeper.
- Héctor BELLERÍN – Right-back (Arsenal)
Arsenal’s young right-back has stood up this season, earning his place under Arsène Wenger. The 20-year-old Spaniard has only committed three fouls (0.3 per game) in 900 minutes of football, which has helped Arsenal to six clean-sheets. Bellerín averages 42.4 passes per match at an accuracy of 83.3% and 1.1% of these prove to be key in creating goals, while he has compiled 33 clearances, helping his team when they are under pressure. His EA PPI is 156 points, ranked 58th overall. One could argue that Bacary Sagna should be ahead of Bellerín, his PPI ranking is 40, however, the Gunner deserves the position more due to his consistent performances, less fouls committed and the impressive nature of the youngster, having to fight for his spot in the Arsenal XI after a loan spell at Watford.
- Chris SMALLING – Centre-back (Manchester United)
In a season where Manchester United have not progressed as expected despite getting results, Chris Smalling has been extremely valuable. The centre-back has spared his side their blushes on numerous occasions, playing all 1080 minutes of United’s campaign, of which eight have been clean-sheets. Smalling averages 1.33 fouls per match (16 overall) and has had 75 clearances, none more important than the other as the Englishman has settled in as United’s main man in defence. Smalling’s overall PPI is 147 and despite not being the highest ranked defender the pressure that he has absorbed and his composure in defence gives him an edge over the competition. Smalling averages 2.2 interceptions per match and passes successfully at a staggering 85.7%. Not many people would have ever expected it, but if not for Smalling in defence, the Red Devils season could be a lot worse than fourth, and their goal difference much worse than +9.
- Scott DANN – Centre-back (Crystal Palace)
Scott Dann has featured in Outside90’s EPL Team of the Week before and his place here is truly justified. He is the highest rated defender according to EA’s PPI on 202 points (overall 22nd) just one place ahead of Aleksandar Kolarov. Dann has featured 11 times for Crystal Palace, playing 990 minutes, scoring two goals from six shots as well as an assist. The 28-year-old Englishman earns his money at the back, helping the Eagles to three clean-sheets, 67 clearances and 15 blocks. His defensive statistics are made even more impressive by a lack of fouls. A centre-back who loves the physical battle against the opposition striker is valuable, but Dann’s disciplinary record is superb, averaging only 0.27 fouls per match.
- Aleksandar KOLAROV – Left-back (Manchester City)
Aleksandar Kolarov has had an outstanding start to his season, narrowly nudging out Arsenal’s Nacho Monreal for the left-back position. The 30-year-old has contributed to seven clean-sheets in his 984 minutes of match time, as well as scoring one goal from his 12 shots. Kolarov has provided 51 crosses, 28 clearances and five blocks this season, while passing at an 83% success rate. The left-back concedes 0.73 fouls per match, proving his value down the flank, that is just eight fouls for the season. Kolarov’s EA PPI points are 196.
- Yohan CABAYE – Holding-midfielder (Crystal Palace)
In terms of value to a side, one cannot over look Yohan Cabaye. Having played as a defensive-midfielder and a central-midfielder, Cabaye has added something special to Crystal Palace since the Frenchman’s transfer from PSG. Despite playing a deeper role than he did at Newcastle, Cabaye has scored four goals and provided one assist since his arrival at Selhurst Park, showing his attacking nature still exists. But it is the defence role and statistics that show his class. Cabaye averages 38.3 passes per game and completes these with an 82.1% success rate, pulling the strings as the team’s deepest player, the 29-year-old averages 3.8 tackles and interceptions really showing his ability to transitition from attack to defence. Cabaye has been a breath of fresh air for Palace and is responsible, among others, for their fantastic start to the campaign. His PPI is 209 and is rated higher than Fernandinho (20th) and even Yaya Touré (19th).
- Dimitri PAYET – Midfielder (West Ham United)
Dimitri Payet is another player proving invaluable to his side. West Ham United have made a considerably good start to the season, sitting in sixth place, just five points behind leaders Manchester City. Payet has scored five goals, claimed three assists, and amazingly provides three key passes per match. He averages 42 passes per match (second in the EPL) at 81.2% success. He has played 1038 minutes from his 12 appearances and has a PPI of 292, fourth best overall. Payet’s continued form will be a key factor to the Hammers success as the season continues and lets hope his inspired form can continue and West Ham can maintain league position.
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- Riyad MAHREZ– Midfielder (Leicester City)
With all statistics analysed, Mahrez is considered the third best player in all of Europe. He has been Man of the Match on five separate occasions, sits third in the EPL’s leading goal scorers list with seven goals and also has five assists. His average match rating of 8.17 has him behind only Barcelona’s Neymar and PSG’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Despite a lower passing success of 73.3%, Mahrez averages 3.1 shots per match and is second in the Premier League PPI with 332 points, behind only teammate Jamie Vardy. These two men are fully deserving of their places and two of the best reasons Leicester are surprising everyone in the competition, sitting third after 12 rounds.
- Mesut ÖZIL – Midfielder (Arsenal)
The German international with the ball on a string! Mesut Özil has been the talk of the EPL with his ever-improving skills and footballing ability. The former Real Madrid man leads the competition in assists (10) and has scored a goal himself, in what is proving to be a very difficult combination to stop between him and Alexis Sanchez. Not only that, but Özil averages 4.9 key passes per game out of 60.4 passes at an amazing 87.8% completion rate. His discipline also shows class, conceding only 0.9 fouls per match, all of this making him an easy choice for the EPL Team of the Year so far. Özil’s PPI is 268, seventh overall in the league.
- Jamie VARDY – Striker (Leicester City)
It is no surprise that the Premier League’s leading scorer is named in the Team of the Year so far. Vardy has impressed consistently and always manages to pop up to score, averaging a goal for Leicester every 89.3 minutes. In his previous campaign (2014-15) Vardy found the net an average of one time every 449 minutes. He is ranked first in the Premier League according to the ‘EA Player Performance Index’ with a score of 375 and his shot to goal conversion rate a massive 32%, a 19% increase from last season. Vardy has lead the way for strikers with his 12 goals and one assist in 2015-16 and is one of the reasons Leicester find themselves sitting third in the EPL. We hope his form can continue so we find him in the team of the year at the end of the season.
Jamie Vardy:
2012: Playing non-league football
2015: Scores in 9 consecutive Premier League games pic.twitter.com/FxBwb7u7ZR
— Football__Tweet (@Football__Tweet) November 10, 2015
- Romelu LUKAKU – Striker (Everton)
Consistency has landed Romelu Lukaku as the partner for Vardy after 12 weeks of the EPL. The Toffees’ big man is ranked third overall with 302 PPI points and it is no wonder, with his ability to not only score but assist as well. With seven goals and four assists to his name, the Belgian also averages 30 passes a match, 1.1 of which generate chances on goal. As mentioned, consistency and the ability to assist as well as score is what makes his PPI so high and Everton’s early run of form. Lukaku has played all but 36 minutes of the league season, leading the way for the Merseysiders and is as hot on the heels of gGolden Boot leader Vardy.
Special Mentions
Unfortunately not everyone can make the XI and the two people most unfortunate to miss out are as follows:
- Nacho MONREAL – Left-back (Arsenal)
Monreal has accumulated six clean sheets in his 12 appearances, playing every minute so far this season. He is responsible for 38 clearances, five blocks, 27 crosses including two assists. Monreal passes at 84.9% success and on average makes 2.5 tackles per match. The Arsenal defender has a PPI of 191, 27th overall and sits just four places behind Kolarov. Monreal slipped back in the rankings from 25th while Kolarov gained nine places to take the position, his consistency certainly helping his cause for selection.
- Laurent KOSCIELNY – Centre-back (Arsenal)
The ever-reliable central-defender has had a great start to the year, as is always expected from a player of his stature. Koscielny has scored two goals, passes at 89.1% success rate and manages 4.3 interceptions per match. His statistics speak for himself. Despite being one of the very best it was hard to select him over much improved players, whose value to their side is just as, if not more important.
Other players who could be considered unlucky:
- Alexis Sánchez – Arsenal
- Ross Barkley – Everton
- Odion Ighalo – Watford
- Toby Alderweireld – Tottenham
- Juan Mata – Manchester United
If you do not agree with the selections for Outside90’s Team of the Year so far (after 12 rounds) please feel free to share your thoughts.
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