After looking up some stats on the EA Sports premierhips stats page*, in order to comment on the JT thread, and surprised by some inclusions / omissions made, I thought it'd be interesting to make up 2 teams using the top-rated players (1st team) and then the next best players (2nd team). *http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/...paramItemsPerPage=20¶mSelectedPageIndex=1 Below are the teams based on EA Sports ranking points for the season so far. First team -------------------------------------------Wojciech Szczesny (ARS)------------------------------------------- -----Seamus Coleman (EVE) --- John Terry (CHE) --- Martin Skrtel (LIV) --- Patrice Evra (MUN)--- -----Mezsut Ozil (ARS) ---- Steven Gerrard (LIV) ---- Yaya Toure (MCI) --- -Adam Lallana (SOU)--- --------------------------------Luis Suarez (LIV) ------ Eden Hazard (CHE)----------------------------------- Second team --------------------------------------------Simon Mignolet (LIV)------------------------------------------------------- ----Bacary Sagna (ARS) --- Per Mertesacker (ARS) --- Laurent Koscielny (ARS) --- Luke Shaw (SOU)--- ------ Santiago Carzola (ARS) --- Jordan Henderson (LIV) --- Aaron Ramsey (ARS) --- Oscar (CHE) ----- ----------------------------------Daniel Sturridge (LIV) --- Sergio Aguerro (MCI)----------------------------------- For both teams I picked an old-school standard 4-4-2 formation. I didn't allow CBs into LB or RB positions, and vice versa, but was more flexible with the midfielders. Shaw wouldn't have got into the second squad if I wasn't stringent on LB/CB/RBs, and Raheem Sterling might have made the second team if I'd been less flexible with the midfield positions - I just put them down regardless of their usual playing position. We have three LFC players in the first team, and three LFC players in the second team. If Daniel Sturridge had played more games, his averages suggest he would have surpassed Hazard's rating, and supplanted him in the first team. I'm surprised by Skrtel's rating. He's been easily our best defender, but that isn't saying too much given our woeful defensive record this season, especially in away games. I'm surprised how low Shaw was on the list as I'd say he's been one of the best left-backs in the country this season. Also, Strange how low Baines was (he's below Zabletta, just below Shaw). I'm massively surprised at how high Mignolet is rated, too. He's a decent shot-stopper but I'm not sure how he's rated as the second best keeper in the league so far, given the amount of goals we've conceded. Obviously, I'm not sure how they work their rating system (and I'm too lazy to look into it!), so I can't explain any anomalies or seemingly anomalous positioning. Any surprises there for you? Would you change any given your view of how players have fared this season? Who would you play and why? Perhaps List your top two teams and why you've included some players / omitted others. Feel free to stick to (or change) the 4-4-2 system, etc.
Stats are just stats, but I've been saying for a while that I think Skrtel is nowhere near as bad as some on here make him out to be, though I'm surprised he's that high. He's certainly not perfect, but imo he's carrying the can for the collective defensive weaknesses of the team, when I think we'd be even worse without him. Hard to disagree with the others, apart from Evra obviously. Where's Wazza?
Hardly. We've been far more critical of Johnson, Cissokhi and Toure this season. Most are saying that Sakho is the only one that has come out of this season with any credit, along with Flanagan. I've said he's been the best of a bad bunch and he was actually playing well when the spare man in the back 3 but he still has problems. He's not comfortable on the ball, and when paired with Toure it's even worse because he becomes the best CB on the ball. He also liable to give away pens which I'm shocked he's only managed 1 against Swansea which was probably the softest of the lot! We're lucky he's not been punished far more for it this year.
You can probably add Enrique to that but that's only whilst he's been injured #dontknowwhatyouvegotuntilitsgone
True, although I can't remember the last time he actually played for us so sort of didn't include him.
We're promoting Sakho as our defensive messiah when really we haven't seen enough of him to know. It smacks more of hope to me than any real objective assessment. A hope I wholeheartedly share, by the way. Johnson deserves his criticism because he plays like he can't be bothered, and that is unforgivable. Toure looks bewildered, and Cissokho looks out of his depth (though I do agree with those who think he's improved marginally) Skrtel just isn't as bad as he's made out to be,imo. Tonight, Chelsea defender (Ivanovic?) was doing the same thing all over Drogba, ie, playing the man and not even looking at the ball. It happens all the time. The fact that Skrtel has only given away that soft pen just shows that he's no more prone to it than any number of other defenders. As I said, he's not perfect, but he gives his all and I think he deserves a bit more support from the fans.
Agree totally, Saint. He was 12 points below Aguerro -- impressive considering Aguerro's played much less football. There was then a big drop of about 40 pts down to Giroud. Suarez (22 games played) was 168 pts clear of Hazard (27), who was 138 pts above Sturridge (19), who was 30 pts above Aguerro (17), who was 12 pts above Rooney (22), who was 37 pts clear of Giroud (25). Just so you don't have to look it up.
You are right, it is more hope than judgement because he is yet to prove him self a consistent and reliable player that we can build around. However, my judgement that he can do that comes from what I have seen and heard. He reads the game very well, covers and tackles superbly and he is decent in the air. He must be a decent leader too otherwise he wouldn't have been the PSG captain at such a young age.
so without reading other comments 1. 4-4-2 is a standard "team of the week" type formation most paper seem to use and the bbc use. so thats logical 2. changing players... 2.a how the F is evra even on that list. what's he done! 2b. sturridge is second top scorer why is he not in the first team. ie. drop ozil, move hazard to midfield where he belongs and put sas together 2.c skertl should be no place near the first team. sorry but mertesacker should be
All fair points, MITO. The only one I can answer is that Hazard has been classed (rightly or, more likely, wrongly) as a striker. The scoring is based on a performances during matches (not sure what points are given for what), therefore it is biased towards those who have played more premiership games. If you extrapolate with conservative figures Sturridge would be comfortably above Hazard if he'd played the same number of games. So, if it was up to me, I'd place him in the first team, too.
My Team of the year so far. GK - Cech RB - Coleman CB - Terry CB - Mertesacker LB - Azpilicueta CM - Toure CM - Lallana CM - Cabaye RW - Suarez CF - Sturridge LW - Hazard
My Team of the year so far: GK - Migs RB - Flanno CB - Skrtel CB - Sakho LB - Enrique CM - Gerrard CM - Henderson CM - Coutinho RW - Suarez CF - Sturridge LW - Sterling And before anyone claims it, there is ****all bias in that opinion! PS...I know Enrique's been injured for most but I'm not picking any of the other **** batards!
