Tuesday 28 April 2015 07:23, UK
The Professional Footballers' Association has revealed the eleven best players - as voted by their peers - to have played in the Premier League the season but who would make the cut if it was down to stats alone?
Eden Hazard, Diego Costa and Harry Kane all feature in the PFA selection but would they make the grade if statistics were the chief selection tool?
PFA Premier League Team of the Year 2015: David De Gea, Branislav Ivanovic, Gary Cahill, John Terry, Ryan Bertrand, Alexis Sanchez, Nemanja Matic, Philippe Coutinho, Eden Hazard, Diego Costa, Harry Kane.
Below are the top-ranking XI according to WhoScored.com's stat-based rating system. How many of the players above make both teams and stake an undisputed claim to being the best player in their respective position? Read on to find out...
Costel Pantilimon, Sunderland – WhoScored rating 7.09
The Sunderland stopper has not had the happiest of times since moving to the Stadium of Light last summer and initially had to settle for a spell on the bench, however, he has made the starting berth his own with some fine performances between the sticks. He is making more saves per game (3.9) than any other first-choice stopper, and he is skilled at dealing with shots from various distances, leading the Premier League for saves per game from shots inside the box (2.0) and outside (1.7). With a saves-to-shots ratio (76.8%) second only to Arsenal’s David Ospina (who has only made 13 appearances), Pantilimon could do with a little more help from his defence.
Branislav Ivanovic, Chelsea – 7.32
Following his inclusion in the PFA Team of the Year, Ivanovic is now undisputedly the best right-back in England according to the WhoScored.com ratings. The Serb has dispelled any thoughts Pablo Zabaleta had of holding this crown this season - and the Premier League title for that matter - with sound defensive performances sprinkled with dangerous forays forward. Dribbled past only 13 times all season while making some 79 tackles, the Serb has also helped out with four goals and four assists in the league alone, all but two of which have come this calendar year, as he finishes a marathon of a season with a sprint.
James Tomkins, West Ham – 7.46
Part of an impressive West Ham rearguard, Tomkins has been a rock at the back, averaging 9.8 clearances per game, while winning the most aerial duels (4.8 per game) of all centre-backs. He has been a reliable defender for Sam Allardyce, avoiding a single error that has led to an opposition goal all season, while also contributing with a goal and three assists of his own at the other end.
Phil Jones, Manchester United – 7.50
It is fair to say that Louis van Gaal has had to face a few problems in defence since he moved to Old Trafford, with injuries aplenty disrupting his settling-in period. He has enjoyed the luxury of being able to select a more consistent defence of late, however, with Jones playing a key part. He is making the second most interceptions per game (3.6) in the whole Premier League, behind only Mile Jedinak, as well as adding 2.1 tackles and 6.9 clearances.
Gael Clichy, Manchester City – 7.37
The extent of Gael Clichy’s consistency has gone rather under the radar this season. In only one game has he recorded a WhoScored.com rating below 6.80, and only four more times has he gone below 7.00; both impressive achievements. His rating comes as a result of a hugely impressive 3.4 interceptions per game, along with 2.5 tackles and significant attacking threat (three assists and 1.1 key passes per game).
Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal – 7.86
He might have faded a little of late, but no one can deny the immediacy of the impact that Sanchez made upon his arrival in London last year. Many thought he was an unnecessary signing for a Gunners team lacking in other areas, but while some team-mates floundered, the Chilean carried the team through a tricky winter period. He ranks joint-fifth in the Premier League for goals scored (14) and joint-fifth for assists (eight), while also averaging the third-most dribbles per game (3.5).
Cesc Fabregas, Chelsea – 7.71
Many thought Arsene Wenger had made a huge mistake by passing up the opportunity to re-sign Fabregas last summer and the Spaniard made a fast start at Chelsea. He has picked up a whopping 16 assists in his 30 Premier League games, a total no player can better over both of the past two seasons. He unsurprisingly leads the league for key passes per game (2.8), while he has also put a team-mate in on goal with a through ball 15 times, more than any player in the Premier League.
Santi Cazorla, Arsenal – 7.62
One player making Fabregas’ absence at the Emirates that bit more bearable is Cazorla, who is the only player who can match the Chelsea man’s assist tally since the start of last season (16). He has eight this term, which is joint-fifth in the league, while seven goals is impressive considering the deep-lying role he has occupied for much of the campaign. He's proved a constant menace for opposition teams, with 2.5 dribbles, 2.4 shots and 2.1 key passes per game, while his 88 percent pass success is very high given how infrequently Cazorla plays the ‘easy’ pass.
Eden Hazard, Chelsea – 8.04
Leading the way, the PFA Player of the Year takes rightful place as the stand out player this season having maintained form over the whole of the 2014/15 campaign, while rivals for that title have been through quiet patches. Hazard is hugely involved in play high up the pitch, completing a colossal 958 passes in the final third , more than any other player, while his work rate is underrated; he has won possession in the attacking third more times (32) than anyone else. It is no surprise to learn that he has been successful with by far the most dribble attempts (155) in the Premier League this season, while he also has 13 goals and eight assists to his name.
Diego Costa, Chelsea – 7.53
The grateful recipient of Cesc Fabregas’ creative genius, six of Costa’s 19 Premier League goals have been the result of the former Barcelona man. Costa was the leading scorer before before ruled out with a hamstring injury, scoring more often that one in every four shots, with a 25.3 per cent conversion rate. He takes 3.1 shots-per-game but also creates, with 1.6 key passes per appearance.
Sergio Aguero, Manchester City – 7.58
Many will have forgotten quite how good Aguero was earlier in the season given that he has had a relative slump of late. In fact, the Argentine has directly contributed to more goals (27) than any other player in England’s top tier this season, with 21 goals and six assists, despite only starting 29 of a possible 34 matches. He is the biggest goal threat in the Premier League, averaging a whopping 4.4 shots per game, also completing 2.5 dribbles per game.
Some fans might question Aguero’s presence in this team over PFA Young Player of the Year Harry Kane, but the England man’s rating is brought down by his six substitute appearances at the start of the season. Having won the individual accolade on Sunday, if Kane continues playing as he has been, it won’t be long before he closes in on the scores that Aguero and Costa boast.
All statistics courtesy of WhoScored.com, where you can find yet more stats, including live in-game data and unique player and team ratings. You can follow all the scores, statistics, live player and team ratings with the new free-to-download WhoScored iOS app
