Every single year there is debate as to which Premier League players deserve selection in the PFA Team of the Year and 2015 was of no exception.
Unsurprisingly league leaders and title favourites Chelsea gained the most selections with a total of six players chosen, the most of any team, and a reasonable case could have been made for nine selections as Cesc Fabregas, Thibaut Courtois and David Azpiculeta were also omitted.
While Jose Mourinho has argued that the whole Chelsea team should have warranted selection, Fabregas’ exclusion was particularly surprising given his three goals and league high 17 assists, compounded by the fact Philippe Coutinho managed to find a way into the team with only four goals and four assists.
Of course, the PFA Team of the Year is picked by the players, where Premier League players vote on a shortlist compiled by the members of the players’ trade union. So ultimately the vote lies with the players and not with the writers or the analysts.
This can often lead to statistics being neglected in favour of memorable performances and can go some way towards explaining how Coutinho was selected over Cesc Fabregas. But if we were to eliminate the opinion of the player and solely rely on on-field efficiency, how much different would this year’s team look?
An over-reliancy on statistics is never a good thing, but they can be useful in determining efficiency and in evaluating the worth of a player.
For instance, West Brom’s Chris Brunt had contributed to nine goals for the Baggies this season (1 goal and 8 assists) but does that mean he has performed better this season than Chelsea’s Nemanja Matic (1 goal 2 assists)? I for one certainly don’t think so.
While Brunt has enjoyed reasonable success this season for West Brom, Matic has been nothing short of sensational for the league leaders. Matic has cemented himself as one of the premier defensive midfielders in the world this season and has done an excellent job of breaking up opposition attacks and controlling tempo in midfield for Chelsea, and his worth is only supported by the statistics.
In 2012 EA Sports released the Player Performance Index to provide an objective analysis to who is the best in each position in the Premier League. The PPI measures a player’s individual contribution to his team by using six key indicies to calculate that player’s worth and effectiveness. The indicies are winning performance, players performance in a match, appearances, goals scored, assists and clean sheets to provide each player with a rating for the season.
Unsurprisingly Chelsea’s Eden Hazard achieved the highest rating with a season index score of 860 but the rest of his PFA Team of the Year teammates didn’t fare quite as well as you might expect. Hence, we decide to take a look at what the Team of the Year would like if it was picked solely on statistical performance and not on the vote of Premier League Players.
Goalkeeper – David De Gea PFA TOTY – David De Gea
No surprise here.
De Gea has been arguably United’s best player this season and it would be tough to imagine them being in the position they are now without the services of the 24-year-old Spaniard. De Gea has managed to accumulate 10 clean sheets in total so far this season, which is quite incredible given what he has had in front of him for United.
Right Back – Branislav Ivanovic PFA TOTY – Branislav Ivanovic
Ivanovic has been a rock for Chelsea this season and has impressed not only on the defensive end but has also chipped in in attack with four goals to his name.
Chelsea have claimed 16 clean sheets when the Serb has played this year and he has been given the nod in both teams, despite some stiff competition from Southampton’s Nathaniel Clyne.
Centre Back – John Terry PFA TOTY – John Terry
The Chelsea captain has been as good this season as any other in his decorated playing career, and it’s been backed up statistically as Terry ranks as the #1 defender on the PPI Index.
Terry has played in every one of Chelsea’s league games this season and along with Ivanovic is responsible for 16 clean sheets and a league best 26 goals conceded.
Centre Back – Phil Jagielka PFA TOTY – Gary Cahill
The first point of difference so far and it’s Everton captain Phil Jagielka.
Apart from his stunning last minute equaliser at Anfield, Jagielka has had a very solid season for the Toffees despite Everton’s mediocre midtable campaign. Jagielka registered a score of 413 for the season and edges out Cahill who ranks as third best centre back with a score of 396.
Left Back – Aaron Cresswell PFA TOTY – Ryan Bertrand
Relatively unknown before the start of the season but will undoubtedly be viewed as one of the league’s premier left backs by season’s end.
Bought from Ipswich last summer for a bargain £3.5 million, Cresswell has been outstanding for West Ham this season scoring two goals, assisting on four and being responsible for eight clean sheets in what has been a phenomenal debut season for the 25 year old left back.
Left Midfielder – Eden Hazard PFA TOTY – Eden Hazard
The 2014 PFA Young Player of the Year and the 2015 PFA Player of the Year, Eden Hazard is unequivocally the best player in the Premier League and a big reason as to why Chelsea are heading for their third title in five seasons under Jose Mourinho.
Centre Midfielder – Cesc Fabregas PFA TOTY – Philippe Coutinho
Fabregas’ three goals and league high 17 assists, along with Chelsea’s 23 wins this season understandably bode well for the Spaniard statistically and he ranks among the top 10 players overall, ranked ninth overall with an index score of 623.
Centre Midfielder – Santi Cazorla PFA TOTY – Nemanja Matic
While Matic has been brilliant for Chelsea this season, his lack of goals and assists negate his index value considerably and in his place comes Arsenal’s midfield dynamo Santi Cazorla. After a brilliant debut season for Arsenal, Cazorla’s form dipped considerably last season but he has come back superbly this season. His seven goals and eight assists have helped guide Arsenal into second place.
Right Midfielder – Alexis Sanchez PFA TOTY – Alexis Sanchez
Sanchez has been fantastic this season for the Gunners and has lived up to every penny of his £35 million price tag, contributing to 22 goals with 14 goals and eight assists.
Sanchez ranks as the second best player in the Premier League according to the PPI with an index score of 767.
Striker – Harry Kane PFA TOTY – Harry Kane
The breakout star of the season, Harry Kane has been phenomenal For Tottenham this season and the young player of the year’s 20 goals and four assists in 29 games this season for the Londoners gains him rightful selection in both sides.
Striker – Charlie Austin PFA TOTY – Diego Costa
Diego Costa? Sergio Aguero? Wayne Rooney? No it’s Charlie Austin who claims the final spot in the EA Sports PPI starting XI.
Austin has been one of the lone bright spots for an otherwise utterly disappointing QPR team this season, and if Rangers manage to avoid relegation this season, it’ll largely be due to the fine work of Charlie Austin. Austin has bagged 17 goals along with four assists for the Hoops this season and there is arguably no more valuable player to a Premier League team than what Charlie Austin is to QPR.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
The Premier League's 20 clubs will discuss a proposal to scrap the use of VAR for refereeing decisions. Wolverhampton Wanderers have submitted a resolution…
Sky Stadium is about to witness one of its greatest days. Melbourne Victory are headed east, with ambitions to topple Wellington’s Phoenix and pinch…
The football pundit raised some eyebrows given Celtic have won the league 12 out of the last 13 seasons.
Jamie Maclaren may have played his last game in Australia after the outgoing Melbourne City captain was not included in the A-League Men All…
Did Stefan Ortega save the title for Man City?
Ange was not happy after Spurs' 2-0 loss to Manchester City. He questioned the club's 'foundations' post-match.
