Only right-back do we not have a top 10 player in the PL, position-wise

[Harry Balls]

http://www.bsports.com/football-index-english-premier-league (http://www.bsports.com/football-index-english-premier-league)

Is there any connection between that and the fact we have the highest ranked right midfielder, leaving space in behind him?

[Maravilloso Marvo]

That is the only table I care about to be honest.

[Classic Jorge]

[Harry Balls]

Furry muff. I like this type of stuff. I wonder how it stacks up compared to Wenger's own methodologies. The more I look at it, the more I think there's no analysis that wouldn't put Messi & Ronaldo 1&2, so I need to dig in on the methodology so I can understand if there's any value there.

[Peter]

[Harry Balls]

Methodology

BSports developed an objective analysis that creates a performance rating for players, and compares those players to others at their position. Our advanced analysis covers greater than 100 types of player actions, leading to roughly 1,000 to 1,500 data points for each European match. Evaluating the data, we shift to analyzing players based on their core responsibilities on the field. The ratings are updated continuously, allowing for player performance to be tracked on a weekly basis.

Defensively, this means a left back is rated by calculations that reveal (among other things) how efficiently he tackles, intercepts passes, and crosses the ball. Meanwhile, his fullback partner is analyzed on a different scale, with formulas that further focus on the player’s aerial ability and clearance rate.


For attacking players, the emphasis is on a player’s efficiency in shooting, scoring, and passing. Our numbers not only reflect how active an attacking player is, but also take into account the location of a player’s shot, how his shots are assisted, and his ability to perform in adverse situations (starter/substitute, home/away, strength of opposing defense).


Finally, our advanced scores avoid the perception that these events occur in a vacuum. Once a player’s score is determined based on multiple data points throughout the match, it is then calibrated to the relative scores of others in his position. This means that a player’s score is effectively determined not just by his total amount of actions, but also by the scale in which he outperformed others at his position. For example, if Lionel Messi scores three goals on a weekend, but five other players throughout Europe also scored three goals, Messi’s overall performance will be seen in the context of his fellow attackers, and his numbers will be adjusted accordingly.

This comprehensive list details the entire 2012-2013 season, and focuses on the top five domestic leagues. This season, the strength of the Bundesliga became a popular topic, and the fact that five Bundesliga players made it into the BSports top 20 positions confirmed the rise in quality. Meanwhile, Lionel Messi continued to stand above the rest in his abilities, and is actually scoring at a more efficient rate this season (28.2% conversion rate) than last season (24.8% conversion rate).

At the same time, the BSports Power Football Top 50 featured players that may be lacking in name recognition, but are vital to their club’s success. Napoli defender Hugo Campagnaro might not be the hottest name in Italian football, but his 114 interceptions were the second most in Serie A, and he anchored a back line that improved from conceding 46 goals last season (9th fewest in Serie A) to 36 goals this season (2nd fewest in Serie A).

All told, the BSports Power Football Top 50 is the most advanced analysis of individual players, and an objective method towards evaluating players across different leagues. The 2012-2013 season certainly provided plenty of great individual candidates, but only our top 50 players made the cut. Check back at the end of the European season to view our final rankings.

[Classic Jorge]

[Harry Balls]

[Classic Jorge]

[Mo Britain less Europe]