Voetbal International's international team of the week

Discussion in 'The Beautiful Game' started by PuckVanHeel, Oct 8, 2019.

  1. PuckVanHeel

    PuckVanHeel Member+

    Oct 4, 2011
    Club:
    Feyenoord
    For fun I'll post here the team of the weeks by Voetbal International. Of course it shouldn't be taken too literal and if they are torn between a few players they opt for the familiar, but rarely their choices are really absurd imho. I always like it to hear their reasoning and thoughts. It's very skewed towards the weekend action and little consideration for national team football.


    19 August 2019 ("Memphis is ready to take on the world opposition")

    Steffen (Fortuna Düsseldorf)
    Baldock (Sheffield United) Salisu (Real Valladolid) Reguilón (Sevilla)
    Sabitzer (RB Leipzig) De Bruyne (Manchester City) Ceballos (Arsenal) Camavinga (Stade Rennes)
    Zé Luis (FC Porto) Pukki (Norwich City) Memphis (Lyon)


    26 August 2019 ("Barcelona can do without Messi but not without the unique Busquets")

    Mendy (Rennes)
    Savic (Atletico Madrid) Dummett (Newcastle United) Van Aanholt (Crystal Palace)
    Odegaard (Real Sociedad) Joan Jordan (Sevilla) Busquets (Barcelona) Denis Suarez (Celta de Vigo)
    Salah (Liverpool) Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) Sancho (Dortmund)


    2 September 2019 ("Make David Luiz bald and Vardy scores as well as Aguero")

    Krul (Norwich)
    Tomiyasu (Bologna) Vestergaard (Southampton) Van Drongelen (HSV)
    Sensi (Inter) Guendouzi (Arsenal) David Silva (Manchester City) Raul Garcia (Athletic)
    Berardi (Sassuolo) Werner (RB Leipzig) Vardy (Leicester City)


    16 September 2019 ("16-year-old Ansu Fati is Barcelona savior & Neymar has guts")

    Manuel Neuer (Bayern München)
    Achraf Hakimi (Borussia Dortmund) Harry Maguire (Manchester United) Laurent Koscielny (Bordeaux)
    Emiliano Buendia (Norwich City) Martin Odegaard (Real Sociedad) Roberto Firmino (Liverpool) Stefano Sensi (Internazionale)
    Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain) Tammy Abraham (Chelsea) Ansu Fati (Barcelona)


    23 September 2019 ("Aguero maybe the best striker, Lewandowski the most constant overall")

    Rui Silva (Granada)
    Alexander Arnold (Liverpool) Orban (RB Leipzig) Pieters (Burnley)
    Fabian Ruiz (Napoli) Brozovic (Internazionale) De Bruyne (Man City) Maddison (Leicester)
    Bernardo Silva (Man City) Lewandowski (Bayern München) Benzema (Real Madrid)

    Note: quote is by a different editor as the one of the Vardy vs Aguero comparison.


    30 September 2019 ("Matter of time before De Ligt is captain")

    Ter Stegen (Barcelona)
    Ricardo Pereira (Leicester City) Van Dijk (Liverpool) De Ligt (Juventus)
    Gagliardini (Internazionale) Partey (Atletico Madrid) Coutinho (Bayern München) Harit (Schalke)
    Mahrez (Man City) Thuram (Monchengladbach) Ribery (Fiorentina)


    7 October 2019 ("Forgotten El Ghazi sparks in the Premier League and Dybala should always play")

    Nübel (Schalke 04)
    Adama Traoré (Wolverhampton Wanderers) Ben Mee (Burnley) Semedo (Barcelona)
    Valverde (Real Madrid) Dybala (Juventus) Matty Longstaff (Newcastle United) Papu Gomez (Atalanta)
    Mané (Liverpool) Connolly (Brighton) El Ghazi (Aston Villa)
    Banned to the stands: Solskjaer

    -----------------

    For Adama Traore it is for example said he defended for 60 minutes Sterling very well, then was the last 30 minutes busy with scoring goals and he did (2 goals). It is also said he is occasionally too fast for his own good.
     
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  2. PuckVanHeel

    PuckVanHeel Member+

    Oct 4, 2011
    Club:
    Feyenoord
    This was the team of the year for 2018 as a whole (30 december 2018)

    Alisson (Liverpool)
    Van Dijk (Liverpool) Chiellini (Juventus) Robertson (Liverpool)
    Aouar (Lyon) Fernandinho (Man City) Jorginho (Chelsea) Reus (Dortmund)
    Messi (Barcelona) Ronaldo (Juventus) Hazard (Chelsea)


    Team of the season (21 may 2019)

    Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid)
    Kimmich (Bayern) Van Dijk (Liverpool) Robertson (Liverpool)
    Bernardo Silva (Man City) De Jong (Ajax) Dani Parejo (Valencia) Sterling (Man City)
    Messi (Barcelona) Mbappe (PSG) Quagliarella (Sampdoria)

    Bench: De Ligt, Allison, Jadon Sancho, Wijnaldum
     
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  3. PuckVanHeel

    PuckVanHeel Member+

    Oct 4, 2011
    Club:
    Feyenoord
    The next ones are also on video


    Team of the 2017-18 season (30 may 2018)

    Oblak (Atletico Madrid)
    Kimmich (Bayern) Naldo (Schalke) Van Dijk (Liverpool) Telles (Porto)
    Messi (Barcelona) De Bruyne (Man City) Dybala (Juventus)
    Salah (Liverpool) Ronaldo (Real Madrid) Neymar (PSG)


    Telles might appear as an odd choice (to me) but it's mentioned he had 20 assists, among other things in his favor. The outright best player of the Portuguese league it is claimed (I've checked and he's #1 ranked in WhoScored indeed and it appears he also did it from time to time against the better opposition). Apart from the assists and goals also some defensive stats: two tackles, two interceptions, 2.3 clearances, 0.2 blocks per game and 0.7 times per game dribbled past. Okay - looks an acceptable 'alternative choice' to me.

    They're aware Neymar had his injuries and again lacking a certain punch when it mattered, but they see Memphis as the primary Ligue 1 alternative (was decisive in a different way for 2017-18) and they don't want two compatriots in their team (and want a Ligue 1 representative in). "Normally he [Neymar] belongs among the five best players in the world if it all goes well".


    Best players of the 2018 World Cup (16 july 2018)

    3. Modric
    2. Griezmann
    1. Hazard ("the one player who gave the tournament the most color and did the most with a football")

    About Griezmann: he plays with grit, it's claimed by them he dived in the World Cup final resulting in a goal (not overturned by VAR). Overall the player with the best mix between producing the goals, general teamwork and grit. "His left foot or the speed of Mbappe didn't make the difference for France in the end". But, Hazard was clearly the best in their view, with the most good matches for his team (including the top teams as Brazil and England).


    Later on I'll try to collect as many teams of the week as possible, as well as updating it as 2019-20 progresses.
     
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  4. PuckVanHeel

    PuckVanHeel Member+

    Oct 4, 2011
    Club:
    Feyenoord
    I have it now traced back until the beginning of the 2016-17 season and I'll start from there.

    Maybe there is a slight bias for the low countries but there are many weeks where none are included - there is some reflection about this aspect and whether it's merited.

    There are also some blind spots like not rating Sergio Ramos or Hummels, and when in doubt a Messi or Godin are picked.


    This was the team of the 2016-17 season (31 may 2017)

    Donnarumma (Milan)
    Dani Alves (Juventus) Caldara (Atalanta) Marcelo (Real Madrid)
    Kante (Chelsea) Forsberg (Leipzig) Thiago (Bayern)
    Dembele (Dortmund) Kane (Tottenham) Mertens (Napoli) Mbappe (Monaco)

    It doesn't fully match with the weekly selections but we'll see that later.


    Team of the first half (28 december 2016)

    Donnarumma (Milan)
    Sidibe (Monaco) Van Dijk (Southampton) Grimaldo (Benfica)
    Dembele (Dortmund) Fabinho (Monaco) Kante (Chelsea) Forsberg (Leipzig)
    Messi (Barcelona) Diego Costa (Chelsea) Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal)
     
  5. PuckVanHeel

    PuckVanHeel Member+

    Oct 4, 2011
    Club:
    Feyenoord

    This are all of the 2016-17 season I think:


    23 August 2016 (“Pogba maybe too cheap”)
    Donnarumma (Milan)
    Holgate (Everton) Davies (Hull City) Alba (Barcelona)
    Stuani (Middlesbrough) Vazquez (Sevilla) Pogba (Man United)
    Messi (Barcelona) Ibrahimovic (Man United) Neymar (Brazil)


    29 August 2016 (“Has his flaws but Blind played with brains”)
    Vorm (Tottenham)
    Bustinza (Leganes) Davies (Hull City) Blind (Man United)
    Drinkwater (Leicester) Kante (Chelsea) David Silva (Man City)
    Rashford (Man United) Lewandowski (Bayern) Milik (Napoli) Hazard (Chelsea)


    12 September 2016 (“Totti the symbolic football emperor of Rome”)
    Neuer (Bayern)
    Gouweleeuw (Augsburg) Koscielny (Arsenal) Otamendi (Man City) Compper (Leipzig)
    De Bruyne (Man City) Jorginho (Napoli)
    Higuain (Juventus) Totti (Roma) Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
    Pohjanpalo (Leverkusen)

    Note: Totti played 30 minutes, had the assist for Dzeko, then converted a penalty kick.


    19 September 2016 (“Guardiola allows De Bruyne to play a few gears higher”)
    Neuer (Bayern)
    Coleman (Everton) Kolarov (Man City) Guerreiro (Dortmund)
    Chadli (WBA) Wijnaldum (Liverpool) De Bruyne (Man City) O. Dembele (Dortmund)
    Messi (Barcelona) Milik (Napoli) Mahrez (Leicester)


    26 September 2016 (“Dahoud plays with the same spirit as Ozil”)
    Donnarumma (Milan)
    Bellerin (Arsenal) Koscielny (Arsenal) Van Dijk (Southampton) Blind (Man United)
    Hamsik (Napoli) Thiago (Bayern) Pogba (Man United)
    Ozil (Arsenal) Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal) Dahoud (Monchengladbach)


    3 October 2016 (“Diego Alves lived up to his reputation as penalty killer”)
    Diego Alves (Valencia)
    Henrichs (Leverkusen) Alderweireld (Tottenham) Filipe Luis (Atletico)
    Amrabat (Watford) Fabinho (Monaco) Embolo (Schalke) Van Aanholt (Sunderland)
    Higuain (Juventus) Diego Costa (Chelsea) Aspas (Celta)


    17 October 2016 (“Deja vu to 2010 in South Africa, phenomenal performance”)
    Stekelenburg (Everton)
    Rafinha (Barcelona) David Luiz (Chelsea) Daniels (Bournemouth)
    Carrasco (Atletico) Joe Allen (Stoke) Dele Alli (Tottenham) Stanislas (Bournemouth)
    Dybala (Juventus) Modeste (Köln) Manneh (Bremen)


    24 October 2016 (“Locatelli has a fitting face for Milan)
    Cech (Arsenal)
    Cancelo (Valencia) Van der Hoorn (Swansea) Alaba (Bayern)
    Keita (Leipzig) Locatelli (Milan) Vormer (Brugge) Coutinho (Liverpool)
    Shaqiri (Stoke) Plea (Nice) Nasri (Sevilla)


    31 October 2016 (“Lewandowski increasingly realizes what his team will miss”)
    Heaton (Burnley)
    Süle (Hoffenheim) Bonucci (Juventus) Gibbs (Arsenal)
    Amrabat (Watford) Gagliardini (Atalanta) Coutinho (Liverpool) Carrasco (Atletico)
    Robben (Bayern) Modeste (Köln) Ronaldo (Real Madrid)


    7 November 2016 (“Hazard maybe played his best ever Chelsea match”)
    Pickford (Sunderland)
    Ucar (Basaksehir) David Luiz (Chelsea) Mendy (Monaco)
    Bale (Real Madrid) Dembele (Tottenham) Demirbay (Hoffenheim) M. Alonso (Chelsea)
    Kalou (Hertha) Aubameyang (Dortmund) Hazard (Chelsea)


    22 November 2016 (“Van Persie king of Istanbul, scored all the goals against arch rival Galatasaray”)
    Kameni (Malaga)
    Varane (Real Madrid) Inigo Martinez (Sociedad) Ake (Bournemouth)
    Lemar (Monaco) Y. Toure (Man City) Gagliardini (Atalanta) Pereyra (Watford)
    Ronaldo (Real Madrid) Forsberg (Leipzig) Van Persie (Fenerbahce)


    28 November 2016 (“Lukaku completely neutralized by Van Dijk in a direct duel”)
    Rico (Sevilla)
    McAuley (West Brom) Godin (Atletico) Van Dijk (Southampton)
    Prieto (Sociedad) Keita (Leipzig) Fer (Swansea) Piatti (Espanyol)
    Simeone (Genoa) Vela (Sociedad) Vossen (Brugge)


    5 December 2016
    Masuluke (Baroka FC)
    Ramos (Real Madrid) Cook (Bournemouth) Muniesa (Stoke)
    Skhiri (Montpellier) Modric (Real Madrid) Strootman (Roma)
    Robben (Bayern) Diego Costa (Chelsea) Reus (Dortmund) Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal)


    12 December 2016 (“Leicester will go a long way in the Champions League”)
    Ederson (Benfica)
    Christensen (Monchengladbach) Ramos (Real Madrid) Van Dijk (Southampton) Holebas (Watford)
    Oztekin (Galatasaray) Herrera (Man United) Thiago (Bayern)
    Falcao (Monaco) Mertens (Napoli) Vardy (Leicester)


    17 January 2017 (“Carroll is after this bicycle kick worth 40 million again”)
    Heaton (Burnley)
    Aleix Vidal (Barcelona) N'Zonzi (Sevilla) Marcos Alonso (Chelsea)
    Bernardo Silva (Monaco) Davies (Everton) Antonio (West Ham)
    Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal)
    Carroll (West Ham) Crouch (Stoke) Kane (Tottenham)


    24 January 2017 (“Mertens a big boy for Napoli and will become all-time topscorer”)
    Ondoa (Cameroon)
    Sidibe (Monaco) Maguire (Hull City) Cahill (Chelsea)
    De Bruyne (Man City) Carroll (Swansea) Iborra (Sevilla) Boschilia (Monaco)
    Lewandowski (Bayern) Mertens (Napoli) Llorente (Swansea)


    30 January 2017 (“Robben can continue like Federer and Valentino Rossi if he has the motivation”)
    Ondoa (Cameroon)
    Navarro (Espanyol) Cooper (Millwall) Alvaro Gonzalez (Monaco)
    Defour (Burnley) Sneijder (Galatasaray) Helder Costa (Wolves)
    Robben (Bayern) Jesus (Man City) Welbeck (Arsenal) Nilton (Chapecoense)


    7 February 2017 (“Alderweireld maybe the best defender in the Premier League the last few years”)
    Casillas (Porto)
    Kone (Sunderland) Alderweireld (Tottenham) Mendy (Monaco)
    Parolo (Lazio) Kante (Chelsea)
    Dembele (Dortmund) Dembele (Celtic) Lukaku (Everton) Hazard (Chelsea)


    14 February 2017 (“Wijnaldum can score the goals if he wants, excellent player for club with ambitions”)
    Rico (Sevilla)
    Keane (Burnley) Mawson (Swansea) Canella (Gijon)
    Walace (HSV) Wijnaldum (Liverpool) Havertz (Leverkusen)
    Mata (Man United) Mane (Liverpool) Mbappe (Monaco)
    Inglese (Chievo)


    20 February 2017 (“Eriksen can easily play at a bigger club”)
    Lafont (Toulouse)
    Piszczek (Dortmund) Raggett (Lincoln) Costa (Villarreal)
    Eriksen (Tottenham) Tielemans (Anderlecht) Dybala (Juventus) Tolisso (Lyon)
    Webo (Osmanlispor) Gameiro (Atletico) Kamano (Bordeaux)


    28 February 2017 (“Wonder goals good for the showreel”)
    Donnarumma (Milan)
    Mercado (Sevilla) Maguire (Hull City) Van Aanholt (Crystal Palace)
    Gueye (Everton) Nainggolan (Roma) Guerreiro (Dortmund)
    Robben (Bayern) Kane (Tottenham) Memphis (Lyon)
    Zlatan (Man United)


    7 March 2017 (“De Vrij solution for orange”)
    Boruc (Bournemouth)
    Rolando (Marseille) De Vrij (Lazio) Olsson (Swansea)
    Rudy (Hoffenheim) Banega (Inter) Thiago (Bayern)
    Dembele (Dortmund) Messi (Barcelona) Mbappe (Monaco)
    Belotti (Torino)


    14 March 2017 (“Thiago as skilled as a stereotypical number 10, but without the flaws”)
    Donnarumma (Milan)
    Jallet (Lyon) Sulu (Darmstadt) Filipe Luis (Atletico)
    Banega (Inter) Thiago (Bayern) King (Bournemouth)
    Son (Tottenham) Dost (Sporting) Icardi (Inter) Memphis (Lyon)

    Note: this was two days after the miraculous halfway line goal, thus that explains the inclusion


    21 March 2017 (“Standing ovation for Mbappe”)
    Schmeichel (Leicester)
    Dawson (WBA) Godin (Atletico) Baines (Everton)
    Casemiro (Real Madrid) Thiago (Bayern) Strootman (Roma)
    Messi (Barcelona) Lukaku (Everton) Modeste (Köln) Mbappe (Monaco)


    10 April 2017 (“Marvellous Robben show, still top quality at the very highest levels”)
    Mignolet (Liverpool)
    Trippier (Tottenham) Collins (West Ham) Vestergaard (Monchengladbach) Luna (Eibar)
    Robben (Bayern) Clasie (Southampton) Son (Tottenham)
    Cavani (PSG) Griezmann (Atletico) Dost (Sporting)


    18 April 2017 (“This team still wins the majority of matches against anyone”)
    Leno (Leverkusen)
    Ander Herrera (Man United) Kompany (Man City) Sokratis (Dortmund)
    Isco (Real Madrid) Dembele (Tottenham)
    Messi (Barcelona) Kruse (Bremen) Carrasco (Atletico)
    Falcao (Monaco) Promes (Spartak Moscow)


    25 April 2017
    Skorupski (Empoli)
    Gimenez (Atletico) Bonucci (Juventus) Lindelof (Benfica) Ake (Chelsea)
    Cabot (Lorient) Eriksen (Tottenham) Demirbay (Hoffenheim)
    Messi (Barcelona) Kruse (Bremen) Keita (Lazio)


    1 May 2017 (“Hat-trick for Eto'o, richly decorated career”)
    Fernandez (Villarreal)
    Maguire (Hull City) Cahill (Chelsea) Schulz (Monchengladbach)
    Thauvin (Marseille) Ndidi (Leicester) Saul (Atletico) Under (Basaksehir)
    Eto'o (Antalyaspor) Lewandowski (Bayern) Dost (Sporting)

    Note: Eto'o his opponent Adanaspor was 18th in the table though


    15 May 2017 (“Robben really an outstanding season, by all the relevant aspects”)
    Navas (Real Madrid)
    Naughton (Swansea) Koulibaly (Napoli) Torunarigha (Hertha) Gaya (Valencia)
    Callejon (Napoli) Coutinho (Liverpool) Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal)
    Robben (Bayern) Jonas (Benfica) Neymar (Barcelona)


    22 May 2017 (“With the season petering out, a few last words on Terry; another show in Lahm's last match”)
    Mathenia (HSV)
    Lahm (Bayern) Terry (Chelsea) Sandro (Juventus)
    Havertz (Leverkusen) Wijnaldum (Liverpool) Hector (Köln)
    Robben (Bayern) Kane (Tottenham) Mertens (Napoli) Reus (Dortmund)

    Note: Terry played and started (subbed out after 30 minutes), scored a goal the week before (played 90 minutes)


    --------------------------

    I didn't add up the totals but don't think that's really the valuable part of it. In the end, if I spot it well, Messi had still the joint-most selections with seven. Mbappe had three within half a year as a starter.
     
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  6. PuckVanHeel

    PuckVanHeel Member+

    Oct 4, 2011
    Club:
    Feyenoord

    All for 2017-18:


    22 August 2017 (“Neymar of another planet in Paris”)
    Buffon (Juventus)
    Maguire (Leicester) Bartra (Dortmund) Van Drongelen (HSV)
    Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield) Fekir (Lyon) Malcom (Bordeaux) Alonso (Chelsea)
    Jese (Stoke) Jonas (Benfica) Neymar (PSG)


    28 August 2017 (“Bosz becomes kamikaze pilot without Ajax”)
    Schmeichel (Leicester)
    Sidibe (Monaco) Badstuber (Stuttgart) Daniels (Bournemouth)
    Wijnaldum (Liverpool) Koke (Atletico) Sahin (Dortmund) Guardado (Betis)
    Messi (Barcelona) Icardi (Inter) Dybala (Juventus)


    11 September 2017 (“Guardiola doesn't miss Messi, because there is only one”)
    Butland (Stoke City)
    Lascelles (Newcastle) Skriniar (Inter) Alba (Barcelona)
    Eriksen (Tottenham) Seri (Nice) Illarramendi (Sociedad) Mendy (Man City)
    Messi (Barcelona) Immobile (Lazio) Werner (Leipzig)


    18 September 2017 (“Neymar expertly neutralized by Tete, textbook material”)
    De Gea (Man United)
    Tete (Lyon) Lascelles (Newcastle) Ghoulam (Napoli)
    Kimmich (Bayern) Ndombele (Lyon) Lemina (Southampton) Aranguiz (Leverkusen)
    Mertens (Napoli) Aguero (Man City) Dybala (Juventus)


    25 September 2017 (“The left back Rashford a good player at the wrong club”)
    Boeckx (Anderlecht)
    Azpilicueta (Chelsea) Rami (Lyon) Rashford (Man United)
    Torreira (Sampdoria) Pjanic (Juventus) Ceballos (Real Madrid) Guedes (Valencia)
    Aubameyang (Dortmund) Morata (Chelsea) Sane (Man City)


    3 October 2017 (“De Bruyne overall one of the ten best in the world”)
    Pavlenka (Bremen)
    Siovas (Leganes) Koulibaly (Napoli) Tarkowski (Burnley)
    Draxler (PSG) Guardado (Betis) Toure (Nantes) De Bruyne (Man City)
    Xadas (Braga) Kane (Tottenham) Neymar (PSG)


    17 October 2017
    Uzoho (Deportivo la Coruna)
    Meunier (PSG) Koulibaly (Napoli) Vestergaard (Monchengladbach)
    De Bruyne (Man City) Thiago (Bayern) Fekir (Lyon) Parejo (Valencia)
    Immobile (Lazio) Icardi (Internazionale) Jesus (Man City)


    23 October 2017 (“No joke, Dost is one of the very best in the five meter area”)
    Lafonte (Toulouse)
    Hilton (Montpellier) Stones (Man City) Skriniar (Internazionale)
    Havertz (Leverkusen) Khedira (Juventus) Ozil (Arsenal) Guedes (Valencia)
    Kane (Tottenham) Dost (Sporting) Memphis (Lyon)


    31 October 2017 (“Man City number one Champions League favorite”)
    Hart (West Ham)
    Chiellini (Juventus) Shawcross (Stoke) Maffeo (Girona)
    Torreira (Sampdoria) Grifo (Monchengladbach) Fernandinho (Man City) Kolasinac (Arsenal)
    Cavani (PSG) Immobile (Lazio) Messi (Barcelona)


    7 November 2017 (“The successor of Terry, hopefully”)
    Hradecky (Frankfurt)
    Toure (Monaco) Christensen (Chelsea) Sule (Bayern)
    Thauvin (Marseille) De Bruyne (Man City) Tatsuya Ito (HSV) Pizarro (Sevilla)
    Mbappe (PSG) Salah (Liverpool) Van la Parra (Huddersfield)

    Note (as example of how these selections work): as acknowledgement to the attentive readers and listeners – Robben's performance and goal against Dortmund was on the radar (elected man of the match; behind the goalkeeper the man of the match by kicker and joint-highest grade) “we like to include players when it is justified, but there are also others who can play football and help their team”


    21 November 2017 (“Forgotten El Ghazi playing well, knows what he does”)
    Ter Stegen (Barcelona)
    Kimmich (Bayern) Tarkowski (Burnley) Delph (Man City)
    Richarlison (Watford) Nianggolan (Roma) Pogba (Man United) Ozil (Arsenal)
    El Ghazi (Lille) Adebayor (Basaksehir) Cavani (PSG)


    27 November 2017
    Handanovic (Internazionale)
    Umtiti (Barcelona) Roussillon (Montpellier) Bertrand (Southampton)
    Caligiuri (Schalke) Keita (Leipzig) Griezmann (Atletico) Zeegelaar (Watford)
    Salah (Liverpool) Arp (HSV) Memphis (Lyon)


    5 December 2017 (“With this Hazard form there is a serious chance for winning the World Cup”)
    De Gea (Man United)
    Suarez (Getafe) Chiellini (Juventus) Max (Augsburg)
    Lienard (Strasbourg) Savic (Lazio) Perisic (Inter) Malli (Wolfsburg)
    Coutinho (Liverpool) Gnabry (Hoffenheim) Hazard (Chelsea)


    12 December 2017
    Sorrentino (Chievo)
    Kimmich (Bayern) Tarkowski (Burnley) Vermaelen (Barcelona)
    Son (Tottenham) David Silva (Man City) Aouar (Lyon) Masuaku (West Ham)
    Mbappe (PSG) Dost (Sporting) Ronaldo (Real Madrid)


    8 January 2018
    Szczesny (Juventus)
    Grimmer (Coventry) Van Dijk (Liverpool) Alba (Barcelona)
    Fabian Ruiz (Betis) Lingard (Man United) David Silva (Man City) Coda (Benevento)
    Immobile (Lazio) Dost (Sporting) Diego Costa (Atletico Madrid)


    15 January 2018
    Oblak (Atletico Madrid)
    Fosu Mensah (Crystal Palace) Vermaelen (Barcelona) Robertson (Liverpool)
    Son (Tottenham) Rodri (Villarreal) James (Bayern) Arnautovic (West Ham)
    Fullkrug (Hannover) Dost (Sporting) Olunga (Girona)


    22 Januari 2018 (“Messi makes words empty and meaningless”)
    Alisson (Roma)
    Nacho (Real Madrid) Monreal (Arsenal) Zinchenko (Man City)
    Muller (Bayern) Ndombele (Lyon) Hazard (Monchengladbach) Bailey (Leverkusen)
    Messi (Barcelona) Quagliarella (Sampdoria) Hazard (Chelsea)


    29 January 2018
    Navas (Real Madrid)
    Toloi (Atalanta) Naldo (Schalke) Sessegnon (Fulham)
    Castillejo (Villareal) Powell (Wigan) De Bruyne (Man City) Diabete (Leicester)
    Alexis Sanchez (Man United) Cavani (PSG) Coman (Bayern)


    5 February 2018 (“Salah becomes Messi?”)
    Lafont (Toulouse)
    Debuchy (StEtienne) Mancini (Atalanta) Telles (Porto)
    Orellana (Eibar) Illarramendi (Sociedad) Lo Celso (PSG) Mkhitaryan (Arsenal)
    Thauvin (Marseille) Higuain (Juventus) Salah (Liverpool)


    12 February 2018 (“Pochettino places Dembele's ability in the Ronaldinho and Maradona bracket”)
    Dubravka (Newcastle)
    Lucas Hernandez (Atletico Madrid) Chiellini (Juventus) Terry (Aston Villa)
    Under (Roma) Dembele (Tottenham) Arambarri (Getafe) De Bruyne (Man City)
    Cutrone (Milan) Aguero (Man City) Ronaldo (Real Madrid)


    20 February 2018 (“Asensio a well paid bench warmer”)
    Zentner (Mainz)
    Vranjes (AEK) Bonucci (Milan) Sandro (Juventus)
    Joaquin (Betis) Willian (Chelsea) Hiljemark (Genoa) Camps (Rochdale)
    Reus (Dortmund) Cavani (PSG) Asensio (Real Madrid)


    27 February 2018 (“Rare how Cristiano places his ego aside, king of tournament football”)
    Asenjo (Villarreal)
    Baumgartl (Stuttgart) Kompany (Man City) Robertson (Liverpool)
    Savic (Lazio) Matic (Man United) Griezmann (Atletico) Kramer (Monchengladbach)
    Rodrigues (Galatasaray) Messi (Barcelona) Ronaldo (Real Madrid)


    6 March 2018 (“Pröpper the budget Pirlo for the low countries”)
    F. Müller (Mainz)
    Lowton (Burnley) Dubois (Nantes) Otamendi (Man City)
    Kondogbia (Valencia) Pröpper (Brighton) Sung-Yeung (Swansea) Son (Tottenham)
    T. Muller (Bayern) Jonas (Benfica) Gomis (Galatasaray)


    12 March 2018 (“France can have four competitive World Cup teams”)
    Cech (Arsenal)
    Vitor Hugo (Fiorentina) Mendy (Lyon) Young (Man United)
    Modric (Real Madrid) Kondogbia (Valencia) Dybala (Juventus) Nkunku (PSG)
    Dembele (Barcelona) Plea (Nice) Ribery (Bayern)


    19 March 2018 (“Icardi 14 touches, 4 goals”)
    Pollersbeck (HSV)
    Dani Alves (PSG) Acerbi (Sassuolo) Alba (Barcelona)
    Eriksen (Tottenham) Keita (Leipzig) Rodri (Villarreal) Matic (Man United)
    Salah (Liverpool) Icardi (Inter) Ronaldo (Real Madrid)


    2 April 2018 (“Zlatan wins the USA within 15 minutes, remarkable stuff”)
    De Gea (Man United)
    Davinson Sanchez (Tottenham) Hernandez (Atletico) Robertson (Liverpool)
    Arnautovic (West Ham) David Silva (Man City) Cabella (StEtienne) Luis Alberto (Lazio)
    Uth (Hoffenheim) Ibrahimovic (LA Galaxy) Memphis (Lyon)


    10 April 2018 (“Champions League millions and bonuses absolutely necessary for Lyon”)
    Oblak (Atletico)
    Kimmich (Bayern) Elustondo (Sociedad) Varrault (Dijon)
    Eriksen (Tottenham) Messi (Barcelona) Dybala (Juventus) Pogba (Man United)
    Aspas (Celta) Memphis (Lyon) Promes (Spartak Moscow)


    17 April 2018 (“Isco the Zidane of his time”)
    Donnarumma (Milan)
    Debuchy (St Etienne) Kompany (Man City) Kongolo (Huddersfield)
    Diame (Newcastle) Isco (Real Madrid) Thiago (Bayern) Douglas Costa (Juventus)
    Volland (Leverkusen) Zaha (Crystal Palace) Di Maria (PSG)


    23 April 2018
    Cillessen (Barcelona)
    Kerbrat (Guingamp) Koulibaly (Napoli) Bernat (Bayern)
    Thauvin (Marseille) Gundogan (Man City) Iniesta (Barcelona) Fabian Ruiz (Betis)
    Jadon Sancho (Dortmund) Uth (Hoffenheim) Alexis Sanchez (Man United)


    30 April 2018 (“Messi... now against Croatia”)
    Olazabal (Levante)
    Tierney (Celtic) Hegazi (West Brom) Pieters (Stoke)
    Sterling (Man City) McArthur (Crystal Palace) Fabregas (Chelsea) Memphis (Lyon)
    Messi (Barcelona) Simeone (Fiorentina) Kramaric (Hoffenheim)


    7 May 2018
    Foster (WBA)
    Fazio (Roma) Kehrer (Schalke) Mendy (Lyon)
    Payet (Marseille) Kante (Chelsea) James (Bayern) Willems (Frankfurt)
    Aubameyang (Arsenal) Sylla (Monaco) Augustin (Leipzig)


    14 May 2018 ("We are all won over by Salah")
    Oblak (Atletico Madrid)
    Walker-Peters (Tottenham) Barzagli (Juventus) Van Aanholt (Crystal Palace)
    Brekalo (Wolfsburg) Donis (Stuttgart) Kramaric (Hoffenheim) Shelvey (Newcastle)
    Bale (Real Madrid) E. Boateng (Levante) Salah (Liverpool)

    ----------------

    Iniesta is included and discussed for his career, abilities, but also because he played well in the cup final (above his then recent level). Cillessen is in because of his performance and creating a goal with a weighted pass (despite that he was the back-up goalkeeper). Similar thing happens for Real Madrid with Courtois and Navas a season later.

    Tomorrow I'll post the 2018-19 ones. This has also an inclusion for "the VAR" (it's a compliment) and Gascoigne in a legends match, which signals there was sometimes a shortage of convincing performances in that particular line of the team ("suddenly you think 'can I notice the difference with a representative Eredivisie match in a blind test'") .

    @PDG1978
     
    PDG1978 repped this.
  7. PuckVanHeel

    PuckVanHeel Member+

    Oct 4, 2011
    Club:
    Feyenoord
    Sorry, one name fell away here and that is Suarez (Barcelona), placed further ahead than the three behind.
     
  8. PuckVanHeel

    PuckVanHeel Member+

    Oct 4, 2011
    Club:
    Feyenoord
    Inclusions for 2018-19:


    20 August 2018 (“Regularly watch a match of Messi in the weekend”)
    Buffon (PSG)
    Duffy (Brighton) Chilwell (Leicester) Konan (Reims)
    Alex Gallar (Huesca) Sigurdsson (Everton) Messi (Barcelona) Mendy (Man City)
    Morales (Levante) Aguero (Man City) Silva (Sevilla)


    28 August 2018 (“Help, I'm a fan of Weghorst”)
    Navas (Real Madrid)
    Kabasele (Watford) Boly (Wolves) Mendy (Lyon)
    Allan (Napoli) Wijnaldum (Liverpool) Dahoud (Dortmund) & the VAR
    Simeone (Fiorentina) Mitrovic (Fulham) Bamba (Lille)

    Note: the VAR received a compliment.


    3 September 2018 (“Ronaldo wasted Benzema's career for a decade”)
    Benitez (Nice)
    Gomez (Liverpool) Bartra (Betis) Holebas (Watford)
    Nainggolan (Internazionale) Lobotka (Celta) Kante (Chelsea) Duda (Hertha)
    Quagliarella (Sampdoria) Benzema (Real Madrid) Messi (Barcelona)


    16 September 2018 (“Hazard of a Cristiano dimension this year, all-round Robben helps out struggling Bayern”)
    Sommer (Monchengladbach)
    Doherty (Wolverhampton) Kabak (Galatasaray) Amavi (Marseille)
    Fraser (Bournemouth) Bernardo Silva (Man City) Barella (Cagliari) Pepe (Lille)
    Robben (Bayern) Ronaldo (Juventus) Hazard (Chelsea)


    25 September 2018
    Cech (Arsenal)
    Meunier (PSG) Balbuena (West Ham) Gonzalez (Villareal)
    Lemar (Atletico) Moutinho (Wolverhampton) Gundogan (Man City) Gervinho (Parma)
    Traore (Lyon) Yedder (Sevilla) Dilrosun (Hertha BSC)


    2 October 2018 (“Van Dijk of the Bergkamp and Cantona dimension”)
    Ruffier (St Etienne)
    Gimenez (Atletico Madrid) Van Dijk (Liverpool) De Marcos (Bilbao)
    Sigurdsson (Everton) Reus (Dortmund) De Guzman (Frankfurt) Pellegrini (Roma)
    Arnautovic (West Ham) Piatek (Genoa) Finnbogason (Augsburg)


    10 October (“Mbappe more influential than Messi and Ronaldo at the age of 19”)
    Handanovic (Inter)
    Dias (Benfica) Coady (Wolves) Laguardia (Alaves)
    Sabitzer (Leipzig) Brooks (Bournemouth) Castro (Cagliari) Wijnaldum (Liverpool)
    Forrest (Celtic) Alcacer (Dortmund) Mbappe (PSG)


    22 October 2018 (“Superb Ter Stegen keeps Cillessen on the bench”)
    Ter Stegen (Barcelona)
    Gomez (Liverpool) Bonifazi (SPAL) Lala (Strasbourg)
    Di Maria (PSG) Witsel (Dortmund) Ilicic (Atalanta) Hofmann (Monchengladbach)
    Mahrez (Man City) Jovic (Frankfurt) Lewandowski (Bayern)


    30 October 2018 (“Luis Suarez doesn't invent the schwalbe but improved on it”)
    Muriel (Belenenses)
    Brenet (Hoffenheim) Godin (Atletico) Hakimi (Dortmund)
    Suso (Milan) Havertz (Leverkusen) Barkley (Chelsea) Martial (Man United)
    Suarez (Barcelona) Aspas (Celta) Ronaldo (Juventus)


    5 November 2018 (“Van Dijk one of the three best defenders in the world, adapts when needed”)
    Bounou (Girona)
    Pena (Eibar) Van Dijk (Liverpool) Keane (Everton)
    Felipe Anderson (West Ham) Bouanga (Nimes) Joao Mario (Inter) Hazard (Monchengladbach)
    Sterling (Man City) Mertens (Napoli) Joelinton (Hoffenheim)


    12 November 2018 ("When Memphis plays like this, he can also do for and against a better team")
    Pickford (Everton)
    Fernandez (Newcastle) Godin (Atletico Madrid) Kehrer (PSG)
    Ilicic (Atalanta) Fernandinho (Man City) Lo Celso (Betis) Reus (Dortmund)
    Memphis (Lyon) Terrode (Köln) Plea (Monchengladbach)


    26 November 2018 (“Ronaldo expected to become topscorer of Italy”)
    Sorrentino (Chievo)
    Piszczek (Dortmund) Kongolo (Huddersfield) Marcal (Lyon)
    Cucurella (Eibar) Gomes (Everton) Dele Alli (Tottenham) Caligiuri (Schalke)
    Lukebakio (Dusseldorf) Haller (Frankfurt) Ronaldo (Juventus)


    3 December 2018
    Fahrmann (Schalke)
    Carvajal (Real Madrid) Chiellini (Juventus) Torunarigha (Hertha)
    Kimmich (Bayern) Martin (Strasbourg) Torreira (Arsenal) Felipe Anderson (West Ham)
    Sancho (Dortmund) Aspas (Celta) Sane (Man City)


    11 December 2018 (“De Ligt should watch the Chiellini videotapes”)
    Donnarumma (Milan)
    Cancelo (Juventus) David Luiz (Chelsea) Dalot (Man United)
    Son (Tottenham) Quintero (River Plate) Grujic (Hertha) Brais Mendez (Celta)
    Zapata (Atalanta) Salah (Liverpool) Messi (Barcelona)


    17 December 2018 (“Never seen Messi playing better than this”)
    Dubravka (Newcastle)
    Kimmich (Bayern) Ayhan (Dusseldorf) Pique (Barcelona)
    Sarabia (Sevilla) Witsel (Dortmund) Messi (Barcelona) Fabinho (Liverpool)
    Deulofeu (Watford) Werner (Leipzig) Sane (Man City)


    14 January 2019 (“11 saves in one half”)
    De Gea (Man United)
    Digne (Everton) Fabinho (Liverpool) Abdelhamid (Reims)
    Clark (Leeds) Rice (West Ham) Parejo (Valencia) Pepe (Lille)
    Williams (Bilbao) Suarez (Barcelona) De Tomas (Vallecano)


    22 January 2019 (“Ajax has to be wary for Real Madrid's camouflage acts”)
    Meret (Napoli)
    Arias (Atletico) Koscielny (Arsenal) Schär (Newcastle)
    Zaniolo (Roma) Modric (Real Madrid) Witsel (Dortmund) Sissoko (Strasbourg)
    Zapata (Atalanta) Mbappe (PSG) Jota (Wolves)


    28 January 2019 (“Quincy Promes received a thumbs up in Spain”)
    Roos (Derby County)
    Promes (Sevilla) Konate (Leipzig) Hakimi (Dortmund)
    De Bruyne (Man City) Pogba (Man United) Rodri (Atletico Madrid) Demirbay (Hoffenheim)
    Chiesa (Fiorentina) Quagliarella (Sampdoria) Benzema (Real Madrid)


    5 February 2019 ("Felix is a transfer of 100+ million")
    Burki (Dortmund)
    Pulido (Huesca) Orban (RB Leipzig) Roussillon (Wolfsburg)
    Pepe (Lille) Kante (Chelsea) Joao Felix (Benfica) Canales (Betis)
    Finnbogason (Augsburg) Aguero (Man City) Gervinho (Parma)


    11 February 2019 (“It is now suddenly the weekly Pogba show?”)
    Heaton (Burnley)
    Calabria (Milan) Manga (Cardiff) Reguilon (Real Madrid)
    Darder (Espanyol) Wijnaldum (Liverpool) Pogba (Man United) Brandt (Leverkusen)
    Sancho (Dortmund) Aguero (Man City) Pizzi (Benfica)


    19 February 2019 (“Piatek started better than Weah and Van Basten”)
    Oblak (Atletico)
    Doherty (Wolves) Knoche (Wolfsburg) Pedraza (Villareal)
    Demirbay (Hoffenheim) Dybala (Juventus) Foden (Man City) Bruno Fernandes (Sporting)
    Mbappe (PSG) Piatek (Milan) Coman (Bayern)


    25 February 2019 (“Happy as a child to see Messi at his best”)
    Casteels (Wolfsburg)
    Izzo (Torino) Tarkowski (Burnley) Ake (Bournemouth)
    Koke (Atletico Madrid) Verratti (PSG) Messi (Barcelona) Almiron (Newcastle)
    Deulofeu (Watford) Milik (Napoli) Sancho (Dortmund)


    5 March 2019 (“Donnarumma with his buzz can become the most expensive keeper in history”)
    Donnarumma (Milan)
    Wan-Bissaka (Crystal Palace) Pique (Barcelona) Kabak (Stuttgart)
    Bernardo Silva (Man City) Rice (West Ham) Acosta (DC United) Jony (Alaves)
    Stuani (Girona) Lukaku (Man United) Quagliarella (Sampdoria)


    11 March 2019 (“Left back Promes played his best game”)
    Leno (Arsenal)
    Kimmich (Bayern) Koscielny (Arsenal) Promes (Sevilla)
    Ferran (Valencia) Ward-Prowse (Southampton) Rodri (Atletico) Brandt (Leverkusen)
    Ayoze Perez (Newcastle) Kean (Juventus) Sterling (Man City)


    18 March 2019 (“Weghorst can have a try for the topscorer title next season”)
    Navas (Real Madrid)
    Orban (Leipzig) De Vrij (Internazionale) Coady (Wolves)
    Kruse (Bremen) Moutinho (Wolves) James Rodriguez (Bayern) Jony (Alaves)
    Messi (Barcelona) Weghorst (Wolfsburg) Di Maria (PSG)


    1 April 2019 (“Gazza's welcome the highlight”)
    Handanovic (Inter)
    Garay (Valencia) Tarkowski (Burnley) Van Aanholt (Crystal Palace)
    Kruse (Bremen) Partey (Atletico) Gascoigne (Spurs legends) Bernardo Silva (Man City)
    Belfodil (Hoffenheim) Aspas (Celta) Poulsen (Leipzig)


    15 April 2019 (“Teenager Sancho is a De Ligt with more talent”)
    Nubel (Schalke)
    Kaderabek (Hoffenheim) Koulibaly (Napoli) Dijks (Bologna)
    Pepe (Lille) Sarabia (Sevilla) Felix (Benfica) Fraser (Bournemouth)
    Sancho (Dortmund) Moura (Tottenham) Babel (Fulham)


    23 April 2019 (“Georginio brings the escape and celebrates without powder or selfies”)
    Rico (Fulham)
    Halstenberg (Leipzig) Lenglet (Barcelona) Wan-Bissaka (Crystal Palace)
    Wijnaldum (Liverpool) Reus (Dortmund) Gueye (Everton) Bernardo Silva (Man City)
    Ayoze Perez (Newcastle) Benzema (Real Madrid) Mbappe (PSG)


    29 April 2019 (“Liverpool almost without flaws”)
    Oblak (Atletico)
    William (Wolfsburg) Issa Diop (West Ham) Robertson (Liverpool)
    Atal (Nice) Barranetxea (Sociedad) Keita (Liverpool) Pastore (Roma)
    Messi (Barcelona) Vardy (Leicester) Karaman (Dusseldorf)


    6 May 2019 (“36 years old Fabio king in finishing”)
    Travers (Bournemouth)
    Fredericks (West Ham) Zouma (Everton) Pedrosa (Espanyol)
    Kimmich (Bayern) Brandt (Leverkusen) Bruno Fernandes (Sporting) Oscar (Leganes)
    Werner (Leipzig) Quagliarella (Sampdoria) Santi Mina (Valencia)


    13 May 2019 (“Neymar can breeze past players on one leg”)
    Pavlenka (Bremen)
    Florenzi (Roma) Godin (Atletico) Munoz (Sociedad)
    Castagne (Atalanta) Soler (Valencia) Ndombele (Lyon) Savanier (Nimes)
    Mahrez (Man City) Mane (Liverpool) Neymar (PSG)


    ---------------------

    Some remarks from my perspective:

    - The Italians ratings have shown there can be quite a difference in the eventual ordering of players, yet the range can be rather small and in the end insignificant if you really think about it (0.20 difference over 30+ games falls within the margin of error, some positions as strikers and wingers handicapped).

    - Someone like Eriksen as a regular can be explained by that he ticks (almost) all the boxes of a good player except trophies. Goals and assists, but also awareness, skill and discipline. Has stamina, has positional sense, is steady when he plays and is fit.



    - The inclusions for Maguire, Havertz etc. looks as a lot but nevertheless it shows the recognition from an early stage, and confirming the impression. Son Heung-min also recognized before he was 'universally' seen as a top player, plus a couple additional mentions as an option for the team when he doesn't make the XI.

    - Regarding compatriots: I find the number of inclusions for Dost really too much and it's also not the average consensus. This is a good English dissection with stats and perspective. One positive thing is he can co-exist with a high scoring midfielder (Bruno Fernandes for example), and that's not always the case with goalscoring strikers. His national team career isn't good, has rejected further call-ups now, with as most notable moment a cancelled injury time winner vs Sweden (for a small push). This cost us qualification for the World Cup.

    Memphis divides opinions very much but can understand this better. He has generally done fine (vs Spain 2015) for the national team (even if he doesn't play well, like vs England this year) and his WhoScored and SofaScore ratings are good. He is streaky, but one of only three players to be in top 10 of the 2018-19 Ligue 1 in both metrics, for example. It's also true he delivered the Champions League millions at the back end of 2017-18 (securing qualification) and helps to win the millions in the Champions League itself (vs City twice, Shaktar and Hoffenheim last season; man of the match vs Zenit and Leipzig this season). For the national side he plays with diligence and can see why the KNVB trusts him. Koeman said that even with RvP, Robben or the serviceable Kuijt in their prime he'd still be tempted to play him.

    - I'll update it as the season progresses and maybe some can chip in (if they like).
     
  9. PuckVanHeel

    PuckVanHeel Member+

    Oct 4, 2011
    Club:
    Feyenoord
    I've decided to add up the totals but that will take time. Already noticed it doesn't look too bad in the end (with heavy emphasis on weekend action) but some surprising high rankings like Dybala for instance. He's a 'foreign' player who divides opinions although he's by critics not seen as a tactical liability or so - just as someone who can be invisible, does too little or is often frustrating to watch apart from the goals.

    Will be finished next week!
     
  10. PuckVanHeel

    PuckVanHeel Member+

    Oct 4, 2011
    Club:
    Feyenoord
    I added up the totals.


    - It's explicitly skewed towards the weekend action and it shouldn't be taken too literal. Dybala looks high (see above comment) and Kimmich has a good and 'versatile' profile to round off selections.

    - Defensive midfielders remain something of a blind spot. Good cases by themselves are made for Jorginho (in the overall team of the year) and Busquets but each only feature once, despite dissecting neatly the importance of Busquets (his height, that he is highly focused on his job with strong mental concentration etc.).

    - I listed the Benelux players separately (a few of those have a bit more inclusions than I'd like to see it). There might be a slight bias towards those players (i.e. De Bruyne is #2 overall) but then again, the same can be said about English and Italian publications (the fact-free mythology of the latter group). Which then creates a (thought-free) critical mass towards the rest of the football world. Also e.g. England has been struggling to get competitive wins against the 1st tier and 2nd tier national teams the past decades (often leaning on favorable draws and seeding status to progress) and that cannot be said about 'Holland'.


    Foreign players:

    Messi - 20
    Ronaldo - 10
    Mbappe - 9

    Dybala - 8
    Kimmich - 8

    Donnarumma - 7
    Salah - 7
    Thiago Alcantara - 7

    Lewandowski - 6
    Pogba - 6
    B. Silva - 6
    Son Heung-min - 6
    Reus - 6
    Alexis Sanchez - 6
    Sancho - 6

    Aguero - 5
    Aspas - 5
    Cavani - 5
    Coutinho - 5
    Eriksen - 5
    Godin - 5
    Kante - 5
    Kane - 5
    Naby Keita - 5
    Koscielny - 5
    Koulibaly - 5
    Maguire - 5
    Neymar - 5
    Oblak - 5
    Quagliarella - 5
    D. Silva - 5
    Tarkowski - 5

    Jordi Alba - 4
    O. Dembele - 4
    Benzema - 4
    Chiellini - 4
    Demirbay - 4
    De Gea - 4
    Havertz - 4
    Icardi - 4
    Immobile - 4
    Kruse - 4
    Mahrez - 4
    Benjamin Mendy - 4
    Keylor Navas - 4
    Nicolas Pepe - 4
    Robertson - 4
    Rodri - 4
    Thauvin - 4
    Werner - 4

    Marcos Alonso - 3
    Aubameyang - 3
    Arnautovic - 3
    Bonucci - 3
    Brandt - 3
    Cech - 3
    Diego Costa - 3
    Di Maria - 3
    Fabinho - 3
    Gagliardini - 3
    Griezmann - 3
    Hakimi - 3
    Handanovic - 3
    Heaton - 3
    Higuain - 3
    Ibrahimovic - 3
    James Rodriguez - 3
    Jonas - 3
    Lafont - 3
    David Luiz - 3
    Mane - 3
    Ferland Mendy - 3
    Milik - 3
    Modeste - 3
    Modric - 3
    Neuer - 3
    Ndombele - 3
    Orban - 3
    Ozil - 3
    Plea - 3
    Rico - 3
    Fabian Ruiz - 3
    Sane - 3
    Simeone - 3
    Sterling - 3
    Luis Suarez - 3
    Ter Stegen - 3
    Torreira - 3
    Vardy - 3
    Vestergaard - 3
    Werner - 3

    Amrabat - 2
    Felipe Anderson - 2
    Bale - 2
    Banega - 2
    Bartra - 2
    Buffon - 2
    Cahill - 2
    Caligiuri - 2
    Cancelo - 2
    Ceballos - 2
    Christensen - 2
    Coady - 2
    Coman - 2
    Dahoud - 2
    Charlie Daniels - 2
    Curtis Davies - 2
    Debuchy - 2
    Dele Alli - 2
    Deulofeu - 2
    Doherty - 2
    Dubravka - 2
    Falcao - 2
    Fekir - 2
    Joao Felix - 2
    Bruno Fernandes - 2
    Fernandinho - 2
    Filipe Luis - 2
    Finnbogason - 2
    Roberto Firmino - 2
    Fraser - 2
    Guardado - 2
    Gervinho - 2
    Jose Gimenez - 2
    Joel Gomez - 2
    Alvaro Gonzalez - 2
    Guedes - 2
    Raphael Guerreiro - 2
    Gueye - 2
    Gundogan - 2
    Lucas Hernandez - 2
    Ander Herrera - 2
    Holebas - 2
    Ilicic - 2
    Illarramendi - 2
    Isco - 2
    Gabriel Jesus - 2
    Jony - 2
    Kabak - 2
    Michael Keane - 2
    Kehrer - 2
    Kondogbia - 2
    Koke - 2
    Kramaric - 2
    Lascelles - 2
    Lemar - 2
    Leno - 2
    Lo Celso - 2
    Matic - 2
    Milinkovic-Savic - 2
    Moutinho - 2
    Thomas Muller - 2
    Nubel - 2
    Odegaard - 2
    Ondoa - 2
    Otamendi - 2
    Parejo - 2
    Thomas Partey - 2
    Pavlenka - 2
    Ayoze Perez - 2
    Piatek - 2
    Pickford - 2
    Pique - 2
    Piszczek - 2
    Sergio Ramos - 2
    Rashford - 2
    Reguilon - 2
    Ribery - 2
    Rice - 2
    Roussillon - 2
    Sabitzer - 2
    Alex Sandro - 2
    Sarabia - 2
    Schmeichel - 2
    Sensi - 2
    Sidibe - 2
    Sigurdsson - 2
    Skriniar - 2
    Sorrentino - 2
    Stuani - 2
    Sule - 2
    Terry - 2
    Torunarigha - 2
    Cengiz Under - 2
    Uth - 2
    Wan-Bissaka - 2
    Zapata - 2


    Benelux players:

    De Bruyne - 11
    Memphis - 8
    Robben - 8
    Wijnaldum - 8
    Van Dijk - 7
    Dost - 7
    E. Hazard - 6
    Mertens - 6
    Van Aanholt - 5
    Promes - 4
    Ake - 3
    Carrasco - 3
    M. Dembele - 3
    Kompany - 3
    Lukaku - 3
    Witsel - 3
    Alderweireld - 2
    Blind - 2
    El Ghazi - 2
    T. Hazard - 2
    Kongolo - 2
    Meunier - 2
    Nainggolan - 2
    Pieters - 2
    Strootman - 2
    Van Drongelen - 2
    Vermaelen - 2
    De Vrij - 2
    Babel - 1
    Boeckx - 1
    Brenet - 1
    Casteels - 1
    Chadli - 1
    Cillessen - 1
    Clasie - 1
    De Guzman - 1
    De Ligt - 1
    Defour - 1
    Dijks - 1
    Dilrosun - 1
    Fer - 1
    Fosu Mensah - 1
    Gouweleeuw - 1
    Krul - 1
    Lukebakio - 1
    Pröpper - 1
    Sneijder - 1
    Stekelenburg - 1
    Tete - 1
    Tielemans - 1
    Van der Hoorn - 1
    Van la Parra - 1
    Van Persie - 1
    Vorm - 1
    Vormer - 1
    Vossen - 1
    Weghorst - 1
    Willems - 1
    Zeegelaar - 1

    Note: for 7 February 2017 the name Mertens had fallen away
     
    comme repped this.
  11. PuckVanHeel

    PuckVanHeel Member+

    Oct 4, 2011
    Club:
    Feyenoord
    #11 PuckVanHeel, Oct 21, 2019
    Last edited: Oct 21, 2019
    So as an example:

    21 October 2019

    Buffon (Juventus)
    Jesus Navas (Sevilla) Mina (Everton) Kamara (Marseille)
    Di Maria (PSG) De Jong (Barcelona) Grealish (Aston Villa) Lago Junior (Real Mallorca)
    Gnabry (Bayern) Lukaku (Internazionale) Cornelius (Parma)

    -----

    Of course it is recognized Buffon is not at his best, and by this point Szczesny gets the bigger games, but Buffon receives props for organizing a somewhat sub-optimal defense with personnel issues.

    Gnabry receives his first highlight as a Bayern player (the previous one was for Hoffenheim).

    Jesus Navas makes his first appearance. Had the winning assist while playing as right-back.

    Lukaku was on a hat-trick but gave the penalty to Lautaro Martinez. Martinez had twice as many shots in the match (VI doesn't say this but say Lukaku played in his service and the service of the team).

    Frenkie de Jong makes his first appearance. He didn't play particularly well for his standards (their claim - the standard of flooring Modric, Griezmann and Kante it is explicitly said) but of course it registered many saw him as man of the match, does well in general and received applause by the Eibar public (and of course Messi his commentary is mentioned).

    Cornelius scored a hat-trick within the span of eight minutes while entering as a substitute (without penalties). While Serie A has become more open and offensive with the years, it remains more defensive and closed than the other top leagues (except perhaps Ligue 1 - that's my personal comment).

    -------

    If there are questions or comments on this, no problem.
     
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  12. Titanlux

    Titanlux Member+

    Barcelona
    Spain
    Nov 27, 2017
    Saturday was De Jong's best game in Barcelona. Undoubtedly, Jordi Alba's presence in the team improved the team's game. Griezmann had more freedom to go a little more towards the center, be closer to Messi and Suárez and consequently, associate perfectly with them. As for De Jong, he was really much more comfortable in the field. His performance was excellent and was applauded by the public of Eibar, news as good as strange in the world of football.
     
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  13. PuckVanHeel

    PuckVanHeel Member+

    Oct 4, 2011
    Club:
    Feyenoord
    Didn't see it, but I did see the Sevilla and Valencia matches (assist and goal for the first two goals in the latter) and he played well despite not playing on his 'best' position. The WhoScored ratings are also the highest for these two league matches, 8.4 and 8.6, although for midfielders it isn't always reliable.

    As for the Serie A players in the team, this is a decent secondary source.
    https://forzaitalianfootball.com/2019/10/serie-a-team-of-the-week-round-8-3/
     
  14. PuckVanHeel

    PuckVanHeel Member+

    Oct 4, 2011
    Club:
    Feyenoord
    29/10/2019

    Oblak (Atletico Madrid)
    Kounde (Sevilla) Salisu (Valladolid) Chilwell (Leicester)
    Yazici (Lille) Fabinho (Liverpool) Ilicic (Atalanta) Moi Gomez (Villarreal)
    Di Maria (PSG) Vardy (Leicester) Pulisic (Chelsea)


    About Di Maria it is said that in this form he is one of the best players in the world, but of course it is all relatively modest opposition so far (Nice, Brugge, Marseille) while playing for a much better and richer team.

    Some commentary on various players who don't make it like Mertens, Krul and Memphis (made team captain by the new coach, scored this goal and also again a goal in the CL midweek), but also some other Leicester, Liverpool and Atalanta players are mentioned who all played well.
     
  15. Titanlux

    Titanlux Member+

    Barcelona
    Spain
    Nov 27, 2017
    How are these teams of the week? Are they like in the ESM in which there are several journalists who form their eleven monthly and then add the votes to form one?
    I am very surprised that they are forgetting the almost weekly exhibition of the Norwegian Odegaard. In my opinion, regardless of what the sofascore and whoscored ratings can say, the best footballer, at the moment, in the Spanish league. Another player of the League that I would like to highlight is Cazorla, an example of professionalism.
     
  16. PuckVanHeel

    PuckVanHeel Member+

    Oct 4, 2011
    Club:
    Feyenoord
    No, one guy makes them (or his replacement does) but with input of others

    Odegaard has already been included a few times, in particular for his Atletico Madrid game of september. He made huge leaps in everything when he was playing in the Eredivisie.

    Cazorla his name was mentioned but it's just thought his team mate is younger/more influential at this point. He receives the benefit of doubt.
     
  17. PuckVanHeel

    PuckVanHeel Member+

    Oct 4, 2011
    Club:
    Feyenoord
    #18 PuckVanHeel, Nov 4, 2019
    Last edited: Nov 4, 2019
    4 november 2019 ("Memphis decides to dribble past five players and acts as the leader of his team")

    Flekken (Freiburg)
    Cook (Bournemouth) Walker (Man City) Soyuncu (Leicester)
    Lundstram (Sheffield) Grillitsch (Hoffenheim) Campana (Levante) Shelvey (Newcastle)
    Kostic (Frankfurt) Werner (RB Leipzig) Memphis (Lyon)


    After an earlier video and Gazzetta his frontpage I was wondering whether MDL would be in, but they restrained the chauvinism this time. Instead of Ake they also picked his partner Cook in the win vs Man United, and per WhoScored there have been some others with a decent case (Willems the WhoScored MOTM rather than Shelvey). Of course e.g. MDL and Lukaku were already picked and highlighted not too long ago. Likewise, I had maybe expected Memphis last week (with a solo goal and Champions League goal in midweek) but they insert him now with the two goals and injury time winner.

    All in all an interesting attempt again with the predictable/understandable bias kept in check. This is a week too where a few of the big teams had an underwhelming or poor performance.
     
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  18. PuckVanHeel

    PuckVanHeel Member+

    Oct 4, 2011
    Club:
    Feyenoord
  19. PuckVanHeel

    PuckVanHeel Member+

    Oct 4, 2011
    Club:
    Feyenoord
    11 november 2019

    Szczesny (Juventus)
    Reece James (Chelsea) De Vrij (Inter) Ricardo Pereira (Leicester)
    McNeil (Burnley) Fabinho (Liverpool) Nainggolan (Cagliari) Kubo (Mallorca)
    Messi (Barcelona) Lewandowski (Bayern) Haland (Salzburg)

    -----------------

    Lewandowski receives his third inclusion this season. It is wondered whether he can reach 50 league goals. With his slightly changed style it is possible but he needs a surgery that will take him out for two or three weeks.

    Messi receives his first inclusion for this season, with two free kicks and a penalty. It's claimed he didn't play too well (just like the previous two matches) and there are some structural issues like what to do with Griezmann, but from a non-existent free kick taker (before 2012) he has become possibly the best in the world (when correcting for the number of attempts and other variables).

    Kubo is a young player with a large Japanese following, and Haland is so relentless that he's now in regardless of playing in Austria.

    The former chain smoker of Indonesian origin - a former colony of 'Holland' - Nainggolan had a goal and three assists against Fiorentina.

    De Vrij is good in initiating goals if that duty arises (already four assists) and general sound defending. Italian papers compare him well next to the great Godin.

    Ricardo Pereira his overall package is rated very well (and not for the first time he's mentioned).

    Liverpool had a few players worthy of an XI.
     
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  20. PuckVanHeel

    PuckVanHeel Member+

    Oct 4, 2011
    Club:
    Feyenoord
    One somewhat strange selection this week:

    25 november 2019

    Navas (PSG)
    De Ligt (Juventus) De Vrij (Inter) Van Dijk (Liverpool)
    Fernandinho (Man City) Dele Alli (Tottenham) Moutinho (Wolves) Diaby (Leverkusen)
    Nkunku (RB Leipzig) Gabriel Barbosa (Flamengo) Mousset (Sheffield)


    It is noticed by themselves this is the first time three compatriots are in the defense. "We've seen eight central defenders standing out this week and we came to these four [including Fernandinho]". In the web video six minutes of the eighteen minutes are reserved for defending these four picks and why it is fair, thereby also citing e.g. Gazzetta dello Sport in support.

    I saw the second half of Liverpool myself and agree VvD was very impressive with some varied passing, organizing, winning the duels, moving his colleagues forward, and involvement in the winning goal. They claim and explain Liverpool loses this match without him and can see this idea and logic.

    Once the discussion moves to Diaby of Leverkusen it is said the attackers who stood out were scarce this week and there weren't many choices to make.
     
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  21. Edhardy

    Edhardy Member+

    Sep 4, 2013
    Nairobi, Kenya
    Club:
    Juventus FC
    De Ligt was immense against Atletico tonight. Juve pretty much ceded the whole 2nd half and he stepped up and then some
     
  22. PuckVanHeel

    PuckVanHeel Member+

    Oct 4, 2011
    Club:
    Feyenoord
    Yeah I thought/think it was too much (Smalling also receives a mention in the other video - perhaps ), on the other hand this one has both defenders in too.

    https://forzaitalianfootball.com/2019/11/serie-a-team-of-the-week-round-13-3/

    No attacker had a WhoScored rating above a 9 this weekend (SofaScore had no attacker above a 8.8) so there is probably some merit in the idea not many attacking players stood out, including the bigger names like Lewandowski, Messi etc.
     
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  23. PuckVanHeel

    PuckVanHeel Member+

    Oct 4, 2011
    Club:
    Feyenoord
    My comment fell away here. I meant to say: "possibly Smalling of AS Roma, 5th in the league, will get his inclusion later on in the season, he has been mentioned a couple of times as an option (and why others get the nod)".

    Anyway, a bit late but saw this week The Times had this for Liverpool
    Show Spoiler
    Star man Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
    Yellow card: Liverpool Fabinho
    Referee K Friend
    Attendance 25,486

    Crystal Palace Guaita 7, Ward 7 (Kelly 70min, 5), Tomkins 7, Cahill 8, Van Aanholt 6, McArthur 6, Milivojevic 7, Kouyate 7 (Schlupp 72min, 5), Townsend 7, Zaha 6, Ayew 6 (Benteke 76min, 6) Substitutes Hennessey, Dann, Meyer, McCarthy

    Liverpool Alisson 6, Alexander-Arnold 6, Lovren 6, Van Dijk 8, Robertson 6, Fabinho 7, Henderson 6 (Milner 79min, 5), Wijnaldum 6, Mane 7, Firmino 7 (Gomez 89min, 5), Oxlade-Chamberlain 6 (Origi 64min, 6) Substitutes Adrian, Keita, Salah, Lallana
     
  24. PuckVanHeel

    PuckVanHeel Member+

    Oct 4, 2011
    Club:
    Feyenoord
    #25 PuckVanHeel, Dec 3, 2019
    Last edited: Dec 3, 2019
    2 December 2019

    Hradecky (Leverkusen)
    Fernandez (Newcastle) Van Dijk (Liverpool) Chesswell (West Ham)
    Odegaard (Real Sociedad) Grealish (Aston Villa) Pasalic (Atalanta) Dele Alli (Tottenham)
    Embolo (Monchengladbach) Martinez (Inter) Werner (Leipzig)

    ---------------------------

    Again many interesting comments I heard yesterday. It's mentioned no defender ever scored a hat-trick in the Premier League, and indeed, he was not too far away from this.

    Messi was (very) close to get in, the magazine has him as #2 to #4 for this year (they placed him 2nd in the FF poll).

    @Titanlux - Odegaard is included for the third time.


    In the other video it is said:

    --- "If we look at the topscorers list in Italy, one is on top with 17 goals, Ciro Immobile. Ronaldo has six, with penalties [three penalties]."

    "You see he is becoming less as a football player. That is also charming and beautiful to see because it means he is a normal human being and not a machine. He turns 35 in February. This is the fate of someone who was fantastically good in his craft and becomes a bit less. You also sense it yourself as a footballer. 'Hey, normally I have three in the net against, say, SPAL.' Now he misses, coach wants to substitute him, there is a younger guy [Dybala] better every time in the training, because you can feel that. 'Hey, he is better'. He will continue to make his goals and also such penalty is again the sign of an expert, and if in a semi final he receives a penalty at minute 89, then it is nice he is there because most likely he'll have steely nerves, one of the best penalty takers in history. I don't want to say he is bad, of course he isn't, but he is becoming less, and that is good to see. You also see that with Messi by the way, he is also becoming less in everything he does, the decisions he makes."

    --- "Yes we'll talk about that now, his eternal rival. Personally I thought he wasn't playing well, but yet, one or two flashes..."

    "Atletico vs Barca, you know beforehand it is probably not a match for the best entertainment. Don't place the wine and cocktail nuts on the table. That we go to see spectacle. Because this numbed Atletico will try to suck all football out of the match. That happened. The playing field becomes small, and Messi kind of stands outside the playing field, literally. To wait, to look. The whole set-up is built, the route to Suarez is initially blocked. His passing was sloppy and wasteful in the first half, playing football is made impossible as far as it can. [...] Minute 85, on the side, where he can have the ball, has space, Frenkie de Jong plays directly the ball to him. You could see Messi smells it, because normally he goes with one arm up, signalling to his team he is playable, but now he did with two arms high. He felt 'I need to have the ball now', De Jong saw it immediately, Messi started the dribble... if you zoom in and look back at it picture-for-picture you really see Suarez knows precisely what is coming. He makes a screen, taunts, and makes sure two players remain behind his back, Griezmann as free option at his right, lays the ball of perfectly and Messi ticks it behind a slightly off center Oblak. Yes that is mapped out and blueprinted stuff and Messi waits for it. 'Now is the moment, ball, and go'. That is 85 minutes waiting, a flash and brilliant.
    As coach of the opponent you see your exhausted troops and you think 'what do I need to do'. What can I do. I read an interview with Trippier last week and he said he played a few times against Messi... as footballer you always have a glance at Messi 'where is he'. Sometimes Trippier looked four times within a minute and Messi was still at the same place. Does he like playing today? One minute later he is gone. It is a strange sort of footballer to play against because he walks, really. Seven to eight kilometer. Compare this to midfielders like Wijnaldum: 13 kilometres if necessary. In the Bundesliga: all those boys 12 kilometres, 13 kilometres. Boetius with his solo dribble last week... 12 kilometres. And then there is one, the very best of all who decides those matches..."

    [...]
    "There are a few problems. The regular absence of Jordi Alba, who has fixed patterns with Messi. The midfield is juggled with. Busquets was missed through a suspension, now Rakitic was there, who doesn't play all season. Frenkie de Jong who began on the left, then goes to the right in the 2nd half to make Messi comfortable for a while. Artur who is shifted around and then is suddenly on the bench. It is thanks to the individual class like a Messi and the weakness of the competitors that they are on top. Previous weekend was again a disaster. It surprised me how against Atletico, that is actually not that good going forward and cannot make a fist with their attack. Joao Felix who can play only 60 minutes. Atletico hopes for the odd ball that goes good. Normally you are locked down, but it are moments by Barcelona. Frenkie de Jong... he doesn't play bad certainly..."

    --- "Yet they are very enthusiastic about him there."

    "He was certainly very good against Dortmund. It is not his fault it doesn't work too well. Valverde seems afraid to make choices. The defense is vulnerable and the supply to the attack is not in balance."


    ------------------

    Of course it goes on for (much) longer, but this gives an impression.
     
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