The best players of the season 2020/21.

Depay not among these (so far) is quite the disgrace. Rather than Bamba or Laborde.

Another one who like left-backs, goalkeepers etc. just tends to get ignored by the usuals, FF or L'Equipe despite regularly/generally finishing in the seasonal top 10 by Whoscored/SofaScore, as one of the few players to be habitually there (or top 10 in both metrics), with likewise productivity to match (in the middle of the pack with five PSG players since 2017).

 

Let me also add however that all of this (first Lyon player since Di Nallo to have 10+ goals and 10+ assists in consecutive seasons) increases in value if he now starts to have some career defining seasons and especially starts to win things.

 

Many of these grades just don't make great sense to me. Renato Sanches is good but this good and this superior to other midfielders until now? Where is Moise Kean? (I see the click behavior driven The Athletic have started the hype train). Why is the PSG right back so much better than the left back? Even on twitter many don't see it that way.

https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/304/Show/France-Paris-Saint-Germain

I know the sample is still small, but feels very random now.

 

Nice info, seems like a lot of work. Very interesting and thanks for keeping us updated!

 

Hopefully/possibly this guy below is a new addition for midfield (others weigh the chances beforehand). With eight outfield players (plus two goalkeepers) not available he has already received a chance, although we can rather use a few extra forwards I'd say. I like the new left-back as well (Wijndal), don't like both right-backs much (Hateboer/Dumbfries)

Ohhhhh Donny... 🥜😂 pic.twitter.com/vuBrPYh0ZM

— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) November 17, 2020

Goalkeepers are a problem, with an interesting remark and point there:

What's interesting here: Westerveld is not totally wrong on Courtois. However, Courtois was in his own set-up - just as De Bruyne he grew up a few kilometres away from the border (ten kilometres removed from where Bommel grew up and started his football, for an idea) - also not immediately labeled as the golden talent.

"It was not a logical choice. We simply had no other choice at the time, because everyone was hurt", said goalkeeper coach Guy Martens. "But we did have every confidence in Thibaut. From day one in the first team it was clear that he had something extra."

Courtois had never even sat on the bench at Genk before his debut, unlike his peer Koen Casteels. "It has always been the case that Koen had an advantage in the youth, also in the national team. Thibaut was not selected for any youth representative team, while Koen was always there. He was more physically developed than Thibaut, but he has caught that up in a short time and he even got over it. "

https://www.voetbalprimeur.be/nieuw...ij-genk-een-logische-keuze-was-het-niet-.html

https://www.elfvoetbal.nl/Buitenland/63104/genk-twijfelde-over-courtois


See also especially this article, with the same Genk goalkeeper coach:

In april there was a report in De Voetbaltrainer (a specialist magazine for trainers, ed.) that also gauged this. There was some internal commotion beforehand that we were not allowed to reveal any secrets. I said then: secrets? It's not like we put four spoons of this and three of that in a jar here, stir a little and, hop, you have a good keeper. It doesn't work like that. You can explain what we do in general at clinics or in interviews, but the details come from professionals who work with it on a daily basis and who keep getting further information. Everyone can come and have a look, but you can never give all of those details. I am sixty years old and I am still learning.
[...]
'From their six to ten years, we try to let them play football as much as possible. If you want a proactive goalkeeper, he has to feel what it is: play high, be a forward, midfielder, defender. All roles. They should actually try all sports, but that is not possible in practice, they also have to go to school. So between six and ten we try to make as few 'regular keepers' as possible.
[...]
https://sportmagazine.knack.be/spor...cle-news-1478219.html?cookie_check=1605723512

 

I have the idea he has found the way up again (2nd half of last season), and he has a few big strengths, but indeed the sheer superiority in grade I can't underwrite so far. That goal came against relegation bound Strasbourg, for what's worth (I give low scoring central midfielders a thumbs up if they do it against the France and Valencia of this world; and then there also some like Redondo, as an historical example, who have a number of seasons without any goal and/or assist entirely).

Obviously I've seen relatively little and base this was well on what the 'talking heads' are saying (VI and the television pundits). Whether he'll be worth 80 million again...

 

I see now your comment on Ashley Young. What I remember is the suggestion he and Agbonlahor were the best attackers not playing for a top team at the time; I have to say his WhoScored ratings aren't as good as I'd expect. They exclude however 2008-09 and his 2007-08, so maybe, maybe not those would score better. 'Actim Index', as in the links above, shows him 6th overall for the latter and 22th in the one he received all the plaudits.

Then later at Manchester United not certain of a place, despite a great start with the 8-2 against Arsenal I remember, until he became a full-back towards the end of his stay. At the peak of his fame at Villa he was plausibly overrated (or: others got ignored) but overall for the full career and differentiated contribution offered he's underrated as you say. Others don't rate my perception anyway but that's how I'd see it. What doesn't help the story is the national team career, with 2018 (when he had a more regular place for his club) as the best outing.

N.B. one of my favorites (if he can be bothered and is switched on) has just scored the winner against Poland, which is in the current state generally seen as a 2nd tier team. There are now two midfielders ahead of him in the all-time scoring list, both with a lower rate until now (0.23 for both VdV and WS10, while Georginio is currently on 0.30 without a single penalty - with a few of the goals coming against the heavyweights too in non-blowouts). At hindsight, the games with the interim manager and the first FdB game cost 'us' finishing above Italy (still not entirely convinced about FdB, to put it mildly - also under Koeman there was generally a slow/poor start to be fair after which they turned it around and played their best football).

 

Great work @Trachta10 !

 

As an aside, from a data analist:

A particularly special set of 5 players pic.twitter.com/J5qKd0EHWx

— Kees van Hemmen (@HemmenKees) November 25, 2020

Not saying and thinking he's Kane, Lewandowski, Mbappe etc. but he can be excellent and terrific ('talismanic') for his team. The Italian media graded him on average 1.2 points higher than our own did in the for both teams relevant games.

 

I don't know if this is the right place to talk about it but regarding the best player of the year 2020/2021, if we forget (a little) the statistics, what is your top 3 according to you ?
Of course, the imminent arrival of the Champions League will strongly condition the favorites for the best of the season and more generally the winner of the Ballon d'Or 2021.
For me, Lewandowski is the best player currently, he continues his momentum from last season without flinching, like a Bayern Munich who crushes his opponents, even if it is less clear than last year, thank you coronavirus.
It is difficult afterwards to find players as decisive as him for this season, it is still too early but it is obvious that Messi and Ronaldo will have their say.
With a Messi who took a long time to warm up but who has made an incredible start to 2021.
And Ronaldo who maintains his level year after year, with almost no letting go.
For the others, I can not see some who stand out clearly, the Champions League will no doubt help to see a little better.
Ligue 1 : Neymar, Mbappé
PL : hard to find a clear name, Man City sees themselves as a team and Liverpool struggles a bit even if Salah is the top scorer, with Bruno Fernandes not bad with Man Utd.
Bundesliga : Lewandowski, Muller, Haaland.
Liga : Messi, Benzema, Suarez.
Serie A : Ronaldo, Ibrahimovic, Lukaku.

Your opinions ?

 

Whilst the team are not doing that great, Kane and Son have been great, agree with other names above. I feel City have had no stand out star but Gundogan has been been very consistent recently, agree with Fernandes. There has definitely been no stand out in the PL this season but still a away to go. Foden lately has been fantasic but that has been based off very few games.

Interesting stat, goals per minutes only Salah has a better ratio than Cavani and Cavani does not take penalties, he has been fantastic for United despite limited games. Commentators on all UK channels have been eulogising about him and the fact he has to start as the main striker.

 

This. Messi has been the best player by a distance so far in 2021, some of his passing and dribbling has been vintage Leo. And his finishing almost seems back to normal as well. Won't get anywhere near the Ballon though, PSG will smash Barca.