The best Premiership XI according to the stats
April 8, 2008
As the season is drawing to an end the Actim index is starting to put together the team of the year generated from stats recorded every game.
During a game each player has their stats recorded on goals, shots on target, corners, fouls, offsides, passes, tackles, blocks and clearances.
We’ve taken the top five fromthe goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and strikers and put together the top team
*number listed is the players actim index score
Goalkeepers
1 David James – 420 – Portsmouth
2 Tim Howard – 413 – Everton
3 Brad Friedel – 411 – Blackburn
4 Jose Reina – 410 -Liverpool
5 Manuel Almunia – 385 – Arsenal
Has to be David James who this season has been in sensational form which had led to him regaining his place in the England squad.
Defenders
Joleon Lescott – 488 – Everton
Rio Ferdinand – 483 – Man Utd
Gael Clichy – 475 – Arsenal
Wes Brown – 440 – Man Utd
Martin Laursen – 410 – Aston Villa
Right back, no question that Joleon Lescott deserves a place after a great season for Everton. Centre back pairing of Rio Ferdinand and Martin Laursen, who is a threat from corners. At left back Gael Clichy of Arsenal.
Midfielders
Cristiano Ronaldo – 715 – Man Utd
Francesc Fabregas – 533 – Arsenal
Steven Gerrard – 497 – Liverpool
David Bentley – 487 – Blackburn
Gareth Barry – 471 – Aston Villa
No question about the left wing with Cristiano Ronaldo who tops the entire Actim index at the moment, on the right Blackburn’s David Bentley. In the middle Francesc Fabregas and Steven Gerrard.
Strikers
Emmanuel Adebayor – 594 – Liverpool
Emmanuel Adebayor – 587 – Arsenal
Carlos Tevez – 520 – Man Utd
Roque Santa Cruz – 520 – Blackburn
Ashley Young – 498 – Aston Villa
The two players at 2 and 3 in the overall actim index are Fernando Torres and Emmanuel Adebayor. With 40 goals between them it’s a great front line.
Team in full : David James, Joleon Lescott, Rio Ferdinand, Martin Laursen, Gael Clichy, Cristiano Ronaldo, David Bentley, Francesc Fabregas, Steven Gerrard, Emmanuel Adebayor and Emmanuel Adebayor.
Not bad at all.
Liverpool V Arsenal – Third time round?
April 8, 2008
It’s a third meeting for the sides in quick succession and tonight there will be a winner after three 1-1 draws so far this season. After a 1-1 draw in the first leg of this Champions League quarter final the game will be decided and extra time is there if needed.
Liverpool will be without winger Jermaine Pennant who has suffered a hamstring injury. He joins Daniel Agger and Harry Kewell who have long term injuries. Javier Mascherano, who has sat out the domestic games due to a ban will play in the middle of the park for the home side. Gerrard and Torres will return after sitting out the league match on Saturday.
Arsene Wenger will have Robin van Persie in the squad after a thigh injury in the first leg and Abou Diaby is fit too.
Liverpool (from): Reina, Finnan, Arbeloa, Carragher, Hyypia, Skrtel, Riise, Aurelio, Babel, Benayoun, Gerrard, Mascherano, Alonso, Lucas, Torres, Voronin, Crouch, Kuyt, Itandje.
Arsenal (from): Lehmann, Diaby, Fabregas, Toure, Senderos, Gallas, van Persie, Hleb, Flamini, Song, Gilberto, Clichy, Almunia, Adebayor, Bendtner, Eboue, Hoyte, Walcott.
Stoke pegged back again by Palace
April 7, 2008
It’s the league that no one wants to win as Stoke went down to Crystal Palace 2-1 at the Britannia Stadium, the result sees Palace nip above Wolves in the play-offs. Neil Warnock’s tactics were spot on and the win moved them from 10th in the league to 6th, the top of the table is so tight West Brom can go from 5th to top tomorrow night with a win over Blackpool.
The away side went ahead against the run of play when Tom Soares headed in Scott Sinclair’s cross. The away side doubled their lead just before the break another loanee Jose Fonte volleying from the edge of the area with his first goal in England.
Stoke put the away side under real pressure in the first half, even hitting the bar with a throw in. They did grab a goal really late on a great strike from Glenn Whelan. Once again Stoke have stuttered but can WBA get back on the trail for the Premiership?
Cardiff secure FA Cup final place thanks to homegrown Ledley
April 7, 2008
Joe Ledley’s first half volley secured a place in the FA Cup final for Cardiff overcomming fellow Championship outfit Barnsley. In the battle of the two Championship sides the team from Wales edged past Barnsely who had beat Liverpool and Chelsea in previous rounds.
The match unfortunatly wasn’t a classic and was decided early on when a long throw was only cleared to Cardiff born Joe Ledley who hook volleyed the ball into the the top corner. Other chances did fall to Cardiff’s Gavin Rae but it was Barnsley who missed the best chance of the game in the second half.
Kayode Odejay, the hero of the quater finals when he scored against Chelsea found himself on the end of a ball from Howard. One-on-one with Enkleman the forward shot into the side netting, the best change Barnsley had to equalise.
Cardiff now go onto face Portsmouth in the Final at Wembley on Saturday 17th May, meanwhile Barnsley have to secure thier place in the Championship
Pompy beat WBA to secure FA Cup Final place
April 6, 2008
Portsmouth secured their place in the FA cup final yesterday beating Championship side West Bromwich Albion to ensure a top flight team in the cup final. WBA did have much of the possession in the game but were unable to great any real clear cut chances.
It was only in the second half when Portsmouth turned up and scored thanks to a former Wesy Brom player Kanu. The build up to the goal was controversial when Milan Baros appeared to handle the ball in the area, his shot was saved by Dean Kiley but Kanu was on hand to tap in from a couple of yards.
West Brom went for a equalizer but the closest they came was a Robert Koran shot from outside the area which clipped the top of David James’s bar.
Overall it was closer than expected but West Brom were unable to show that cutting edge which has helped them in the championship. Portsmouth now reach the final for the first time since 1939 and await the winners of the other semi-final Cardiff V Barnsley.
Second rate Wrexham look set for drop
April 5, 2008
League Two side Wrexham plunged deeper into trouble this afternoon after a lacklustre draw against strugglers Macclesfield Town.
In front of a very quiet and seemingly apathetic Racecourse ground, the hosts rarely got anywhere near second gear and the Silkmen should really have taken all three points.
The visitors took the lead in the 52nd minute when former Shrewsbury Town skipper Jamie Tolley hammered the bar into the far corner of the goal after a poor lapse of concentration by defender Steve Evans.
Yet he was to partially make amends eleven minutes from time when his glancing header rose above Jonny Brain and dipped under the crossbar.
The last ten minutes were not as frantic as one may have expected with Wrexham not unduly worring the visiting keeper.
The match was marred however with a number of away fans being ejected from the ground for alleged racism.
Beckham scores first goal for Galaxy
April 4, 2008
Yeha, great power play from the Galaxy led to Beckham’s first goal in the MLS as his side ran out 2-0 Winnners over San Jose Earthquakes (great name for team, named after a natural disaster which can kill millions). Beckham’s goal was neat finish under the legs of the goal keeper and he set up the second for teammate Donaovan.
See the highlights from the match below.
Windass set to keep blowing
April 4, 2008
Veteran striker Dean Windass has today signed a two year extension to his contact at Hull City which could mean that he will play for the club at 41 years of age.
Journeyman Windass put pen to paper to improved terms to his initial contract which was due to expire next summer.
The striker reaches the age of 39 next Tuesday and has averaged a goal every three games in the Tiger’s unexpected promotion push.
Speaking to the Hull Daily Mail, club Chairman Paul Duffen stated –
“He is an amazing personality and a huge asset to the club on and off the pitch”
It is indeed a fitting testament to the striker that he has been offered a deal at such a high level and Winning is Everything wishes him and Hull City all the very best for the rest of the season.
Westlake to remain a Seagull
April 4, 2008
League One giants Leeds United have given rivals Brighton permission to extend the loan of Ian Westlake until the end of the season.
Westlake,24 was due to return to Elland Road after this weekend’s match with Port Vale but he now remains free to stay on the south coast a little longer.
Spekaing to Sky Sports, Dean Wikins stated –
“Ian has shown he brings balance to the side, for the obvious reason of being left-footed, but he also brings an enthusiasm and a personality which fills in well with the club.”
It has also been disclosed that should the Seagulls make the League One play offs, then he would be eligible to play, although not against his parent club should Leeds also achieve a top six position.
Bribe claims set to be investigated
April 4, 2008
The FA are set to investigate claims that a former top flight player took a bribe, thought to be in the region of £50,000, to throw a match.
The Independent claim that they have evidence that the player in question was purposefully sent off and convinced three of his colleagues to get booked. The match is said to be fairly recent and certainly within the last couple of seasons.
It is yet unclear which match is involved in these claims, and indeed which country this was in, due to the fact that all the information we have points to a game played “in Britain”.
It is alleged that the player had gambling debts of around £50,000 and this was written off as a result of the match been thrown.
An FA spokesperson has told the BBC that they will be launching an investigation into the story although their first job will be to determine whether or not the match was played in England.
If proven to be correct, this will undoubtedly elicit a fundamental slur on the running of the game and the players involve will surely be banned for life.
