Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal players among most ineffective stats XI
It has been six weeks since the last Premier League match took place and it's still uncertain whether it will be safe to conclude the 2019/20 season. As the appropriate governing bodies desperately scramble to find the best-case scenario to complete the season, it has presented an ideal a time, as ever, to reflect on the campaign so far.
In the first of a two-part series, here we look at the most ineffective XI in the Premier League, based on negative statistics per position in a 4-4-2 formation. It turns out there are some player underperforming in some pretty key statistics for their position at both ends of the table, as we will now discuss.
Goalkeeper: Kepa Arrizabalaga (Chelsea) - Worst save success rate (56.8%)
The 2019/20 campaign has not been a good one for the most expensive goalkeeper of all-time. Kepa has endured a disappointing campaign for Chelsea and things have been so underwhelming Frank Lampard is reportedly considering a change in the summer. Kepa even briefly lost his place in the Chelsea team to Willy Caballero, who is by no means a reliable deputy. Of goalkeepers with more than 10 Premier League appearances this season, Kepa has the worst save success rate in the division (56.8%).
Right-back: Ryan Fredericks (West Ham) – Worst pass accuracy in own half of defenders (73.4%)
There are areas of the pitch in which you can afford to misplace a pass but certainly not in your own half. It just invites opposition pressure. Given West Ham have conceded eight league goals as a result of an individual mistake this season, it is perhaps unsurprising that one of their defenders has the worst success rate (15+ apps) in the division of passes made inside their own half. Ryan Fredericks is completing just 73.4% of his attempted passes in West Ham's half and it is only adding greater stress to his team-mates around him.
Centre-back: Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham) – Worst aerial duel success rate (48%)
For a player so good at putting opponents in trouble with a long ball, you would think he would be able to snuff out danger with the roles reversed. However, that certainly is not the case for Toby Alderweireld. The Belgium international has a laughable aerial duel success rate of 48% in the Premier League this season, the worst return of any centre-back to have attempted at least 50 aerial duels this season. Of league campaigns since August 2009 in which Alderweireld has made at least 15 appearances, this season’s return of 48% is his worst.
Centre-back: Jan Bednarek (Southampton) – Most errors leading to goal (3)
Jan Bednarek’s three-year spell at Southampton has been a rollercoaster ride, albeit mainly with downs rather than spiraling highs. It was at the start of 2019 where Bednarek enjoyed his best form for Saints but this season has mainly been a disappointment for the 24-year-old despite being a first-team regular. Bednarek has played a direct hand in the most errors directly leading to an opposition goal in the Premier League of all outfielders this season (3). In fact, he was error-free across his first two seasons for the club but his mistakes have contributed to defeats to Liverpool, Chelsea and rivals Bournemouth this term.
Left-back: Danny Rose (Newcastle) – Fewest games per error leading to shot (5.7)
Danny Rose was offered an escape route from his Tottenham hell at the start of the year with a loan move to Newcastle. How Tottenham must rue not cashing in on the left-back when he was valued around £50m. Rose is at least getting game time for the Magpies but it has been a campaign to forget for the former England international. Rose has committed three errors directly leading to an opposition shot in just 17 league appearances this season. In fact, Rose is averaging an error more frequently (every 5.7 games) than any other player with at least 10 Premier League appearances this season.
Right wing: Daniel James (Manchester United) – Worst dribble success rate (42.6%)
After a fantastic start to life at Manchester United, Daniel James’ performances have gradually declined this season. The Wales international was not expected to start so many matches when he joined from Swansea over the summer and it looks to have taken its toll on him physically. James might be one of the quickest players in the league but he still has a lot to improve on in one-on-one positions. Pace isn’t always enough to take the ball past your marker and James has found that out the hard way. In fact, of players to have attempted at least 50 dribbles in the Premier League this season, James has the worst success rate (42.6%).
Central midfield: Jack Cork (Burnley) – 41.7% tackle success rate
When you think of how Burnley have asserted themselves as a Premier League mainstay under Sean Dyche you lean on their defensive resilience and physical approach to matches, regularly noted as a long ball team that thrive off second and third balls. The Clarets have done all of these to various levels of success and it’s therefore surprising to find they have one of the division’s most ineffective tacklers in their ranks on a regular basis. In fact, of players to have attempted at least 50 tackles in the Premier League this season Jack Cork has the worst success rate of midfielders (41.7%). The 30-year-old has been dribbled past more times than he has successfully tackled someone, which is not great given his position as Burnley’s defensive midfielder.
Central midfield: Granit Xhaka (Arsenal) – 1.31 tackles per foul
Granit Xhaka is often the butt of many pub jokes during Arsenal matches. He is a favourite for the yellow card market when betting and for good reason. After all, he is just three bookings away from reaching double figures for yellow cards for the third Premier League campaign in a row. Looking into fouls given away as a result of a tackle only, it’s no surprise Xhaka ranks supreme here. In fact, a return of 1.31 tackles per foul is the lowest in the Premier League this season of those to have attempted at least 25 tackles this season. The Arsenal midfielder has attempted 67 tackles in the Premier League in 22 appearances this season, including fouls, but been successful with just 38 of them.
Left wing: Ryan Fraser (Bournemouth) – 12.3% cross accuracy (excluding corners)
Ryan Fraser was a revelation for Bournemouth in the Premier League last season, finishing the campaign with the second most assists in Europe’s top five leagues (14). Moves to Arsenal and Liverpool were touted at the time but both will now feel they dodged a bullet following what has been an extremely poor campaign for the Scotland international. Fraser is now set to leave Bournemouth on a free transfer this summer after failing to agree terms on a new deal and it may be a factor behind his downturn in form. Fraser has managed just four assists from 28 league appearances in 2019/20 and his delivery from wide areas has been particularly disappointing all term. In fact, of players to have attempted at least 50 crosses (excluding corners) in the Premier League this season, no winger has a worst success rate than Fraser (12.3%).
Striker: David McGoldrick (Sheffield United) – Most shots without scoring a goal (35)
Sheffield United have proved all the doubters wrong this season. Tipped to go back down to the Championship at the start of the campaign, the Blades are miraculously pushing for Champions League qualification. Few have been able to work out Chris Wilder’s side and their league position is even more impressive when you consider one of their main strikers is yet to get off the mark in the league this season. David McGoldrick has failed to score from all 35 attempts in the Premier League this season, missing all 15 of his clear-cut chances across 1361 minutes of playing time.
Striker: Joelinton (Newcastle) – Most turnovers of possession (118)
Mike Ashley’s time as Newcastle owner is coming to a close and supporters will be pleased to see the back of him. His time at the club will be remembered as a period of huge underinvestment, which is what makes the club-record arrival of Joelinton even more puzzling. Having last shelled out a record fee to sign Michael Owen from Real Madrid in 2005, Ashley picked Joelinton of all players to shatter that price in a near £40m deal over the summer. The 23-year-old has returned just one goal from 42 shots in the league, boasting the worst conversion rate in the division (2.4%). Moreover, Joelinton has lost the ball as a result of a mistake or poor control more times than any player (118).
