Pogba, McNeil and Foster among stats-based Premier League Ineffective XI

Having taken a look at the Premier League team of the season and the Best New Signing XI, attention now turns to the Ineffective XI. Some of the players in this team may have impressed for their respective sides, yet there is one stat in particular that they fell well short on. Featuring players from Manchester United, Leeds and Leicester, to name three, we run through the XI. 

Goalkeeper: Ben Foster (Watford) - 58.3% save success rate 

Watford conceded the third most goals (77) in the Premier League this season as the Hornets dropped back into the Championship at the first time of asking. As such, it isn't a surprise to see Ben Foster between the sticks in the ineffective XI as the experienced shotstopper finished the campaign with the lowest save success rate (58.3%) in the Premier League. 

Right-back: Sergi Canos (Brentford) - 69.4% pass success rate in own half 

Sergi Canos started the season strongly, earning the WhoScored man of the match award in Brentford's 2-0 win Arsenal in their first ever Premier League game. While sent off on the final day of the season, Canos enjoyed a solid campaign for the Bees, directly contributing to five goals in total, scoring three. However, a 69.4% pass success rate in his own half, a poor return for a player in his position, means he occupies the right-back spot in this XI. 

Centre-back: Daniel Amartey (Leicester) - 4 errors leading to shot 

Leicester endured their fair share of injury issues this season, with Daniel Amartey actually their second most-used centre-back in 2021/22. Any player at the heart of the defence needs a cool head, but Amartey still committed four errors leading to an opposition - no outfield player did so more - however in doing so in fewer appearances, he features at the heart of the defence. 

Centre-back: Diego Llorente (Leeds) - 43.9% aerial success rate of centre-backs 

Leeds beat the drop on the final day of the campaign after a 2-1 win at Brentford, with their lack of defensive resolve a primary reason for their lowly finish. The Whites shipped 79 league goals this season, the second most, but they'd have been all the more solid were Diego Llorente fit for the duration of the campaign. The goals conceded per game return dropped from 3.0 to 1.75 when he started, yet opponents had great joy in attacking Leeds in the air when the Spaniard featured. Llorente's aerial success rate of 43.9% was the lowest of centre-backs to partner Amartey at the back. 

Left-back: Romain Perraud (Southampton) - 9% cross success rate 

Rounding off the defence, Romain Perraud enjoyed a fine final campaign with Brest, registering seven Ligue 1 assists, which helped convince Southampton to sign the left-back. However, Perraud struggled to match his attacking output in his debut Premier League campaign with a 9% cross success rate the worst in the division of those to attempt 2+ crosses per game.

Right midfield: Milot Rashica (Norwich) - 21.9% dribble success rate 

Following the sale Emiliano Buendia to Aston Villa, Norwich brought in Milot Rashica from relegated Werder Bremen, though the Kosovan was unable to replicate the Argentine's excellent attacking performances in the Canaries' doomed Premier League return. Rashica was directly involved in just three league goals for Norwich and return the worst dribble success rate (21.9%) in England's top tier. 

Central midfield: Jack Cork (Burnley) - 35.1% tackle completion 

Another relegated star features in the ineffective XI with Jack Cork operating in the middle of the park. The 32-year-old has developed a WhoScored weakness of 'tackling' and with a 35.1% tackle completion return, it's easy to see why. 

Central midfield: Paul Pogba (Manchester United) - 0.3 tackles per foul 

Linking up with Cork in the middle of the park in the Ineffective XI, Paul Pogba is expected to leave Manchester United this summer with his contract expiring next month and while he did register nine assists, the general consensus is that the Frenchman endured a disappointing campaign. Indeed, he averaged 0.3 tackles per foul with a return of 2.6 fouls per 90 the second most in the Premier League this season. 

Left midfield: Dwight McNeil (Burnley) - 52 shots without scoring 

There is likely to be significant interest in Dwight McNeil this summer following Burnley's relegation. Only Allan Saint-Maximin (150) completed more dribbles than McNeil (90) in England's top tier this term, though the latter did fail to score a league goal. Having mustered 52 shots, the 22-year-old managed more shots than any other player that failed to score. 

Striker: Joshua Sargent (Norwich) - 12.5% shot accuracy 

Milot Rashica wasn't the only player to swap Werder Bremen for Norwich, with Joshua Sargent joining the winger at Carrow Road. Sargent, though, netted just two league goals across his 26 league outings while a shot accuracy of just 12.5% was a poor return for the forward. 

Striker: Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace) - 20% big chance conversion rate 

Rounding off the XI and partnering Sargent on the frontline is Crystal Palace frontman Christian Benteke. The Belgian scored four league goals for the Eagles this season, yet struggled to secure a regular spot in Patrick Vieira's XI. It's not a surprise either, with Benteke failing to consistently hit the back of the net having returned a 20% big chance conversion rate.