Sky Sports gets help from Opta to find out who was unlucky to miss out on PFA nominations.
PFA Alternative XI
Football players know better than anyone who their toughest opponents are. But they still only face them twice per season and are likely to be playing themselves when most of their opponents' matches take place. At Sky Sports, we have turned to the statistics to highlight some of the key performers who might have been considered during the nomination process.
It is 35 years since Peter Shilton became the last goalkeeper to pick up the PFA award. It's just the nature of the game that you get more plaudits for scoring goals than stopping them. But
Simon Mignolet has been doing the latter rather well for Sunderland all season.
Only West Ham's Jussi Jaaskelainen has made more saves than the Belgium international this season, with the Black Cats defence ensuring he's been kept busy. Critically, Mignolet has a better save percentage from long-range shots than the Finn and it is the 25-year-old's capacity for the spectacular as well as the mundane that has caught the eye this season.
Defensive work in general has been ignored in this year's voting with Michael Carrick the only player on the main list whose primary focus is anything other than directly scoring goals or creating them. As the number of goals in the Premier League continues to rise, the importance of those players able to restrict the opposition becomes more significant.
| Tackles per game - Premier League 2012/13 |
|
|
| Player |
Team |
Tackles |
| Lucas Leiva |
Liverpool |
4.6 |
| MORGAN SCHNEIDERLIN |
SOUTHAMPTON |
4.3 |
| PABLO ZABALETA |
MAN CITY |
3.8 |
|
| Interceptions - Premier League 2012/13 |
|
|
| Player |
Team |
Interceptions |
| MORGAN SCHNEIDERLIN |
SOUTHAMPTON |
126 |
| Matthew Lowton |
Aston Villa |
97 |
| ASHLEY WILLIAMS |
SWANSEA |
90 |
| JAN VERTONGHEN |
TOTTENHAM |
86 |
|
| Blocks - Premier League 2012/13 |
|
|
| Player |
Team |
Interceptions |
| ASHLEY WILLIAMS |
SWANSEA |
44 |
| Ryan Shawcross |
Stoke |
34 |
|
| Clearances - Premier League 2012/13 |
|
|
| Player |
Team |
Interceptions |
| ASHLEY WILLIAMS |
SWANSEA |
352 |
| Ciaran Clark |
Aston Villa |
328 |
|
Measuring defensive contributions can be tricky statistically. Paolo Maldini was just about the best in the business precisely because he didn't have to make tackles. But we want a good balance at the back between players who will throw themselves in front of the ball and those able to make crucial interceptions.
Ashley Williams has been a key figure in the ongoing success of Swansea with his defensive determination providing the steely platform that allows Michael Laudrup's team to play. As well as helping the Swans to victory in the Capital One Cup at Wembley, the Wales captain has produced more blocks and more clearances than any other Premier League player this season.
While Williams is the king of blocks and clearances, Southampton midfielder
Morgan Schneiderlin is the man when it comes to tackles and interceptions. There is far more to the talented Frenchman than stopping others, but this willingness to do the dirty work at a high tempo has played its part in ensuring the Saints have enjoyed a successful return to the top flight.
The statistics also show that
Pablo Zabaleta is the toughest-tackling defender in the Premier League, putting in almost four tackles per game and winning more than 72 per cent of them. And if the Argentine is the highly-skilled scrapper, Tottenham's
Jan Vertonghen is the arch anticipator. The former Ajax captain has made 86 interceptions this season - more than any centre-back in the division, other than the aforementioned Williams.
| Chances created - PL 2012/13 |
|
|
| Player Name |
Team |
Chances created |
| LEIGHTON BAINES |
EVERTON |
105 |
| David Silva |
Man City |
93 |
| STEVEN GERRARD |
LIVERPOOL |
90 |
| Luis Suarez |
Liverpool |
90 |
| SANTI CAZORLA |
ARSENAL |
83 |
|
