LUBO RATED AS TOP SCOT
Moravcik has beaten off stiff competition from his fellow Bhoy Mark Viduka, as well as the Rangers midfield trio of Jorg Albertz, Claudio Reyna and Giovanni Van Bronckhorst, to pick up the coveted title of the inaugural Opta Index SPL Player of the Season!
As a team Celtic have been disappointing this season but, throughout their torrid league campaign, Lubo Moravcik has been a class apart from the rest.
Moravcik is an all-round performer in the Celtic side. He does everything frequently and he does it frequently well. Over the course of Celtic`s ill-fated campaign, the Slovakian`s performances were a beacon of light that shone out of the Parkhead gloom.
The midfielder weighed in with eight league goals and 11 goal assists. When you take into consideration that Celtic scored 90 SPL goals this season that makes Moravcik directly responsible for over 20 per cent of them!
While it was Mark Viduka who ran off with the goal-scoring prizes - his total of 25 league strikes were untouchable this term - it was Moravcik who was the main creative force behind Celtic`s potent attack.
Moravcik passed the ball on 1,474 occasions this season putting him ninth in SPL passers table. Amongst this total were 19 key passes (passes that lead directly to an unsuccessful effort on goal) highlighting his prowess at creating chances for his team-mates. The Slovakian topped the table in crosses and corners delivered, with 270 centres coming from Moravcik`s boot. Add to this the 189 dribbles that he embarked upon - the second highest total in the SPL - and you can see why Moravcik was such a thorn in the rest of the SPL`s side.
When you consider that, in this day and age of inflated transfers, Lubomir Moravcik cost Celtic the princely sum of £330,000 it smacks of some of the best business that Celtic will ever have done.
The SPL Player of the Year, Viduka, runs Moravcik very close in the Opta Ratings and the 25 league goals that the Australian netted are testament to a terrific season. Viduka was also prolific in setting up his Celtic team-mates and the striker ended the season as the SPL`s top creator with 13 direct goal assists to his name.
Rangers German midfield star Albertz finished the season as the top Ger on the strength of his 17 goals and nine assists. `The Hammer`, who has recently signed a contract extension at Ibrox, fired in more shots than any other player this season with 107 efforts on goal, although only 42 of them hit the target.
Reyna has enhanced his reputation in Scotland this season with a series of consistent performances in the Rangers midfield and defence. The American played 26 key passes, the second highest amount in the SPL, and scored five goals as the Gers cruised to their second consecutive title.
Completing the top five Opta Players of the Season is Dutchman Van Bronckhorst. Perhaps the most rounded player in the league, Van Bronckhorst combines attacking silk (seven goal assists and 16 key passes) with a defensive steel (88 tackles). His contribution to Rangers domestic dominance is a massive one.
One player who, perhaps surprisingly, did not make the top five was Rangers Barry Ferguson. The midfield starlet had a storming finish to the season and for the last two months he dominated the Opta Midfielders Index. Ferguson topped the distribution list with 2,057 attempted passes but what affected his score was his quiet start to the season. Crowned the Scottish Football Writers` Player of the Year this season, Ferguson will have to try again for the Opta title next year!
