As you’ll know by now, we’ve been spending a lot of time deeply engrossed in the statistics for the 2019/20 season so far and whilst football remains on pause – we’ve been putting together different XIs based on various criteria.
Today we’re looking at the best Premier League players at the sides currently sat in the bottom 5, according to our average player ratings. So that’s a Best XI from West Ham United, Watford, AFC Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Norwich City.
With apologies to fans of those clubs, for the reminder. ?
GK – ??????? Aaron Ramsdale, AFC Bournemouth
Only elevated to first choice at Bournemouth at the start of the season, the 21-year-old has matured fast and is now the youngest regular starting goalkeeper in the division. Asmir Begović has even had to go out on loan to AC Milan just to get games!
He keeps out two other English keepers who’ve had fine seasons themselves, with a rating of 6.56 to Ben Foster’s 6.33 and Tom Heaton’s 6.19.
LB – ?? Diego Rico, AFC Bournemouth
After putting a difficult first season in the Premier League behind him, Rico has impressed down the left in Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth side – even providing two assists in his 21 starts.
CB – ?? Nathan Aké, AFC Bournemouth
Aké has had a fight on his hands for a spot in this side, with Norwich City’s Christophe Zimmermann registering the exact same average rating of 6.64, across the season. In the end, we went for the Dutchman thanks to his significant threat at both ends of the park.
CB – ?? Christian Kabasele, Watford
Now in his fourth season with Watford, Kabasele’s reliability sees him slot in here as our highest rated centre-back at any of the sides currently residing in the bottom five of the EPL. He has notched up 99 clearances and 32 interceptions across his 19 appearances.
RB – ??????? Ryan Fredericks, West Ham United
Like his Bournemouth counterpart on the opposite flank, Fredericks was enjoying a strong second season in the Premier League with West Ham United until injury struck in February. The good news is, should this season ever restart – Fredericks will be back to full fitness!
LM – ?? Philip Billing, AFC Bournemouth
Another of Bournemouth’s surprise Scandinavians (see also Josh King!), Billing moved to the club at the start of the season and has been on the fringes of our Premier League teams of the week, on a reasonably regular basis ever since.
CM – ?? Abdoulaye Doucouré, Watford
Always reliable for a few goals a season, each one seemingly following a late lung-busting run in to the box, Doucouré should be a popular inclusion for any Watford fans reading. He’s contributed 4 goals and 2 assists from his usual spot in attacking midfield, but he’ll have to settle for the central spot in our basic 4-3-3.
RM – ??????? John McGinn, Aston Villa
Aston Villa have won just three games since McGinn was forced out of the side by an unfortunate ankle injury just before Christmas. We’re not saying he’s the only reason for that disappointing points return, but his return might just feel like a new signing whenever the season does resume!
LW – ??????? Jack Grealish, Aston Villa
Probably in need of a crumb of comforting news after his UK lockdown appearance in the press this week, Grealish is the highest rated player in the XI. In fact, with an overall average rating of 7.44 he is second only to Sadio Mané, for his position in the division as a whole.
CF – ?? Teemu Pukki, Norwich City
Every team deserves a real goalscorer, and in Teemu Pukki this side has one. The Finn started the season in blistering form, bagging 6 in the opening 5 games and despite only adding another 5 since then he still rates at an average of 6.67 per match.
And now Finland’s long awaited debut at a major tournament has been put off until 2021, perhaps Pukki can get his shooting boots back on in the Prem, whenever we re-start.
RW – ?? Anwar El Ghazi, Aston Villa
After a year on loan with the club whilst they were in the Championship, El Ghazi has quietly adapted to life in the Premier League albeit perhaps with Villa fans left wanting more from their Dutch international? So far, he has scored 4 and provided 4 more for his teammates.
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