Analysing Garth Crooks' Team of the Week
Each week, Garth Crooks posts his 'Premier League Team of the Week' on the BBC Sport website. It is anyone guess as to how exactly he decides who should be in this team, but often many of the selections raise eyebrows. This week, we look through the 11 players that he has selected to see whether there is any justification in his selections.
Hugo Lloris
It is good to see Crooks starting with one of the more peculiar selections. The Tottenham goal was supposed 'under siege for much of their game at Stoke'. However, the statistics do not entirely back this up, with Spurs having had 25 shots compared to Stoke's 7. Indeed, Stoke only had one attempt on target in the entire match, which they scored from, meaning that Lloris did not actually make a single save during the match. With one claim from a cross and a solid pass success rate of just 27%, it is difficult to argue that Lloris was the best Premier League keeper over the weekend.
Sebastian Bassong
Crooks' claim that Bassong is Norwich's best player of the year is understandable - the Cameroonian international has been excellent and his only likely challenger would be Snodgrass. There seems to be very little that he actually argues for him being in the team this week, although he did play well and was one of the better defenders on show this weekend. Cannot argue with this selection.
Rio Ferdinand
Again, the focus here seems to be on the fact that Ferdinand has had an excellent season - a fact that cannot be disputed. However, he is not necessarily a bad shout for this team. He did score the dramatic late winning goal and his all-round performance was solid if not excellent. While I might not have had him in my team of the week, it is not the worst selection.
Jan Vertonghen
A selection that I certainly agree with. Vertonghen was excellent, despite filling in at left-back. He made more interceptions and clearances than any other Spurs player, made the joint-most tackles, had the highest pass completion rate as well as proving a threat going forward with three shots and three crosses. No arguments about this pick.
Frank Lampard
No arguments with this pick either. Two goals from the incredible Frank Lampard to all but guarantee Chelsea will be in Europe's elite competition next season. It is amazing that there is any doubt as to whether he will be at the club next season. As well as his two goals, he made more tackles than any other Chelsea player and had the joint-most interceptions. An all-round excellent performance.
Juan Mata
Another very odd selection. As good as Mata has been this season, this was one of his poorer performances this season. Crooks talks about how it was his "ingenuity that prized open the Villa defence", seemingly being oblivious to the fact that it was Eden Hazard that was the key player, and that Mata was not involved in the move at all. He may have "created three chances against Aston Villa", but he was outshone by Hazard, who created four chances, had more successful dribbles and collected two assists.
Callum McManaman
The most ridiculous choice of all, given Crooks advertises it as a 'Premier League Team of the Week'. While Callum McManaman was quite excellent in the FA Cup final, it was not a performance that should be eligible for this team at all.
Kevin Mirallas
Another pick that I can have no arguments with. Kevin Mirallas scored both goals and put in an excellent all-round performance. He had six shots, created six chances for his teammates, put plenty of excellent crosses into the area and rarely gave the ball away. Deserves his place in this team.
Clint Dempsey
A goal and an assist from Clint Dempsey helped Spurs and it is tough to argue his place in the team. He created three chances for teammates and generally battled well against a tough Stoke defensive line.
Daniel Sturridge
A sparkling hat-trick from Daniel Sturridge means that there can be no doubt that he should be the first name in the team this week. Three goals from five shots on target, he also created three chances for teammates and successfully dribbled with the ball more often than any other Liverpool player. A performance of the highest quality.
Emmanuel Adebayor
While Adebayor scored the winning goal, he did not really have a particularly great all-round performance. The goal was the only shot on target, which is disappointing given he was playing as the main striker, he did not create a single chance for his teammates and he did not win a single ball in the air. He did not have a successful dribble and was dispossessed more times than any other Spurs player. Had he not scored the goal, it would have been marked as a pretty dreadful performance.
My Team of the Week
It is easy to criticise somebody else's selections without offering suggestions of your own. Therefore, here is my selection for team of the week. I have used a 4-2-3-1 as it is generally the most commonly used formation in the league these days:
GK: Simon Mignolet
DR: Phil Bardsley
DL: Jan Vertonghen
DC: Ryan Bennett
DC: Carlos Cuellar
CM: Fabian Delph
CM: Frank Lampard
AMC: Clint Dempsey
AMC: Philippe Coutinho
AMR: Hatem Ben Arfa
ST: Daniel Sturridge
Any suggestions or criticisms of my team of the week, feel free to leave a comment in the box below....
Hugo Lloris
It is good to see Crooks starting with one of the more peculiar selections. The Tottenham goal was supposed 'under siege for much of their game at Stoke'. However, the statistics do not entirely back this up, with Spurs having had 25 shots compared to Stoke's 7. Indeed, Stoke only had one attempt on target in the entire match, which they scored from, meaning that Lloris did not actually make a single save during the match. With one claim from a cross and a solid pass success rate of just 27%, it is difficult to argue that Lloris was the best Premier League keeper over the weekend.
Sebastian Bassong
Crooks' claim that Bassong is Norwich's best player of the year is understandable - the Cameroonian international has been excellent and his only likely challenger would be Snodgrass. There seems to be very little that he actually argues for him being in the team this week, although he did play well and was one of the better defenders on show this weekend. Cannot argue with this selection.
Rio Ferdinand
Again, the focus here seems to be on the fact that Ferdinand has had an excellent season - a fact that cannot be disputed. However, he is not necessarily a bad shout for this team. He did score the dramatic late winning goal and his all-round performance was solid if not excellent. While I might not have had him in my team of the week, it is not the worst selection.
Jan Vertonghen
A selection that I certainly agree with. Vertonghen was excellent, despite filling in at left-back. He made more interceptions and clearances than any other Spurs player, made the joint-most tackles, had the highest pass completion rate as well as proving a threat going forward with three shots and three crosses. No arguments about this pick.
Frank Lampard
No arguments with this pick either. Two goals from the incredible Frank Lampard to all but guarantee Chelsea will be in Europe's elite competition next season. It is amazing that there is any doubt as to whether he will be at the club next season. As well as his two goals, he made more tackles than any other Chelsea player and had the joint-most interceptions. An all-round excellent performance.
Juan Mata
Another very odd selection. As good as Mata has been this season, this was one of his poorer performances this season. Crooks talks about how it was his "ingenuity that prized open the Villa defence", seemingly being oblivious to the fact that it was Eden Hazard that was the key player, and that Mata was not involved in the move at all. He may have "created three chances against Aston Villa", but he was outshone by Hazard, who created four chances, had more successful dribbles and collected two assists.
Callum McManaman
The most ridiculous choice of all, given Crooks advertises it as a 'Premier League Team of the Week'. While Callum McManaman was quite excellent in the FA Cup final, it was not a performance that should be eligible for this team at all.
Kevin Mirallas
Another pick that I can have no arguments with. Kevin Mirallas scored both goals and put in an excellent all-round performance. He had six shots, created six chances for his teammates, put plenty of excellent crosses into the area and rarely gave the ball away. Deserves his place in this team.
Clint Dempsey
A goal and an assist from Clint Dempsey helped Spurs and it is tough to argue his place in the team. He created three chances for teammates and generally battled well against a tough Stoke defensive line.
Daniel Sturridge
A sparkling hat-trick from Daniel Sturridge means that there can be no doubt that he should be the first name in the team this week. Three goals from five shots on target, he also created three chances for teammates and successfully dribbled with the ball more often than any other Liverpool player. A performance of the highest quality.
Emmanuel Adebayor
While Adebayor scored the winning goal, he did not really have a particularly great all-round performance. The goal was the only shot on target, which is disappointing given he was playing as the main striker, he did not create a single chance for his teammates and he did not win a single ball in the air. He did not have a successful dribble and was dispossessed more times than any other Spurs player. Had he not scored the goal, it would have been marked as a pretty dreadful performance.
My Team of the Week
It is easy to criticise somebody else's selections without offering suggestions of your own. Therefore, here is my selection for team of the week. I have used a 4-2-3-1 as it is generally the most commonly used formation in the league these days:
GK: Simon Mignolet
DR: Phil Bardsley
DL: Jan Vertonghen
DC: Ryan Bennett
DC: Carlos Cuellar
CM: Fabian Delph
CM: Frank Lampard
AMC: Clint Dempsey
AMC: Philippe Coutinho
AMR: Hatem Ben Arfa
ST: Daniel Sturridge
Any suggestions or criticisms of my team of the week, feel free to leave a comment in the box below....
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