Top 6 Deck

Dan Masters on X asked: but I wonder how many of our players rank top 6 in their positions based on this season's data......so here we go.

I’ve taken a fairly simple approach to this. Using Fotmob data to rank players.

There are some caveats to consider:

• If you play in a winning team, you get higher ratings (so big credit to Murphy at Pompey, Adams at Derby etc)

• Substitute appearances lower a players rating (EMC)

• I’ve had to classify players who’ve played in multiple positions, you’ll see below (Haji Wright as a LW), Brownhill CM not a 10, etc)

• I’ve assumed a 4-2-3-1 shape as its the most popular (so there a 12 CB’s and 12 CM’s listed as most teams play two of these each).

• I’ve had to shoehorn players in who’ve played in different formations, so Alfie Doughty is considered a LB for this exercise even though he’s played a Wing-Back.

Goalkeeper

1. Trafford - 7.52

2. Cooper - 7.4

3. Johansson - 7.28

4. Shea Charles - 7.28

5. Hazard - 7.16

6. Schmid - 7.16

8. Dovin 7.04

Right-back

1. Hume - 7.42

2. Bogle - 7.33

3. Roberts - 7.28

4. Brittan - 7.19

5. Leonard - 7.15

6. Dunne - 7.14

8. MVE - 7.11

Left-back

1. Firpo - 7.54

2. Pires - 7.32

3. Burrows - 7.28

4. Doughty -7.22

5. Bryan - 7.16

6. Cirkin - 7.08

   Dasilva - 6.74 / Bidwell - 6.65

Centre-back

1. Ampadu - 7.4

2. Egan-Riley - 7.38

3. Struijk - 7.33

4. Rodon- 7.24

5. Esteve- 7.24

6. McNally - 7.22

7. Dickie - 7.21

8. Hughes - 7.2

9. Matt Clarke - 7.17

10. Cabango - 7.17

11. Darling - 7.14

12. Mepham - 7.12

Thomas 7.04 / Binks - 6.89 / Kitching - 6.89 / Lati - 6.83

Centre-Midfield

1. Brownhill - 7.43

2. Tanaka - 7.42

3. Cullen - 7.42

4. Knight - 7.37

5. Hackney - 7.33

6. de Souza - 7.32

7. Mowatt - 7.31

8. Alzate - 7.25

9. Grimes - 7.24

10. Bellingham - 7.22

11. Adams - 7.22

12. Rothwell - 7.22

Torp - 7.02 / Sheaf - 7.01 / Eccles - 6.83 / Allen - 6.47

CAM

1. Azaz - 7.23

2. Rudoni - 7.17

3. Bird - 7.11

4. Cantwell - 7.09

5. Twine - 7.02

6. Marcondes - 7.01

LW

1. Soloman - 7.47

2. Hamer - 7.43

3. Sainz - 7.26

4. Doak - 7.11

5. Murphy - 7.08

6. Chakvetadze - 7.06

7. Wright - 6.99

EMC - 6.81

RW

1. Anthony - 7.38

2. James - 7.17

3. Roberts - 7.06

4. Dolan - 7.03

5. Esse - 7.01

6. Sykes - 7.01

Sakamoto - 6.76

Striker

1. Maja - 7.2

2. Sargent - 7.13

3. Piroe - 7.04

4. Latte Lath - 6.98

5. Flemming - 6.88

6. Conway - 6.85

BTA - 6.5 / Simms - 6.41 / Bassette - 6.1

Entries

(amount of players each team has in the top 6 for each position)

Leeds - 10

Burnley - 9

Bristol / Sunderland- 6

Sheffield United / M’Boro - 4

Norwich / Millwall / Blackburn - 3

Cov / Pompey / Hull / Derby / Swansea - 2

Stoke / Sheffield Wed / Plymouth / QPR / Luton / WBA / Watford - 1

Analysis

The Fotmob scorings are basically showing us what we already know.

Grimes and Rudoni are amongst the best players in their position in the league.

MVE, Wright & Dovin are close to being in that bracket.

Thomas, Sheaf, Torp and EMC are good players for the level who can do more if they stay fit

We’ve got big problems at LB, and need improvement at CB and RW.

Simms, BTA & Bassette are not currently cutting it up-front. Wright’s numbers are good there but he’s often forced to play on the left.

So is it a Top 6 Deck?

The answer is probably not. We have less entries than our play-off rivals. Albeit with Dovin, MVE and Wright just missing out. Less injuries for Sheaf and a more reliable partner for Thomas probably has them pretty close too.

We’re not far off, FL has an opportunity to solve the short comings over the coming windows if the unlikely doesn’t materialise in the coming weeks.

#PUSB