Player Performance Index | EPL Week 21 Star Line-Up
Tom Henderson
2012-01-18
Here it is, after a quality round of matches, the Barclays Premier League Team of the Week.
Newcastle United provide three of the back five this week after their win and clean sheet against QPR. Edin Dzeko - the highest scoring team member this week leads from the front after his match winning goal for Manchester City against Wigan.
Swansea's great win over Arsenal featured stellar performances from Nathan Dyer and Neil Taylor. Plus Andrew Surman's volley for Norwich helped them get a very important win over West Brom to move up to ninth in the table.
Here's the team in full...
With thanks to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, here are the interesting facts from the weekend.
Manchester United vs. Bolton
• Paul Scholes scored on his Old Trafford return as Manchester United momentarily moved level on points at the top of the league with neighbours City after a comfortable 3-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers. All eyes were on United midfielder Paul Scholes who made his first Premier League start since featuring against Blackpool on the last day of the 2010/11 season. According to The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index Scholes covered 3.94 miles during the 69 minutes he was on the pitch, this was the least distance covered by any of United’s outfield starting 10.
• The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index tells us that Bolton (53.86 miles) and United (54.19 miles) recorded the two lowest total distances covered as a team during game week 21. This may suggest that this usually highly energetic fixture was a little more reserved this time around.
• Bolton’s Nigel Reo Coker recorded a top speed of 23.33mph during the game, according to The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index this was the highest top speed recorded by any Premier League player during game week 21. Manchester United’s Michael Carrick recorded the 2nd highest top speed reaching 23.31mph
West Brom vs. Norwich
• Norwich earned another vital 3 points in The Barclays Premier League courtesy of two counter attacking goals in a 2-1 victory away to West Brom. According to The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index Norwich recorded the highest average speed as a team during game week 21 averaging 2.98mph. This once again suggests that Paul Lamberts young side possess a lot of speed and energy.
• Norwich goal scorer Andrew Surman covered 6.62 miles, averaged a speed of 5.09mph and reached a top speed of 20.62mph during the 90 minutes. According to The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index no other Norwich player recorded higher during game week 21.
• Swansea recorded a stunning and highly entertaining 3-2 victory over Arsenal during game week 21. The Swan’s Danny Graham scored his 7th Premier League goal of the season. According to The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, Graham has had 37 shots on goal this season, 24 of which have hit the target.
• Nathan Dyer has been in superb form of late. Interestingly The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index tells us that the live wire winger only covered 0.3 miles whilst the ball was out of play, this may well suggest that he is more than ready to spring into action once the ball is in play. He covered 5.08 miles whilst the ball was in play.
Chelsea vs. Sunderland
• Chelsea secured a 1-0 victory but were pushed to the very end by a Sunderland team who have flourished under the guidance of Martin O’Neill in recent weeks. Chelsea’s Raul Meireles certainly put in a shift covering 6.73 miles during the game; The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index tells us that this was the highest distance covered by a Premier League player during game week 21.
• Steve Kean’s side secured an impressive 3 points with 10 men as they beat Fulham 3-1 and climbed out of the relegation zone in the process. Despite Yakubu’s early sending off Blackburn still managed to put in a hardworking performance as shown by The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index which tells us that goal scorer Morten Gamst Pedersen and Steven Nzonzi both covered 6.08 miles during the game, more than any other player on the pitch managed during the 90 minutes.
