Cole vs Baines : Who is the best LB in the Premier League?

Upon his departure from Arsenal to Chelsea, after infamously rejecting a £55,000 a week contract to remain with the Gunners, Cole has developed his defensive game to become the best LB in the WORLD. Yes, the WORLD. Forget about Patrice Evra and Eric Abidal, Ashley Cole is in another league. Can dribble like a LW, cross like LM, and still defend like a LB.

But Leighton Baines, possibly, has matched him this season. Being linked with a move to Manchester United and Tottenham, Baines has proven himself to be the best LB in the Premier League this season.

Or has he?

Assists


Ashley Cole helped out his team mates 6 times last season.

Leighton Baines made 2 assists last season.

1-0 Ashley Cole opens the scoring

Tackles


Ashley Cole made 80 tackles in the 2011/2012 season.

Leighton Baines made 57 tackles in the 2011/2012 season.

2-0 Ashley Cole doubles the lead

Interceptions


Ashley Cole broke up 50 attacks by his opponent.

Leighton Baines broke up 65 attacks by his opponent.

2-1 Baines grabs a goal back

Fouls


Ashley Cole made 31 fouls last season.

Leighton Baines made 31 fouls last season.

3-2 Two goals in quick succession from each side

Accuracy of Crosses


Out of the 76 crosses Ashley Cole made, 17 of them were accurate. 22%


Out of the 242 crosses Leighton Baines made, 67 of them were accurate. 28%


3-3 Leighton Baines scores a late leveller

So, stats-wise, Leighton Baines has matched the exploits of Ashley Cole in the 2011/12 season.

Sagna vs Walker : Who is the best RB in the Premier League?

Arsenal's 'Mr Consistent' has been the Premier League's best RB since joining from Auxerre 4 years ago. Featuring in the PFA Team Of The Year twice for his excellent performances in his debut season, 2007/08, and the 2010/11 season. No-one could deny that Bacary was the best RB in the Premier League in any of his seasons in English football, until now.

Enter Kyle Walker. He can attack like Dani Alves, defend like Roberto Carlos, and has the stamina of Cafu. Tottenham are very lucky to have him. Their right side is looking secure for the future. Unrelated to his qualities at RB, he possesses the shot of a central midfielder, as demonstrates with spectacular goals against Arsenal and Blackburn.

Assists


Bacary Sagna made 2 assists in his 20 Premier League appearances.

Kyle Walker made 1 assist in his 37 Premier League appearances.

1-0 Sagna's strike ripples the net

Tackles

Bacary Sagna averaged 2 tackles per game, and totalled 41 tackles in his 20 Premier League games. Had he completed as many games as Kyle Walker, he would have totalled 75 tackles.

Kyle Walker averaged 2.9 tackles per game, and totalled 97 tackles in his 37 Premier League games.

1-1 Walker levels the scoring

Interceptions


Bacary Sagna averaged 1.7 interceptions per game, and totalled 35 interceptions in his 20 Premier League appearances. Had he completed as many games as Kyle Walker, he would have totalled 64 interceptions.

Kyle Walker amassed 60 interceptions in his 37 games for Tottenham.

2-1 Sagna regains the lead

Fouls


Bacary Sagna made 12 fouls in his 20 games for Arsenal last season. Had he played the 37 games that Kyle Walker played, he would have accumulated 22 fouls.

Kyle Walker amassed 33 fouls in the 2011/2012 season.

3-1 Sagna moves into a seemingly unassailable lead. Surely it's over...

Accuaracy of Crosses


 Bacary Sagna made a total of 88 crosses in the 2011/2012 season, with 20 of them being accurate.

Kyle Walker made a total of 106 crosses in the 2011/2012 season, with 18 of them being accurate.

4-1 ....It is now!!

So, surely there is no doubt that Bacary Sagna retains his title as The Best RB In The Premier League.

Cue Liverpool fans putting forward their argument that Glen Johnson is the best RB in the Premier League.

Toure vs Song : Who is the best CDM in the Premier League?

Following the rise of Sergio Busquets from Barcelona B team to 1st team regular, the Catalan giants had no place for Ivorian Yaya Toure. So Pep Guardiola allowed him to leave to ply his trade elsewhere on the continent.

How Barcelona could have used him now. The Premier League's best Box-to-Box midfielder since Patrick Vieira. Arguably, his brace against Newcastle in the penultimate game of the season won Mansour City the title. Able to apply an aggressive tackle at one end of the pitch, and effortless tuck a shot home at the other.

But then there's Alex Song.

Earlier in his career, Song was deployed as either a Ball Winning Midfielder or a Stopper at Centre Back, a no nonsense tackler whose sole purpose is to gain possession of the ball and distribute it to the most creative midfielders. Now, Song is being compared to Cesc Fabregas, the maestro of Arsenal until his departure to his boyhood club, Barcelona. And Arsenal look to him to be the creative midfielder.

Question is. Who's been better this season?

Tackles


Song has made 100 tackles throughout the 2011/2012 season.

Yaya Toure has made 55 tackles throughout the 2011/2012 season.

1-0 Song opens the scoring

Fouls


Song made 73 fouls last term.

While Yaya Toure only made 31 fouls.

1-1 Toure hits the equaliser

Interceptions


Song broke up play 66 times last season.

Yaya Toure broke up play 39 times last season.

2-1 Song restores the lead

Dribbled by another player


Song was dribbled past 46 times in the 2011/2012 season.

Yaya Toure was only passed 28 times.

2-2 Toure equalises again

Assists


Song helped out his team mates 11 times last season.

Yaya Toure assisted his peers 6 times last season.

3-2 Song scores a late goal. Surely it's over...

Key Passes


Song made 46 key passes last term.

Yaya Toure made 54 key passes last term.

3-3 He's done it. A late equaliser shares the spoils between the two players.

 Here's something that will please many Arsenal fans, and cause envy among the other supporters of different clubs : Yaya Toure is 29, Alex Song is 24.

So Alex Song, at 24, is as good, if not better, than 29 year old Yaya Toure.

The future is looking very bright.

Bale vs Mata : Who is the best LW in the Premier League?

I don't know must be going through Bale's mind right now. Three years ago, it looked like Spurs had him all wrong as a future world beater. He was dropped for Benoit Assou Ekotto at LB and was an understudy for most of the season.

Three years later, he is now the most dangerous LW in the Premier League. His majestic performances propelled Tottenham into the Champions League, established the club as top 4 contenders, and, as Rafael Van Der Vaart put it, 'killed' Maicon. Not bad for a season's work.

But for the second year in a row, he's being challenged for that title of Best LW in the Premier League.

Last year it was $amir Na$ri who pushed him, this year, Chel$ea's Juan Mata.


Snatched from Arsenal's grasp in last summer's transfer window, Mata has been Chel$ea's best signing since  Michael Ballack in 2007. He has been their best performer this season without a doubt, without The Blues would have been dead and buried a long time ago.

Goals


Juan Mata hit 6 goals last season in the Premier League last season.

Gareth Bale stormed forward to score 9 goals last season.

1-0 Gareth Bale opens the scoring

Assists


Gareth Bale recorded 10 assists last season.

Juan Mata helped out his team mates 13 times.

1-1 Juan Mata scores the equaliser

Successful Dribbles


Gareth Bale made a total of 65 successful dribbles last season.

Juan Mata made a total of 30 successful dribbles last season.

2-1 Gareth Bale restores the lead

Key Passes


Gareth Bale made 84 key passes throughout the season.

Juan Mata made 102 key passes throughout the season.

2-2 Mata hits the equaliser

Crosses


Out of the 195 crosses that Bale made, 46 of them were accurate.

Out of the 236 crosses that Mata made, 61 of them were accurate.

3-2 Bale hits the winner ( He was more efficient)

So there we are, Gareth Bale IS the best LW in the Premier League. But Mata isn't very far behind...

Valencia vs Walcott : Who is the best RW in the Premier League?

When Sir Alex Ferguson signed Antonio Valencia from Wigan in 2009, he bought him with the aim of replacing Cristiano Ronaldo following his £80 million transfer to Real Madrid. Many eyebrows were raised. Names like Franck Ribery, David Silva and Arjen Robben were being thrown around by the media and Fergie chooses Valencia? But he was right. Very very right.

29 assists later, Valencia has established himself as the most dangerous RW in the Premier League. His speed and power make him a handful for any LB.

Before you slate me for choosing Theo Walcott to challenge Valencia, think to yourself. Who else could? Who else could really trouble Valencia for that title of best RW in Premier League? Downing? Milner? Coleman? Sturridge? Ben Arfa? None of the above.

Goals


Theo Walcott scored 8 goals in the Premier League last season.

Antonio Valencia hit 4 goals last season.

1-0 Walcott takes a surprise lead

Assists


Antonio Valencia assisted him team mates 14 times last season.

Theo Walcott helped his team mates 9 times last season.

1-1 Valencia equalises

Successful Dribbles


Antonio Valencia completed 35 dribbles last season.

Theo Walcott also completed 35 dribbles last season.

2-2 Two goals in quick succession from both sides

Key Passes

Antonio Valencia made 65 key passes last season.

Theo Walcott made 41 key passes last season.

3-2 Antonio Valencia takes the lead

Crosses

Out of the 178 crosses Antonio Valencia made, 45 were accurate.

Out of the 134 crosses Theo Walcott made, 18 were accurate.

4-2 Valencia increases the deficit

As expected, Antonio Valencia beats Theo Walcott in most categories and secures his place as The Best RW In The Premier League.

Van Persie vs Rooney : Who is the best ST in the Premier League?

It's been coming. Finally a season of a fully fit Van Persie. Without ever being troubled by a knee or ankle problem, Robin Van Persie has silenced his critics in fashion, collecting the PFA Player of the Year award after hitting 37 goals for club & country throughout the 2011/2012 season. Proving himself to be the best striker in the world. Or is he?

Even after his prolific season with Arsenal, England's Wayne Rooney has fashioned another stellar season of his own.

But who has been the better player?

Goals


Robin Van Persie has scored 30 goals domestically, and 7 goals in other competitions.

Wayne Rooney has scored 27 goals domestically, and 7 goals in other competitions.

1-0 Van Persie strikes again

Assists

Wayne Rooney helped out his team mates 4 times throughout the season.

Robin Van Persie helped out his team mates 9 time throughout the season.

2-0 Robin Van Persie gets on the score sheet again

Key Passes

Robin Van Persie has made 92 key passes.

 Wayne Rooney only made 51 key passes.

3-0 Van Persie has stormed into a seemingly unassailable lead

Offsides


Robin Van Persie has been caught offside 44 times.

Wayne Rooney, playing the much deeper role, has been caught offside only 2 times.

3-1 Surely a consolation goal..

Dispossessed & Turnovers


Robin Van Persie has been dispossessed 90 times and has given away possession 52 times.

Wayne Rooney has been dispossessed 73 times and has given away possession 51 times.

3-3 Unbelievable! Rooney has equalised!

Successful Dribbles


 Robin Van Persie has completed 42 dribbles.

Wayne Rooney has completed 33 dribbles.

4-3 RVP restores the lead

No doubt about it. RVP has been the best player in the Premier League this season. Overtaking Wayne Rooney and David Silva in the process. The Dutch's chances of winning Euro 2012 is looking promising.

Silva vs Modric : Who is the best CAM in the Premier League?

On the 23rd of October 2011, David Silva produced what was, arguably, the best individual performance of the 2011/2012 season. A master class against Manchester United in a 6-1 win. At Old Trafford. Pundits heaped praise on the Spaniard after his eccentric performance, labelling him as ' The Premier League's Best Player'.

On the 31st of March 2012, David Silva was being substituted off for Carlos Tevez after another blindingly average game against Sunderland. A far cry from his heroics in the 1st half of the season.

But nevertheless, Silva remains one of the best playmakers in the Premier League, and in the world.

But many would argue that Tottenham's Luka Modric rivals, and overtakes the City player's stature.

In my opinion, Luka Modric is THE most overrated player in world football, alongside Hulk and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

But some think otherwise.

Assists


David Silva accumulated 15 assists throughout the season.

Luka Modric, only a lowly 4 assists.

1-0 Silva

Key Passes

Luka Modric made a total of 96 key passes for Tottenham.

David Silva made 104 key passes for the Premier League champions.

2-0 Silva

Dribbles

Luka Modric has made 61 successful dribbles.

 David Silva has made 38 successful dribbles.

2-1 Modric gets one back

Dispossessed

David Silva has been robbed of possession 56 times.

Luka Modric has been robbed of possession 88 times.

3-1 Silva increases the lead

Turnovers


David Silva has given away possession 48 times.

Luka Modric has given away possession 36 times

3-2 Modric comeback?

So that proves it, David Silva is the Premier League's best creative midfielder, while Luka Modric is better than Silva at some aspects of the playmaking role, Silva steel nerved performances in the final third make him the better player.