Swansea Wigan and Everton help make up our Premier League Underrated XI

With the January transfer window well and truly open, we decided to pull together a underrated XI based on the Squawka Performance Score. They might just be some bargains in here…

 

Want access to all the graphs in this post? Get all the stats and graphs for all the 5 European Leagues, teams and players on the Squawka Stats pages

GK: Asmir Begovic – Stoke City (753.3)

Stoke have conceded just 20 goals this season and Begovic has been in good form behind their tough defence. Begovic has kept nine clean sheets in those 20 matches.

RB: Glen Johnson – Liverpool (637.39)

Glen Johnson’s ability as a defender and a footballer have been criticised and undermined a lot during his career however he keeps getting picked for top half clubs and for his country so he must be doing something right.

Squawka Stats suggest it has something to do with 90% tackles success and 84% pass completion.

 

CB: Per Mertesacker – Arsenal (874.6)

Mertesacker is probably the most under-rated player in the league. He seems to be disliked by Arsenal fans and laughed at by everyone else but he constantly makes the Squawka Team of the Week and is statistically one of the best defenders in the Premiership.

CB: Chico – Swansea City (600.96)

Suffers from playing in a team where everyone focuses on the fantastic attacking ability and sharing his name with one of the most irritating X-Factor contestants ever Chico goes under the radar but in 15 games this season he has won 81% of tackles.

LB: Danny Rose – Sunderland (391.63)

Started off as a winger and many outside of Spurs and Sunderland probably won’t even realise he’s been converted to left back. However in defence he wins 89% of tackles contested and is good going forward creating 10 chances for his team.

CM: Leon Osman – Everton (785.18)

He even has an England cap now and he’s still barely rated by football fans. Osman has three goals this season and pulls the strings in midfield with 87% of passes finding a team mate.

CM: James McCarthy – Wigan Athletic (801.29)

One of many players at Wigan who are under-rated McCarthy is starting to gain a bit of a reputation. Squawka Stats show that he completes 89% of passes and has created 18 chances for team mates.

CM: Ki Sung-Yeung – Swansea City (716.6)

Does the graft in midfield while the players around him do all the fancy headline getting stuff like scoring goals. He starts moves with his 92% pass completion and breaks up the moves of opponents by winning 81% of tackles.

RW: Robert Snodgrass – Norwich City (661.55)

From his wide attack position Snodgrass has scored four times for Norwich this season and picked up three assists from 34 chances created.

ST: Bryan Ruiz – Fulham (538.78)

He may not be the most prolific striker, with only three goals this season but Ruiz works hard for the team and has an impressive six assists to his name already.

LW: Shaun Maloney – Wigan Athletic (582.78)

A lot of people still remember him from his pretty average spell at Aston Villa, but this season at Wigan Maloney has been in top form and has racked up three assists and two goals.

 

SUBS:

DEF: Sascha Riether – Fulham (549.16)

MID: Morgan Schneiderlin – Southampton (670.29)

MID: Jonathan De Guzman – Swansea City (709.56)

ST: Arouna Kone – Wigan Athletic (443.98)

ST: Andy Carroll –West Ham United (363.1)

 

Want access to all the graphs in this post? Get all the stats and graphs for all the 5 European Leagues, teams and players on the Squawka Stats pages

By Steve Norman
Follow @stevepn86