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THREAD - Comparing Chelsea's back 5 with some of the best Premier League players in those positions, using percentile ranks and football slices.
Stats from @FootballSlices and @StatsBomb
Likes and RTs appreciated
Stats from @FootballSlices and @StatsBomb
Likes and RTs appreciated
First up is Mendy. Scouted by Cech for about 3 years and chosen from a list of 40 shortlisted GKs.
Mendy has the best GSAA% in the league, so not any competition there.
Lampard using Mendyâs long throws and deep kicks to start breaks explains the low pass completion rate.
Not much inference from the cross rate as both GKs have centre-halves who're strong in the air.
Lampard using Mendyâs long throws and deep kicks to start breaks explains the low pass completion rate.
Not much inference from the cross rate as both GKs have centre-halves who're strong in the air.
Mendy is a much better stop stopper, but itâs clear that Leno is a better distributor here.
Stats suggest that Leno is better at dominating his box, but again, Mendy has Zouma in front of him who has won ~100% of their aerial duels, he hasnât got a chance at collecting cross
Stats suggest that Leno is better at dominating his box, but again, Mendy has Zouma in front of him who has won ~100% of their aerial duels, he hasnât got a chance at collecting cross
Ederson is one of the best distributor of the ball in the league and the stats show that.
Again, it seems like Mendy is a much better shot stopper, and he hasnât got a lot of chances at collecting crosses.
Again, it seems like Mendy is a much better shot stopper, and he hasnât got a lot of chances at collecting crosses.
Pope is pretty much a cheat code at collecting crosses and Mendy isnât even close.
Again, Mendy is a brilliant shot-stopper, but having a lower pass completion rate than Pope is concerning.
Again, Mendy is a brilliant shot-stopper, but having a lower pass completion rate than Pope is concerning.
Next up is Ben Chilwell.
Chilwell is arguably Chelseaâs best signing this summer and the stats show.
Chilwell is arguably Chelseaâs best signing this summer and the stats show.
Chilwell has been comparable/better than the best full-back in the league over the last two season.
Chilwell lags behind in Press-related stats and thatâs because of the differences of the systems. Chilwell doesnât really indulge in pressing at Chelsea.
Chilwell lags behind in Press-related stats and thatâs because of the differences of the systems. Chilwell doesnât really indulge in pressing at Chelsea.
Reguilon was the dream signing for a lot of Chelsea fans and the stats show that they werenât wrong.
Chilwell looks like a better defender and a better ball progressor, but Reguilon doesnât lag behind by a lot.
2 immensely talented full-back whoâre turning heads this season.
Chilwell looks like a better defender and a better ball progressor, but Reguilon doesnât lag behind by a lot.
2 immensely talented full-back whoâre turning heads this season.
Not exactly a fair comparison as Tierney has played as an LCB for the most part, but Iâll do it anyway.
Chilwell is looking like a much better player here, across all attributes. It looks like Tierneyâs hype is going down.
Chilwell is looking like a much better player here, across all attributes. It looks like Tierneyâs hype is going down.
Over the last two years, Digne has cemented his position as one of the best full-backs in the league.
But again, Chilwell is looking like the better player all across the board.
Chilwellâs attacking freedom at Chelsea probably inflated some of his stats, but gamesâ the game.
But again, Chilwell is looking like the better player all across the board.
Chilwellâs attacking freedom at Chelsea probably inflated some of his stats, but gamesâ the game.
Next up is Thiago Silva.
Silva is one of the best centre backs of the last generation, but his age + adaptability to the PL was questioned by the significant number of critics.
5 games in, Silva has proved all his critics wrong.
Silva is one of the best centre backs of the last generation, but his age + adaptability to the PL was questioned by the significant number of critics.
5 games in, Silva has proved all his critics wrong.
Laporte has established himself as a top 3 centre back in the league, but injuries have haunted him throughout his tenure.
Here, we can see that Silvaâs weakness is his aerial ability, but he has shown that he is still better than Laporte in every other aspect.
Here, we can see that Silvaâs weakness is his aerial ability, but he has shown that he is still better than Laporte in every other aspect.
Vestergaard has climbed up the ranks really quick and is now considered one of the best centre-backs in the league.
Again, apart of aerial control, Silva has outclassed him in every other aspect of the game. Truly world-class.
Again, apart of aerial control, Silva has outclassed him in every other aspect of the game. Truly world-class.
Ruben Dias is another high profile defender brought in by Man City.
Ruben Dias is considered a centre back with a similar profile as Silva and it shows. Very similar numbers for both of them, but Silvaâs experience and Chelseaâs aggressive system edges it towards him.
Ruben Dias is considered a centre back with a similar profile as Silva and it shows. Very similar numbers for both of them, but Silvaâs experience and Chelseaâs aggressive system edges it towards him.
The most anticipated comparison.
Silva vs VVD.
Virgil has had a relatively quiet start to the season and the stats show.
Silva outshines Van Dijk all across the board.
Hopefully, VVD recovers from the injury soon and we can see the two world-class centre backs compete.
Silva vs VVD.
Virgil has had a relatively quiet start to the season and the stats show.
Silva outshines Van Dijk all across the board.
Hopefully, VVD recovers from the injury soon and we can see the two world-class centre backs compete.
Next up is Kurt Zouma.
Mourinho bought him as a teenager in the winter of 2014, and he established himself into the first team by the middle of 2015/16, but the knee injury against Man United turned all his progress around. The transfer ban got him a shot at redemption.
Mourinho bought him as a teenager in the winter of 2014, and he established himself into the first team by the middle of 2015/16, but the knee injury against Man United turned all his progress around. The transfer ban got him a shot at redemption.
Zouma has been a brilliant centre back for Chelsea this season and he has carried Chelsea in both attacking and defensive set-pieces.
While he is the best PL centre back in the air, his lack of anticipation of the ball can be clearly seen by the stats.
While he is the best PL centre back in the air, his lack of anticipation of the ball can be clearly seen by the stats.
The same story again. A brilliant traditional centre-back, but not comparable to modern, ball-progressing centre backs
However, he is still only 26 and can be more comfortable on the ball under Silvaâs mentorship.
The Che Adams goal shows that there is a need to fix that ASAP.
However, he is still only 26 and can be more comfortable on the ball under Silvaâs mentorship.
The Che Adams goal shows that there is a need to fix that ASAP.
Zoumaâs class is showing again.
He has arguably got attributes just as good as Dias, if not better, all across the board.
Going straight to the top.
He has arguably got attributes just as good as Dias, if not better, all across the board.
Going straight to the top.
No words. Truly world-class, as a traditional centreback.
Literally a cheat code for set pieces.
Literally a cheat code for set pieces.
The best for the last, Reece James. The most complete right back and probably the best right back in the league.
Has developed massively over the last two seasons and has got rid of most of his defensive weaknesses now.
Has developed massively over the last two seasons and has got rid of most of his defensive weaknesses now.
Comparing the best complete right back of the last generation to the one of the next generation. Truly magnificent stats for both the players.
Wonderful in air and at tackles. No wonder Southgate gave him minutes at centre back recently.
Potentially world-class as a CB, WB and DM
Wonderful in air and at tackles. No wonder Southgate gave him minutes at centre back recently.
Potentially world-class as a CB, WB and DM
Another great result of Leicesterâs brilliant scouting. Castagne has fit right into the Leicester and has done a great job till now.
But we can still see that James has outshone him in every single attribute.
But we can still see that James has outshone him in every single attribute.
Just as good as Wan-Bissaka defensively and much better in possession? No wonder the latter wants to change his national team.
Another long-awaited comparison
James vs TAA.
Except for ball progression and passes into the final third, James has been a significantly better player.
Hopefully, TAA recovers from the injury soon and we can see the two future England stars compete for the national spot.
James vs TAA.
Except for ball progression and passes into the final third, James has been a significantly better player.
Hopefully, TAA recovers from the injury soon and we can see the two future England stars compete for the national spot.
This is how I rank the 5 players in the league -
Mendy - Too early to call, but already a top 5 GK in the league.
Chilwell - Top 2 LB in the league.
Silva - Top 3 CB in the league.
Zouma - Top 10 CB in the league, need to improve on the ball.
James - The BEST RB in the league.
Mendy - Too early to call, but already a top 5 GK in the league.
Chilwell - Top 2 LB in the league.
Silva - Top 3 CB in the league.
Zouma - Top 10 CB in the league, need to improve on the ball.
James - The BEST RB in the league.
That finishes the thread. Thanks for staying till the end.
Love to see that we've got a stable, functioning backline again. We've conceded 1 goal in the 6 games they've started together. Early days, but the signs are really positive!
Love to see that we've got a stable, functioning backline again. We've conceded 1 goal in the 6 games they've started together. Early days, but the signs are really positive!
