We used the following criteria:
Goalkeeper (Average Rating)
Right Back (Tackles Per Game)
Centre Back (Clearances Per Game)
Centre Back (Clearances Per Game)
Left Back (Tackles Per Game)
Centre Midfielder (Tackles Per Game)
Centre Midfielder (Pass Succession %)
Right Winger (Successful Crosses Per Game)
Attacking Midfielder (Assists/Key Passes)
Left Winger (Successful Dribbles)
Striker (Goals/Shots Per Goal)
Goalkeeper:
Kossi Agassa - Stade Reims Average Rating: 7.9
Small club Reims are overachieving this season and find themselves 5th in Ligue 1. 35 year old Togo goalkeeper Agassa has played all 13 games for them this season and been the stand out performer. He has 6 clean sheets, 4 man of the match awards and an average rating of 7.9 on whoscored.com rating him the highest goalkeeper by a considerable distance.
Right Back
Giandomenico Mesto - Napoli Tackles Per Game 5.1
One of the stars of Napoli's resurgence under Benitez, Mesto manages to patrol the flanks both as an attacking threat and defensively. At home on the left as he is on the right, the 31 year old full back has averaged an impressive 5.1 tackles per game to claim the right back spot.
Centre Back
Nemanja Vidic - Manchester United Clearances Per Game 11.5
An injury free Vidic has been one of the few stand out performers so far of the Moyes era. The no-nonsense Serb has been a real rock at the heart of the United defence and nothing showcases this more than the staggering 11.5 clearances he makes on average to protect the United goal. He is top across the top five leagues on clearances and takes one centre back slot.
Vitorino Hilton - Montpellier Clearances Per Game 10.9
Rolling back the years the 36 Brazilian captain of Montpellier captures the second centre back slot following an impressive 2013-14 campaign. His average clearances per game stats are the second highest in Europe with 10.9, and with his fellow defensive partner Daniel Congre at 10.3 per game it shows how well the Montpellier centre backs are currently doing.
Left Back
Filipe Luis - Atletico Madrid Tackles Per Game 4.9
Atletico's strong start to the season has been helped by the excellent Brazilian Filipe Luis. The Atletico left back puts in on average 4.9 tackles a game and like all good full backs still manages to get forward to help his side out. His 4.9 average is the highest for a left back.
Centre Midfield (Tackler)
Lucas Leiva - Liverpool Tackles Per Game 5.6
The third Brazilian in our team, Lucas is the anchor which allows Liverpool's creative players to flourish. His non-stop running and combative style sees him marshall the Liverpool midfield making on average 5.6 tackles per game and his interception stats aren't bad either, (2.9). He is the top tackler throughout Europe and takes one centre midfield slot.
Centre Midfield (Passer)
Sergio Busquets - Barcelona Pass Succession 94.1%
Barcelona's holder and not usually renowned for his passing, Busquets keeps things ticking over in the Barcelona engine room with a very high pass completion of 94.1%. Francesco Matuzalem of Genoa was very unlucky not to feature, actually 0.2% higher than Busquets. However Busquets has played more games this season and makes a considerably larger amount of passes than Matuzalem (73.1 compared to 48.4) so it gave a more accurate picture to include the Barcelona ace.
Right Winger (Crosser)
James Ward-Prowse - Southampton Successful Crosses Per Game 3
A surprise entrant, the Southampton teen and England under 21 cap Ward-Prowse has been pushed out to the right this season, and as a result of this has become a bit of a regular right-wing provider. His energy levels and his ability to cross are a bit reminiscent of David Beckham in his young days and the Southampton kid undoubtedly has a big future ahead of him.
Left Winger (Dribbler)
Franck Ribery - Fc Bayern Munich Successful Dribbles Per Game 6.1
The forerunner for the Ballon D'Or award, Ribery has had an unbelievable last 12 months at Bayern. He is the highest rated player by average rating this season on whoscored.com and part of this is due to his amazing dribbling ability. Ribery torments defences time and time again and with his unbelievably quick feet and fantastic turn of pace, its no surprise to see him take the left winger spot.
Attacking Midfielder
Francesco Totti - AS Roma Assists 6, Key Passes Per Game 3.5
Picking the attacking midfielder was little more complicated. Fabregas and Koke both had more assists than the Italian, both with 7. However Totti overall plays a lot more key passes per game. A key pass is defined as a pass before the shot. With one less assist but a lot more key passes it is fair to suggest that if Roma's finishing was a tad more clinical then Totti would be a lot higher up on assists. All round still a world-class player although honorable mentions do go out to both Fabregas and Koke.
Striker
Diego Costa - Atletico Madrid Goals 13, Shots Per Goal 3.3
Just like above it was complicated picking the striker for the team. Cristiano Ronaldo leads the scoring charts with an incredible 16 in 13 and Costa just trails him with 13 in 13. However Ronaldo takes 7.9 shots per goal compared to Costa's much lower 3.3. No doubting that Ronaldo is a great goalscorer but a striker he is not. If you are looking for the most clinical finisher in Europe look no further than the Brazilian born Spaniard Diego Costa. With a world-cup approaching and with Spain in possession of such a lethal finisher then one has to wonder if Brazil's loss may just be Spain's gain.
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