As we move forward in our MLS statistically best players in the 2019 MLS league, we now arrive at the wingers and midfielders. In this mini-series, I have covered goalkeepers, full-backs, and centre-backs. From there, we moved onwards to central defensive midfielders.
In this data analysis, through the use of data and statistics, I aim to find the statistically best attacking players.
Statistical References
Before we start analyzing the wealth of attacking talent in the MLS, we need to lay down some contextual references.
In the start, I picked a formation of 4-2-3-1 in which to include all these players. The reasoning was that it allowed me to be symmetrical and find the best attacking and defensive players. With our introduction to the attacking trio, I will solely be focusing on the attacking aspects of the players. Simple defensive metrics will be considered but in this analysis, attacking metrics will have most of the attention and emphasis.
Many players, in the MLS, play interchangeably between the attacking midfielder position and the winger position and as such, both positions will be considered and I will be picking the best three players out of these positions. Just like in the teams of Bayern Munich and Manchester City where players shift from wingers to attacking midfielders, the same occurs in the MLS. Instead of strictly defining the positions, I will consider them in the same context to show you. However, in the background, I will keep the positions in hindsight.
In addition, this data analysis acts as a scout report that narrows our options in recruiting and scouting. It is not meant to act as the definitive guide to the best players in the MLS. Simply, this data analysis’ goal is to roughen up the diamonds and show some gems that people hadn’t considered. To do this analysis, I only have chosen to analyze those players who played more than 20 games in the MLS 2019 season to ensure that our players who are actually consistent and not recording insane statistics from a sample size of 55 minutes.
Analyzing MLS’ attacking midfielders and wingers
Since these players are more inclined to be creative and attack the goal, we’ll start with some basic exploratory analysis with xG expected goals and xA expected assists to get a figure of the more goal-inclined players and more creative players.
Here we see xG per 90 on the x-axis with xA per 90 on the y-axis. The clear goal-hungry player is Carlos Vela who averages an astounding 0.75 xG per 90. In addition to that, he is a very high xA per 90 making him lethal on both sides. Additional names include Ilsinho who ranks himself with the highest xA per 90.
Having marked which type of players are more goal inclined and which are more indirect play inclined, we’ll divide the analysis into analyzing creative play and shooting play.
A good analysis is t
