Ketsbaia

Today, during my placement at the Press Association, I was given access to the EA Index (formerly Actim) which is the official Premier League system of ranking player match performances. Most matches will see a player get a positive number of points, but sometimes a bad game will see a negative. Some semi-interesting findings I discovered are: - The highest score for a non-winning player was Seb Larsson (Man City 3-3 Sunderland). - The highest score for a losing player went to Demba Ba (Norwich 4-2 Newcastle). - In the top 5 individual performances, 5 were vs QPR. - 3 of the 5 worst performances last season - according to the Index - belong to Louis Saha (this one is for Ali). - The honour of having the highest amount of negative matches goes to Shaun Wright-Phillips (12). Players on 10 are Chris Eagles, Steve Morison and Clint Dempsey, whilst Andy Carroll, Louis Saha, Victor Moses and Franco Di Santo are on 9. The players on 8 are Adel Taarabt, Robert Huth, Cameron Jerome, Dan Sturridge, John-Arne Riise, Kenwyne Jones and Sylvain Ebanks-Blake. - Special mentions must go to Andrei Arshavin (6) and Anthony Modeste (5) who were only in England for half a season. Samba Diakite only got 4, but he made his debut on 25th February and missed 3 matches due to suspension. - Of Victor Moses' 9 negative matches, only 1 came after early January, showing how much he (and Wigan) improved later on. - Jonas Gutierrez lost the most tackles in one match (12) but didn't get booked. - Biggest contrast between home and away scores belongs to Bobby Zamora, followed by Dempsey, Aguero and Mata. They perform better at home. - At the other end, players that perform better away are Steven Fletcher, then Odemwingie, Eagles and Giggs. - Players that have virtually the same home and away scores include Nani, Baines, Parker, Carrick and Van Persie.

Dortmund take inspiration from our legendary FM game and have bought Julian Schieber from Stuttgart.

The super strategy that will see Neil HAULED OFF top spot. Should've kept it secret!

Yeh thats right, though i'm starting to think i shouldnt have revealed that! Ignore it.

Unsure whether to bring in Ozil or Podolski. My strategy is to divide these QFs into 1&2 and then 3&4. I'll start with a 7-4 player split, then for the final two make it 4-7, using only 3 subs for the quarter final period.

He should keep the bedroom talk off the radio tbh.

It's been a good, enjoyable tournament so far. For time to remember it though, we need an iconic player, iconic goal or iconic moment. We've had none of that yet, it's all sort of blended into one homogeneous group stage. Dunno if that's a sign of the internet and everyone knowing everything about players these days. Or maybe these icons are being saved for the knockout stages. I'm excited either way though.

As if someone like Louis Saha can be picky over clubs Even if it is Sunderland. He can just live, socialise and shop in Newcastle like the others.

1) Arsenal aren't gonna spend that much 2) That price is still too low 3) THIS ISN'T GOING TO HAPPEN!!!!

Now up to 10th. Unlimited transfers too....excellent.

Good move for them. I'd have been gutted a few weeks ago but it seems our sights are set higher, so meh.

A lot of us would.

One of the great Premier League strikers. As a player, he'll be missed.

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/view/257725/Alan-Pardew-to-pay-price-of-success/?

So whats everyone's strategy for this new set of transfers?

I know the Porto, Lyon and Sevilla transfer models are well respected, but Twente make loads too. Bryan Ruiz, Ola John, Marko Arnautovic and Eljero Elia all went for loads of money. Douglas probably will too. And yet Tiote went for peanuts

Robben has to be in a flop XI.

All of a sudden, I can't see France beating anyone. Absolutely abysmal performance. Turboturd.

Larsson > Ben Arfa. FACT.

I give up on Benzema after tonight. Sick of him.

holy shit, that was in!

Not fair on Hatem, like. The others have been shit and he's hardly had a chance.

oh my word.

Very nearly a goal for Hatem.

Shit cross by Debuchy. Simps for me, like.