Only a wonder goal from ‘Super’ Gary Hooper denied Swansea all three points in their clash at Carrow Road last time out. They host Everton in a game that can be described as a ‘battle of the passers’.
Making only his fourth appearance of the season, Jordi Amat made a telling-defensive contribution against the Canaries. The youngster is only 21 years of age, but he produced a solid display underlining his excellent potential. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index demonstrates that he was successful in every tackle that he attempted.
Jonathan de Guzman’s outstanding passing ability has been on display all campaign, as he has managed to complete an unrivalled 435 passes in the opposition half, with the nearest Swansea competitor trailing in his wake with 420. The Dutchman was at it again on Sunday, completing 35 passes in the Canaries half – more than any other player in the Swans squad. You can find De Guzman at 11/2 with 888sport.com to score at anytime at the weekend.
Nathan Dyer’s goal took his total of goalscoring contributions (calculated on number of goals and assists) to 4 this term following his goal against Norwich. This put him third in the EA SPORTS Player Performance Swansea table, with Wilfred Bony sitting one ahead of him with 5, and Summer signing Jonjo Shelvey leading the way with 7.
Leon Britton is a Swansea man through and through, having played for them since they were loitering in the depths of the Football League. He has always coped incredibly well with the rigours of rising up each division, and throughout his time in the Premier League he has earned plaudits for his outstanding passing ability. This skill of his has been evident again this season, as he has completed a pass in the opposition half at an impressive rate of a pass every 3.2 minutes.
Everton’s seamless transition to life under Roberto Martinez continued with an impressive 4-1 victory over Fulham on Saturday, with Spanish sensation Gerard Deulofeu getting on the scoresheet again.
One of the first moves that Roberto Martinez has made since taking the reins at Everton is making Ross Barkley the lynchpin of his offensive play. Despite barely featuring last term, Barkley’s star has risen at a remarkable speed this campaign as he has been elevated to not only an integral member of the Everton team, but an England international. Sitting just behind the striker, Barkley has been spraying the ball about, fashioning chances for his teammates with his wide array of passing. He continued in this vein of form on Saturday completing an incredible 39 passes in Fulham’s half – the most in the Everton squad, and tellingly considering Brazil next year, the most of any Englishman.
Gareth Barry is another Englishman who Roberto Martinez has placed emphasis on this season, as he has featured regularly for Everton since his arrival on Merseyside. Roberto Martinez has described his partnership with James McCarthy as the ‘best in the league’ with their ability to interlink with intricate passes, and shield the back four an essential component in Everton’s success. Barry’s ability to protect the defence was evident again on Saturday as he completed a solid 60% of his challenges.
Spanish sensation Gerard Deulofeu has made an incredible impact since his loan move to Everton in the Summer. Eyebrows were raised when Roberto Martinez secured his signature, as the winger is not only 19 years of age but also has a slight frame, which pundits suggested would lead to him struggling with the rigours of the Premier League. He may have taken a while to adapt, but the Barcelona youngster is starting to show what he’s all about as he’s scored 2 goals in his last 2 games. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index suggests that more goals are likely to come for Deulofeu, as of the 16 shots he has taken this term, he has hit the target with an impressive 81% of them.
Phil Jagielka has led from the front this season after taking the captain’s armband following Phil Neville’s retirement. The England international has been a colossus in defence for the Toffees all campaign, making a total of 215 defensive contributions (based on blocks, clearances, interceptions and tackles won). Perhaps a more surprising statistic, considering he has featured in every minute of the campaign so far, is that he has not been booked once. This is an excellent record for a defender and demonstrates his fantastic ability to read the game, and propensity to shire away from reckless challenges.