WhoScored Ligue 1 All Star XI for August

While Paris St Germain stole the summer headlines with an influx of big-money signings, the WhoScored ratings back up the idea they’ve yet to gel as a side. None of their players make our Ligue 1 XI for the month gone by, while surprise front pair Montpellier and Lyon supply two apiece.  Champions Lille also contribute a pair of players- despite being down in seventh place, Rudi Garcia’s side are just two points off the top in what has been a closely-contested Ligue 1 campaign thus far. Here are some of the stand-out performers:

Mathieu Debuchy, Lille. WhoScored rating 7.38
The right-back has had a storming start to the season; netting two of the champions’ six goals, Debuchy is Lille’s joint-top scorer alongside Moussa Sow. He has averaged 0.8 shots and 0.8 key passes per game, but it’s Debuchy’s ability to beat an opponent that is his strongest attacking stat; 1.3 successful dribbles is second only to flying winger Eden Hazard for the club.

He is also second to Hazard for successful crosses (0.8) and distribution-wise, the right-back has averaged 35.8 passes with an 80% accuracy. A great all-round set of performances are highlighted by delving into Debuchy’s defensive stats- he’s made more tackles (3.3) than any Lille player, with Rio Mavuba next best on 2.8 and is also the most impressive in the air, with a 69% aerial success.

In addition, he’s averaged 1.5 interceptions –the best of the champions’ back-four- and 4.8 clearances as well as 0.5 blocks per game. For his strong performances at either end of the pitch, Debuchy has picked up 1 man of the match award for his displays to date.

Bruno Ecuele Manga, L’Orient. WhoScored rating 7.49
Ecuele Manga has been a rock at the heart of L’Orient’s back-four. The centre-half has made 4.5 tackles per game, the most of any team mate, and almost double the tally of central defensive partner Grégory Bourillon (2.3).

Ecuele Manga has also averaged 2 interceptions and a fantastic 9.8 clearances at the back- Bourillon is next best with 5.3, indicating just how much more security his partner offers the L’Orient defence. An average 0.3 blocked shots and 69% aerial duel success –again, top for his side- highlights a superb defensive display.

In possession, his distribution is safe- Ecuel Manga has been dispossessed just 0.3 times per game and has averaged 33.5 passes with an 88% accuracy, though he has failed to make any key passes. The centre half is also a threat in the opposition box, managing 1.5 shots per game and he’s also demonstrated an ability on the ball, averaging 0.5 dribbles per game.

Mathieu Valbuena, Marseille. WhoScored rating 7.68
While Marseille have struggled to replicate the form that saw them finish runners-up last season, their right winger has been superb. Valbuena has played a part in 5 of his side’s 6 Ligue 1 goals so far this season but inept performances elsewhere in the side mean Marseille finished the month of August with just three points from four games.

The winger is ranked just fifth for goal attempts (1.5) for his side but has been the most clinical finisher- 2 goals sees him joint-top scorer . In terms of creativity, he is head and shoulders above the rest with 3 key passes per game –the next best is right-back César Azpilicueta with 1.7. Valbuena has resultantly returned 3 assists for Marseille- only one other player, Jeremy Morel (1), has any at all.

Though he tends not to dribble- with an average of just 0.5- Valbuena has made 3 successful crosses per game, more than the rest of the Marseille team combined. A fantastic contribution, despite the fact he makes just 30 passes per game.

Alain Traore, Auxerre. WhoScored rating 7.95
Playing in the hole behind lone forward Ben Sahar in Auxerre’s 4-2-3-1, Traore has been a goal scoring sensation so far. The twenty-two year old has averaged 4 shots per game and has scored 5 of his side’s 8 Ligue 1 goals. Traore has also been the club’s main creative presence, averaging 2.8 key passes per game, though has yet to pick up an assist in his four appearances.

Auxerre’s tactics are based around getting the little playmaker on the ball as much as possible- he has averaged 43.5 passes per game, once again, this is the most of any player in the side. Traore has a 74% pass accuracy and has averaged 1 through ball per game. He also impresses defensively, making 2 tackles and 0.5 interceptions per game and is the only Auxerre player to pick up a man of the match award so far this campaign.

Olivier Giroud, Montpellier. WhoScored rating 7.55
Giroud’s goals have helped shoot Montpellier to the top of the table after four rounds of Ligue 1 matches.  Playing as a lone striker in the club’s 4-2-3-1 system, the twenty-four year old tends not to see much of the ball- he has made just 22 passes per game, the lowest of any Montpellier player, and has averaged just 0.5 key passes- clearly his game is not based around creativity.

His job is to put the ball in the net and so far, Giroud has scored 2 of his side’s 9 goals and been the top goal threat for the league leaders, with 3.3 shots per game almost double of the next best-ranked, John Utaka (1.8). The number of successful dribbles (0.3) is minimal and again highlights his purely goal-getting role in the Montpellier side- playing high up the pitch and looking for the final pass from others, he’s been caught offside 1.8 times per game, more than any team mate.

Giroud’s minimal defensive contribution continues this thinking (a mere 0.3 tackles and 0.5 interceptions) though it’s clear his work-rate could easily be improved upon. The forward has also won 71% of aerial duels and picked up 1 man of the match award so far.