Barcelona  resurgence sees them top of the stats but is this fair? Usual blurb: Teams are ranked by positional value added. This is basically the value added +1  divided by the finishing position. That way higher ranked teams can still rank highly in the stats. Barca have a PVA of +2.33 and the highest VA…

Will relegated and promoted sides dominate as predicted? Relegated Galatasaray are a strong all round side no real weakness and sufficient depth with a 90 rated attack. Fellow relegated Stuttgart should make a quick return with a slightly stronger attack but weaker midfield. Shakhtar continue their renaissance and perhaps are a keeper away from the…

Everton favourites to return to D2 No team is massively better than the rest in this division. Everton have the joint best midfield in the league and are solid throughout with stacks of depth. Sunderland in second, are a bit weaker in midfield and lack a little depth compared to their rivals. Liege are a…

Will Inter double bounce? Interestingly Inter are the only promoted or relegated club to feature in the play off positions or better.  They should be mid table D1 and winning as champions is the minimum the fans expect. Second in the stats are Sporting good attack and keeper, pehaps defence is the only weakness.  Internacional…

Many years in the making Lazio top the stats, can the now walk the walk… The Lazio fans won’t accept any more excuses, they now have a well-balanced team ranked above any other in the league. AZ have the most potent attack in the league and they will combine that with a good midfield to…

Shaktar +11 VA and +12 PVA win the title. It would be hard to deny that Shaktar have the performance of the year in D5, fellow promoted teams Boca and Rubin sit 2nd and 3rd in the stats. 4 more teams have +6 VA, Basel, Villareal, Newcastle and Athletic club showing great managerial talent.  Lower…

Fiorentina +16 VA lead the stats in the wildest division of them all. Division 4 was incredibly tight at the start and this has led to some mad VA and PVA. Fiorentina top of the stats and 2nd in the league with a PVA of +8.50 lead league winners Brugge who were 3 places above…

Swans sail away majestically with 1st in league best VA and PVA in division. Always a strong favourite to over perform with a lethal attack Swansea never the less finished 6 places above expected. Playoff bound palace 2nd in the stats with a VA of +6 are ranked just above Zagreb who came in 2nd…

+14 VA Milan top the stats A team that was a relegation favourite gets auto promotion is a great success story. 5 pts clear of 4th and a well-deserved promotion for AC Milan. Man City may feel that they did all they could and won the league with room to spare in the end but…