On Twitter, I post various graphs, mostly of the scatter plot kind, to give A-League fans an idea of the numbers some players are contributing towards their team. It allows us to have a much more coherent understanding of what are the strengths of different players.

This does not necessarily mean that numbers are the purest form of analysis; The eye-test when watching a game is also a crucial part of deliberating on any player. Instead, looking at the data can give us an indication on which players we should be keeping an eye on and taking a deeper look onto, or whether there’s something we might have missed that the numbers can track.

Let’s use these visual statistics — which are updated to Round 22 — to dissect some of the A-League teams and their players.

Sometimes the graph can be hard to read, please click on the link in the caption to get a bigger picture in a new tab if that’s the case.

Why is Brillante hot property?

Steve Corica’s Sydney FC have been average this season, if not slightly disappointing, dropping points to both wooden spoon contenders, Brisbane Roar and Central Coast Mariners. The midfield has sometimes been unable to take control of the game, and others they dictate the tempo flawlessly.

Corica has relied on he midfield pair of Josh Brillante and Brandon O’Neill to control the middle of the park so that his more creative players can venture forward. Both players have done this exceptionally well, but Brillante has a composure and control on the ball that his partner lacks.

Given the awkward position his team are in right now, and overseas interest bringing the prospect of increased wages and opportunities, it’s hardly surprising that Brillante’s head was turned when Pohang Steelers came knocking.

The Sky Blues midfielder has found the perfect combination of finding the right pass often as well as executing it accurately, leading the pack in terms of most passes per 90 minutes as well as the highest accuracy rate for central midfielders in the league with 1000+ minutes.

Coupled with the fact that at 25, Brillante will probably reach the peak of his footballing abilities in the next few years, the interest from Korea makes sense. Reportedly, Pohang are no longer pursuing the capped Socceroos midfielder, but with his contract ending this season, expect many more teams both domestically and internationally to be chasing his contract.

Shot Quality over quantity

Perth Glory are almost undoubtedly the best team in the league, even if that might mean they don’t end up winning the championship. Going forward they are unstoppable at their best with their captain Diego Castro leading the charge.

In somewhat of a contradiction, the current A-League leaders shooting numbers are actually below the league average (11.73 shots per 90), while Newcastle Jets are comfortably first when it comes to taking a punt at goal (14.41 shots per 90).

Even with the most shots, the Jets have one of the lowest goal totals in the league (27), only one above the Mariners and Adelaide United.

Ernie Merrick’s Jets take way too many shots at goal from outside the box and Dimitri Petratos is the main culprit, taking about four shots per game and almost exclusively from distance. Their insistence to have a go from long-range is a waste of possession, and though it can occasionally lead to a goal to remember, they’d be much better served if they held the ball to generate a greater probability chance.

Glory are the best example of this as although they shoot less often than many of their counterparts (11.13 shots per 90), they hold on to the ball until they get into a good position. This gives Castro’s team the absolute best opportunity to find the back of the net, rather than a hopeful shot.

Perth only have 80 shots from outside the box, meaning a healthy majority of their strikes are coming from dangerous areas and they’ve been duly rewarded with the most goals in the league.

Newcastle have the lowest rate when it comes to getting their shots on target, while Perth have the highest. The vast gap between the two when it comes to shots and proportions of shots on target just goes to show that quality is far more important than quantity.

Most creative midfielders in the A-League

Two players that have split opinion this season for their teams are Melbourne Victory’s James Troisi and Western Sydney Wanderers’ Alexander Baumjohann.

Troisi has been a divisive figure this season as his output doesn’t match the expectations the fans have for a Socceroo. He’s clearly shown intent and rarely shies away from the ball, but it always feels like he’s just not doing enough.

Alex Baumjohann on the other hand, reminds me a lot of the Mesut Ozil issue in Arsenal. A creative player, no doubt, but when he’s not at his best he can look a languid figure that becomes a spectator on the field as the game passes by him.

Both players have shown their capabilities for their respective team when at their best, with Troisi leading the league for most through balls (3.7 per 90) and Baumjohann not only leading the league but also 12th in the world for smart passes (4.28 per 90) (you can find the definition of both of those here)

Troisi’s contract is coming to an end this season, and there are rumours flying around; Demand for him is sure to be high with WSW and newcomers Western United both reportedly interested as a marquee signing. Troisi is one of the best Australian players in the league and is definitely better than some of the people that take up foreigners slot. Wherever he ends up, he’s definitely a worthwhile footballer to have.

Baumjohann’s marquee contract is also finishing up, and some might want to see him go as it’s not always clear what he brings to the table. However, with WSW in preparation mode for next season, with the right men in front of him, the German can be a valuable conductor for the former Asian Champions League champions.

Follow me on Twitter @ShababHossain13

All stats are from Wyscout.