WhoScored.com, a data centric website for football has recently provided results of a rating system they use that has revealed the top 10 signings in the SPFL this season as reported by Sky Sports.
According to the WhoScore.com website the ratings are created using the following methods:
“Player ratings are based on each event recorded in the game calculated live automatically using our own algorithms, which comprise of over 200 raw statistics. All events are valued based on a researched perception of the effect on the outcome of the match. Positive events are valued against negative events”
Using these algorithms, they can reveal that included in their top 10 signings of the summer are 5 players from the Celtic squad. This won’t be a shock to many as we signed more players than any other team in the SPFL this season, what will surprise to a lot of Celtic fans though is who made the list and especially what order they ranked.
I think most fans would agree that our standout player so far this season has been Japanese international Kyogo Furuhashi. After 5 league games he has got 4 goals to his name. I think the fact we really struggled in the few games he missed due to a knee injury proves how important a player he is to this current Celtic team. His movement, intelligence and overall work rate has endeared him to Celtic fans and he is a huge fan favourite.
Surprisingly though Kyogo hasn’t topped this list. That accolade has fallen to his teammate, on loan Portuguese winger Jota. While we can all agree Jota has had a great start to his Celtic career it will come as a surprise to many that he has beat Kyogo in this list. Kyogo ended up 6th in the list with Liel Abada 2nd. To have our 3 attacking players in the top 6 coincides with what we have been seeing on the pitch. Our attacking play had been good it’s been defensively that we have struggled.
This is where the ratings start to get a bit more surprising. Our current centre back pairing, that have come in for a fair bit of criticism, have both made the list with Carter-Vickers coming in 3rd and Carl Starfelt coming in 7th. Now Carter-Vickers you can maybe make a case for but Carl Starfelt I’m not so sure. He has looked a bag of nerves in a Celtic shirt and hasn’t inspired confidence amongst our fan base.
The 5 Celtic players in the top 10 rankings according to Whoscored.com is included below:
7. Carl Starfelt (7.16/10)
The first of five new Celtic signings to feature in this list, Carl Starfelt has transitioned well to the Scottish Premiership, even if the Parkhead club faltered in the opening weeks of the campaign.
The Swede had a better success rate (91.4%) than any other player in the Russian Premier League last season, and he’s bettered that return this time around, with a pass accuracy of 91.8% – the second-best in the division. A return of 28 aerial duels won is also a solid return and has helped Starfelt to a WhoScored.com rating of 7.16.
6. Kyogo Furuhashi (7.24/10)
As a replacement for Odsonne Edouard, Kyogo Furuhashi has performed admirably, as evidenced in his WhoScored.com rating of 7.24.
Joining from Vissel Kobe, Furuhashi has already scored more goals (four) than any other Celtic player this season, and is one of two players to have bagged a hat-trick in 2021/22.
Having also been used from the left, the Japanese star’s best form has come through the middle and after starting well, supporters are hoping he will continue to improve as Celtic look to turn their fortunes around.
3. Cameron Carter-Vickers (7.40/10)
Celtic occupy all three podium spots on this leaderboard with Cameron Carter-Vickers the third-best rated new arrival in the Scottish Premiership having earned a WhoScored.com rating of 7.40 from his four outings.
Despite playing in only half of Celtic’s matches, the American ranks among the top 10 players for accurate passes (335) in the division.
Five aerial duels won per game also places Carter-Vickers among the top 10 in the league as the youngster eases into life in Scotland.
2. Liel Abada (7.42/10)
The Bhoys have stumbled upon a gem of a player in Liel Abada, who already has three goals and two assists to his name from his eight outings.
Only Calvin Ramsey (24) has made more key passes than the Israeli (22) in the Scottish Premiership this season, while the 20-year-old’s nine clear-cut goalscoring chances is also the most in the division. With a WhoScored.com rating of 7.42, Abada has certainly made an immediate impact in Scotland.
1. Jota (7.54/10)
Occupying top-spot on this leaderboard is Portuguese winger Jota. The 22-year-old has been named the WhoScored.com man of the match in two of his four league outings for Celtic; only St. Mirren’s Jamie McGrath (three) has won more this term.
Jota has worked hard off the ball for the good of the team, averaging 1.8 tackles per game, while two key passes and 1.8 dribbles per game has seen him land a rating of 7.54. What is clear is that with Furuhashi and Abada joining Jota in this countdown, the Celtic attack shows plenty of promise in the months to come.
Conall McGinty
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