The Debate Continues: The Best Players in Ligue 1

By: Sarah | November 1st, 2009

Who are the best players in Ligue 1?

A few weeks ago, Thomas proposed his list of Ligue 1’s top 50 players. While there were some suggested changes to move a few players a few slots up or down in the comments– in general the readers (or at least those who felt strongly enough to comment) seemed to agree with his list. I had been thinking about this list myself when the Castrol rankings were revealed last week. So, I thought– how would the “objective measurements” used in the Castrol rankings system compare to a more opinionated list that included less quantifiable types of measurements– such as beauty of performance, personality showed on and off the pitch, previous displays of ability in prior seasons, loyalty to team– qualities in players that inspires fans to buy tickets, watch games in rain or shine, buy their jerseys and demand to know more about them as people.

So What are the Castrol Rankings?

The Castrol index is based on the amount of points a player scores using a formula designed by “Castrol performance analysts”. Points are calculated based on quantifiable, objective measurements which are taken during the course of the game. Here are some examples of ways players can earn and lose points during the course of a game (please note that this list is not exhaustive).

Ways to Earn Points

Successful tackles, interceptions and blocked shots (weighted based on how close it happens to the penalty box)
Scoring a goal (all goals worth equal value)
Successful pass completions (weighted based on where on the field the pass is made from and where it is received on the field so passes made within your own half are worth less points).
Assisting a goal
Creating chances (making a pass that allows a teammate to make an attempt on goal, includes goal assists)
Goal Attempts (weighted so that on-target attempts are worth more points than off-target attempts)
Winning a Duel (this includes getting the opponent to force a foul, winning an aerial duel and a successful dribble)
Successful blocks (for goalies these points are weighted based on how the goalie blocked the goal– for example, forcing a corner would receive less points)
Saving a shot (for goalies, these points are weighted based on how the goalie saves the shot– diving, standing, parry or catching the ball)
Maintaining a clean sheet (goalies only)

Ways to Lose Points

Unsuccessful Pass Completions (weighted based on where on the field the pass is intercepted)
Losing a Duel (this includes forcing a foul, unsuccessful dribbling, unsuccessful tackling and being beaten in an aerial duel)
Allowing a goal (goalie)
Unsuccessful tackles, interceptions and blocked shots (weighted based on how close it happens to the penalty box)

To compile these points, the Castrol “performance analysts” review every movement and action performed in a game. Once they have analyzed all the action, they are then able to assign each player a score out of 10 (higher scores indicate a better performance).

For these scores to be used in the ranking system, they first have to be crunched and weighted to take into consideration the importance of each match played. For this system, European games are deemed to be more important, and thus worth more points, than regular league games. Once the scores have been weighted, the points are then used in another formula to provide each player with an average of their playing ability over 90 minutes. For more information on the formula’s used please visit Castrol’s website, particularly the FAQ, information on the index section, and information on the rankings section.

So What is Ligue 1’s weighted value?

As I mentioned before, the ranking system weights the leagues based on difficulty and strength. The ranking of the leagues is:

1. UEFA Champions League Knockout stage
2. UEFA Champions League Group Stage
3. Spain La Liga Primera Division
4. England Premier league
5. Germany Bundesliga
6. Italy Serie A
7. France Ligue 1

Though these weights can be adjusted at the end of the season to reflect any changes in the strengths of the domestic leagues.

And how did Ligue 1 players Fare?

*Please note that the ranking column refers to the players ranking in the overall, aggregate Castrol rankings. So, the highest placed Ligue 1 player, who is 24th in the aggregate rankings, would therefore be the number 1 player in Ligue 1 (according to the Castrol rankings system).

Castrol’s Top 20 The Offside’s Top 20

Notice any differences? It gets even better the farther down the rankings we go…..

Castro’s 20-40 The Offside’s 20-40

Last Import - 4 Nov 1, 2009 - 09

Castro’s 41-50 The Offside’s 41-50

Most Shocking Difference?

So who were you shocked by when we looked at the “objective facts”? Are there players that we overrated? Or does the Castro system no take into account all the factors that make great players great?

Biggest shocks for me: Chamakh (38 vs. 10), Diarawa (42 vs. 9), Sessegnon (50 vs. 8), Douchez (1 vs not even on our list!), Carrasso (2 vs. 28), Toulalan (not on Castro’s list vs. 7)

There was definitely a higher representation of goalies in the Castro list.

Europa Cup games were not counted.

Differences in Club Representation

Marseille: 10 in Castro’s list vs. 8 in the Offside’s list
PSG: 3 in Castro’s list vs. 5 in the Offside’s list
Lyon: 5 in Castro’s list vs. 9 in the Offside’s list
Bordeaux: 8 in Castro’s list vs. 6 in the Offside’s list
Toulouse: 4 in the Castro’s list vs. 4 in the Offside’s list
St. Etienne: 1 in the Castro’s list vs. 2 in the Offside’s list
Nice: 1 in the Castro’s listvs. 1 in the Offside’s list
Monaco: 2 in the Castro’s list vs. 2 in the Offside’s list
Auxerre: 4 in the Castro’s list vs. 2 in the Offside’s list
Sochaux: 1 in the Castro’s list vs. 0 in the Offside’s list
Boulogne: 1 in the Castro’s list v. 0 in the Offside’s list
Valencienne: 3 in the Castro’s list vs. 0 in the Offside’s list
Le Mans: 0 in the Castro’s list vs. 1 in the Offside’s list
Lille: 2 in the Castro’s list vs. 3 in the Offside’s list
Lens: 0 in the Castro’s list vs. 1 in the Offside’s list
Lorient: 1 in the Castro’s list vs. 2 in the Offside’s list
Rennes: 2 in the Castro’s list vs. 2 in the Offside’s list
Other Clubs: 0 other players vs. the Offside’s 2 players from 2 different clubs (Montpellier and Nancy)