League Focus: WhoScored's Premier League Ineffective vs Effective XI

For every high there is always a low where football is concerned, and for every standout performer there are those that have enjoyed far less success. In this piece we've compiled an ineffective Premier League XI as well as an effective one, based on a number of statistical feats over the course of the camping gone by.

Neither side featured have been selected for their overall performance (WhoScored.com rating) but rather due to a certain statistical highlight (or lowlight). We start with the ineffective XI, working from back to front.

Ineffective XI

Michel Vorm takes his place between the posts with his form having somewhat dwindled after an excellent debut campaign with Swansea. The Dutchman missed a decent portion of the season through injury, starting just 26 matches, but of all goalkeepers with over 20 appearances this season his save success rate (saves/shots on target faced) was the worst in the league (61.4%).

Our full-backs are Fulham's Sascha Riether and Swansea's Ben Davies. The former had the worst cross accuracy when excluding corners of all players to attempt at least 75 this season, finding a teammate with just 9 of 94 (7.7%). Davies, meanwhile, was dribbled past on more occasions than any other full-back in the top-flight (54).

At the heart of the defence is Newcastle's Michael Williamson, who looked for the direct route more often than not but was wayward with his efforts. The 30-year old had the worst long ball accuracy of any outfielder in the Premier League (30.9%). He's partnered at the back by Swansea newcomer Jordi Amat, whose aerial success rate was by far the lowest of any centre-back to compete in at least 50 duels (37.3%).

On the flanks the bright Yannick Bolasie still came away with the unwanted record of having attempted the most shots without scoring a single goal (48). On the opposite wing, Newcastle's Yoan Gouffran had the worst dribble success rate of all wide men in the division (35.1%).

Partnered in the centre of the park, Mark Noble and Graham Dorrans also make the XI. The West Ham mainstay made the most errors leading to opposition chances of all outfielders in the league (6), while Dorrans made the most key passes without managing to register an assist (32).

Completing the line-up are two strikers that failed to have the desired effect for their respective sides this season. Norwich's summer signing Ricky van Wolfswinkel had 9 clear cut chances this season and failed to convert any of them, while Newcastle's January signing Luuk de Jong played the most minutes of any forward without registering on the scoresheet (671).

Effective XI

In goal in our effective XI, at the opposite end of the spectrum to Vorm here, is Sunderland's Vito Mannone. The Italian certainly won over the fans on Wearside and his heroics helped keep the Black Cats in the top-flight, managing the best save success rate in the Premier League (77.7%).

Our right-back is Seamus Coleman whose cross accuracy when excluding corners of 30.7%, opposed to Riether's, was the best of any full-back to attempt at least 75. West Ham's Guy Demel is our second full-back, with the Ivorian having been dribbled past on just 5 occasions - the lowest of any player in his position - over his 32 appearances.

Our centre-back pairing starts with Steven Caulker, who was the only defender to make 38 appearances without committing a single individual error leading directly to a chance for the opposition. He's joined by Arsenal's Laurent Koscielny, who maintained the best pass accuracy of any player with at least 20 appearances (93.5%).

Lining up in a 4-2-3-1 this time, our central midfield is anchored by Palace's Mile Jedinak. The Australian made a combined total of 272 tackles and interceptions, which was a full 70 clear of nearest rival and teammate Joel Ward. He's joined by the inspired Yaya Touré, whose conversion rate of 31.25% was some way clear of the rest of the players that reached double figures for goals this season.

Out wide, Raheem Sterling justified his England selection having recorded the best dribble success rate of all wingers in the Premier League (64.3%). On the opposite flank Chelsea's André Schürrle takes his place having scored all 4 of the clear-cut chances that fell his way (it's worth noting that Yaya Toure scored 9 of 9 ahead of the German but it's not a case of being so good we picked him twice!)

In behind the striker, we've opted for Aaron Ramsey, who made quite astonishing progress despite suffering injury this season. The Welshman picked up an assist for every 4 key passes he delivered - the best rate of any player with 5+ assists this season - with the quality of his final ball clear for all to see. Up front Sergio Agüero just pips Luis Suarez to the accolade of having played the fewest minutes per goal (90.5) of all of those to have scored at least 5 times during the campaign.

Who would make your ineffective and effective XIs for the season gone by in the Premier League? Let us know in the comments below