James McClean is the best and most consistent Irish player at present.
The West Bromwich Albion midfielder tops the club power rankings for his country – the same power rankings that have taken on a whole new shape yet again.
With Wes Hoolahan reduced to the bench in Norwich’s hour of need by a hapless Alex Neil, with John O’Shea dropped, Jon Walters injured, and the form of available players ever-changing, there’s been some serious shifting in the table of Ireland’s best club players.
James McCarthy’s suspension sees him drop a little in the standings.
Paul McShane’s scrap with a team mate meant he didn’t play at the weekend either and Ciaran Clark and Richard Keogh – the pair that guided the country through the play-offs – grab their spots at centre half.
You won't get a nicer apology for trying to box a teammate than Paul McShane's https://t.co/L5gaflZB6Q
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) April 16, 2016
Preston full back, Greg Cunningham, has barged his way into the top 11 with sheer consistency for the Championship club whilst Blackburn midfielder and national under-21 skipper Darragh Lenihan continues to impress.
But it is James McClean who leads the way despite West Brom’s poor run of form of late.
A reminder of the stipulations:
- Only league games are considered (based on the WhoScored rating each player receives).
- Stats only include Premier League and Championship performances.
- Each player’s last three league games constitutes their form rating.
- 0.5 will be deducted for each match a player misses in his own ‘Last Three Games’ period.
- To account for standard, Championship players will be rated at 80% of their form.
Basing it solely off the statistics and the players in the most form – and the need for a ‘keeper of course – here’s the XI Martin O’Neill should choose if he was looking simply at the match ratings.
With Brady, Coleman, Christie, and Doherty in there, the side boasts four full backs but it doesn’t work out too badly.
Many have cried out for the experimentation of Derby man Cyrus Christie at left back given how he impresses when deployed for Ireland and considering he’s competing with Seamus Coleman on the right, God love him.
As the only Irish ‘keeper in England starting regularly for his club, Keiren Westwood is taking his sweet time in overtaking Rob Elliott in the power rankings, despite the Newcastle goalie missing the last three games.
It’s an interesting team if nothing else.
