MLS released the Castrol Index for the rankings of the best players in the MLS.
1) What is the Castrol Index?
The Castrol Index is the Official Performance Index of Major League Soccer and uses the latest technology to objectively analyze player performance to help you see soccer from a completely different perspective.
2) How is the Castrol Index calculated?
The Castrol Index tracks every move on the field and assesses whether it has a positive or negative impact on a team’s ability to score or concede a goal.
A key factor for all areas of performance in the Castrol Index is in which zone on the pitch the action takes place. Players receive points for each successful pass they complete, but the number of points awarded depends on which zones the ball is passed from and received in. Similarly, misplaced or intercepted passes are penalised depending on how much trouble the mistake is likely to land the team in.
The Castrol Index is also able to split up the rewards of a goal between penalising the goalkeeper for letting in a shot he should have saved and rewarding the attacker for scoring a goal. The number of Castrol Index points awarded for tackles, interceptions and blocked shots also depends on which zone they are made. Successfully taking the ball from a striker near the penalty spot will earn more points than a tackle out on the wing. Conceding free kicks and penalties will result in deductions.
More after the jump
The Top 10:
Here is how the Portland Timbers are ranked:
Notes:
- Not sure I agree with different "zones" recieving more emphasis than others because a 1-0 win with a ton of defense is still a win compared to a 6-0 thrashing.
- Rodney Wallace is 22nd while Dax McCarty is 164th and we have Diego Chara. Anyone still having doubts on that trade?