We combine those with the highest pass success percentage in the Championship to present the pass masters XI. Fulham and Sheffield Wednesday players feature heavily.
Barcelona are renowned for their possession based passing game, as the likes of Andres Iniesta and Xavi have shown in recent years. Current statistical analysis show that Sergio Busquets (92.4% pass success), Arda Turan (92%) and Javier Mascherano (91.5%) are Barcelona’s 2016-17 pass masters thus far.
As a side note, Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos leads the Spanish Primera Division with a 93.4% pass success rate, whilst superstars Lionel Messi (81.4%), Neymar (76.3%) and Luis Suarez (73.9%) are all some way off the most accurate passers in the Championship – and would not make the below line-up of the Championships passing XI.
Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez would not make our line up
England’s second-tier is perhaps not as famous for its brand of free-flowing football as the Spanish top flight may be, but current statistics show that many of the Championship’s players certainly have pass success percentages to rival their La Liga counterparts.
Find out which players make the Championship pass masters XI, including two Fulham players whose data is just as impressive as Barcelona’s Mascherano, in our selection below.
GK – Ali Al Habsi (Reading): The Omani international footballer has kept four clean sheets for Reading this season and currently has a pass success rate of 78.6% – the highest for any goalkeeper in the Championship.
RB – Tomas Kalas (Fulham): Kalas is the first of four Fulham players to make the XI. The defender, on loan from Chelsea, has made eight Championship appearances so far this season and currently has a pass success rate of 88.7%
LB – Jack Colback (Newcastle United): With an 88.8% pass success rate, Newcastle midfielder-turned left-back Jack Colback makes the Championship pass masters XI. The 26-year-old former Sunderland player has also chipped in with an assist for Rafael Benitez’s side so far this season.
CB – Sam Hutchinson (Sheffield Wednesday): Sam Hutchinson makes the line-up thanks to an impressive 89.3% pass success rate. The Sheffield Wednesday defender has been a stalwart at the back for the Owls, and has also managed a goal and an assist in his eleven appearances this campaign.
CB – Michael Mancienne (Nottingham Forest): Mancienne, like Hutchinson and Kalas, is another former Chelsea defender to make the team of pass masters from the Championship season to date. The Forest centre-back is most comfortable with the ball at his feet, as his previous days as a midfielder will testify. Mancienne has a pass success of 88.6%
DM – Scott Parker (Fulham): Having just turned 36 years of age, the tenacious Parker has been deployed in a deeper lying midfield role in comparison to his younger, marauding days. This has enabled the former England international to master his passing game. A pass success rate of 89% would suggest that Parker is indeed one of the most accurate ball players in the Championship.
Crystal Palace’s Yannick Bolasie and Fulham’s Kevin McDonald challenge for the ball
CM – Kevin McDonald (Fulham): The uncapped Scottish midfield player has been crucial to Fulham since his summer arrival from fellow Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers. McDonald currently has a pass success rate of 88.9% and is part of an efficient Fulham midfield – including the aforementioned Parker and the player next on our team sheet.
CM – Tom Cairney (Fulham): Tom Cairney has the best pass success percentage in the entire Championship so far this season with 91.8%. In this team, Fulham midfielder Cairney would be our star performer, the Xavi or Iniesta. Cairney has been on top form for Slavisa Jokanovic this campaign, with three goals and three assists in his twelve league appearances.
Ipswich’s Kevin Bru and Brighton’s Dale Stephens in action
CM – Dale Stephens (Brighton & Hove Albion): With 91.5%, the 26-year-old midfielder has the same pass success percentage as Barcelona star Javier Mascherano. Stephens has been a major contributor to Brighton’s impressive start to the 2016-17 season, which sees Chris Hughton’s side just three points off top spot.
AM – Almen Abdi (Sheffield Wednesday): Despite facing criticism from some, Swiss midfielder Almen Abdi has a pass success percentage of 91.1%. The signing from Watford is the second Sheffield Wednesday player to make our line-up, alongside defender Sam Hutchinson.
CF – Mavin Emnes (Blackburn Rovers): 28-Year-old Marvin Emnes currently has the most successful pass completion rate amongst the Championships centre-forwards, with 87.2%. The Dutch forward has scored three goals and made three assists in his eight league appearances for Blackburn this season.
The Championship ‘Pass Masters’ XI
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