There are lies, damned lies and statistics. That’s how the old saying goes and it can certainly be applied to football in the modern day with the rise of advanced analytics.
Of course, stats have their place and they are here to stay. They can give a clearer picture of a player’s worth. For instance, if you think somebody is good at crossing but he only hits a team-mate with 20 per cent of his attempts, he probably isn’t all that good at crossing after all.
But there are a number of attributes that, due to the fluid nature of football, are much harder to measure in numbers.
Throughout each season Wyscout, the scouting and analysis software used by clubs across the globe, keeps a table of the best player at each position in the major leagues.
As you’ll see from their team of the season so far, they often get it right. There aren’t too many in this list of 11 you’d quibble with too much. However, as you’ll see, the bare stats can be very misleading in some cases.

. GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - JANUARY 11: Shane Duffy in action for Celtic during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Hibernian at Celtic Park on January 11, 2021, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group)
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - JANUARY 11: Shane Duffy in action for Celtic during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Hibernian at Celtic Park on January 11, 2021, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group) Photo: Ross MacDonald - SNS Group

. GK - Allan McGregor (Rangers)
Back-up: Jak Alwnick (St Mirren) Photo: Alan Harvey - SNS Group


1. GK - Allan McGregor (Rangers)
Back-up: Jak Alwnick (St Mirren) Photo: Alan Harvey - SNS Group


3. DL - Borna Barisic (Rangers)
Back-up: Scott Tanser (St Johnstone) Photo: Craig Foy - SNS Group

4. DC - Connor Goldson (Rangers)
Back-up: Kristoffer Ajer (Celtic) Photo: Alan Harvey - SNS Group