The past month has seen Man United’s young squad grab the headlines for a series of attacking, energetic displays that have fired the club to the top of the Premier League. With Borussia Dortmund’s brilliant young side capturing last season’s Bundesliga, the importance of youth in today’s game has never been so topical.
Only yesterday, Jonathan Wilson highlighted this very point and with that in mind, WhoScored have looked at each of the main European leagues to highlight the best young players in each of the top divisions in the month gone by.
Beginning with Ligue 1, we showcase the best XI from each league and –paying particular attention to those players who have played 2 or more of the 4 matchdays- highlight the top performers in the 2011/12 campaign so far:
Best Goalkeeper
Baptiste Reynet, Dijon. Age 20. WhoScored rating 7.75
Given a start in Dijon’s second game after an opening day 5-1 defeat, Reynet has excelled. He’s chalked up 2 clean sheets in three games, conceding just 2 goals. Reynet has also made 4.7 saves and 2.7 good claims per match, with his performances seeing him pick up 1 man of the match award so far.
Best Defender
Faouzi Ghoulam, St Etienne. Age 20. WhoScored rating 7.23
St Etienne sit eighth in the table and the left-back has been one of their key performers. His side have conceded just three goals in their opening four games and Ghoulam’s displays in his three appearances have been a major contribution to this record. He has made 2.7 tackles per game –the most of any of their back-four- and has also made 1.7 interceptions and 3 clearances. In addition, his threat in the air has seen him win 80% of aerial duels.
In terms of attacking, Ghoulam has made 1.7 successful crosses per game- more than any St Etienne player- and has registered an average of 0.7 key passes. A tally of 0.7 successful dribbles per game is the third highest at the club so far- with stats so strong in comparison to his team mates, it’s easy to see just why he’s so key to Les Verts.
Best Midfield Ball Winner
Eric Tie Bi, Evian Thonon Gaillar. Age 21. WhoScored rating 7.14
The Ivorian has been sensational for the newly-promoted side. Tie Bi’s tenacious performances in the middle of the park has seen him make 4.5 tackles (in comparison his midfield partner Olivier Sorlin has made 2.7) as well as 3 interceptions per game, and he’s also won 75% of aerial duels on his way to picking up 2 man of the match awards from WhoScored.
In possession, he has made 45.5 passes per game- the most of any Evian player- and his 78% pass accuracy is also highest at the club. In addition, he is also the second-best creator at the club, making 1.3 key passes per game, and has picked up 1 assist. Tie Bi has also made 0.8 successful dribbles and 0.3 shots per game and, in his first taste of the big time, looks a real prospect.
Best Creator
Eden Hazard, Lille. Age 20. WhoScored rating 7.75
The left winger played all four games for Lille last month. He’s yet to find the net and assisted just 1 of the club’s 6 goals so far, but Hazard has still been remarkably consistent. The winger has managed 2.35 shots per game –second only to Moussa Sow for the champions- and has been the club’s chief creator, with 2.8 key passes per game.
Hazard’s distribution has seen him make 52 passes per game with an 81% accuracy and his ability out wide has brought 2.5 successful crosses and 3 successful dribbles per game, easily the most impressive of any Lille player. His trickery has seen him targeted by the opposition, though, as Hazard has suffered 4.3 fouls per game.
Best Goalscorer
Ryad Boudabouz, Sochaux. Age 21. WhoScored rating 7.63
The right winger has been a sensation in the opening month of the season for Sochaux. Scoring three of his side’s seven goals, Boudabouz is joint-second top scorer in Ligue 1 as his performances has helped fire the club to sixth place.
While Marvin Martin has failed to hit the heights of last season, Boudabouz has been an inspiration. He has averaged 1.5 shots per game and when in possession, made an average 2.8 key passes, which have brought him 1 assist. On the flanks, the winger has made 1.8 successful crosses and 2.3 successful dribbles per game as his ability to take a man on has undone many a back-four.
Boudabouz has also shown he’s willing to help out defensively, with 2 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per game and has picked up 2 man of the match awards in his 4 appearances.
