Bundesliga
Bundesliga
15.11.2009 20:27:48
Team of the season... so far!
Over a third of the 2009/10 Bundesliga season has already passed by and the likes of Bayer Leverkusen, Werder Bremen and Hamburger SV are leading the way at the top of the table. No wonder, then, that each of those clubs provide at least two players for our team of the season so far.
Tim Wiese has saved more shots (almost 83 per cent) than anyone else in the Bundesliga, keeping a total of six clean sheets along the way. He almost broke a club record on Matchday 10, but fell an agonising 23 minutes short of Oliver Reck's record of 641 minutes without conceding.
Schalke's Rafinha is the only Royal Blue in the current Dream Team. The right full-back, who often pushes forward into midfield, has impressed once again in his fifth season at the club. He has touched the ball more times than any of his team-mates this term (947) and delivered the most crosses (53). Rafinha's pacey ventures down the right flank have culminated in two assists in the league, as well as a goal in the DFB Cup.
Daniel van Buyten is the boss at the back for Bayern and underlines this status with an impressive tackle success rate of 69 per cent. His attacking capabilities are not to be sniffed at either: No Bayern player has scored more times in the league (3) and along with Thomas Müller, he is the only Münchner to have scored in all three competitions this term.
Leverkusen veteran Sami Hyypiä is one of the most important components of the best defence in the league so far this season (eight conceded). He has made 68 clearances and won almost 60 per cent of his tackles - not to mention the fact that he has had 15 shots on goal himself.
Bayern's Philipp Lahm has slowly developed into one of the most consistent performers at the Allianz Arena. Whether at right or left-back, the German international shines week in, week out. No player in the league has had as many touches of the ball this season than Lahm (1,180), nor has anyone crossed as often (69). The 26-year-old has also won 60 per cent of challenges, while only misplacing ten passes all season.
Daniel van Buyten is the boss at the back for Bayern and underlines this status with an impressive tackle success rate of 69 per cent. His attacking capabilities are not to be sniffed at either: No Bayern player has scored more times in the league (3) and along with Thomas Müller, he is the only Münchner to have scored in all three competitions this term.
Leverkusen veteran Sami Hyypiä is one of the most important components of the best defence in the league so far this season (eight conceded). He has made 68 clearances and won almost 60 per cent of his tackles - not to mention the fact that he has had 15 shots on goal himself.
Bayern's Philipp Lahm has slowly developed into one of the most consistent performers at the Allianz Arena. Whether at right or left-back, the German international shines week in, week out. No player in the league has had as many touches of the ball this season than Lahm (1,180), nor has anyone crossed as often (69). The 26-year-old has also won 60 per cent of challenges, while only misplacing ten passes all season.
Hamburger SV picked up a real bargain in the form of Ze Roberto. The 35-year-old Brazilian has won 61 per cent of his tackles, more than any other midfielder in the Bundesliga. His efforts on goal are also astounding: Five goals make him the highest scorer at the club, and he has also notched a further two assists.
Mesut Özil is having a stormer. The Gelsenkirchen-born trickster is now an essential part of the Germany national team, while Werder Bremen fans have delighted at his involvement in eight league goals so far this season. In total, Özil has been involved in 57 shots on goal, the fifth best record in the league.
The only current Bundesliga champion in the Top 11 is Zvjezdan Misimovic. The Wolfsburg midfield schemer has already struck six times in the league having hit 28 shots himself and being involved in 42 in total - the second best record in the league.
Mesut Özil is having a stormer. The Gelsenkirchen-born trickster is now an essential part of the Germany national team, while Werder Bremen fans have delighted at his involvement in eight league goals so far this season. In total, Özil has been involved in 57 shots on goal, the fifth best record in the league.
The only current Bundesliga champion in the Top 11 is Zvjezdan Misimovic. The Wolfsburg midfield schemer has already struck six times in the league having hit 28 shots himself and being involved in 42 in total - the second best record in the league.
Stefan Kießling seems to have finally made the breakthrough in 2009/10. His eight goals put him atop the goalscoring charts, while he has won a total of 228 challenges - the most in the league. Kießling is on course to beat his previous record of 12 goals (2008/9 season) by Christmas.
Claudio Pizarro has scored four of his six league goals this term with his head, making the Peruvian hitman the most dangerous player in the air in the Bundesliga. His chance conversion rate of 32 per cent is also worth noting.
Eljero Elia has emerged as the dribbling king of the Bundesliga, attempting solo runs on 60 occasions. The Hamburg new boy has already been involved in seven goals and now carries the hopes of the HSV faithful, who have one by one witnessed their strikers fall victim to injury. Only two other players have contested more challenges than the flying Dutchman, who has thrown himself into no less than 183 duels.
Claudio Pizarro has scored four of his six league goals this term with his head, making the Peruvian hitman the most dangerous player in the air in the Bundesliga. His chance conversion rate of 32 per cent is also worth noting.
Eljero Elia has emerged as the dribbling king of the Bundesliga, attempting solo runs on 60 occasions. The Hamburg new boy has already been involved in seven goals and now carries the hopes of the HSV faithful, who have one by one witnessed their strikers fall victim to injury. Only two other players have contested more challenges than the flying Dutchman, who has thrown himself into no less than 183 duels.
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