Football / Reaction / Missing Players 06 03 10

Missing Players (06/03/10)

Bettorlogic have found a selection of the key missing players from across Europe's major leagues.

Bayern Munich's Martin Dimechelis

 

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NB: Player appearances are based on a player starting and completing at least 60 minutes. The sample is based on a team’s home and away league matches since the start of last season unless otherwise stated.


Koln v Bayern Munich

Argentinean centre-back Martin Demichelis’ injury while on international duty in midweek has given Louis van Gaal a defensive headache for their trip to Koln this weekend with his squad light on cover at the back. Demichelis is likely to be out for three weeks after fracturing his eye-socket, cheekbone, and upper jaw in Argentina’s 1-0 win over Germany.

Demichelis has been at Bayern since the 2003/04 season and has developed into one of the Bavarian giant’s most important defenders in that time, and since the start of last term he’s played 41 and missed 17 of Bayern’s games. His record in that time has been good as Bayern have won 66% of their games with him compared to just 47% without, and their average points per game has fallen by 19%, from 2.17 to 1.76, when he’s been missing. In fact his return to the team earlier this season sparked Bayern’s surge up the table as after they’d won just five of their first 11 games – all of which Demichelis missed – they’ve won 11 of 14 since then without losing.

The former River Plate star has missed nine of 28 away games since 2008/09 and that’s seen a 40% increase in their average goals conceded – up from 0.95 per game with Demichelis to 1.33 without – and they’ve been level at half-time in six of their nine matches without him.


St Etienne v Lille

Lille’s hopes of mounting a challenge for the title this season look to have been hit hard by the loss of their star forward Gervinho. The Ivorian is the third highest scorer in Ligue 1 this season and in the 18 matches he’s played for Lille since his summer move from Le Mans they’ve won 12 times with just two defeats, while without him Lille have lost five of eight games (W2-D1-L5) as their PPG has fallen from 2.22 to just 0.88. Given the goal threat that Gervinho presents it’s no surprise to see that Lille’s average goals-scored are down from 2.22 per game with him to just 1.12 without – a 50% drop.


Hoffenheim v Mainz

Isaac Vorsah is out for Hoffenheim for the next six weeks after damaging knee ligaments in their 2-0 win at Hertha Berlin last Saturday, while another first-choice defender Marvin Compper also picked up a knock that looks likely to keep him out this week.

Ghana’s 2007 “Defender of the Year” Vorsah has played 21 of 58 games for Hoffenheim since the start of last season and with him in the team Hoffe have conceded 12% fewer goals per game than without – down from 1.41 to 1.24. Similarly, in the eight matches that Compper has missed in the same time Hoffe have leaked 13 goals (1.63 per game). As a result of their weakened defence without Vorsah there has been an increase in the number of matches with over 2.5 goals; from 43% with him to 68% without.


Everton v Hull

Everton look to extend their home winning streak to six this weekend against Hull, and the Tigers’ hopes of success have been hit hard by the injury to defender Anthony Gardner who was stretchered off against West Ham last week with ankle ligament damage.

Gardner’s career has been beset by injuries and this latest problem comes after he’d played 18 consecutive matches for Phil Brown’s team. Worryingly for Hull their record in the 24 matches that Gardner’s missed since the middle of last season, is a miserable one win, five draws and 18 defeats including 13 L/Ls and 10 defeats by two or more goals. In total Gardner’s played 27 and missed 38 of Hull’s games since the start of last season and their loss rate has increased from 37% with him to 58% without, while their average goals conceded have risen by 15% from 1.67 to 1.92 when he’s been absent.

Hull’s away record is a particularly bad one this season as they remain winless and it is hard to believe that they managed to win at both Arsenal and Spurs at the start of last term. Moreover, they’ve managed just three points from their last 13 away games without Gardner, during which they’ve suffered eight L/Ls and been beaten by two or more goals on seven occasions.


West Ham v Bolton

Things are looking up for West Ham – they’ve kept clean sheets in each of their last four home games and climbed the table from a perilous 19th to a more secure 13th position thanks to three wins in those four matches. Moreover, they welcome a Bolton side that is severely hampered by the continued absences of Gary Cahill and Gavin McCann.

The Trotters finally won their first match without Cahill since the start of last season, when they beat Wolves 1-0 at home last weekend, at the 10th attempt. However, their record still shows six defeats in those 10 matches, including just one point from five road away during which they’ve scored only once. McCann is also an important figure for Bolton and their average goals conceded have risen from 1.27 per game in the 33 matches he’s played to 1.88 in the 32 he’s missed – a 48% increase.

 
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