Actim Index
Encyclopedia
The Actim Index is the official player ratings system of the Barclays Premiership, Coca-Cola Championship
, and Scottish Premier League
. It is compiled and distributed by PA Sport, a subsidiary of the Press Association
. In 2010, it was renamed as the EA Sports Player Performance Index.
The EA Index ranks players on a weekly basis, according to their performances on the pitch, both by position and in an overall chart, throughout the season. The EA Index rankings are based on a player's aggregate score for all matches played. Each player's contribution to matches is calculated using a mathematical formula developed by PA Sport, alongside statisticians from Salford University. Contributions which are examined include goals, shots, passes, dribbles, tackles, crosses, saves, clearances, blocks, interceptions, time on the pitch and number of points gained by their team. The formula has not been made public, and the lack of public scrutiny had rendered the index largely irrelevant.
Strikers tend to do well on the index, as in the 2007–08 season; the highest rated performers were Cristiano Ronaldo
, Emmanuel Adebayor
, Fernando Torres
, Roque Santa Cruz
, and Carlos Tévez
. Gareth Barry
and Cesc Fàbregas
are the highest rated non-forwards; there are four defenders in the top 20. The basis of the index is that players are awarded points for contributions that influence the match outcome; the greater the influence of a contribution to greater the points awarded for that contribution. It is perhaps not surprising therefore that strikers have a tendency to lead the index.
Two additional calculations were added for the 2006–07 season, which take into account player assists, clean sheets for defenders and goalkeepers. This has increased the amount of variables by which a player is now measured.
The data is collected by a representative from the Professional Footballers Association (PFA), usually an ex-player, at every Premiership and Championship league match. Video footage is then used to verify the information, before the Index is generated and published.
The list of the Top 100 players and Top 5 players by position is updated during the football season every Tuesday, for the Barclays Premiership and every Thursday, for the Coca-Cola Championship, and is available on the FAPL website. PA Sport also distributes weekly media advisories, which contain updates on the latest player rankings. The Premiership and Championship Index Alerts are published every week, following the announcement of the Index for each league.
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
, and Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
. It is compiled and distributed by PA Sport, a subsidiary of the Press Association
Press Association
The Press Association is the national news agency of the United Kingdom and Ireland, supplying multimedia news content to almost all national and regional newspapers, television and radio news, as well as many websites with text, pictures, video and data content globally...
. In 2010, it was renamed as the EA Sports Player Performance Index.
The EA Index ranks players on a weekly basis, according to their performances on the pitch, both by position and in an overall chart, throughout the season. The EA Index rankings are based on a player's aggregate score for all matches played. Each player's contribution to matches is calculated using a mathematical formula developed by PA Sport, alongside statisticians from Salford University. Contributions which are examined include goals, shots, passes, dribbles, tackles, crosses, saves, clearances, blocks, interceptions, time on the pitch and number of points gained by their team. The formula has not been made public, and the lack of public scrutiny had rendered the index largely irrelevant.
Strikers tend to do well on the index, as in the 2007–08 season; the highest rated performers were Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, OIH, , commonly known as Cristiano Ronaldo, is a Portuguese footballer who plays as a winger or striker for Spanish La Liga club Real Madrid and is the captain of the Portuguese national team...
, Emmanuel Adebayor
Emmanuel Adebayor
Sheyi Emmanuel Adebayor is a Togolese footballer who plays for Tottenham Hotspur as a striker on loan from Manchester City. He plays in the same position for the Togo national team. Adebayor previously played for Metz, Monaco and Arsenal and was voted African Footballer of the Year for 2008...
, Fernando Torres
Fernando Torres
Fernando José Torres Sanz , nicknamed , is a Spanish footballer who plays for Chelsea and the Spain national team as a striker....
, Roque Santa Cruz
Roque Santa Cruz
Roque Luis Santa Cruz Cantero is a Paraguayan footballer currently playing as a striker for La Liga club Real Betis on loan from Manchester City and the Paraguay national football team....
, and Carlos Tévez
Carlos Tévez
Carlos Alberto Tévez is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for English club Manchester City...
. Gareth Barry
Gareth Barry
Gareth Barry is an English footballer who plays for Manchester City and the England national football team.Barry moved to Aston Villa from Brighton & Hove Albion as a youngster, and spent 12 years at the club. He captained Aston Villa, and, at the end of his career with the club, lay eighth in...
and Cesc Fàbregas
Cesc Fàbregas
Francesc "Cesc" Fàbregas i Soler is a Spanish footballer who plays as a central midfielder for La Liga club FC Barcelona.Fàbregas started his career as a trainee with Barcelona but was signed by Premier League side Arsenal in September 2003 at the age of 16...
are the highest rated non-forwards; there are four defenders in the top 20. The basis of the index is that players are awarded points for contributions that influence the match outcome; the greater the influence of a contribution to greater the points awarded for that contribution. It is perhaps not surprising therefore that strikers have a tendency to lead the index.
Two additional calculations were added for the 2006–07 season, which take into account player assists, clean sheets for defenders and goalkeepers. This has increased the amount of variables by which a player is now measured.
The data is collected by a representative from the Professional Footballers Association (PFA), usually an ex-player, at every Premiership and Championship league match. Video footage is then used to verify the information, before the Index is generated and published.
The list of the Top 100 players and Top 5 players by position is updated during the football season every Tuesday, for the Barclays Premiership and every Thursday, for the Coca-Cola Championship, and is available on the FAPL website. PA Sport also distributes weekly media advisories, which contain updates on the latest player rankings. The Premiership and Championship Index Alerts are published every week, following the announcement of the Index for each league.
Methodology
The six calculations which generate the Index are:- Calculation 1 – Assesses a player's contribution to a winning team, based on the points won by the team when he has appeared.
- Calculation 2 – Assesses a player's performance in each game by allocating points for actions that positively contribute to a winning performance, such as shots, tackles, clearances and saves. It also takes points away from players for negative actions such as yellow/red cards, and shots off target.
- Calculation 3 – Allocates points based on time on the pitch.
- Calculation 4 – Allocates points for goal scorers.
- Calculation 5 – Allocates points for assists.
- Calculation 6 – Allocates points for clean sheets.
Championship Top 10 players
| Rank | Name | Team | Index Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ricky Bates | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 753 |
| 2 | Tommy Smith | Watford | 707 |
| 3 | Kevin Doyle | Reading | 689 |
| 4 | Stephen Hunt | Reading | 684 |
| 5 | Jason Scotland | Swansea | 643 |
| 6 | Graham Alexander | Burnley | 638 |
| 7 | Andy Lonergan | Preston North End | 622 |
| 8 | Maik Taylor | Birmingham City | 604 |
| 9 | Martin Paterson | Burnley | 604 |
| 10 | Ross McCormack | Cardiff | 590 |
Championship Top 10 players
| Rank | Name | Team | Index Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liam Lawrence | Stoke | 687 |
| 2 | Kevin Phillips | West Bromwich | 656 |
| 3 | Sylvan Ebanks-Blake | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 648 |
| 4 | Paul Robinson | West Bromwich | 624 |
| 5 | Paul Parry | Cardiff | 623 |
| 6 | Fraizer Campbell | Hull | 606 |
| 7 | Jonathan Walters | Ipswich | 592 |
| 8 | Wayne Hennessy | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 585 |
| 9 | Michael McIndoe | Bristol City | 583 |
| 10 | Adriano Basso | Bristol City | 577 |
Premiership Top 10 Players
| Rank | Name | Team | Index Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Didier Drogba | Chelsea | 628 |
| 2 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Manchester United | 617 |
| 3 | Steven Gerrard | Liverpool | 611 |
| 4 | Wayne Rooney | Manchester United | 580 |
| 5 | Frank Lampard | Chelsea | 572 |
| 6 | Mikel Arteta | Everton | 567 |
| 7 | Cesc Fabregas | Arsenal | 565 |
| 8 | Gareth Barry | Aston Villa | 561 |
| 9 | Benedict McCarthy | Blackburn Rovers | 535 |
| 10 | Gabriel Agbonlahor | Aston Villa | 517 |
Championship Top 10 Players
| Rank | Name | Team | Index Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Karam Kalirai | Birmingham City | 735 |
| 2 | Jamie Cureton | Colchester United | 722 |
| 3 | Carlos Edwards | Sunderland | 653 |
| 4 | Chris Iwelumo | Colchester United | 647 |
| 5 | Darren Huckerby | Norwich City | 631 |
| 6 | Michael Chopra | Cardiff City | 630 |
| 7 | Graham Alexander | Preston North End | 622 |
| 8 | Nicklas Bendtner | Birmingham City | 610 |
| 9 | David Nugent | Preston North End | 592 |
| 10 | Stevie Howard | Derby County | 582 |