29/04 - 20:00
29/04 - 20:00
The 2024 iteration of the 'Playmaker 72' is flying along and we're already into the 'Top 50' players we think have had the best seasons throughout the EFL.
It's certainly been no easy task, but - just to clarify - our '72' is less a roll call of the best footballers in the EFL and more a tribute to those players who have enjoyed the most memorable seasons while racking up the most impressive stats.
Whatever the criteria, we're confident in our selections of the most outstanding players through the Championship, League One, and League Two and welcome any debate on the subject!
At 48, we have an all-round League One midfielder who has already picked up silverware this season...
One of a number of Exeter City academy graduates that left Devon for pastures new last summer, Archie Collins joined an exciting Peterborough side he felt were the "right club" to further his career - and so far, so good for one of League One's most complete midfielders.
After regularly clocking up over 40 games a season for the Grecians, Collins has settled in wonderfully at the Weston Homes Stadium and the 24-year-old has topped his previous appearance record across all competitions by already playing 52 games this term - Posh's recent EFL Trophy success a big factor in that.
In terms of headline-making numbers, Collins has dabbled in direct goal involvements with two goals and two assists, but his considerable influence is more evident in a raft of other statistics.
With 59%, Posh have the best average possession stats in League One this season and Collins has been absolutely key to their control in games - the dynamic midfielder completing 3481 successful passes and recording an impressive pass success rate of 88% (the 6th best in League One).
Throw in 48 interceptions (18th in L1) and the picture emerges of a fantastic defensive screen with excellent distribution. Ally those qualities together and what do you have? A modern-day football 'quarter-back', according to Peterborough chairman Darragh McAnthony.
"Archie Collins is the Tom Brady of our side,” MacAnthony stated on his 'Hard Truth' podcast back in March.
“How is he still in League One? The way he plays, Premier League clubs should be looking at him. Ronnie Edwards is a quarter-back for us, but Collins is the main quarter-back. He’s comfortably one of the best central midfielders in League One."
⚖️ After 10,000 simulations of how the #LeagueOne season could wind up, #Playmaker's predictions are in!
— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) April 12, 2024
❓ The best % chance of winning the third tier?
9⃣7⃣.5%: Portsmouth
1⃣.8%: Derby
0⃣.6%: Bolton
0⃣.1%: Peterboroughhttps://t.co/MRgQLjdi3L pic.twitter.com/ii1fCOssxF
49: Karamoko Dembele
50: Haji Wright 51: Dan Crowley 52: Cameron Brannagan 53: Aaron Collins
54: Andy Cook 55: Connor Shaughnessy 56: Jannik Vestergaard
57: Willy Gnonto 58: Ellis Simms 59: Charlie Hughes 60: Fatawu Isshaku
61: Sam Hoskins 62: Paul Mullin 63: Chris Martin 64: Omari Hutchinson
65: Isaac Hutchinson 66: Sam Tickle 67: Ben Hinchcliffe 68: Michał Helik
69: Lewis Wing 70: Rob Apter 71: Kyle Walker-Peters 72: Alex Palmer
