Ranking each Premier League team's most important player during build-up play in 2019-20 using data analytics: Part 1

#5 Burnley – Jack Cork – xGBuildup Per 90: 0.145

Everton FC v Burnley FC - Premier League

Sean Dyche isn’t called ‘Ginger Mourinho’ for nothing. Extremely adept at stifling the opponent’s attack, it’s not surprising that Jack Cork has the lowest xGBuildup Per 90 for any player in this list of 20 players. Jack Cork has been the foundation due to which Burnley has flourished. Only one other outfield player has played more minutes in the Premier League than Jack Cork has played, in the timeframe since he signed for Burnley in 2017.

Cork has a knack of dribbling his way out of trouble. He has the largest ratio of Successful Dribbles/Unsuccessful Dribbles for any Burnley player (with more than 0.6 attempted Dribbles Per Game).

Burnley Succesful Dribbles/Unsuccessful Dribbles Ratio

This ability of his has meant that he can help Burnley get out of difficult situations while in their own half, aiding in launching deadly counter-attacks. Having played more than 96% of Burnley’s games since signing for them, he’s been worth every single penny, even going on to appear for the England international team in 2017.

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This is the end of Part 1 of this 4 part series. To reiterate why recognising the unsung heroes of teams is long overdue, here is what Buzz Aldrin, the second man to step on the moon had said when he was asked how it felt to be called the second man on the moon.

“But after years and years of being asked to speak to a group of people and then be introduced as the second man on the moon, it does get a little frustrating. Is it really necessary to point out to the crowd that somebody else was first when we all went through the same training, we all landed at the same time and all contributed? But for the rest of my life I'll always be identified as the second man to walk on the moon.”