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So the new season is up-and-running. A handful of sides have clearly laid out their intentions for the campaign ahead, while others have stumbled at the first hurdle and are desperately trying to amend their early errors.
The first month of a new term is without a doubt the most unpredictable, but it enables us to gauge how successful individuals will be over the course of the season. Manchester City were, arguably, the team of the month, but it's not just a hoard of Citizens occupying the top spots in 'Sportskeeda's 25 Best Players for the month of August'…..
25. Layvin Kurzawa
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When Unai Emery superseded the somewhat prickly, but efficient, Laurent Blanc as manager of PSG, it was obvious that change was imminent. The Spaniard sought great success at Sevilla and is looking to see these triumphs transpire to the French capital. Few have flourished under the new regime as rapidly as full-back Layvin Kurzawa.
The former-Monaco man seems to have superseded veteran Maxwell as first-choice on the left side of defence.
In the month of August, Kurzawa scored on three occasions. His first came in a 4-1 romping of Lyon in the Trophée des Champions, before the 24-year-old opened his Ligue 1 account for the term with goals against Bastia and Metz respectively.
His resurgence comes not only via an exuberant, attacking threat but also due to the solid shifts he has put in at the back. The Frenchman racked up an average pass completion rate of 89%, as well helping the French champions to keep two clean sheets.
It’s testament to his strong mentality that he has been able to adjust and perform so quickly under a new boss.
24. Sami Khedira
The departure of Paul Pogba this summer was inevitably going to crank up the pressure on German midfield maestro Sami Khedira to perform in Turin. Few players can claim to be so intelligent and creative on the ball but also strong and steady off of it, and there have not been many times in Khedira’s career that this fearful combination has been so evident than over the past month.
Juventus currently sit second in Serie A with a 100% record and Khedira, signed by the Old Lady on a free last summer, has scored in both matches this term, each of which was won by a single goal. After limiting a versatile Fiorentina frontline on the opening day, the Stuttgart-born 29-year-old guided the Italian giants to a clean sheet in their 1-0 win over Lazio on matchday two.
He certainly hasn’t neglected his defensive duties but has simultaneously peppered opposition goals with an average of three shots per game.
Scott Dann rightfully earned a place in Garth Crooks’ team of the week for the end of August for his gritty performance in a 1-1 draw with Bournemouth. The Englishman scored a divine, headed equaliser in that clash deep into injury time to salvage a draw and save the Eagles from what could have been a very sticky situation; defeat would have left them rock bottom and pointless heading into the international break.
It’s certainly not been a month to remember for Palace, but the 29-year-old has looked arguably their most consistent performer at the back. As well as the goal, he has made an average of 6 clearances and 5 interceptions per game across the London side’s opening three fixtures.
The centre-half also sprang up with a goal in the club’s only win of the season so far, scoring in their 2-0 victory over Blackpool in second round of the League Cup.
Tony Pulis’ side may have received a chorus of boos following their goalless draw with Middlesbrough at the end of August, but had it not been for the resolve of 36-year-old Gareth McAuley, the result could have panned out far worse.
In August, the Northern Irishman made an average of 5.3 clearances and 2.5 tackles per game, meanwhile winning 65% of duels. The club’s third captain even got on the score sheet in their opening home game of the season, registering the opener in West Brom’s 2-1 defeat to Everton.
McAuley has done the basics right and seen rewards, with the club having conceded just twice in their opening three games. It has taken time but he finally seems to have adapted to the direct, long-ball approach Pulis wants to see, becoming one of the main feeders of Venezuelan frontman Salomon Rondon so far this campaign.
21. Daley Blind
Under Jose Mourinho, Manchester United have seen nothing but success so far. The Red Devils sit third in the league at present with nine points out of a possible nine and, having conceded on just one occasion, boast the best defensive record in the division.
Dutchman Daley Blind has put in a shift in all three of those games, having played 270 minutes so far alongside United new-boy Eric Bailly. Although he’s not averse to venturing forward against opponents that sit back, Blind’s primary role has been to hold back when Bailly advances and, in United’s 1-0 win against Hull, this approach enabled him to get the better of Hernandez and Diomande courtesy of his excellent anticipation.
The 26-year-old is great at playing out from the back, an aspect Mourinho loves to see in his centre-halves, and a pass completion rate of 90.3% so far this term only supports this claim.
20. Phillipe Coutinho
Liverpool are a difficult team to make out at the moment. Defensively there are undoubtedly issues. On the front-foot however, there are few teams across the continent that attack with greater pace and intensity than the Reds.
Coutinho carried his sizzling form at the start of the campaign into the international break with some fine performances against both Ecuador and Colombia. On the opening day of the season at the Emirates, the Brazilian midfielder bagged a brace and his average of 5 shots per game this term emphasises his unprecedented confidence on the ball.
A pass completion of 84.2% so far this season coupled with his average of 2 key passes per game reiterates that he is the focal threat for Klopp’s side season and, if they are to top the pile, the 24-year-old will have to emulate this month’s heroics.
19. Antonio Valencia
Another individual to have established himself under the watchful eye of Jose Mourinho, Antonio Valencia was nominated along with Curtis Davies, Eden Hazard and Raheem Sterling for August’s ‘Player of the Month’ award.
The flying full-back has morphed into one of the most dangerous properties in the division over the past few weeks courtesy of his fantastic crossing abilities, athleticism and tactical know-how. His service of clinical frontman Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been particularly noticeable, while he also played a vital role in denying Hull City at the end of the month.
With a 90.5% completion rate this term, the Ecuadorian is the first-choice right-back in the league’s tightest defence which has already kept two clean sheets.
18. Eric Bailly
Now for the other half of the aforementioned Bailly-Blind partnership at the heart of the (yes, I’m going to say it again) meanest defence in the league this campaign. It has been strikingly apparent that the 22-year-old is not fazed by the step-up in intensity and speed which the Premier League poses.
In the 270 minutes of football we’ve seen from the Ivorian so far, he has impressed with his complacency on the ball (95.5% pass completion rate) and desire to track back so quickly. Having secured two ‘Man of the Match’ awards in just three games, Bailly is quickly developing into a fan favourite and one of United’s sturdiest defenders in recent years.
The former-Villareal centre-back is not afraid to commit to challenges and, not dissimilar to Arsenal’s Laurent Koscielny, enjoys pressing sides which sit deep, only to retreat at speed when required.
17. N'Golo Kanté
There was an air of scepticism surrounding Kante’s move to Stamford Bridge this summer; could he really emulate the heroics of last season in a team of big-money egos that ultimately have far more challenging expectations than Leicester City? The answer in short – yes he bloody well can.
Across the three games Kante has played so far for the South Londoners, he has made, on average, 2.7 tackles per game, 61 passes per game and has had a pass completion rate of 95.1%.
Now, unlike other candidates on this list, the Frenchman has not had to score a handful of goals, put his body on the line with breath-taking defensive displays, nor have particularly impressive statistics to capture out attention. That said his performances as a catalyst in an Antonio Conte team which likes to swiftly turn defence into attack have been steady and efficient.
16. Santi Cazorla
Arsenal’s performances this season have ultimately lacked the cutting-edge, ruthless dynamics that rendered them Leicester’s fiercest challengers last campaign. Had it not been for Santi Cazorla’s inclusion against Watford, the club could have very well gone into the international break without a win to their name.
The Spaniard was in mesmerising form when he came on against Liverpool to limit the eventual damage with two fine assists, while he confidently stuck home a penalty against Watford in the final game of the month to set the Gunners on their way to a scintillating 3-0 victory.
He pulls the strings in the final third, especially when alongside Mesut Ozil, and provided the best service for Sanchez throughout the month with an average pass completion of 89.2%.
15. Etienne Capoue
An average match rating of 7.87 throughout the course of the month for Frenchman Capoue is well justified for a number of reasons. Watford face turbulent times at present with an influx of new personnel coupled with the installation of a man practically unknown to the English football picture, Walter Mazzari.
Amidst this testing period, former Tottenham and Toulouse midfielder Capoue has scored twice in the Hornets’ first trio of fixtures and has looked like the leader they so desperately to navigate their way out of the darkness. The 28-year-old made 3.3 tackles, 3.3 interceptions and 2.7 dribbles per game during August and limited the exposure of an under-pressure defence against some fearsome attacking contingents.
14. Domenico Berardi
In both the Europa League and Serie A combined, Sassuolo forward Berardi has registered an impressive 7 goals already this season, earning an average match rating of 8.41 in the process. At present, his side linger in mediocrity in the Italian top flight but, had it not been for his 67’ minute winner against Pescara, the situation could be far less convincing after two games.
With quick feet, an evident sharp eye for goal and an intelligent head on his shoulders, the 22-year-old is unveiling himself as one of Serie A’s current hot properties. During the month of August, he made 2.5 key passes and has 5 shots on goal per game, reaffirming his enthusiasm in the final third.
13. Andrea Belotti
His goal in a 3-2 defeat to AC Milan on the opening day of the Serie A season may have been no more than a consolation, but Andrea Belotti took confidence from said showing to dispatch a hat-trick in his side’s 5-1 thumping of Bologna. It was a masterclass of finishing and was enough on its own to secure a place on this list.
In both games during August, Belotti oozed confidence, having an average of 6 shots on goals each fixture and winning roughly 3 duels per game. Such statistics rightfully earned the 22-year-old a rating of 8.70 across both games, one of the highest on this list.
A little more time on the field and we could see this young Italian develop into a target for some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
12. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
The 206/17 Bundesliga season may still only be at infantry phase, but Borussia Dortmund’s Gabonese-born answer to Batman has already laid down a marker in the first game of the season.
Both of his goals in the game against Mainz required composure and the 27-year-old has it in abundance. After nodding home Andre Schurrle’s cross in the early stages of the game, the former Saint-Etienne forward killed off the tie by converting a penalty a minute from time.
Despite having not scored in the 3-0 cup victory over Eintracht Trier, Aubameyang looked just as dangerous and was a key component in a ruthless-looking attack.
11. Lionel Messi
An unusual place on any list for the Argentine, Lionel Messi’s month was average by his standards but nevertheless, his ever-reliable contribution to the Barcelona frontline with 2 goals and 1 assist in La Liga in August ranks as one of the best across the globe. With an average of 7 shots per game, 4 key passes per game and an average match rating of 8.6, the 29-year-old shows no signs of fading.
As well as his two strikes in the league, Messi managed to wrap up a two-legged Super Cup affair against Sevilla with a goal. FC Barcelona now sit second in La Liga with six points from two games and seven goals already scored this term. You can expect MSN to shatter that tally come the close of the campaign.
10. Curtis Davies
Davies’ statistics from August are so good, it’s laughable. Among the candidates for the Premier League’s player of the month, the centre-half was (quite literally) at the heart of Hull City’s surprisingly strong start to the new Premier League season.
Against Manchester United Davies, despite defeat, put in arguably the best performance of his career. In August, the 31-year-old recaptured his form of old with an average of 11.7 clearances and 7 interceptions per game. Having made nearly 40 passes at a completion rate of 85%, it is clear his gritty approach is balanced by calmness in possession too.
Never has old-school defensive football looked so spectacular as in Curtis Davies this past month. Let’s hope for the Tigers’ sake that he can continue such fine form.
9. Robert Lewandowski
A hat-trick in Bayern Munich’s 6-0 thrashing of Werder Bremen, a hat-trick in the club’s 5-0 demolition of FC Carl Zeiss Jena in the German Cup and Robert Lewandowski is no surprise on this list.
In a recent Twitter conversation, Aubameyang and Lewandowski joked that the race is already on for the Bundesliga equivalent of the golden boot and, in this kind of form, it’s incredibly difficult to look past the prolific Pole as prime candidate for the award.
His work ethic matches his success; in the aforementioned opening day win in the Bundesliga, the 28-year-old peppered the Werder Bremen goal-mouth with 12 shots, as well as making 3 successful dribbles and receiving an overall match rating of 10. Wow.
8. Diego Costa
In contrast with Lewandowski, Diego Costa’s success this season so far has been spread a little more evenly. In three appearances for a new-look Chelsea side, the Spaniard has scored twice and set up another, amassing a surprisingly high 24.3 passes per game on average at a completion rate of 79.5% as well.
Chelsea are second in the Premier League at present, sandwiched between the two Manchester clubs, with a 100% record in August. It’s fair to say Costa still hasn’t got his fiery temperament completely under control, having received two bookings last month. That, however, is testament to his unrivalled aggression at the top of the pitch, something which is further proven by his average of three shots per game.
7. Nolito
An import of Manchester City this season that has surprised many but, so far at least, has disappointed no-one. The 29-year-old has vast competition for places on the City flank but wriggled his way into the side to score twice and make one assist in his two appearances so far this term.
Having so far squared up against teams of good physicality in West Ham and Stoke, the former-Celta Vigo forward has adapted well to Premier League life to help propel City to the top of the Premier League. In the final third this season, he has managed a pass completion of 82.7%, meanwhile having just shy of two shots per game.
For the likes of David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne to continue improving, it’s paramount that they Spaniard keeps performing to keep them hot on their heels.
6. Zlatan Ibrahimovic
The plaudits were endless for Zlatan Ibrahimovic just three competitive games into his Manchester United tenure. With the ink on his contract still drying, the Swede scored a brace against Southampton to take his tally to four goals, following one in the Community Shield and another in the league opener away to Bournemouth.
His range of goals has been eye-catching. Headers, penalties, neat finishes, the former-PSG striker has it all in his locker and his experience of winning the top division title in every country he’s played in has provided him with the confidence to start positively at United.
Having struck an average of 4 shots at goal each game, along with an impressive 35 passes per game on average, the last month has shown us exactly how much of a team player the infamously arrogant Ibra can actually be.
5. Sergio Aguero
While his league form has been emphatic, the Argentine has been equally mouth-watering in continental competition. After scoring the first goal in Pep Guardiola’s league campaign at City, the 28-year-old put three past Steaua Bucuresti three days later in a Champions League play-off tie.
As if that wasn’t enough, the man who sealed the league title for the Citizens in 2012 scored another two and earned a deserved ‘Man of the Match’ award away to Stoke City.
Having witnessed years-gone-by be marred by injury, this term could finally be the one where Aguero can put down a marker has one of the greatest Premier League forwards of all time and he’s started excellently. He’s always active in the final third, having had 5 shots on goal per game this season, along with a pass completion rate of 79% - sound for a striker.
4. Alexandre Lacazette
Consistently linked with Arsenal in a move which never materialised, Alexandre Lacazette has comfortably shaken off the stories which surrounded him this summer to get to work in Ligue 1 and what a start he has made. In Lyon’s three league matches against Nancy, Caen and Dijon respectively, Lacazette has scored 6 goals, three of which came in his team’s league opener against the former of the three.
Rightfully so, he has earned two ‘Man of the Match’ awards in his first and most recent appearance of the season and his average match rating sits at an admirable 8.52. With Ibra gone and many believing that Cavani is flagging, the golden boots could already have Alex’s name of it, providing he mirrors his form of last month across the entirety of the campaign.
3. Luis Suarez
The Uruguayan has perfected pretty much every aspect of his game and is now just scoring goals and scaring defenders for fun. In two La Liga showings in the 2016/17 season, Suarez has scored three as well as bagging the opener in the Spanish Super Cup tie with Sevilla. Combined with the end of last season, it means the forward has scored a remarkable 17 goals in his previous six La Liga games.
His three goals arose in the form of a hat-trick in Barca’s 6-2 annihilation of Real Betis but Suarez has been consistent over the whole of August with an average match rating of 8.19 and 4 shots per game on average. Barcelona have got the season underway in superb fashion with a 100% record and Suarez is arguably the most prolific component of the MSN partnership.
2. Raheem Sterling
The ‘official’ Player of the Month as voted for by fans of England’s top flight, Raheem Sterling has been one of the few players to see his career immediately revitalise under the stewardship of the ruthless Guardiola. It was a disappointing Euros for the former-Liverpool forward who has put the summer behind him to score twice and set a goal up in his opening three matches.
A ‘Man of the Match’ award at home to West Ham was his most recent accolade in a game at the end of the month, during which the Englishman scored his brace. A trio of assists preceded this show-stopping performance, one in the league and two against Steaua Bucuresti.
For somebody whose defensive contribution usually comes under fire, an average of 2 tackles per game and a pass completion rate of 80% in the Premier League this season outlines that Sterling’s game is becoming more rounded and few months have underpinned a greater work ethic for the City forward more than the past four weeks.
1. Eden Hazard
Drumroll please… oh, wait, you’ve already seen who it is. Yes, Eden Hazard has put the low-point that was the 2015/16 season well and truly behind him to earn the title as Sportskeeda’s Player of the Month for August. The Belgian saw improvements in his game at the latter end of last campaign, while his sharp performances in the Euros suggested he was on the up.
Ranking first in a host of statistical areas so far this campaign, including number of successful take-ons (17), shot accuracy (58%) and number of fouls drawn (10), the winger-cum-striker has two Premier League goals to his name this term, the latest of which came after a spectacular solo run against Burnley.
The 25-year-old made 152 successful passes in the first trio of fixtures, as well as having made 5.7 dribbles per game on average. The stats speak for themselves, as do Chelsea’s strong position in the league at present. Perhaps Eden could spearhead Conte’s Chelsea to unexpected success this season...
