How many points is a top player worth?

by Jay Harris  |   08/05/2024  2 Comments  [Jump to last]

Amid the ongoing concerns about PSR, the takeover, administration and having to sell players, a thought struck me…

Much has been made of having to sell Jarrad Brandthwaite to avoid another points deduction next season but I want to ask the question and start a debate about how many points a player like Jarrad is worth — not just next season but by building a team around him for the future?

I would argue that, without Jarrad this season, we would be at least 10 points worse off assuming his replacement was Michael Keane, Ben Godfrey or Mason Holgate.

Since Jarrad has come into the side, we have the fourth-best defensive record in the Premier League – no mean feat considering the paucity of our squad and the problems at full-back we have endured this season.

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Jordan Pickford is another example to ask the question: How many points is he worth compared to what we might get for him and the ease with which we could replace him?

Can we put a points worth on an individual player? Or even more so, is there a formula for the selling price of a player compared to his points worth? Like for example, 1 point for every £10 million in value?

It is always claimed it is a team or squad game but, to have an effective squad, you need good players and, in my opinion, you don't want to be selling your best players – even if it means taking a points deduction.

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Reader Comments (2)

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Robert Tressell
1 Posted 09/05/2024 at 17:56:05
Jay, realistically we are probably about 3 seasons off being able to keep a player like Branthwaite.

Although his sale might leave us weaker at centre-back, it might also enable us to strengthen in attack. There are also quite a few decent options at centre-back for his replacement. So points wise it needn't hurt too bad.

It might also be an absolute necessity of holding insolvency at bay and dropping down the divisions like Glasgow Rangers. It's not just points deductions.

Really, the club should be figuring out how to find more low cost talents like Branthwaite – because a few more high profit sales like that will really accelerate our return to being able to compete financially with the likes of even West Ham. And therefore accelerate our return to being able to compete on the pitch.

Indeed, if we don't manage to develop players for big sales, then we could be stuck at the bottom reaches of the league for many years.

Finally there's no shame in selling. All clubs sell. The resurgence of Liverpool started with the sale of Torres, and then the sale of Suarez and Coutinho.

Tony Abrahams
2 Posted 09/05/2024 at 20:56:39
When I saw that someone had finally posted on Jay's interesting question, I had a feeling it might be you, Robert!

Football is mostly about having the best players, but I also believe that, once you get away from the top players, most players are now a much of a muchness and, because of this, I'd genuinely take quantity over quality; I believe this would be the quickest way for Everton to rebuild.

We curse the squad, we say there isn't enough quality, but if we could add another five players of equal quality, to what we have already got, allowing us to chop, change and rest players, then I see no reason why we shouldn't be competing for an outside place, in the smaller European competitions.

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