Comparing Neymar's 2014/15 Stats to His 2013/14 Numbers

Neymar arrives at the business end of his second season in Barcelona with the endorsement of many ringing in his ears. 
Certainly, for those who are connoisseurs of La Liga, the difference in the player now compared to his debut campaign is marked.

But is it really? Do the facts support that Neymar is so much better than he was 12 months ago?
There is a very obvious improvement in his goals and assists output but what about the rest of his all-round game?

Goals Scored

It was a little unlikely to think that the Brazilian's output in his first season in La Liga would mirror that of his Brasileiro days. However, his 13 goals across 2013/14 wasn't entirely without merit.
New continent, new team, new colleagues and new surroundings. Not to mention the huge weight of expectation on his shoulders.
He wasn't brilliant in goalscoring terms but not half as bad as has been suggested.
This season, of course, he's really upped the ante and begun to show his best form. If there were any doubters remaining as to his suitability for Barca, they've long since disappeared.
With 31 goals in all competitions, it's safe to say that for the first time in a long time, the Blaugrana have a goalscorer to lighten the load on Lionel Messi.

Assists

Alvaro Barrientos/Associated Press

Lionel Messi has been the major beneficiary of Neymar's assists.

One of the standout aspects of Neymar's game from this time last year is from an assists perspective.
Five assists in 2013/14 was so low mainly as a result of a youthful desire to be the man for all seasons. Too many times the wrong decisions were taken. We saw a player trying to take on all and sundry, as at Santos, but with vastly different outcomes.
Now, the maturity in-game is self evident as we see a player as happy to provide the assist as to score. Eleven assists is another marked improvement with Messi and Luis Suarez the chief beneficiaries of his vision and unselfishness.


Tackle Success

Tackling has never really been Neymar's forte and the figures would tend to support this.
Interestingly, there has been an upturn in his output in La Liga but a huge drop off in the Champions League.

Twenty-five of 53 tackles made in the current domestic league and cup campaigns show a 47 percent success rate, compared to just 15 tackles won from 41 last year, just 37 percent success.

Worryingly Neymar has only won five of 25 tackles in this season's Champions League, a measly 20 percent success rate, compared to 10 from 23 last year, for a 43 percent success rate.

Although he isn't known for his industry in this area, it is certainly the area requiring the most improvement.

Discipline

Despite his enviable skill set, the Brazilian does appear to enjoy riling the opposition at times.
There has obviously been maturity added to his all-round game in a footballing sense, but Neymar still hasn't learned to walk away from a situation.

Five yellow cards last season might not be considered as particularly poor, but Luis Enrique would surely like to have seen an improvement.

Seven so far in the current campaign shows that, for the time being at least, there is still room for improvement.

 Chances Created

 

Neymar needs to work on the disciplinary side of his game.

Known as a scorer of goals before his transfer to Barca, one of the challenges Neymar would face is the ability to create chances for his contemporaries in the side.

Given his penchant for the dribble and spectacular finishing at Santos prior to his switch, that he created 54 chances in his first season might surprise many.

Thirty-nine of those came in the Spanish top flight and another 15 in the Champions League.
This season, so far, he's gone one better with 55 chances created. A comparable 41 in La Liga and with 14 in European football's premier competition.

Pass Accuracy

 

Fifty-five chances so far this season is a slight improvement from last year.

This is one of the few areas where Neymar has gone backwards, which may surprise some people.
His accuracy for the current campaign is 80.4 percent in La Liga and 82.8 percent in the Champions League.
Way down on his figures from 12 months ago of 84.4 percent domestically and 86.4 in Europe.

Winning Record

Figures in brackets represent substitute appearances and these figures include all games played in La Liga, Copa del Rey and the Champions League.

Neymar: 2013/14 vs. 2014/15

	Apps	Won	Lost	Draw
2013/14	28 (8)	25	6	5
2014/15	33 (4)	30	5	2

With everything considered, Barcelona and Neymar himself should be happy with the general upward trend of his work, albeit there are still areas to be worked on.

Pellegrini hails return of Man City’s ‘winning spirit’ following last-gasp win

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini praised the timely return of his side’s winning spirit as they snatched a last-gasp victory over Aston Villa on Saturday.

 

Fernandinho struck a 88th minute winner as City killed off a Villa comeback at the Etihad Stadium to claim a 3-2 Premier League victory which lifted them back up to second in the table.

City were not at their best but looked to have the game sewn up as they went 2-0 ahead through Sergio Aguero - pouncing on an early Brad Guzan blunder - and Aleksandar Kolarov’s fine free-kick.

But FA Cup finalists Villa quickly replied through Tom Cleverley and looked to have claimed a hard-earned point in their relegation fight through Carlos Sanchez five minutes from time.

City needed to respond and, with team and Pellegrini under heavy scrutiny following the collapse of their title bid, Fernandinho stepped forward to save his side.

While many might count City fortunate to secure three points against Tim Sherwood’s battling Villans, Pellegrini disagrees.

"I don't think it was fortunate,” said the boss.

"We didn't play well and I think Aston Villa played very well, especially in possession of the ball, but they didn't have chances to score, just the two set-pieces from which they drew the game.

"So, I don't know why we are fortunate that we scored the third goal from a set-piece in the same way they scored their two goals.

"It is very important to continue with the spirit we had today. It is not easy when you are winning 2-0 and then they draw 2-2 to go again for the match. We did it.

"With this spirit, another game we don't lose."

The victory lifted City into second place - for at least one night - and strengthened their grip on a top four finish.

One downside was an injury to midfielder Yaya Toure, who was feeling his hamstring in the first half and withdrawn at the interval.

Pellegrini said: "It is difficult to know today what will happen but it was not a precaution. It was a muscle injury. We will see tomorrow or Monday how important [an injury] it is."

 

And City took advantage just 60 seconds later, the hosts profiting from a penalty area scramble after a corner with Fernandinho firing home to spare the big boys another embarrassing defeat.