CCSG By The Numbers: 2024, An Analytical Breakdown - Part 2
Let’s make this introduction as short as possible. These are the players ranked #15 to #11 according to my advanced analytics model, detailed here. You can read the article for the players ranked #20 to #16 here, and the overall ranking will be at the bottom.
#15: Manny Aparicio - CM
To some, this will be a shock. A 2024 Golden Scarf nominee, the engine in the midfield, an overall energizer bunny, ranked at 15, and with a below-average WPA grade? However, this is to be expected with Manny. Throughout his career, he has been remarkably steady, never achieving higher than a 72.5 mark, this in 2021. That is not to say he was not incredibly important to Ottawa’s success in 2024 however, as anyone who watched the team at all would tell you. Aparicio’s playstyle will never lend itself to outstanding WPA grades, as he does a little bit of everything, without many weaknesses, and mostly focuses on total output rather than high success rates. This unfortunately results in a lower-than-expected ranking, however a closer look at his metrics help resolve this dilemma.
He only underachieved massively in three categories: Foul Differential, to be expected for a midfielder often left on an island with Bassett roaming freely; Duel Success, again expected as a smaller player; and finally clearances, expected as a midfielder. He achieved around or above average in the remaining 15 categories, something he has consistently done throughout his CPL career. He did regress a little from his 2023 outputs, however was more even across the board than previous. While not a spectacularly successful season rate-wise, he was nonetheless integral to ATO’s play in 2024, and his statistical season should be viewed through this lens.
CONTRACT STATUS: Under Contract Through 2025, with an Option for 2026.
#14: Gabriel Antinoro - WM
As with most small sample sizes, extremes dominate - Antinoro had six metrics over 60, and nine below 30. That being said, 720 minutes is only just below what I would consider enough to render the metrics statistically powerful, and as a result some analysis can still be done. In the opportunities he was given - 10 starts and nine appearances off the bench, Antinoro did surprisingly well, providing a good amount of offence while also drawing fouls and recovering the ball through interceptions. His non-offensive game remained lacking, however he contributed enough to rank in the top half of wingers in 2024. Like 2023, he was a sparkplug when he played, however he wasn’t consistent enough to make the professional leap I’m sure he expected to make in 2024.
CONTRACT STATUS: Out of Contract for 2025.
#13: Aboubacar Sissoko - CM
Next up on the list is the first ATO player to rank above average in the CPL, and for a cast of 20, for the 13th to be first to do so says a lot about the depth of talent available for 2024. Compared to 2023, Sissoko made massive steps in his on-field output, even if some of that can be laid at the feet of him not playing Right Back every second game (or, less than before, at least). His most stand-out metrics were by far his foul drawing, taking more than one-and-a-half more than he gave away per 90, and his Pass Accuracy, even if he didn’t attempt as many passes as most, both of these placing him in the 85th+ percentile when compared to the average. He contributed offensively as well, more so than his positional peers, and could hold his own physically both on the ground and in the air. Sissoko also put in a decent shift defensively, registering almost one interception per 90, and clearing the ball away more than 58 percent of the league.
Frankly, there aren’t many unexpected weaknesses on his statistical profile that weigh him down. Perhaps he wasn’t cutting open defences as much as others might’ve, or he lost more tackles than he won; however, neither of these are massive detractors. Sissoko is the type of player to fade into the background, and to have him chug away like this in the heart of midfield without many glaring holes in his game is inordinately conducive to success. Getting him more touches next season will do nothing but good.
CONTRACT STATUS: Under Contract for 2025.
#12: Kris Twardek - RB
As it was with Sissoko, there are no surprises with Twardek’s statistical profile from 2024. He was an extremely solid defender, contributing by recovering the ball through tackles and interceptions very well, winning most of his duels both in the air and on the ground, a given with his stature, and winning fouls to the tune of an 87.5 percentile rank. He also lived up to one of his touted strengths when he was unveiled, an unparalleled ability to cross the ball into the box, completing nearly a third of such balls, which ranked higher than 78% of players in the league. That is not to say he was without flaws, however, as those stepovers only resulted in beating his man less than a third of the time, and his overall Pass Accuracy was quite poor. As with the next entry in the rankings, he relied on a spray-and-pray approach when it came to short-field ball distribution, which worked mostly to his detriment.
This profile marks Twardek as a very solid defensive fullback with a bit of offensive upside. Whether one can argue this is simply a result of opportunity or talent profile is up for debate. However, I believe this settles the discussion as to whether he should play as a winger or a defender going forward. Another issue this raises is that of his lack of selection down the stretch, where he lost out to Dani Morer, a player his complete opposite in terms of contributions. Personally, when we didn’t really lack for scoring, and shipped goals aplenty, playing Twardek might have been the better tactical move, especially during the playoffs.
CONTRACT STATUS: Under Contract Through 2025, with an Option for 2026.
#11: Matteo de Brienne - LB
Another massive surprise will be de Brienne being this low. He was absolutely electric up and down the left flank for ATO in 2024, throwing himself around in desperate rearguard action and then springing forward on attack. This card is by no means a negative in that regard, as he was a serviceable Left Back, with decent defensive metrics, including ranking in the 85th percentile in terms of ground and aerial duel success rate - even if some of these statistics don’t take into account that his speed made up for a lot of poor positioning on his part. However, his statistical profile from 2024 pales in contrast to his metrics from 2023, where he was played primarily as a Left Winger for Valour, and where he won the Candian U-21 Player of the Year.
While his defensive metrics improved somewhat, as is natural, it was his offensive flair that was suppressed quite heavily by being played as a more defensive Full/Wing Back. Notably, his dribbling and his passing, both of which were at or around average in 2023, regressed to the 30th percentile or lower in 2024, two attributes that cannot be that low given the cost of giving the ball away that deep in your own half. Even if they had remained around their 2023 highs, those weaknesses are not something rewarded by the model as a defensive player. Though, naturally, his goal-scoring and providing took a dip as well, one wonders what might have been offensively if Tissot hadn’t gotten injured so early on in the season, forcing de Brienne to cover that position.
CONTRACT STATUS: Club Option for 2025.
With that, players 15-11 have been analyzed! Look forward to the next article in the coming week or so, where the first top-half players are revealed!
2024 ATO ranks:
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- Matteo de Brienne - 65.4 WPA
- Kris Twardek - 65.2 WPA
- Aboubacar Sissoko - 62.8 WPA
- Gabriel Antinoro - 61.1 WPA
- Manny Aparicio - 60.8 WPA
- Luke Singh - 52.9 WPA
- Dani Morer - 44.9 WPA
- Kevin dos Santos - 43.5 WPA
- Zachary Roy - 35.8 WPA
- Jesús Del Amo - 34.8 WPA
Unranked: Jonathan Grant, Noah Verhoeven, and Aboubakary Sacko
About Alexander:
When he isn't busy playing or watching sports (or going to school at uOttawa), Alexander is busy managing his Atlético Ottawa database, which he started in 2020, and tracks everything you can think of about the club and its players. He also runs a BlueSky account dedicated to analyzing and rating CPL players using statistics, CPL by the Numbers.
