Fernando Llorente thriving in Conte's 3-5-2 system

Key Soccerlytics Insights:

• Following half-a-season in the cold at Athletic Bilbao, and a subsequent free-transfer to Juventus, Fernando Llorente has emerged as one the major stars of Conte's team likely to win its third scudetto in a row
• So far this season, Llorente has contributed 10 goals and 4 assists in 1554 minutes in Serie A, in addition to 2 goals and an assist in the champions league
• El Rey Leon will be hoping his form will convince Vincente Del Bosque to include him in Spain's World Cup squad. His 6 ft 5 inch frame would offer La Roja a different striking option and his ability to score headed goals might provide Spain with a much needed alternative approach off the bench
• Llorente's recent headed goal against Chievo Verona was his 6th headed goal of the season, the highest among Europe's top 5 leagues. Conte's 3-5-2 system which highly leverages the width provided by Asamoah and Lichtsteiner strongly suits the Spaniard's style, and the results are there for all to see
• Adrian Ramos (Hertha Berlin), Antoine Griezmann (Real Sociedad), Javi Guerra (Real Valladolid), and Luca Toni (Hellas Verona) have each scored 5 headed goals so far this season

Goal Scorers charts from BSports (Updated through 2/24/2014):

Arturo Vidal: Best all-round midfielder in the world?

Key Soccerlytics Insights:

• Arturo Vidal is having a season with Juventus that has several observers and pundits describing him as easily among the top 5 midfielders in the world
• Vidal has scored 11 goals and 6 assists while averaging 4.7 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per game in Serie A, in addition to 5 goals in the champions league this season
• The Chilean combative midfielder's impressive performances have seen him make the ESM Team of the Month for the second time in a row

December 2013 Team of the Month - European Sports Media

4-3-3 Formation

Goal Keeper:

• Thibaut Courtois (A Madrid)

Defenders:

• Gregory Van Der Wiel (PSG)
• Per Mertesacker (Arsenal)
• Omer Toprak (B Leverkusen)
• David Alaba (B Munich)

Midfielders:

• Arturo Vidal (Juventus)
• Yaya Toure (Man City)
• Franck Ribery (B Munich)

Forwards:

• Diego Costa (A Madrid)
• Luis Suarez (Liverpool)
• Neymar (Barcelona)

Analysis of Sporting Individual Player Transfer Market Valuations

Key Soccerlytics Insights:

• Sporting Lisbon has a total transfer market value of 96.7M Euros and average player value (APV) of 4.6M Euros
• Pictured above, Rui Patricio (20M Euros), Diego Capel (7.5M Euros) and Andre Martins (7M Euros) are currently Sporting's most valuable assets (in terms of transfer market value)
• Rui Patricio's valuation is 355% higher than Sporting's APV (See TMV Index charts below)
• English defender Eric Dier has seen the highest TMV increase among current Sporting players over the past year
• Dier's transfer market value has increased 650% from 0.6M to 4.5M Euros over the past year (14th highest in the Primeira Liga)
• Brazilian left-back Jefferson's transfer market value increased 1650% from 0.2M to 3.5M Euros over the past year (18th highest in the Primeira Liga)
• 23 year old Argentine International Defender Marcos Rojo (5.5M Euros) is the most highly valued defender in Sporting's squad
• 20 year old English defender Eric Dier (4.5M Euros) is closest to Sporting's squad APV of 4.6M Euros
• 21 year old defensive midfielder William Carvalho (8M Euros) has reportedly been scouted by Manchester United
• 28 year old Brazilian attacking midfielder Gerson Magrao (0.5M Euros) has the lowest transfer market value on the team (89% below the Sporting APV) 

Sporting Transfer Market Value Index Chart as of 2/2/2014 (Market Value data from Transfermarkt.com):