I haven’t had chance to do an Actim post for a little while, but worry not, I do keep an eye on the data.  I’ve been waiting for the Index to be updated with the data from the weekend as I had a sneaky suspicion that our players would benefit from a certain victory over a certain team from Manchester.

The Index was finally updated today and it’s better news than I thought. Partially due to our victory over Man Utd, but I also suspect Chelsea’s failure to beat Everton has helped Aston Villa top out the team table for the first time this season. Chelsea and Villa both have 9 players each in the Top 100 Index, but Villa’s players average 215 points to Chelsea’s 211.

Gabby Agbonlahor gained a massive 50 points on the previous week, overtaking Jermaine Defoe in 4th and now just 10 points behind Nicolas Anelka. A goal or two in Sunderland tonight will do his cause no harm at all.

• 4th Gabriel Agbonlahor – 294 points
• 9th Ashley Young – 252 points
• 14th Carlos Cuellar – 241 points
• 18th James Milner – 232 points
• 23rd Richard Dunne – 222 points
• 29th Brad Friedel – 211 points
• 78th James Collins – 170 points
• 92nd Stephen Warnock – 158 points
• 94th Stiliyan Petrov – 158 points

In fairness, with Warnock looking doubtful for tonight’s game in Sunderland, he may drop out of the Top 100 causing Villa to fall in the team table. However, John Carew is hovering just below the 100, so it’s not impossible for him to get back in with a good performance tonight, should he play. But for now, feast your eyes on this…