Damien Perrinelle rated second best in MLS

Every week I like to wander over to WhoScored.com just to see who they have in their team of the week. I suppose it isn't too surprising that I found Damien Perrinelle's name in their best XI this week considering he scored a goal and put in a solid defensive effort against DC United.

Taking it a step further, I always like to see who they have rated as the best players throughout the season. This leaderboard consists of the highest cumulative match ratings all season. Ike Opara of Sporting KC takes the top spot with his stellar play. However, sitting second on the list is none other than the Red Bull's Damien Perrinelle.

After doing a little more digging through Perrinelle's stats, I discovered that he leads the entire league in Interceptions per game with 5.5 a game. This is an important statistic in a high pressure system that relies on players' timing and anticipation.

With only four games played this season, it's hard to judge if Perrinelle's strong start to the season is sustainable. One area of concern regarding his play so far has been his propensity for violent play. Through the first four games he has accumulated three yellow cards already. However, if Perrinelle can continue his strong defensive work and improve his discipline, he could turn out to be a key piece for the Red Bulls.

Is Damien Perrinelle the Red Bulls' best defender? Is he playing at a Best XI level? Sound off in the comment section.