Valour only picked Klaidi Cela up in early April as a result of injuries to two of their centre-backs, but this appears to be a great signing, and one that has given the young Canadian all the confidence he needs to perform on the big stage. Here is our analysis of Klaidi Cela.
Category: Masterclasses
Why Raphaël Guerreiro would be perfect for Manchester City
Any scouting & recruitment scenario is based on a variety of factors, and Guerreiro would be a dream signing for Manchester City based on a variety of factors. For Dortmund's perspective, you simply cannot let him go for free. But for a club like Manchester City, this would be an absolute no-brainer.
Adopting a player-centered approach to coaching
Leadership is a process that not only involves you having influence over groups or individuals, but as those same individuals or groups having influence over you. You cannot thrive as a leader without your followers also inspiring you to reach your true potential. This is precisely why we must create an athlete-centered approach to the environments we build when coaching.
How I assess ‘player mentality’ through video and data analysis
Many facets of the beautiful game simply cannot be quantified in many statistical data models. For any recruitment scenario, you need to be sure that the player not only has the technical, physical and tactical quality to excel in a new environment, but the right psychological frame and social aptitude. It is therefore imperative that clubs sit down to identify what player traits, mentalities, and personality types they want to have in their dressing rooms, and then actively use that as a model for hand-picking players when scouting.
Game of Numbers #21: How to play as the ‘Target’ like Sébastien Haller
Sébastien Haller has been one of the key difference makers to Borussia Dortmund in another title-chasing campaign for the Black & Yellows. They've been brilliant under Edin Terzic since the turn of the year, and some of that success has been down to the resurgence of cancer-free Sébastien Haller into the team.
How I create scouting reports for pro clubs
Scouting seems to be one of those professions that just about anyone thinks they can get into. And to an extent - with good reason! With a knowledge and passion for your sport of choice, it's not incredibly difficult to take the necessary courses and begin the path toward being a scout. But talent identification goes far beyond just the ability to watch matches and identify talent. Most of the time, it's not difficult to identify talent. What's difficult is to identify talent that will transfer over to a new environment, under new circumstances, repeatedly over time.
Game of Numbers #20 – Konrad Laimer’s box to box engine
Leipzig might have just decided the title race. Leading the charge for Die Roten Bullen was their midfield engine Konrad Laimer, who bossed the game against Bayern through his effervescent energy. Laimer never stopped running all game long, and played a massive part in the stunning victory. With that, here is Game of Numbers #20, with Konrad Laimer at the forefront.
Simone Inzaghi – Inter Milan – Tactical Analysis (2022-23)
While it's true that one of Inter Milan's main goals will be to win Serie A again, there's no denying that this has been a phenomenal season for the Italian giants. They've flourished under Simone Inzaghi thanks to a clear identity and several succinct principles of play, much of which have remained in place since the days of Antonio Conte. I Nerazzurri now prepare for the crowning moment in the Coppa Italia and the UEFA Champions League Final, serving as the perfect time to break down Simone Inzaghi's incredible Inter Milan. Here is our tactical analysis of the Black and Blues in 2022-23.
Game of Numbers #19 – How to cross like Pervis Estupiñán
Crucially for his role as a 'Wing-Back', Pervis Estupiñán is one of the best crossers of the ball in the division. That has translated in over 3 crosses and 1.6 key passes per 90 in league play. It's the awareness of when to keep the ball on the grass or when to raise the ball in the air that comes as such an underrated skill, and one that often allows the Ecuadorian to set his teammates up for a real chance of scoring.
Modern-day coaching methodologies and the power of positive psychology
The days of yelling at players for not making it to first base are over! Or at least, they should be. Coaching has changed dramatically over the past twenty years. There is a new-wave of coaches that understand how they would want to be communicated to as athletes, and bring that to the forefront when they work with players of their own.
The best role changes of 2022-23 in the Premier League
There is nothing that fascinates me more about tactical team construction than how managers change the job titles of certain players to achieve certain results. That may be to combat a strength of an opposition, to bring out a strength in their own team set-up, to bring the best out of a player at their disposal, or even simply to fill a hole. I created an entire series around this premise called 'Game of Numbers', analyzing the various roles that individual players take up to help their teams achieve success. With that, I highlight some of the best positional tweaks this campaign, detailing how managers were able to get the best out of each player.