Category: Recruitment & Scouting

Explaining the Wing-Back – Player Role Analysis

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Coach Education, Data Analysis, Fullback, German Bundesliga, Masterclasses, Most Recent, Player Analysis, Player Education, Premier League, Recruitment & Scouting, Wing-Back

A wing-back, as the name suggests, is a full-back that operates up and down the wing, holding particular importance in attacking phases. They may contribute to the defensive side of the game, and they may even invert into central areas. But wing-backs do their best work down the by-line, where they can deliver crosses into the box, utilize their trickery and skill to go 1v1, and surge up the field through their dynamic pace and timing of movement into dangerous areas. Here is our latest Player Role Analysis.

Premier League Transfer Tax (Part 2)

by Rhys Desmond, posted in German Bundesliga, Most Recent, Premier League, Recruitment & Scouting, Serie A

After examining fourteen Premier League sides, we are getting closer to the truth. Bundesliga Tax may very well be a real thing. Whether it's the nature of players signing from the league in comparison to others, or simply something wrong with their ability to adapt, players coming over from Germany's top flight have ranked consistently lower than players arriving from other leagues. Our data illustrates player performance on a range of statistical categories in and out of possession, whilst aiming to utilize our Role Continuity System in establishing important traits and characteristics specific to a player's role.

Why Jordyn Huitema is perfect for OL Reign

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Most Recent, NWSL, Player Analysis, Recruitment & Scouting, Striker, Winger, Women's Football

After excelling for PSG in France, Canadian youngster Jordyn Huitema appears to be days away from making a return to North America, where she will ply her trade as an important member of OL Reign's attack. News broke on Thursday thanks to The Athletic's Meg Linehan, following Reign's recent signings of veteran Tobin Heath and Arsenal's Kim Little on loan. Expected to be more of a long-term signing to improve upon Reign's attacking horizons, Jordyn Huitema provides the perfect mix of pace and pizzazz to Laura Harvey's team. Here is why Jordyn Huitema could be set to ignite the NWSL on fire.

Explaining the Inverted Fullback – Player Role Analysis

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Coach Education, Data Analysis, Fullback, German Bundesliga, Masterclasses, Most Recent, Player Analysis, Player Education, Premier League, Recruitment & Scouting

Fullbacks are not always the flashiest of players, nor do they garner the greatest attention, even despite their importance to creating and generating chances in the modern game. That is precisely why a system like our Role Continuity Evaluation System works on so many levels, as we are able to adequately assess the important characteristics to a player's performance, while minimizing the scrutinization over less important facets of the player's game. Within the system, we break down full-backs into three broad categories: 'Wide Warriors', 'Wing-Backs', and the topic of today's article - the 'Inverted Fullback'. So with that, we explain the tasks, functions and role of an 'Inverted Fullback' and outline some of the very best in the position in 2022.

Tactical Thinker: Which relegated stars are set to stay in the Prem?

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Most Recent, Premier League, Recruitment & Scouting

After the conclusion of the Premier League season and the subsequent relegations of Norwich, Watford and Burnley, we ask you to conjure up the players that you would keep in the Premier League next season. Whether it's likely to happen or not, we want to know who you would take at your club next season, or who you think would excel at a Premier League team in 2022-23. Answer our latest Tactical Thinker below!

Replacing Conor Gallagher at Crystal Palace

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Attacking Midfield, Central Midfield, Data Analysis, Most Recent, Player Analysis, Premier League, Recruitment & Scouting

Out of all the midfielders in the Premier League, very few stand out when it comes to as many attributes as Conor Gallagher. The Chelsea loanee has been on fire all season long at Crystal Palace - bagging 8 goals with 3 assists in 33 matches, alongside some of the best pressing and tackling numbers of players in his position. With his late arriving goal-scoring form and top-tier pressing intensity, Thomas Tuchel and Chelsea are bound to steal Gallagher back into their team, and give him regular minutes next season. A quintessential box-to-box midfielder who can also dovetail as a number ten, Gallagher will be a massive miss for the Eagles next season. So with that, we examine who could possibly come in to replace the 22-year-old midfielder at Crystal Palace next season.

Explaining the Defensive Fullback – Player Role Analysis

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Coach Education, Data Analysis, Fullback, German Bundesliga, Masterclasses, Most Recent, Player Analysis, Player Education, Premier League, Recruitment & Scouting

A 'Wide Warrior' is a full-back who hasn't quite kept up with the modern trends associated with their position. Rather than relying on attacking threat and potency to make their name, the 'Wide Warrior' continues to be an ever-present at the back, doing their best work closer to goal. They excel at the defensive side of the game above all else, even if they may offer certain advantages going forward (like a wing-back), or in half-spaces (like an inverted fullback). Further, not only do they excel at the defensive side of the game, their manager has made clear intentions for that to be the most important facet of their role within the team, restricting their attacking height.

What happens to Julian Alvarez now?

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Most Recent, Player Analysis, Premier League, Recruitment & Scouting, Striker, World Football

Seemingly in need of striker that could provide something different until the end of the season, Alvarez seemed like a logical fit. He would allow the Citizens the ability to change the complexions of a match in novel ways, offering a pace and power in behind that contrasts City's current false nine, strikerless system. The small fee for a man so clearly potent in front of goal continues to be seen as an absolute bargain, and a move that should benefit City in the long-run. Or, so it seemed.