Tag: Scouting & Recruitment

Why Moussa Diaby is perfect for Aston Villa

by Rhys Desmond, posted in German Bundesliga, Player Analysis, Premier League, Recruitment & Scouting, Subscriber Exclusives, Winger

In one of the steals of the summer so far, Aston Villa have pulled off an absolute coup in signing Moussa Diaby from Bayer Leverkusen, one of the most highly sought after players in the world. Diaby could have gone to a Champions League club with ease, but has chosen to work under Unai Emery's growing project at Aston Villa. It's a clear sign of the pull Emery has in the transfer market, but also a clear demonstration of Aston Villa's ambitions, and their awareness of which players perfectly fit the way they want to play. Here is why Diaby is perfect for the Villains.

Patrice Gheisar – HFX Wanderers FC – Tactical Analysis

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Canadian Premier League, Coach Education, Managers, Masterclasses, Team Analysis

HFX Wanderers never quite got going in 2022, after an early season injury to star player Joao Morelli left them without much in the way of adequate alternatives. Stephen Hart paid the price after four seasons in charge, with Patrice Gheisar entering the frame to start a new era at the Wanderers Grounds. The Wanderers took a bit of time to find their groove at the start of the season, but Gheisar's exciting principles of play always looked promising. Since a 2-0 loss to Atletico at the start of June, Halifax have won five of their last eight matches, pushing for a playoff spot alongside the league's top three teams.

Why Mateo Kovačić is perfect for Manchester City

by Charlie Ellis, posted in Central Midfield, Data Analysis, Player Analysis, Premier League, Recruitment & Scouting, Team Analysis

After five fairly stellar and underappreciated years at Chelsea, Mateo Kovačić has left the club and signed with Manchester’s most recent treble winners. New ownership at Stamford Bridge led to a drastic rebuild from their 2021 Champions League winning squad, and the time came for one of their most consistent performers over the years to exit the building. Manchester City took full advantage, making him an apt replacement for the loss of Ilkay Gündoğan and the potential loss of silky smooth Bernardo Silva.

Canadian Premier League Scouting Database – Noah Jensen

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Canadian Premier League, Central Midfield, Masterclasses, Player Analysis

Now in his second season at the club, Jensen is persistently pushing for a place inside the first eleven, and continues to look phenomenal every time he plays. Here is what makes Noah Jensen one of the most promising midfielders inside the CPL, and why he could be destined for far greater times in the near future.

The complexities of scouting & recruitment at the pro level

Featured by Rhys Desmond, posted in Data Analysis, Masterclasses, Recruitment & Scouting

One month removed from the 2022-23 European season, all the attention continues to be on the transfer market. Transfers are the talk of the town across the globe at the moment, with each European club preparing to enjoy happier times next season, and handle all their ins and outs as efficiently as possible.

Canadian Premier League Scouting Database – Diego Gutiérrez

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Canadian Premier League, Central Midfield, Data Analysis, Defensive Midfield, Masterclasses, Player Analysis

After being crowned the best defensive midfielder in the league in our CANPL Scouting Series last year, Diego Gutiérrez has transformed elements of his game to become one of the league's top box-to-box roamers. The Chilean midfielder has not only captained Valour through the start of the 2023 season, but has been pivotal to directing play and controlling much of the team's better moments throughout the season so far. Here is why Diego Gutiérrez is one of the best midfielders in the division.

Canadian Premier League Scouting Database – Tyler Crawford

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Canadian Premier League, Data Analysis, Fullback, Masterclasses, Player Analysis, Recruitment & Scouting

Vancouver FC haven't enjoyed the perfect start to life in the 2023 Canadian Premier League, but they have been one of the league's strongest promoters of young talent - epitomizing one of the key goals of the league. One of their most consistent performers at the heart of everything good has been 19-year-old Tyler Crawford, after just a single-season playing college soccer as a freshman for Michigan State. We break down the talent that is Tyler Crawford, and discuss whether he has the chops to continue progressing his career into future MLS stardom or beyond.