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We need a Right Back & we need one (that is) fast.
With pretty much all RB options unattainable in winter, it’d opt for a slightly more left field, yet exciting player.
Said player is Sergiño Dest of Ajax.
[A Thread].
(Yes, that is Alphonso Davies who gets roasted by Dest.)
With pretty much all RB options unattainable in winter, it’d opt for a slightly more left field, yet exciting player.
Said player is Sergiño Dest of Ajax.
[A Thread].
(Yes, that is Alphonso Davies who gets roasted by Dest.)
With Kimmich (previously the world’s best RB) moving permanently into midfield and the rather (as a RB) conservative Pavard hopefully moving to his natural CB position, that opens up the need for a RB. Ideally, that RB would be good offensively. And that is Dest’s greatest asset.
Dest is a 19 y/o RB who made his debut last July. He's available for as "little" as €20m & is a realistic target even this January, since he's not an undisputed starter (1651 mins.). Often sharing the RB slot with Veltman & Mazraoui, but still being Ajax's 9th most used player.
Probably his greatest asset is his dribbling. That obviously comes from the fact that he has been a winger growing up & could probably still do a job there.
In the League he completes an impressive 68% of his 2.5 dribbles. In the CL he even completes 69% of his 1.3 dribbles.
In the League he completes an impressive 68% of his 2.5 dribbles. In the CL he even completes 69% of his 1.3 dribbles.
In the Eredivisie he takes 1.3 shots p90 with more than 50% of them coming from inside the box (0.7 in the CL). He would already have a goal if his shot against Almelo wasn’t given as Huntelaar's goal. Though he scored 2 great goals playing as a LB in a cup game against Telstar.
Being brought up by the excellent Ajax Academy, he has a very good first touch & passing range. He completes 89% of his 51.1 attempted passes p90 (86% / 47 passes CL). And also completes 2/3 of his long passes, showing his ability to influence play from the right back position.
Dest attempts around 2.6 crosses p90, of which 20% find a man. So basically he gives 0.5 accurate crosses per game. He obviously still can work on that. Even though his crossing can already be a very dangerous weapon. Since he's ambidextrous he has the ability to use either foot.
His standout statistic is probably his sheer amount of assists. He currently sits on 5 assists for club & country. Dest basically averages an assist every 2.5 games of League play (4 in 905 minutes). Obviously he plays for a good side but those numbers are still truly remarkable.
But the most important question remains: Can he actually defend? And the answer surprisingly is: Yes.
He makes 3.3 tackles p90 with a 79% success rate in the Eredivisie. That even raises to 90% (2.2 tackles) in the CL. Add to that 0.5 clearances, 1.0 interceptions & 1.4 blocks.
He makes 3.3 tackles p90 with a 79% success rate in the Eredivisie. That even raises to 90% (2.2 tackles) in the CL. Add to that 0.5 clearances, 1.0 interceptions & 1.4 blocks.
Dest is winning 56.6% of his 4.8 ground duels every game,
but needs to significantly improve aerially, only winning 23.5%.
That is due to his slight frame & height of 1.75m.
His discipline is solid though, giving away just 0.8 Fouls p90 & seeing just 1 Yellow Card in 1.5k mins.
but needs to significantly improve aerially, only winning 23.5%.
That is due to his slight frame & height of 1.75m.
His discipline is solid though, giving away just 0.8 Fouls p90 & seeing just 1 Yellow Card in 1.5k mins.
Dest possesses excellent acceleration & recovery pace.
Importantly, he also has a good awareness of his surroundings & is able to perform heroic acts of defending. Such as his last ditch clearance & goal line block to hold on to a 2-1 lead in a game where he gave both assists.
Importantly, he also has a good awareness of his surroundings & is able to perform heroic acts of defending. Such as his last ditch clearance & goal line block to hold on to a 2-1 lead in a game where he gave both assists.
He can come inside & be an additional midfielder, especially when playing as a LB. But he's best used overlapping as a RB because of his pace & directness. Offensively he's comparable to Cancelo, when playing as a RB. As a LB he is similar to Lahm, when Lahm used to play as a LB.
Obviously he's still a bit raw & at times naïve defensively. The most remarkable example of this is an unbelievable howler against Heracles Almelo in the 90th minute. He assisted the 4-0, but then was caught out of possession & Ajax conceded a pretty unnecessary cancelation goal.
Basically, if you at least slightly like Alphonso Davies as a LB, you will absolutely love Sergiño Dest as a RB.
And Flick could help him undergo the Davies-transition.
He's just fun to watch because he has the skills of Marcelo.
It's always exciting when Dest is on the ball.
And Flick could help him undergo the Davies-transition.
He's just fun to watch because he has the skills of Marcelo.
It's always exciting when Dest is on the ball.
In a way the only somewhat major downside is that he has chosen to represent the US instead of the Netherlands. And with that come a few traveling problems during international breaks. Also including potential training camps in Qatar due to the ongoing feud between the US & Iran.
His integration at Bayern would also be easy. He played with Richards for various US youth teams, including the U20 World Cup in 2019.
He also played with Zirkzee for some Dutch youth national teams.
And he also seems to at least know Davies, as seen by some Instagram comments.
He also played with Zirkzee for some Dutch youth national teams.
And he also seems to at least know Davies, as seen by some Instagram comments.
Erik ten Hag is his manager & rates him very highly, even handing him his debut.
For games that require a more defensive RB, we can always call upon Pavard to do a job there and, if needs must, Kimmich.
Dest could be given time to truly establish himself as a first XI player.
For games that require a more defensive RB, we can always call upon Pavard to do a job there and, if needs must, Kimmich.
Dest could be given time to truly establish himself as a first XI player.
Very pleasingly the number 2 shirt, which seems to be Dest's number of choice & is a true RB's number (even fitting his Instagram username [ @sgd_2] is currently available at Bayern. (Ever since the departure of Sandro Wagner.)
Dest really is the perfect answer for our RB woes.
![Very pleasingly the number 2 shirt, which seems to be Dest's number of choice & is a true RB's number (even fitting his Instagram username [ @sgd_2] is currently available at Bayern. (Ever since the departure of Sandro Wagner.)Dest really is the perfect answer for our RB woes.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EOktKTfWsAETi1-.jpg "Very pleasingly the number 2 shirt, which seems to be Dest's number of choice & is a true RB's number (even fitting his Instagram username [ @sgd_2] is currently available at Bayern. (Ever since the departure of Sandro Wagner.)Dest really is the perfect answer for our RB woes.")
Dest really is the perfect answer for our RB woes.
