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With voting now open for Player of the Season, I've compared 2019/20 performances to 2018/19, and to others in the same position.
(data is collected from @FBREF, and the radars show the comparison to 95th percentile of PL players in that position to have played 1,000+ minutes.) https://twitter.com/Wolves/status/1294226571843325952
(data is collected from @FBREF, and the radars show the comparison to 95th percentile of PL players in that position to have played 1,000+ minutes.) https://twitter.com/Wolves/status/1294226571843325952
First up, Rui Patrício. Goalkeepers are difficult to judge on stats because they are very much beholden to what the other 10 players do. But Rui has shown good consistency over his two seasons.
This season, the amount of goals conceded compared to the quality of shot has improved, as has his long distance kicking. He is staying on his line a lot for crosses – not an issue, as long as the defence know this and can adjust. Consistency is key here.
Onto the defenders. Captain Conor Coady has been similarly consistent – he doesn’t actually do much defending, but is good when he does. Interestingly, his shots blocked has fallen – this might be intentional given how many goals we conceded through his legs last season.
Willy Boly does do a lot defending though. Imperious in the air, and seems to have stepped out of defence more, with his pressures and tackle numbers increasing (but also fouls). As with Coady, fewer blocks, and when he gets the ball he gives it simply.
Completing the defensive trio is Romain Saïss. He’s been more restrained this season, in twice the minutes played; fewer pressures, tackles, interceptions and (just) fouls (last season's data does contain more games in midfield)
If we look at all three of them, you can very much see how the defend differently. Boly and Saïss seek the ball more, while Coady tends to hang back, and then knocks it long when he’s got it.
None of Ryan Bennett, Max Kilman or Jesús Vallejo really played enough minutes to make any real sense of their numbers. As @StatmanJoey said the other day, Kilman could really do with more games https://twitter.com/StatmanJoey/status/1289903072781701120
Moving to the flanks, and Matt Doherty continues to be impressive. His interceptions have fallen, but aside from, everything else remains similar. His progressive passes number shows how important he is at moving the ball forward.
On the other flank, Jonny’s numbers are similarly impressive. He is less expansive than Doherty, but is oh so secure defensively.
Comparatively, Rúben Vinagre likes to attack, and especially dribble. This means he gives the ball away more than the others, but has been relatively secure defensively. Another who needs minutes.
We can see the difference in approaches between the three wing backs; Jonny is secure, Doherty is a key attacking player, Vinagre hasn’t really hit either. Yet
(I wrote more about Jonny/Vinagre comparions here: https://twitter.com/WolvesAnalytics/status/1292124929362743296)
(I wrote more about Jonny/Vinagre comparions here: https://twitter.com/WolvesAnalytics/status/1292124929362743296)
Into the midfield, and the Portuguese Prince. He somehow made more interceptions and pressures this season, despite being a year older and playing more minutes. Is perhaps becoming more reliant on creating chances from set-pieces, rather than live passes.
Rúben Neves’ performances have been very similar to last season, with a fall in interceptions but everything else remaining consistent.
The final midfielder is Leander Dendoncker, whose goal threat has fallen somewhat this season ( but these figures include his time playing in defence)
Considering all three players together, and it’s clear what Nuno wants a midfielder to do; win the ball back, and make sure you complete the pass. And whatever you do, do not get yourself into a goalscoring position.
Rather, the attacking is to be done by the wingers. Diogo Jota is viewed by many fans as having a poor season, but his output in dribbles and goalscoring chances have been absolutely elite.
Adama Traoré. Well, we know what he does. Dribbles and crosses it. His end product is a lot better, creating 0.23 Expected Assists per 90 minutes, up from 0.18 last season.
Considering the two of them together, and you can see how they offer different things; Adama dribbled and crosses, Jota gets into goal scoring positions. An extremely useful pairing.
Daniel Podence and Pedro Neto have both had limited game time. In an extremely small sample size, Podence has shown more inclination to get into goalscoring positions. Neto likes a dribble, and his defensive work won’t be unnoticed by Nuno.
Finally, we reach the much discussed Raúl Jiménez, who has been excellent again. Interestingly, he has perhaps been inclined to do it all by himself – he’s dribbling more, but creating fewer chances for others.
It is clear that Patrick Cutrone, in his small number of minutes does not offer Raúl’s all around game. But, he would have scored goals, and his pressure numbers were excellent. Perhaps given up on slightly too soon?
