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Efficient Possession Ratio: A New Football Performance Metric
While writing my recent article entitled Why Sean Dyche Deserves More Credit, I scoured the internet for a statistic to support my claims about the potency of Everton’s counterattack last season, only to find one did not exist. Thus, I created one of my own and named it the “Efficient Possession Ratio”, or EPR. …
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Filip Jorgensen: Scandinavia’s Next Top Goalkeeper
Filip Jorgensen, a native of Lomma, started his youth career in 2007 with the local Swedish club GIF Nike at the age of five. After moving to Malmo FF, Jorgensen spent six seasons with the youth team between 2008 and 2014. After spending two seasons playing for Santa Catalina and Penya Arrabal, he returned to…
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Exploring José Sá’s 2023/24 Comeback Journey
Excitement surrounded the Molineux when Wolverhampton Wanderers signed José Sá ahead of the 2021/22 season. The former Portuguese Primeira Liga and Greece Super League champion was set to replace fan-favorite Rui Patrício, who departed that summer to join AS Roma. A very successful debut season saw the Portuguese goalkeeper’s stock rise steeply, as he…
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Yan Couto: Girona’s Mercurial Wing Back
In Europe’s top five leagues, only one defender has managed at least 8 assists, 45 successful dribble take-ons, and 145 progressive carries in a single campaign in the past three seasons: Girona’s (City Football Group’s) Yan Couto. If that seems like an arbitrary cut-off for a grouping of statistics, that is because it is. But,…
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Raphinha: Challenging the Stereotypes of Brazilian Wingers at Barcelona
Since 2017, two La Liga players have managed at least 0.40 non-penalty expected goals and 0.40 expected assisted goals per 90 minutes in the same season. Lionel Messi has done it three times (‘17/18, ‘18/19, ‘19/20), and Raphinha has done it twice (‘22/23, ‘23/24) since swapping Leeds for Barcelona in the summer of 2022. …
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Alvaro Valles: Las Palmas’ Ball-Playing Goalkeeper
Back in Spain’s top-flight after six years, UD Las Palmas are loving life in La Liga and find themselves on track for a comfortable midtable finish. Garcia Pimienta’s side have enjoyed a smooth return to the big leagues and impressed with a free-flowing, possession-heavy style of play. They are averaging 60.2% possession — only Barcelona…
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Aleix García’s Regista Renaissance at Girona
Aleix García’s story is truly one of persistence and transformation. He began his career in the Villarreal youth academy, working his way through the ranks up to the Villarreal B team. At just 18 years old, he made his first career move away from la Ciudad Deportiva Mini Estadi to the Manchester City U21 squad…
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İlkay Gündoğan: Barcelona’s Free Transfer Turned MVP
Joan Laporta has not been shy about bringing in free transfers to bolster Barcelona’s squad since his reelection as the Blaugrana’s president in 2021. Given the financial circumstances of the club he inherited, adding quality players without paying an exorbitant transfer fee is probably one of the most shrewd maneuvers one could make. During his…
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Brahim Díaz: The Swiss Army Knife of Attackers
Christian Bale, cinnamon, the Swiss Army Knife, Brahim Díaz: all known for their versatility. Wait, hold on. Brahim Díaz? That’s right. He might not have the public perception like the others, but his versatility across the front line has been key to Real Madrid’s La Liga title charge and Champions League run. However, it has…
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Samuel Omorodion: Spain’s Next Top Striker?
It has been nothing short of a meteoric rise for Samuel “Samu” Omorodion Aghehowa. Born in Melilla, Spain to Nigerian parents, Omorodion moved to Maracena, a municipality of Granada, at a young age. After progressing through the ranks at AD Nervión for six years, he joined Granada’s academy in 2021, eventually making his senior debut…
