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Had a go at classifying strikers in Europe's top 5 leagues based on their involvement in receiving and passing the ball.
There are 4 broad-ish categories which I've managed to extract from the graph, based on the quadrants.
All data from @StatsBomb via @fbref.
Had a go at classifying strikers in Europe's top 5 leagues based on their involvement in receiving and passing the ball.
There are 4 broad-ish categories which I've managed to extract from the graph, based on the quadrants.
All data from @StatsBomb via @fbref.
I thought I'd start by explaining what parameters I used and the different types that I could identify from them.
I used % of the team's passes which were intended for the player, plotted on the X-axis, against % of the team's passes which were attempted by the player.
I used % of the team's passes which were intended for the player, plotted on the X-axis, against % of the team's passes which were attempted by the player.
Here is what the graph looks like for all the strikers together.
The 1st quadrant (top right) contains players who have a high percentage of their team's passes aimed at them, and also attempt a high percentage of their team's passes.
These players are usually the focal point...
The 1st quadrant (top right) contains players who have a high percentage of their team's passes aimed at them, and also attempt a high percentage of their team's passes.
These players are usually the focal point...
...of their team's attacking play and look to get involved as often as possible.
The 2nd quadrant (top left) has players that aren't always the target for teammates' passes but have a larger than average share in the passes attempted, which suggests they're working hard to...
The 2nd quadrant (top left) has players that aren't always the target for teammates' passes but have a larger than average share in the passes attempted, which suggests they're working hard to...
...win the ball back, recover loose balls and link the play.
In the third quadrant (bottom left), are players who rank low in both metrics, although the low passing involvement could be a consequence of the low proportion of passes aimed at them. Their limited involvement...
In the third quadrant (bottom left), are players who rank low in both metrics, although the low passing involvement could be a consequence of the low proportion of passes aimed at them. Their limited involvement...
...means that these players are likely to act as goal poachers, playing on the shoulder of the last defender looking to apply the finish.
Finally, the 4th quadrant has players who are the target for a lot of passes but don't actually pass that much.
Finally, the 4th quadrant has players who are the target for a lot of passes but don't actually pass that much.
They're often the focal point of attacks, but usually to hold it up and make 1 or 2 passes at most.
There are also a few interesting observations when we look at the league by league graphs as well.
There are also a few interesting observations when we look at the league by league graphs as well.
Bundesliga:
Haaland is basically the poacher supreme, while it's kind of cool to see that Hertha have been using Piatek very differently to how Genoa did. Frankfurt have a nice mix of strikers with Silva acting as a link-up target and Dost being more of a 'grafter', so to speak.
Haaland is basically the poacher supreme, while it's kind of cool to see that Hertha have been using Piatek very differently to how Genoa did. Frankfurt have a nice mix of strikers with Silva acting as a link-up target and Dost being more of a 'grafter', so to speak.
PL:
What jumps out here is how both WOL and SHU have two players each who get very involved in buildup, in Jota & Jimenez and McGoldrick & McBurnie respectively. Wood and Barnes are where you'd expect too, thanks to Burnley's direct style of play.
What jumps out here is how both WOL and SHU have two players each who get very involved in buildup, in Jota & Jimenez and McGoldrick & McBurnie respectively. Wood and Barnes are where you'd expect too, thanks to Burnley's direct style of play.
La Liga:
The players most involved are from the smaller teams, with Molina and Mata really standing out. Also worth investigating is how Benzema, Griezmann and Joao Felix all fall in the same general area.
The players most involved are from the smaller teams, with Molina and Mata really standing out. Also worth investigating is how Benzema, Griezmann and Joao Felix all fall in the same general area.
Ligue 1: Most of the top strikers aren't focal points, as we can see from where Icardi, Mbappe, Osimhen and Dolberg all place and Ben Yedder is a lot more involved in Monaco's play than you'd expect.
Serie A: Like I mentioned before, Piatek was used very differently at Genoa in the first half of the season. Ribery, Ilicic and Dybala are all heavily involved, while Mertens, CR7 and Chiesa all seem to be part of the "hard-working" category.
Another little thing I tried to look at was the players close to the borders of each quadrant. Hypothetically, it would be easiest for these players to play different roles based on the opposition, manager's philosophy and so on. So, using the intersection of the two box plots...
...and taking the borders as limits, the following group showed up as strikers who could feasibly adapt well.
Some names are expected, like Benzema, Werner and Jimenez.
If Everton can sort out their midfield issues, they should be able to use DCL and Richarlison to good effect.
Some names are expected, like Benzema, Werner and Jimenez.
If Everton can sort out their midfield issues, they should be able to use DCL and Richarlison to good effect.
It also bodes well for Gladbach that both Thuram and Plea fall into this category, and it appears there is certainly hope in the future for Joao Felix despite an underwhelming 1st season at Atleti.
I know this thread was pretty long, so if you had the patience to read all the way till here, thanks a lot.
As always, I'd love to hear feedback, especially about anything I might have gotten wrong.
RTs and likes also appreciated.
As always, I'd love to hear feedback, especially about anything I might have gotten wrong.
RTs and likes also appreciated.
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