[THREAD] 𝗝𝗲𝗳𝗳 𝗛𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸 has signed for #NUFC on a free transfer, so I wanted to take a statistical look at what a player that Burnley fans describe as ‘𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙚’ would offer the team 1/

𝗛𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸’s versatility makes him difficult to assess. There’s a presumption that we’ve signed him to play in centre-midfield, but he’s played the majority of his games this season on the right of a midfield four which skews his statistical output. #NUFC (pic Understat) 2/

To compensate, I’ll compare 𝗛𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸 to our 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 (Hayden, Shelvey) and our 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 (Saint-Maximin, Almiron) #NUFC 3/

So with that context, here are 𝗛𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸’s radars, which to be frank, are unspectacular. His ability to successfully dribble (1.16 per 90) and touches in the box (1.91 per 90) make him more interesting as a Central Midfielder, but are low for an Attacking Mid #NUFC 4/

In centre mid, 𝗛𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸’s profile looks more like 𝗜𝘀𝗮𝗮𝗰 𝗛𝗮𝘆𝗱𝗲𝗻 than 𝗝𝗼𝗻𝗷𝗼 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘆. Neat and tidy on the ball, playing 2.23 progressive passes and just 0.56 key passes per 90. Defensively he looks a little lacklustre too, however… #NUFC 5/

It’s important to place his defensive stats in the context of how Sean Dyche asks his Burnley team to play, this description from @TifoFootball_ explains that well: #NUFC 6/

This is further evidenced by analysis done earlier this week by @StatsBomb's @jair1970. Burnley’s defence is built on positional discipline and spacing, not pressing. Whereas #NUFC are more aggressive as the opposition approach their goal. 7/

So it’s fair to think that SOME areas of 𝗛𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸’s defensive output may increase as part of Bruce’s #NUFC (pressures & tackles) while others caused by Dyche’s system (blocks) may fall back. 8/

In more attacking areas, 𝗛𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸’s is more like 𝗔𝗹𝗺𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻 than 𝗦𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁-𝗠𝗮𝘅𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻. He has an eye for a long ranger though and perhaps will offer more in an attacking sense freed from Dyche’s prescriptive system. #NUFC 9/

All in all, it’s fair to say that describing 𝗛𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸 as a ‘squad man’ feels about right. He profiles similar to Hayden with fewer tackles in Centre Mid and like Almiron with less attacking threat higher up the pitch #NUFC 10/

What he does do is give Bruce options and depth in a bunch of areas, which considering our injury record last year, can’t be a bad thing. Welcome to #NUFC Jeff! /ENDS