Controller or (and?) destroyer?
That’s not the long-awaited sequel to Peter Weir’s naval traditional, Grasp and Commander, however reasonably the query Liverpool’s decision-makers should ask themselves and discover with ruthless effectivity out there forward of the membership’s Premier League opener at Stamford Bridge in precisely per week’s time.
Sky Sports activities’ extremely dependable Melissa Reddy confirmed on Twitter earlier this week – amid talks with Southampton over their resident destroyer Romeo Lavia – that these are two profiles ‘the membership are ’.
Dialogue open between Southampton and Liverpool over Romeo Lavia. He needs the transfer however compromise nonetheless wanted over the charge. LFC engaged on different choices. They’re in talks with Fluminense for Andre. Clear the membership are two profiles: controller, progressive destroyer.
— Melissa Reddy (@MelissaReddy_) August 2, 2023
Andre at Fluminense, it ought to be emphasised, shouldn’t be thought-about an alternative choice to the Belgian nationwide given his standing as a controller.
READ MORE: Liverpool’s double switch hopes boosted as journo greenlights curiosity in £17m midfield controller
READ MORE: Lavia switch full, Andre incoming & third signing sighted: Liverpool’s must-do purchasing record
What can Liverpool count on from these profiles?
Let’s kick issues off by having a look at Liverpool’s present squad, what they’ve misplaced and what they want.
“Going by way of their shortlist of midfield targets, its clear to me that Liverpool are after two distinct and totally different profiles,” Reddy spoke on Sky Sports activities (through Soccer Every day).
“One is a controller – somebody who dictates the tempo of the sport and permits Liverpool to lionise possession – within the mould of what Thiago gives.
“The opposite is a progressive destroyer – a participant very expert in breaking apart opposition assaults but in addition sparking Liverpool’s – which is what Fabinho gave them.
“For the latter profile, Liverpool have closely pursued Romeo Lavia of Southampton.”
The journalist went on so as to add: “We all know, as we reported on Sky Sports activities Information as properly, that they’ve made contact with Fluminense over Andre. He suits the opposite profile of participant; he’s extra of a controller. He profiles very equally to Thiago.”
Maybe of most curiosity, nevertheless, was Reddy’s admission that: “In a perfect situation, Liverpool would get each these profiles over the road this summer time in addition to recruit a defender. However very best eventualities hardly occur within the switch window. I’m informed Liverpool are engaged on a number of options to present Jurgen Klopp precisely what he wants for the season forward.”
What to anticipate from a destroyer just about speaks for itself: tackles, interceptions, blocks. A progressive destroyer, nevertheless, should be able to each carrying the ball ahead and taking part in progressive passes.
Right here’s what Fabinho averaged per 90 for Liverpool between his debut marketing campaign and the 2022/23 season, courtesy of FBref:
Progressive Carries common (what FBref outline as ‘carries that transfer the ball in the direction of the opponent’s objective line no less than 10 yards from its furthest level within the final six passes, or any carry into the penalty space’): 0.83
Progressive Passes common (what FBref outline as ‘accomplished passes that transfer the ball in the direction of the opponent’s objective line no less than 10 yards from its furthest level within the final six passes, or any accomplished go into the penalty space’): 5.24
Romeo Lavia’s PCA (2022/23): 0.89
Romeo Lavia’s PPA (2022/23): 4.13
Romeo Lavia’s Tackles per 90 common (2022/23): 2.43 (1.24 for tackles that received again possession for Southampton)
Romeo Lavia’s Interceptions per 90 common (2022/23): 1.34
Romeo Lavia’s Blocks per 90 common (2022/23): 1.90
Even when accounting for such numbers to fall – as they did with Fabinho following his swap from Monaco to Liverpool – after a transfer to Anfield, it’s troublesome to dispute the notion that Lavia might be a extremely efficient operator for us. Even, remarkably, at solely 19 years of age.
That mentioned, how does a few of the competitors regionally stack? Taking into consideration a comparatively broad age profile vary (20-25) and no less than 20 90s of top-flight soccer performed:
TACKLES per 90 common (2022/23)
Tyler Adams: 3.71
Moises Caicedo: 2.87
Cheick Doucoure: 2.50
Romeo Lavia: 2.43
Vitaly Janelt: 2.20
INTERCEPTIONS per 90 common (2022/23)
Cheick Doucoure: 1.82
Moises Caicedo: 1.60
Tyler Adams: 1.46
Romeo Lavia: 1.34
Vitaly Janelt: 1.18
BLOCKS per 90 common (2022/23)
Tyler Adams: 2.00
Romeo Lavia: 1.90
Cheick Doucoure: 1.53
Moises Caicedo: 1.23
Vitaly Janelt: 1.18
PCA per 90 common (2022/23)
Moises Caicedo: 1.09
Romeo Lavia: 0.89
Tyler Adams: 0.79
Cheick Doucoure: 0.58
Vitaly Janelt: 0.57
PPA per 90 common (2022/23)
Moises Caicedo: 6.28
Tyler Adams: 5.67
Cheick Doucoure: 4.55
Romeo Lavia: 4.13
Vitaly Janelt: 3.35
Although not absolutely the standout throughout the related metrics, the numbers are removed from uninspiring – particularly when making an allowance for Lavia’s relative inexperience and youth.
So what would we be in terms of a controller? If we’re pondering of the Thiago Alcantara mould, at its absolute most simple, we’ll more than likely lean closely on go makes an attempt, completion charges and possession development (although that alone doesn’t absolutely encapsulate how the Spaniard manages to dictate play and tempo on the pitch).
Right here’s what the previous Bayern Munich star averaged per 90 for Liverpool between his debut marketing campaign and the 2022/23 season, courtesy of FBref:
Progressive Passes common: 10.4
Andre’s go makes an attempt per 90 common (2022/23): 77.0
Andre’s go completion charge per 90 common (2022/23): 93.3%
Andre’s PPA (2022/23): 5.65
How about we throw in some native competitors as soon as once more with the aforementioned constraints on our search (making an exception for Aston Villa’s Boubacar Kamara with 19.7 90s registered)?
PPA per 90 common (2022/23)
Bruno Guimaraes: 7.33
Andre: 5.65
Kiernan Dewsbury-Corridor: 5.16
Douglas Luiz: 4.55
Boubacar Kamara: 4.26
PASS ATTEMPTS per 90 common (2022/23)
Andre: 77.0
Douglas Luiz: 55.8
Bruno Guimaraes: 55.0
Boubacar Kamara: 47.8
Kiernan Dewsbury-Corridor: 45.1
PASS COMPLETION RATE per 90 common (2022/23)
Andre: 93.3%
Boubacar Kamara: 84.8%
Bruno Guimaraes: 83.2%
Douglas Luiz: 82.5%
Kiernan Dewsbury-Corridor: 75.6%
There can be some adjustment, one may fairly count on, to the pace and ferocity of English top-flight soccer. That mentioned, given the reasonably distinctive nature of Thiago’s providing within the squad, we’d be inclined to contemplate choosing the much less well-beaten path.
In fact, it’s value contemplating that customary metrics alone can’t hope to seize the full essence of what our No.6 gives on the pitch – only a snapshot of profiles that may (may most actually being the operative phrase) carry out the same perform.
Ideally, nevertheless, given what we’ve already misplaced in Fabinho this summer time, a progressive destroyer must be thought-about absolutely the precedence if it comes right down to a straight selection between the profiles mentioned.
With the likes of Moises Caicedo and Bruno Guimaraes both being unlikely to depart their present outfits with no critical outlay from an get together or doubtlessly extra more likely to be part of a rival (as appears to be the case with the previous), nevertheless, maybe we’d be well-advised to contemplate choices past these with any Premier League expertise.
#Ep83 of The Empire of the Kop Podcast: EOTK Insider with Neil Jones
