The use of data storage and sophistication in the world of football makes it possible to be much faster in each search. In those first filtered access to players that will later be seen in video and in depth by the scouting departments of the clubs, the possibilities are innumerable to find the desired profile, because if there is one thing football has, it is profiles of all kinds within the same position.
With the parameterised search, in Driblab we can personalise all the searches using all the parameters we want until we find the most specific profile possible. If we ask our database, automated with precise search tools, which box-to-box midfielders we can find in the European second tiers, the answer will not be easy, but it is a matter of choosing the right metrics and finding the right keys.
Finding the well-known ‘box-to-box‘, a midfielder with defensive influence and attacking presence through shooting or finishing, is not an easy task because the profile is scarce, but if we know what this type of midfielder does on the pitch, we only have to translate those concepts into events or performance metrics. For that, we use the following parameters:
With these searches we have found quite a few interesting players within the market but we have highlighted four different players in European second tiers who stand out for great defensive work, with commitment to help in defensive duels, a great run inside the pitch and presence in the final third to finish plays, using the finishing filter and a minimum amount of 1.2 shots per 90 minutes. Among them, the most interesting is Ludovit Reis, former FC Barcelona B player and now in the ranks of German club Hamburg.
Among other profiles, the young Neil El Aynaoui, from Nancy, at 21 years of age, has had a great season, with a good level to put his leg in, a good last pass and a lot of arrival in the box. In the Championship, one of the players who best fits the parameters is Fulham’s Josh Onomah, formerly of Tottenham, an England youth international, very powerful in the tackle and with 1.39 shots per 90 minutes.
We are Driblab, a consultancy specialized in the statistical analysis of players and teams; our work is focused on advising and minimizing risk in professional football decision-making in areas related to talent detection and footballer evaluations. Our database has more than 200,000 players from more than 180 competitions, covering information from all over the world. Here you can learn more about how we work and what we offer.
