Current signing Alex Telles seems to be set to make his Premier League debut at Outdated Trafford as we speak as Manchester United face West Bromwich Albion, however how do his strengths and weaknesses match as much as these of Luke Shaw and Brandon Williams?
The Athletic’s Carl Anka has taken the chance to supply a statistical comparability between the three left-backs and a few fascinating information emerge.
Anka has printed ‘pizza chart’ statistics for the three males that measure key defensive, attacking and possession-based qualities.
supply: The Athletic
When it comes to defensive qualities, figures for tackling capacity, ball recoveries and interceptions, disrupting opposition strikes, defending high quality and aerial duels high quality are used. Shaw scores significantly greater than the opposite two by way of tackling capacity with a powerful 97 out of 100. Telles registers 50 and Williams a surprisingly low 13%.
Nevertheless, by way of defending high quality, Shaw ranks lowest of the three with 24%, with Telles on 69% and Williams the best on 79%.
Telles comes out high on aerial duels, regardless of being a few inches shorter than Shaw, at 72% vs. 49%, with Williams struggling at 10%.
The general figures for defensive traits rank Telles as greatest with 295 factors, with Shaw on 275 and Williams on 203.
Possession figures included have been ball-retention capacity, link-up play quantity, carry and dribble quantity and progressive passing. On this division, Shaw and Williams rating very equally, with a lot greater outcomes than Telles in all however the progressive passing class, the place Shaw solely scores 9% and Williams 4% versus Telles’ 69%.
Total in possession stats, Williams comes out high on 267, Shaw is second on 255 and Telles scores a considerably decrease 179.
While at first look the figures recommend that the Brazilian just isn’t nearly as good in possession as the opposite two, Anka claims that they mirror crew kinds (Telles’ figures have been recorded whereas enjoying for his earlier membership, Porto.)
‘One ought to apply the context of the groups. Solskjaer’s United are particularly left-flank centered, whereas Porto final season took a extra evenly-balanced strategy.,’ Anka explains.
‘Telles is a progressive passer… and his lesser build-up play at Porto was a results of his strategy to ball retention; he would attempt to get the ball into the field the place doable, but when the prospect wasn’t on, he’d are inclined to cross backwards somewhat than to a midfielder who would possibly work a greater angle.’
The attacking figures included have been anticipated targets from shot creation, anticipated targets from ball development, receptions within the opponent’s field and shot quantity.
Telles scores by far the best in shot quantity with a powerful 95%, in comparison with Shaw’s 60% and Williams’ 68%, however against this the Englishmen each acquired the ball way more often within the field, at 86% and 60% for Shaw and Williams, respectively, versus Telles’ 27%. This may occasionally, once more, merely mirror variations in crew enjoying kinds and orders between United and Porto.
Total scores on the attacking dimension put Telles barely forward on 285 versus Shaw’s 274 and Williams’ 269.
The sum of all three scores sees Shaw come out on high with 804, Telles second on 759, and Williams not far behind on 739.
Shaw comes out of the evaluation as a superb all-rounder. As Anka says, ‘Shaw is an effective left-back. He’s not a title-winning one, and possibly must perform a little bit extra to crossover into nice full-back, however … Shaw presents a level of steadiness and calm in a facet usually wanting each.
He raises the expertise ground of this United facet, somewhat than their potential ceiling.’
Telles, then again, presents a lot stronger attacking qualities, significantly from huge, and a much better aim contribution. His superiority within the air additionally implies that defensively he can maintain his personal as effectively, regardless of the informal assumption amongst United followers that he’s higher offensively however worse defensively.
Shaw is principally a gentle Eddie, whereas Telles is an explosive participant. That type of character is arguably precisely what is required on this generally languid and quiet United facet and will assist Bruno Fernandes elevate the aggression and fervour quotient of the crew.
United have had some world class goalkeepers through the years and a few entertaining ones too. Take our quiz beneath to learn the way a lot you recognize about United’s #1’s, previous and current.
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