Sheff Wednesday 19-20 opposition scout report

Frank Kaushik - www.linkedin.com/in/frank-kaushik
Shefﬁeld
Wednesday FC
Scout Report
October 2019
1

Report Contents
1. Methodology
2. Possible Lineups
3. Team Analysis
a. Goalkeepers
b. Defenders
c. Midﬁelders
d. Attackers
e. Substitutes
f. Attacking Phase
g. Defending Phase
h. Transitions
i. Set Plays For
j. Set Plays Against
4. Strengths
5. Weaknesses
6. Summary
2
MSc Performance Analyst / UEFA B Coach

1. Methodology
The opponents last game will be watched, along with
their last away game.
Patterns and notable events will be observed and noted
in the report.
Games covered:
1) Cardiff City v Sheff Wed 1-1
EFL Championship
18-10-19
Most recent away game
2) Sheff Wed v Leeds United 0-0
EFL Championship
26-10-19
Most recent game
3

2. Possible Lineups
1-4-1-4-1 1-4-4-2
4
If starting with the sole striker, Reach #20 will play off the
right and get forward to good effect with #2 Palmer
providing occasional width. They will have 2 in central
midﬁeld with #23 Hutchison sitting deep almost as a
third CB.
If starting with a partner for Fletcher, it is likely to be #17
Nihui who will stay high and provide an effective physical
focal point allowing Fletcher to come short and link up
play. #20 Reach will play more as a traditional wide player
and is less inﬂuential.
Subs: #23 Hutchinson is capable of playing in the backline as a CB if #13
Borner does not play. #21 Luongo is more box to box compared to #8
Pelupessy who is more of a holding player.

3. Team Analysis
GK #1 Westwood Approx 187cm Left footed
Confident and commanding of box. Capable of agile saves
down low. Good off his line anticipating when to come and
collect. Looked to kick long and central from hands on every
occasion.
GK #25 Dawson Approx 183cm Right footed
Looks to kick long and central aimed towards striker Fletcher.
Happy to take his time and calms the play down both on and
off the ball and waits for the best option. Looked to command
box vocally but lacked effectiveness. Came for balls at set
pieces with mixed success. Stayed switched on while
anticipating when team defended in the attacking third.
5
a. Goalkeepers

RB #2 Palmer Approx 188cm Right Footed
Good anticipation and reliable defensively with tight marking and change of
pace. Sensible short passes when no space to enter. Would get forward often
showing effective off the ball sprints but lacked attacking quality. Capable
shooter if given the chance from central area. Would show good positional
awareness coming in when the ball was on the far left defensively.
RCB #27 Iorfa Approx 193cm Right Footed
Anticipates danger and will often look to vacate slot and quickly provide cover
in both full back areas as well as step out into defensive midfield areas.
Natural athlete. Big strides able to quickly advance into space on rare
occasions. Good range with defensive headers. Takes chances with proactive
approach.
LCB #13 Borner Approx 188cm Left Footed
Takes responsibility at the back with communication and sensible positioning.
Will step up into midfield on the ball when afforded the chance but looks
clumsy. Strong defensive headers competing with well judged aerial duels.
Reliable threat at attacking set pieces around the 6 yard box and pen spot.
LB #3 Fox Approx 185cm Left Footed
Happy to be physical 1 v 1 in wide areas. Takes conservative positions behind
winger, holding rather than looking to overlap. Poor quality crossing once
given the chance. Definitely more defensively minded but got head up and
looked to play passes up the line.
6
3. Team Analysis
b. Defenders

CDM #23 Hutchinson Approx 182cm Right Footed
Will drop deep to receive off centre backs and point to dictate play from the
back. Will take chances with very tight marking in defensive phases.
Occasional reckless challenges slide tackling, conceding fouls. Capable of
clipped long range passes. Neat feat under pressure not giving the ball away.
As a centre back played responsibly tending not to step out. Good covering
across the line with changes of pace and then quick clearances.
RM #7 Harris Approx 175cm Right Footed
Direct, looking to dribble when afforded space ahead. Genuine electric pace
but lacks guile. Very right footed always coming inside. Would look to run in
behind when Fletcher came short. Good whipped direct free-kick ability from
shooting range.
CMR #21 Luongo Approx 176cm Right Footed
Good level of aggression across midfield. Technically neat with short touches
able to play 1 touch and effective 1 v 1 attacking moves when necessary.
Tended not to go looking for the ball during build up and instead looked to be
effective in the attacking ⅓ with sharp short runs.
CML #10 Bannan Approx 169cm Left Footed
Likes to get on the ball and make things happen. Sensible positioning getting
forward when possible. Capable of vision and varied technical passes with
both feet though preferred left. Looked to take team set pieces. Defensively
responsible too throughout.
7
3. Team Analysis
c. Midﬁelders

RM-ST #20 Reach Approx 185cm Left Footed
Attacking intelligence. Smart attacking movement being proactive with
checked runs to lose man, dummies and runs forward and incisive runs off
the ball when sensing penetrative opportunity. Added genuine threat with 1
touch and move play. Defensively responsible across the right side.
ST #9 Fletcher Approx 185cm Left Footed
Good central positioning being team’s highest focal point. Floats across
attacking third. Draws defensive attention. Will pressure from the front with
short sprints. Strong upper body with comfortable hold up play with back to
goal including with chest. Capable of long range shorts. Very left footed.
8
3. Team Analysis
d. Attackers

RM #14 Murphy Approx 179cm Right Footed
Electric pace. Direct dribbling attacking defenders when possible. High
defensive workrate coming back into the box to defend.
CDM #5 Lee Approx 185cm Right Footed
Short passing and movement after. Looked to get forward sensibly.Good
ability to create a yard for himself to receive. Shirt pull after being beaten with
a dribble.
ST #17 Nuhiu Approx 197cm Right Footed
Provided a physical presence for the team to target aerial balls towards.
Strong aerially when given good service. Capable of rolling defenders whilst
being under pressure. Always looked to play forward. Looked a bit clumsy
with the ball but effective.
CMR #8 Pelupessy Approx 179cm Right Footed
Neat on the ball with clean short passes. Held central position responsibly,
Good defensive anticipation during transitions. Would drop into backline at
times. Occasional committed challenges. Didn’t notice opportunities to create
angles and get on the ball. Happy to allow the team to be on the ball without
looking for it.
9
3. Team Analysis
e. Substitutes

Build Up into the middle ⅓
If able to win the ball and secure it, team will play lateral
passes into space and build with Hutchinson stepping
into defensive line attempting to add quality and control
to the play with short measured build up often looking for
free Banan.
Effectively able to break opponents midﬁeld when Reach
or Fletcher joined into middle third and played one touch
round the press.
10
3. Team Analysis
f. Attacking Phase

Penetration into the attacking ⅓
Players overall not able to show consistency and quality
when under defensively set block and light pressure.
Show clever rotation movement from attacking throws to
get on the ball. Generally showed good freedom with
players leaving their traditional slots once in the
attacking third seen most notably with Fletcher, Banan
and Luongo’s movement.
Finishing in the attacking ⅓
Fletcher will look to get ball onto left and seek shooting
opportunities from range. Likewise Harris is happy to cut
in from the left onto right foot and shoot. Midﬁelders
Banan and Luongo will get forward to support getting in
and around the box to help recycle, cross or shoot
themselves.
11
3. Team Analysis
f. Attacking Phase

Preventing Build Up into the middle ⅓
Fletcher would look to trigger team with short sprints to
close down opponent defenders and the team’s midﬁeld
and defenders behind would look to get tight ready to
challenge.
When opposition were able to play round Fletcher’s press,
the team would organise into a narrow 1-4-1-4-1 with
Hutchinson sitting deep in front of the defensive line.
12
3. Team Analysis
g. Defending Phase

Preventing Penetration into the attacking ⅓
Team take a very man marking orientated approach
especially when opponents receive with back to goal.
Players across the back line and the two central
midﬁelders will get very tight and prevent turns well.
Preventing Finishing in the attacking ⅓
Player’s all would come deep and defend with great
horizontal compactness with high levels of intensity to
close down spaces in front.
Would make commited challenges where needed often
conceding fouls with certain individuals more error prone
than others.
13
3. Team Analysis
g. Defending Phase

Defensive Transition
In the attacking third nearest man to the ball will attempt
to provide immediate pressure with nearby teammates
closing down around.
If losing possession in their own half they will show the
same on the ball pressure but nearby teammates will look
to run back and cover spaces behind and get into a
compact shape.
Attacking Transition
Prefer not to build up from the back after winning the ball
in the defensive third, instead will look to go long and
straight quickly, getting back into shape.
However if team have won the ball in the middle third,
they will look to make forward runs off the ball. Must be
ready to defend the space in behind.
14
3. Team Analysis
h. Transitions

Frank Kaushik - www.linkedin.com/in/frank-kaushik 15
3. Team Analysis
i. Set Plays For
Deep
Kicks are aimed centrally towards the striker. Fletcher if
sole striker, otherwise Nuhiu will come to challenge for
the header. Wide men tuck in and central midﬁeld play
close to one another ready to receive the knock down.

3. Team Analysis
i. Set Plays For
Wide & Corners
On corners runners will join from a deeper position while
rotations occur between the width of the goal.
The rotations are used to get key positioning on the pen
spot and in the middle of the 6Y box. Fletcher is used as a
decoy. The dangerman is Borner.

3. Team Analysis
i. Set Plays For
Central
When in shooting range, Banan provides a left footed
option and Harris gives a right footed one. Harris hit the
bar from approx 25 yards out against Cardiff.

3. Team Analysis
Deep
Team’s defensive line defend man to man and
midﬁelders defend just in front with extreme
compactness.
Team’s defensive line is highly man oriented rather than
by their own design. They will go out to be as high and
wide as needed to cover the opposition.

3. Team Analysis
Wide & Corners
Players attempt to keep a line and man mark with no
clear leader organizing the team as a unit.
Fletcher will defend the near post and the rest of the
team will go mark man to man mostly touch tight.

4. Strengths
Attacking
1. Attacking intent in transition. Great runs forward in faith
whenever team won possession in the middle third and beyond.
2. Attacking rotations at set pieces. Team showed a good ability to
find a free man and create confusion during attacking throw ins
and free-kicks.
3. Pace from the left. Harris and Murphy as left wingers both
possessed a dangerous direct turn of pace that could force
opponents back and create panic.
Defending
1. Defensive Collectivity. Good unity across all phases with team
defending in the same style with attacking and midfield players
showing great responsibility alike.
2. High pressure. Starting at the front with Fletcher the team would
look to press and limit the time opponents had on the ball to pick
out ideal passes. Constant harrying.
3. Committed and dominant 1 v 1. All defenders and central
midfielders liked to make committed challenges making sure to
break up play with slide tackling if needed.
20

5. Weaknesses
Attacking
1. Lack of natural width. Fullbacks would play close to centre and
would lack attacking width with both Harris and Reach preferring
to play close to Fletcher.
2. Over emphasis on Fletcher. Would struggle to get into the
attacking third and threaten despite heavy possession without the
involvement of Fletcher.
3. Faded output in second half. Team looked disjointed and
surrendered their dominant stance in the second half dropping
deeper and lacking the means to relieve themselves from pressure.
Defending
1. Overly man marking emphasis. Spaces left behind when
defenders step out and attempt to challenge from behind is there
to be exploited. Can play around this fairly easily with set passes
and forward runs in behind.
2. Defending set pieces. Show a sense of uncertainty with players
ball watching and lacking unity. Goalkeeper would often come but
with mixed results.
3. Clumsy challenges under pressure. Players did not show great
composure when having to defend on the counter 1 v 1 with a
number of players giving up fouls too easily.
21

6. Summary
● The opponents’ are a ball playing team that are full of
technical players in midﬁeld and attack and physical
strong and aggressive players in defence.
● Attacking wise they are very centrally focussed with
the striker Fletcher being a clear danger and pivotal
player for them.
● They aim to build from the back but effective
screening and cutting off passing lanes can limit their
effectiveness with a lack of clear idea how to penetrate
beyond the opposing midﬁelders.
● They are a collective unit that will defend admirably
with intensity together but can show signs of fading
and dropping deeper in the second half.
● But they lack composure in defensive phases and can
become clumsy and panic stricken when defending in
the attacking third particularly at set pieces.
● They are very vulnerable from set pieces and aerial
crosses in general with players getting caught ball
watching or being overly tight with their marking.
22

Sheff Wednesday 19-20 opposition scout report

Recommandé

Recommandé

Contenu connexe

Tendances

Tendances (20)

Similaire à Sheff Wednesday 19-20 opposition scout report

Similaire à Sheff Wednesday 19-20 opposition scout report (20)

Plus de Frank Kaushik

Plus de Frank Kaushik (9)

Dernier

Dernier (16)

Sheff Wednesday 19-20 opposition scout report