Mayor's Scouting Report

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MayorOJC

MayorOJC

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Hi all,

As part of my job, I have to set some time aside for personal projects. I've built an interactive tool to compare some potential transfer targets based on a data-driven approach. It's designed to highlight some realistic players for the roles we need to fill. Will be going over some of the findings and main recommendations below. Cheers!

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Target Men​

There's been endless debate on here about Kieffer Moore's role, his strengths, and his obvious limitations and whether bringing Oli McBurnie back would be the answer next season. I've put them both in for a direct comparison against a couple of other potential targets.

It's a tough position to recruit for, as the proper old-school number nine isn't used in many international leagues.

The Main Debate: Moore vs. McBurnie​

The data backs up what we’ve all seen from Moore this season: he's dominant in the air and puts a real shift in defensively. The trade-off is his poor finishing and that he rarely takes a man on.

Would McBurnie be a better option? His stats from his last two Championship seasons with us are interesting. Despite being a big lad, his aerial win rate is a full 14% lower than Moore's, as he doesn't have that same physical presence. However, while still not an elite finisher, McBurnie is noticeably better in front of goal and his creative numbers are top-class, contributing an impressive 2.61 shot-creating actions per 90.

The Championship-Ready Option: Yousef Salech (Cardiff)​

The complete package for this level. He's a better finisher than both Moore and McBurnie and, while not quite as dominant as Moore in the air, his 52% win rate is still better than McBurnie's. At 195cm, he's got the same physical frame, but what's really unusual is that he can actually beat a man, ranking in the top 7% of Championship forwards for dribble success. 8 goals in 1,277 minutes in a fairly limp Cardiff side. For my money, he should be our number one target.

The Continental Gamble: Luka Kulenović (Heracles Almelo)​

If we're looking abroad, this big Bosnian from the Eredivisie is a monster. He's one of the few players out there who can actually top Moore's aerial stats, winning 64% of his duels despite being 5cm shorter. He's also a tidy finisher, with a respectable 9 goals in just over 1,400 minutes for a struggling team. He doesn't get back as much as the others, but that could just be a tactical instruction. He certainly looks built for the English game.
 
MayorOJC said:

Target Men​

There's been endless debate on here about Kieffer Moore's role, his strengths, and his obvious limitations and whether bringing Oli McBurnie back would be the answer next season. I've put them both in for a direct comparison against a couple of other potential targets.

It's a tough position to recruit for, as the proper old-school number nine isn't used in many international leagues.

The Main Debate: Moore vs. McBurnie​

The data backs up what we’ve all seen from Moore this season: he's dominant in the air and puts a real shift in defensively. The trade-off is his poor finishing and that he rarely takes a man on.

Would McBurnie be a better option? His stats from his last two Championship seasons with us are interesting. Despite being a big lad, his aerial win rate is a full 14% lower than Moore's, as he doesn't have that same physical presence. However, while still not an elite finisher, McBurnie is noticeably better in front of goal and his creative numbers are top-class, contributing an impressive 2.61 shot-creating actions per 90.

The Championship-Ready Option: Yousef Salech (Cardiff)​

The complete package for this level. He's a better finisher than both Moore and McBurnie and, while not quite as dominant as Moore in the air, his 52% win rate is still better than McBurnie's. At 195cm, he's got the same physical frame, but what's really unusual is that he can actually beat a man, ranking in the top 7% of Championship forwards for dribble success. 8 goals in 1,277 minutes in a fairly limp Cardiff side. For my money, he should be our number one target.

The Continental Gamble: Luka Kulenović (Heracles Almelo)​

If we're looking abroad, this big Bosnian from the Eredivisie is a monster. He's one of the few players out there who can actually top Moore's aerial stats, winning 64% of his duels despite being 5cm shorter. He's also a tidy finisher, with a respectable 9 goals in just over 1,400 minutes for a struggling team. He doesn't get back as much as the others, but that could just be a tactical instruction. He certainly looks built for the English game.
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You work for the club… 🤔
 
MayorOJC said:
Haha no. I'm a data analyst, but not in football.
Click to expand...
Ahh! Here’s a question for you then bud.. appreciate your not in football. With the new signing, how often does an AI software select two players, from the same squad and same nationalities.. surely that’s some kinda glitch? 😂
 
Wingers

If we end up losing Hamer, we'll need at least two new wingers this summer.

  • The Top Target - Ben Doak (Middlesbrough): Speaking the obvious, but if he’s available for another loan, he should be our top priority. The data shows he's an electric, direct runner who drives his team up the pitch, leading this group with an enormous 6.77 progressive carries and 4.04 carries into the penalty area per 90. The trade-off is that he's still raw, with the lowest dribble success rate of the group at just 35%, but his ability to break lines is undeniable.

  • The Creative Force - Alfie Doughty (Luton Town): For pure, reliable end product, Doughty is in a league of his own. He tops the charts with a staggering 4.91 Shot-Creating Actions per 90 and delivers more successful crosses into the box (1.19 p90) than anyone else on the list by a huge margin. He’s not a one-on-one specialist, attempting the fewest dribbles, but he’s a creative machine who would provide constant service. I've said it about 50 times on this forum - sign Alfie Doughty.

  • The Big Money Signing - Oliver Antman (Go Ahead Eagles): Looking abroad, Antman is a really intelligent player. While not a high-volume dribbler, he still makes a significant impact in the final third, carrying the ball into the penalty area 1.68 times per 90. I honestly expect him to go to a bigger club this summer, but I wanted to include him with my fingers crossed.

  • The Value Punts - Abdelkahar Kadri (Kortrijk) / Griffin Yow (Westerlo): If we're working with a tighter budget, these two could be shrewd acquisitions. Kadri is a highly effective dribbler (53% success) and an excellent creator (4.29 SCA p90), though the data suggests he does his work from deeper areas rather than carrying into the box. Yow, on the other hand, stands out for his quality delivery, ranking second for crosses into the penalty area (0.41 p90), making him a potential specialist for a lower fee.
 
Danetheblade said:
Ahh! Here’s a question for you then bud.. appreciate your not in football. With the new signing, how often does an AI software select two players, from the same squad and same nationalities.. surely that’s some kinda glitch? 😂
Click to expand...
It's a bit of a rogue one, I'll give you that 😂

I believe the club use Genius Sports for (at least some) of their player research, who have a partnership with the Bulgarian league. I think the club have just identified it as an under-scouted league. You can't get proper insights into Bulgarian football through traditional OPTA data in the way I can in many other leagues, so they could be on to something.
 

Ball-Playing Midfielders​

Maybe not such an priority for us with Arblaster's return, but worst-case scenario, here's who the data suggests looking at:

  • The Benchmark - Sydie Peck: It’s clear where Peck's strengths and weaknesses lie. He has a solid passing foundation (80% completion), but his creative output is the lowest in this group, with just 2.25 Shot-Creating Actions p90. His main area for development is his dribbling, where he has the lowest success rate (41%) of all the players listed.

  • The Top Target - Adem Zorgane (Charleroi): If we're looking for a player to truly control the game, Zorgane is the standout choice. He is an elite-level passer, making an incredible 12.78 progressive passes per 90. He also creates a high volume of chances (5.22 SCA p90). The only question mark is how he’d adapt to the physical side, as he loses the ball fairly often (1.94 times p90).

  • The Smart Loan - Joe Rothwell (Leeds United): To tide us over until Arblaster is back, a loan move for Rothwell makes a lot of sense. He is a proven, high-quality Championship player who excels in all areas. He is the best passer (86% completion), the most successful dribbler (69% success), and rarely loses the ball (1.12 times p90). He'd bring real class and composure to our midfield.

  • The Value Punt - Alexander Robertson (Cardiff City): If we're after a cheaper, young, versatile option, Robertson is an interesting one. He’s often played as a number 10, but his real strength lies in his defensive work, winning an impressive 3.77 tackles per 90. For a player who could be developed into a proper box-to-box midfielder, he could be a very shrewd signing.
 

Ball-Winning Midfielders​

I really really hope Vini Souza stays, he's bloody hard to replace. His stats are at an elite level, even for higher leagues than the Championship.

  • The Benchmark - Vinicius Souza: We all know what Vini is about. The data shows he's a superb passer, completing 87% of his attempts, and he's a very active defender with 3.52 tackles per 90. The downside is his discipline, as he commits a high number of fouls (2.06 p90), and he can be caught on the ball, getting dispossessed 1.13 times per game.

  • The Like-for-Like - Steven Alzate (Hull City): If we're looking for a similar profile to Souza, Alzate is the closest match. He’s a tidy and reliable passer (83.7% completion) and rarely commits a foul (0.93 p90). He’s a solid, well-rounded midfielder who offers a bit of everything without excelling in one specific area.

  • The High-Potential Youths - David Ozoh (Crystal Palace) & Alex Matos (Chelsea): Here are two exciting prospects. Ozoh is a tackling machine, winning an incredible 4.62 tackles p90 and boasting the best success rate against dribblers in the group (71.4%). Matos is even more aggressive, with 4.71 tackles and 2.50 blocks per 90, but this comes with a lot of fouls (2.69 p90). A loan for Ozoh seems possible, while Chelsea might also be open to selling Matos.

  • The Continental Option - Stije Resink (Groningen): An interesting one from the Eredivisie. Resink is a very active defensive mid, making 3.77 tackles per 90, and he's strong in the air (63.5% win rate). His passing isn't as reliable as others on the list (78.5%), and he's prone to miscontrolling the ball, but he has the engine and good defensive instincts.
 

Central Defenders​

Lord grant Wilder the strength to find a good LCB this summer.

  • The Benchmark - Jack Robinson: We know what we get with Robbo, love him or hate him. He’s a disciplined veteran, surprisingly committing the fewest fouls in this group (0.60 p90). The data does highlight some of his main weakness. He's not the most proactive defender, making the lowest number of blocks (0.73 p90) and interceptions (0.73 p90), which points to maybe his biggest flaw - defensive positioning.

  • The Ideal (but Expensive) Signing - Charlie Hughes (Hull City): If money was no object, you'd go out and get Charlie Hughes. He's got that classic Harry Souttar build about him – tall, commanding, and comfortable on the ball. His stats are solid across the board for a 20-year-old, though he is slightly more prone to an error (0.08 per 90) than other top defenders. The problem is, Hull know what they've got, and he won't come cheap.

  • The Premier League Loanee - Eiran Cashin (Derby/Brighton): This would be a fantastic bit of business. Cashin was one of the best centre-backs in the division last season, a complete monster who does everything well: tackles (2.58 p90), interceptions (2.17 p90), and he's strong in the air (67% win rate). Crucially, he hasn't been getting a look-in at Brighton, who have just signed yet another centre-back. A loan move makes sense for everyone involved.

  • The Free Transfer Gamble - Harry Darling (Swansea City): Available on a free, Darling is a tempting option. He’s incredibly disciplined, committing the fewest fouls on this list (0.51 p90), and he’s never conceded a penalty in this dataset. The major red flags are his tendency to make errors (as we've seen in our games against Swansea) leading to shots (0.11 p90, the highest on the list) and his poor success rate against dribblers (57%), which could be a real issue for us.

  • The Most Underrated CB in the League - Liam Lindsay (Preston): I’m convinced of it. People overlook Lindsay because he’s not a modern, ball-playing defender, but his defensive numbers are top-class. He is an absolute giant in the air, winning an incredible 76% of his aerial duels – the best of any player in this entire report. He also reads danger better than anyone, making a massive 7.79 clearances per 90. In a team that needs to be more solid, a proper, old-school defender like him could be exactly what we need.
 
MayorOJC said:
Hi all,

As part of my job, I have to set some time aside for personal projects. I've built an interactive tool to compare some potential transfer targets based on a data-driven approach. It's designed to highlight some realistic players for the roles we need to fill. Will be going over some of the findings and main recommendations below. Cheers!

-----------------------------------------
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Click to expand...
Evening Mr Taylor 😊
 

Consistent Right-Backs​

This is a key area for us. We can't have another season with 15 different right-backs.

  • The Benchmark - Hamza Choudhury: Hamza is a solid, defensively-minded player. The data backs this up, showing he is excellent at breaking up play with a high volume of tackles and interceptions (5.04 p90). However, his attacking output is extremely limited; he offers very little going forward, making the lowest number of progressive carries (0.24 p90) in this group.

  • The Perfect Fit - Jimmy Dunne (QPR): Honestly, I didn't spend too much time on the other comparisons because, for me, Dunne is the absolute perfect signing for this role and seems the most gettable. He is a defensive monster, winning an incredible 75.6% of his tackles against dribblers – the best in this group by a long way. He's also dominant in the air (64.2% win rate), offering the defensive solidity we desperately need. He's the man we should be going all out for.

  • One for the Future - Faissal Al Mazyani (RKC Waalwijk): While Dunne is the immediate answer, it's worth flagging this lad for the future. At just 20 years old, he's putting up seriously impressive numbers in the Eredivisie. He's a high-energy full-back who excels at winning the ball back, making 6.37 ball recoveries and 5.00 tackles and interceptions per 90.
 

I've thought for ages that Liam Lindsay would be a very suitable middle CB in a 3. Preston have used him there a fair bit I think
 
3Cheers4Ramirez said:
I've thought for ages that Liam Lindsay would be a very suitable middle CB in a 3. Preston have used him there a fair bit I think
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Just does absolutely everything you need from a CB apart from distribute. Put him next to a ball-player like Anel or two, solid as a rock.
 
Not saying Wilder is off or owt, but what coaches/manager stats are out there for a fast paced, flowing, attacking football?
Preferably one that doesn't try to shut up shop when 1-0 up.
 
MayorOJC said:

Central Defenders​

Lord grant Wilder the strength to find a good LCB this summer.

  • The Benchmark - Jack Robinson: We know what we get with Robbo, love him or hate him. He’s a disciplined veteran, surprisingly committing the fewest fouls in this group (0.60 p90). The data does highlight some of his main weakness. He's not the most proactive defender, making the lowest number of blocks (0.73 p90) and interceptions (0.73 p90), which points to maybe his biggest flaw - defensive positioning.

  • The Ideal (but Expensive) Signing - Charlie Hughes (Hull City): If money was no object, you'd go out and get Charlie Hughes. He's got that classic Harry Souttar build about him – tall, commanding, and comfortable on the ball. His stats are solid across the board for a 20-year-old, though he is slightly more prone to an error (0.08 per 90) than other top defenders. The problem is, Hull know what they've got, and he won't come cheap.

  • The Premier League Loanee - Eiran Cashin (Derby/Brighton): This would be a fantastic bit of business. Cashin was one of the best centre-backs in the division last season, a complete monster who does everything well: tackles (2.58 p90), interceptions (2.17 p90), and he's strong in the air (67% win rate). Crucially, he hasn't been getting a look-in at Brighton, who have just signed yet another centre-back. A loan move makes sense for everyone involved.

  • The Free Transfer Gamble - Harry Darling (Swansea City): Available on a free, Darling is a tempting option. He’s incredibly disciplined, committing the fewest fouls on this list (0.51 p90), and he’s never conceded a penalty in this dataset. The major red flags are his tendency to make errors (as we've seen in our games against Swansea) leading to shots (0.11 p90, the highest on the list) and his poor success rate against dribblers (57%), which could be a real issue for us.

  • The Most Underrated CB in the League - Liam Lindsay (Preston): I’m convinced of it. People overlook Lindsay because he’s not a modern, ball-playing defender, but his defensive numbers are top-class. He is an absolute giant in the air, winning an incredible 76% of his aerial duels – the best of any player in this entire report. He also reads danger better than anyone, making a massive 7.79 clearances per 90. In a team that needs to be more solid, a proper, old-school defender like him could be exactly what we need.
Click to expand...
When I looked at the data - I really liked Mattie Pollock at Watford. He also is a good age and apparently has leadership attributes. Probably wouldn't be a budget option as they tied him up to a new contract in January.
 
MayorOJC said:
Hi all,

As part of my job, I have to set some time aside for personal projects. I've built an interactive tool to compare some potential transfer targets based on a data-driven approach. It's designed to highlight some realistic players for the roles we need to fill. Will be going over some of the findings and main recommendations below. Cheers!

-----------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
Click to expand...

Firstly, I'd like to say 'thank you' for the time and effort spent to compile a great piece of work, and it's posts & posters like this that make this forum one of the best around. You don't have to agree with the content, but it elevates the discussion above 'he's shit' levels. 👍

Secondly, from the names mentioned above, I believe that we are engaged in serious negotiations with McBurnie and Dunne. both of whom you've flagged. Their signings, or non signing will hint at who holds the power on our recruitment going forwards.

Thirdly, in my humble opinion, the other players that you've mentioned; Salech, Antman, Zorgane, Resink, and Darling are good calls that correspond with both my viewpoint and others such as Tarqs and Carlton Blade . Posters whose opinion I trust/value.
 
MayorOJC said:
Hi all,

As part of my job, I have to set some time aside for personal projects. I've built an interactive tool to compare some potential transfer targets based on a data-driven approach. It's designed to highlight some realistic players for the roles we need to fill. Will be going over some of the findings and main recommendations below. Cheers!

-----------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
Click to expand...
It's a fantastic template that takes advantage of publicly available data.

But it highlights where AI can take an additional step and start defining levels of competition, team playing style, 'partnerships' with team mates that create chances etc

I hope you get to use this as an example to create a career from it!
 
Nicolaus_Copernicus said:
Firstly, I'd like to say 'thank you' for the time and effort spent to compile a great piece of work, and it's posts & posters like this that make this forum one of the best around. You don't have to agree with the content, but it elevates the discussion above 'he's shit' levels. 👍

Secondly, from the names mentioned above, I believe that we are engaged in serious negotiations with McBurnie and Dunne. both of whom you've flagged. Their signings, or non signing will hint at who holds the power on our recruitment going forwards.

Thirdly, in my humble opinion, the other players that you've mentioned; Salech, Antman, Zorgane, Resink, and Darling are good calls that correspond with both my viewpoint and others such as Tarqs and Carlton Blade . Posters whose opinion I trust/value.
Click to expand...
There's an extremely happy medium to be found by identifying targets through data then using experts like our mate Jacek to build up a proper profile of players you can chase who'll not only fit what you do but also have scope to develop.

United can't afford to be the final link in the supply chain. Manhoef is a great example. He was available for a low fee and obviously had great talent. But we are only interested after he's 'procen' he can handle the Championship. At that point, it's too expensive (see Cannon)
 
Carlton Blade said:
There's an extremely happy medium to be found by identifying targets through data then using experts like our mate Jacek to build up a proper profile of players you can chase who'll not only fit what you do but also have scope to develop.

United can't afford to be the final link in the supply chain. Manhoef is a great example. He was available for a low fee and obviously had great talent. But we are only interested after he's 'procen' he can handle the Championship. At that point, it's too expensive (see Cannon)
Click to expand...

We should've had Jacek on a retainer a fair few years ago. He was openly showing his wares for free and nailing it 8 times out of 10.

Zorgane is certainly a strange one. He's been identified as a talent for at least 5 seasons, and no one's taken a punt. IIRC you were the first to flag him as a talent.

I liked MM before he went to Stoke, but I also thought Eric Bocat was an under the radar superstar as well. 🤷‍♂️
 
Nicolaus_Copernicus said:
We should've had Jacek on a retainer a fair few years ago. He was openly showing his wares for free and nailing it 8 times out of 10.

Zorgane is certainly a strange one. He's been identified as a talent for at least 5 seasons, and no one's taken a punt. IIRC you were the first to flag him as a talent.

I liked MM before he went to Stoke, but I also thought Eric Bocat was an under the radar superstar as well. 🤷‍♂️
Click to expand...
I do worry that the Bulgarian league is too far down the list to produce Championship players in less than 2/3 years. Ironically, we coukd do with getting Beerschot back and sending them out on loan
 

MayorOJC said:
Wingers

If we end up losing Hamer, we'll need at least two new wingers this summer.

  • The Top Target - Ben Doak (Middlesbrough): Speaking the obvious, but if he’s available for another loan, he should be our top priority. The data shows he's an electric, direct runner who drives his team up the pitch, leading this group with an enormous 6.77 progressive carries and 4.04 carries into the penalty area per 90. The trade-off is that he's still raw, with the lowest dribble success rate of the group at just 35%, but his ability to break lines is undeniable.

  • The Creative Force - Alfie Doughty (Luton Town): For pure, reliable end product, Doughty is in a league of his own. He tops the charts with a staggering 4.91 Shot-Creating Actions per 90 and delivers more successful crosses into the box (1.19 p90) than anyone else on the list by a huge margin. He’s not a one-on-one specialist, attempting the fewest dribbles, but he’s a creative machine who would provide constant service. I've said it about 50 times on this forum - sign Alfie Doughty.

  • The Big Money Signing - Oliver Antman (Go Ahead Eagles): Looking abroad, Antman is a really intelligent player. While not a high-volume dribbler, he still makes a significant impact in the final third, carrying the ball into the penalty area 1.68 times per 90. I honestly expect him to go to a bigger club this summer, but I wanted to include him with my fingers crossed.

  • The Value Punts - Abdelkahar Kadri (Kortrijk) / Griffin Yow (Westerlo): If we're working with a tighter budget, these two could be shrewd acquisitions. Kadri is a highly effective dribbler (53% success) and an excellent creator (4.29 SCA p90), though the data suggests he does his work from deeper areas rather than carrying into the box. Yow, on the other hand, stands out for his quality delivery, ranking second for crosses into the penalty area (0.41 p90), making him a potential specialist for a lower fee.
Click to expand...
I like the sound of Oliver Antman. When it starts to go tits up again he'll be strong enough to carry the team.
 
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