Atletico Madrid have been one of the top performers in LaLiga. Over the years, they have recruited some of the top talent in world football. The likes of Joao Felix make it to the list. He failed to adjust according to Diego Simeone’s tactics and is now enjoying a good spell at Barcelona. Simeone has also allowed players to leave and is happy with the limited players he has in the squad. He rotates his players and that also reduces the workload.
Some of Atletico Madrid’s youngsters are also loaned out to ensure more game time. In August, Atleti signed a young Spanish forward. Samu Omorodion came from Granada and signed a five-year deal. The 19-year-old was loaned out to Alaves and he is getting enough game time to settle in the squad. Let’s take a look at what Simeone can expect from this young forward in the future.
Demanding the ball
Young strikers need to do a lot of work on the field. The managers often ask these young legs to cover areas and trouble the opposition players with their pace. Omorodion plays for Alaves and they are fighting relegation. This means that the centre-forward is sometimes a lonely figure in the attack and he needs to work a lot to keep the ball.
Samu averages 3.4 touches inside the opposition penalty box per 90 minutes. He likes to stay on the left side and has often made space for himself around the six-yard box.
Alaves have only scored 15 goals in 19 LaLiga matches. They are the joint-second lowest scorers in the division this season. Despite these struggles, Samu has managed to find the back of the net 0.43 times per 90 minutes. The Spanish U-21 international has scored five goals in total. His ability to make space inside the 18-yard box has allowed the player to get into scoring positions and he has targeted the centre of the goal. Samu averages 2.57 shots per 90 minutes and has a 46.7% accuracy rate.
The above visual contrasts a striker’s overall attacking contribution with their shooting prowess. Those in the top right quadrant are not only involved in attacking moves but also frequently take shots. Samu Omorodion has been a positive for Alaves, who are struggling to score goals. Ranking highly for a team struggling for a goal is not easy and Samu has shown his class in the current season.
This visual measures a striker’s efficiency. Those consistently above the diagonal line showcase an ability to finish chances better than expected. Once again the 19-year-old is topping the list. Samu averages nearly half a goal per 90 minutes. His finishing with minimal chances shows that Atletico Madrid have a secure future.
Samu Omorodion will aim to score more goals and ensure safety for his side. Alaves need their youngster to show his efficiency more and more on the field.
Visuals via TFA data viz engine
