THREAD:
Manchester United have signed 22-year old winger Antony from Ajax. He reunites with the coach that took him from an excellent talent to an excellent player.
This thread will cover:
— profile
— strengths
— weaknesses
— how he’ll impact the team
— discussion of his fee
Manchester United have signed 22-year old winger Antony from Ajax. He reunites with the coach that took him from an excellent talent to an excellent player.
This thread will cover:
— profile
— strengths
— weaknesses
— how he’ll impact the team
— discussion of his fee
Note:
It is difficult to explain all important points for his profile, strengths and weaknesses so this thread will be a summary of what I think are the main points to know for each.
It is difficult to explain all important points for his profile, strengths and weaknesses so this thread will be a summary of what I think are the main points to know for each.
Profile I: General Profile
Age: 22 (24 Feb, 2000)
Height: 5'8"
Weight: ~65kg
Size: small and thin; lacking bulk
Foot: left (considerably)
Position: RM/RW
Age: 22 (24 Feb, 2000)
Height: 5'8"
Weight: ~65kg
Size: small and thin; lacking bulk
Foot: left (considerably)
Position: RM/RW
Profile II: Wide Receiver
Antony is a wide-playing winger in that he receives wide and often stays wide until reaching the final third/final 20 metres. This allows him to stretch the opposition defence horizontally, creating gaps centrally for runners to exploit.
Antony is a wide-playing winger in that he receives wide and often stays wide until reaching the final third/final 20 metres. This allows him to stretch the opposition defence horizontally, creating gaps centrally for runners to exploit.
Profile II.i: Wide Receiver
This is another example of how wide he likes to play. He takes up a good position originally and could (maybe should) have made a forward run but instead he pulled away from the opposition and then played a very common cross of his to the back post.
This is another example of how wide he likes to play. He takes up a good position originally and could (maybe should) have made a forward run but instead he pulled away from the opposition and then played a very common cross of his to the back post.
Profile III: Switch Receiver
We can visualise how he receives switches of play and where. Notice that he receives wide but a little deeper than Mahrez. This is because Erik often used Antony as a switch receiver early in 3rd phases whilst Pep uses Mahrez later in 3rd phases:
We can visualise how he receives switches of play and where. Notice that he receives wide but a little deeper than Mahrez. This is because Erik often used Antony as a switch receiver early in 3rd phases whilst Pep uses Mahrez later in 3rd phases:
Profile IV: Runs in Behind
In 21/22, he received just 1.74 passes per 90 after a run in behind the opposition defence — on the lower side.
Three reasons:
1) he prefers the ball to feet
2) coach instructions to stay wide
3) Ajax faced low blocks a lot — less opportunities
In 21/22, he received just 1.74 passes per 90 after a run in behind the opposition defence — on the lower side.
Three reasons:
1) he prefers the ball to feet
2) coach instructions to stay wide
3) Ajax faced low blocks a lot — less opportunities
Strengths I: Technique
The first and most obvious strength is his technical prowess. He can carry well in both space and traffic and can drive through tight gaps whilst maintaining possession. He rarely takes loose touches and can receive possession is very tough spots.
The first and most obvious strength is his technical prowess. He can carry well in both space and traffic and can drive through tight gaps whilst maintaining possession. He rarely takes loose touches and can receive possession is very tough spots.
Strengths II: Pace and Agility
He compliments his technique with pace and agility. In the first example, he covers that distance in just 4-5 seconds via a simple burst. In the second, he lifts it over his man, explodes off the spot to go around him and even rides a challenge.
He compliments his technique with pace and agility. In the first example, he covers that distance in just 4-5 seconds via a simple burst. In the second, he lifts it over his man, explodes off the spot to go around him and even rides a challenge.
Strength III: Progressive
He is excellent at progressing via both passes and carries. Last season, he ranked 2nd in Eredivisie in progressive actions per 90 with 57% coming from passes; an underrated quality of his. Notice the passes to the edge of the box — runners!
He is excellent at progressing via both passes and carries. Last season, he ranked 2nd in Eredivisie in progressive actions per 90 with 57% coming from passes; an underrated quality of his. Notice the passes to the edge of the box — runners!
Strength IV: Versatility
He is a versatile winger in that he creates danger in different ways. For example, 38% of his expected threat last season came from passes with 36% from crosses and 26% from carries. To compare, Gakpo’s splits were 45%-13%-42%.
He is a versatile winger in that he creates danger in different ways. For example, 38% of his expected threat last season came from passes with 36% from crosses and 26% from carries. To compare, Gakpo’s splits were 45%-13%-42%.
Strength IV.i: Versatility
His versatility can be seen here in this new ‘Showcase’ visual:
I have added Vinícius for a relative comparison. Please note that crosses aren’t included.
(Patreon subscribers/Discord members can make requests for any player).
His versatility can be seen here in this new ‘Showcase’ visual:
I have added Vinícius for a relative comparison. Please note that crosses aren’t included.
(Patreon subscribers/Discord members can make requests for any player).
Strength V: Unpredictable
In 66 isolations in Europe as well as 49 wing-only isolations in Eredivisie, Antony went right 54 times, left 38 times, over or through 19 times and backwards four times. Despite being left-foot heavy, he’s not predictable in how he arrives there.
In 66 isolations in Europe as well as 49 wing-only isolations in Eredivisie, Antony went right 54 times, left 38 times, over or through 19 times and backwards four times. Despite being left-foot heavy, he’s not predictable in how he arrives there.
Strength VI: Defensive Activity
Despite Ajax averaging ~70% possession in Eredivisie and Europe, Antony has averaged 4.49 defensive duels per 90. Both Sancho and Rashford for us, despite needing to defend more, have averaged closer to ~4.00. Antony’s aggression is clear to see.
Despite Ajax averaging ~70% possession in Eredivisie and Europe, Antony has averaged 4.49 defensive duels per 90. Both Sancho and Rashford for us, despite needing to defend more, have averaged closer to ~4.00. Antony’s aggression is clear to see.
Weakness I: Size
Antony is a small winger. By ‘small’, I don’t mean short as some shorter players such as Agüero are stocky. Antony, on the other hand, is small in a similar manner to Sterling. So, he can often be bullied by bigger defenders during duels.
Antony is a small winger. By ‘small’, I don’t mean short as some shorter players such as Agüero are stocky. Antony, on the other hand, is small in a similar manner to Sterling. So, he can often be bullied by bigger defenders during duels.
Weakness II: Decisions
Antony is fine when isolated with FBs however if he is double teamed, he can sometimes make bad decisions such as wanting to be too aggressive, not noticing the lack of space, taking longer to process situations, etc. Runners help him here.
Antony is fine when isolated with FBs however if he is double teamed, he can sometimes make bad decisions such as wanting to be too aggressive, not noticing the lack of space, taking longer to process situations, etc. Runners help him here.
Weakness II.i: Decisions
This spills into shooting as he can fixate on long shots. It wasn’t an issue for Ajax as much as they’d have a lot of possession but it’ll be an issue for us at least for now. Also, he’ll now face very physical blocks that’ll stifle many cut-in-shots.
This spills into shooting as he can fixate on long shots. It wasn’t an issue for Ajax as much as they’d have a lot of possession but it’ll be an issue for us at least for now. Also, he’ll now face very physical blocks that’ll stifle many cut-in-shots.
Weakness III: Projection
Sometimes, opposition defences create double teams on him. Here, he can project his intentions unintentionally which makes it easier for them to dispossess him. I can see teams doubling up on him so we need to support him with passing options.
Sometimes, opposition defences create double teams on him. Here, he can project his intentions unintentionally which makes it easier for them to dispossess him. I can see teams doubling up on him so we need to support him with passing options.
Weakness IV: Lack of Power
Antony can burst past most FBs but there will be a few who can match him for speed and are stronger. Here, his lack of power can work against him if he doesn’t adapt. Other times, these FBs defend aggressively on him which he can struggle with, too.
Antony can burst past most FBs but there will be a few who can match him for speed and are stronger. Here, his lack of power can work against him if he doesn’t adapt. Other times, these FBs defend aggressively on him which he can struggle with, too.
Weakness V: Size, Aggression and Injury
In order to make up for size, Antony is very aggressive in a similar way to Verratti. However, in the PL, this method of duelling, both offensively and defensively, can lead to a build-up of minor ‘knocks’ — something to watch out for.
In order to make up for size, Antony is very aggressive in a similar way to Verratti. However, in the PL, this method of duelling, both offensively and defensively, can lead to a build-up of minor ‘knocks’ — something to watch out for.
Impact I
In recent years, our 3rd phase was handicapped by the opposition remaining tight due to our inability to stretch them. Antony will force their LB to remain wider or he’ll receive switches. In the first scenario, he creates space. In the second, he exploits it.
In recent years, our 3rd phase was handicapped by the opposition remaining tight due to our inability to stretch them. Antony will force their LB to remain wider or he’ll receive switches. In the first scenario, he creates space. In the second, he exploits it.
Impact II
This will benefit our offence as players will finally have spaces to drive into especially off the ball. Erik values half-space activity but that cannot be used without central space. With Antony stretching the opposition defence horizontally, those gaps open up.
This will benefit our offence as players will finally have spaces to drive into especially off the ball. Erik values half-space activity but that cannot be used without central space. With Antony stretching the opposition defence horizontally, those gaps open up.
Discussion: “Is he worth £80m?”
The issue with this question is that it implies only player quality impacts transfer fees. In fact, there are many factors impacting fees which I’ve mentioned below, in addition to specific factors that explain why Antony has cost us this much:
The issue with this question is that it implies only player quality impacts transfer fees. In fact, there are many factors impacting fees which I’ve mentioned below, in addition to specific factors that explain why Antony has cost us this much:
We have come to the end of the thread. Ultimately, I’ve summarised a lot of information due to character/thread limits. On Discord, I explain things with videos, graphs, advanced data and much more. Join the Discord via the ‘Basic’ tier on Patreon:
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Conclusion:
Antony is an excellent player with immense quality in so many areas. He has weaknesses to his game but he’s still just 22 and has time to work on them. I am confident he will be a very important player for us.
Peace. 🌹
Antony is an excellent player with immense quality in so many areas. He has weaknesses to his game but he’s still just 22 and has time to work on them. I am confident he will be a very important player for us.
Peace. 🌹
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