Aïssa Laïdouni Scout Report
Aïssa Laïdouni, the 27-year-old Tunisian central midfielder of Union Berlin has made a solid impression in the 2023-2024 Bundesliga season. His undeniable flair in the midfield is demonstrated by his better-than-average progressive carrying and passing stats, lying at the 60th and 67th percentiles respectively. This clearly shows his knack for aiding the offensive transition, moving the ball forward purposefully, and precisely cutting through defences with his passes.
However, in terms of ball recovery and ball retention, Laïdouni struggles, falling into the lower quartile of midfielders in the league. Defensive frailties lurk within his game; he isn't the most dependable when it comes to winning the ball back or maintaining possession. This could be a serious flaw, given his defensive midfielder secondary role. Consolidating these weaknesses should be a top priority if he wants to further his reputation as a comprehensive midfielder.
On the bright side, his assist-per-90 stat resounds in the top 15% of players in his position. Even with a below-average pass accuracy stat, he presents a silver lining in his uncanny ability to create goal-scoring opportunities - a testament to his insistent contribution to the attacking play. That forming the heart of the contradiction in his game.
His risk-taking nature surfaced notably as he committed an alarmingly high number of fouls, placing him in the upper 17% of his peers. This suggests a certain degree of aggression and a higher than average propensity for risky challenges - an area to be checked for the sake of his team's disciplinary record.
As for his involvement, he's most active in the midfield third, confirming his role as the link between his team's defense and attack. He's a player who prefers to operate at the heart of the action, dictating play and probing movement from the center of the park. However, his modest presence in the attacking penalty area hints at a reserved approach in the box, perhaps slightly holding back in delivering the killer blow himself.
Overall, Aïssa Laïdouni's scout report, as backed by his player stats from the season, paints the picture of a promising midfielder with a need to polish his defensive capabilities and hone his disciplinary conduct while building on his offensive strengths. Despite his lower touch percentile, his high contribution to xA is a testament to his direct role in the attack, emphasizing his potential as a player who can provide a significant goal threat.