William Smallbone Scout Report
In this scout report on William Smallbone, the 24-year-old midfielder is proving to be a key asset for Southampton in the Championship league with his prodigious talent in goal threat, goal efficiency, and chance creation, all ranking notoriously high among his peers. His style of play is characterized by an impressive balance between defense and offense, with a knack for recovering possession and a natural flair for creating goal-scoring opportunities.
Smallbone's gamut of skills gives him a high-touch figure, indicating his central positioning in Southampton's game plan. A noteworthy strength lies in his exceptional xA and xG per 90, demonstrating his ability to contribute both in goals and assists, making him a rare multi-threat player. He's most at home in the midfield third, which could explain his proficiency in progressive passing and interceptions, threading precise passes while deterring opponent's attacks.
However, the youngster's not without areas for development. His aerial duels and overall duel win percentages are considerably low, signaling a weakness in physical contests. This disadvantage can hurt the team in situations where power play is critical, such as set pieces. Moreover, his low figures in successful dribbles per 90 suggest his one-on-one situations could use some improvement.
Overall, Smallbone, while still being in the delicate phase of carving out his playing personality, is showing signs of becoming an influential central midfielder, with his ability to smoothly transition between defense and attack, while still managing to chip in critical goals and assists. His player stats underline some room for growth, yet his strengths significantly outweigh his weaknesses, and one can safely say he's a player to watch out for in the coming seasons.