Daler Kuzyaev Scout Report
In our latest scout report, we delve into the player stats of Russian midfielder Daler Kuzyaev who plying his trade for Le Havre in Ligue 1. At the age of 31, Kuzyaev maintains balanced possession, represented by his ball recovery and retention in the midfield, both hovering around the 53-54% percentile level, which places him squarely in the average for his position. Yet, his goal efficiency and goal threat metrics elevate him above a majority of his peers, placing him at the 70% percentile, indicative of his potent finishing.
Regardless of his scoring knack, an area of concern lies in Kuzyaev’s playmaking ability. With chance creation and xA per 90 at a lackluster ~24%, it suggests a lesser influence in setting up goals. Similarly, his progressive carrying is extremely low at just above 11%, implying a limited ability to drive the ball upfield— a trait typically desirable in a central or attacking midfielder.
Kuzyaev’s aerial prowess is a shining testament to his physicality, as he towers above approximately 77% of his competitors in aerial dual win percentages. This contrast sharply with his ground duel win percentages, which languish around 44%. In addition, though his touches percentile is disappointing at 27%, suggesting lesser involvement in overall play, the data suggests Kuzyaev takes on a direct attacking role when on the ball, opting for goal-threat scenarios rather than circulating possession.
On the defensive side, Kuzyaev navigates in the lower-end spectrum of his peers in terms of recoveries at 15%. However, his discipline remains commendable with a low yellow card percentile of ~9%.
The distribution of play shows a concentration in the midfield and attacking third, providing clarity on his style of play — Kuzyaev functions as a central beacon, often receiving and releasing the ball while occasionally pushing forward to provide a goal threat. His playing style suggests he could be a valuable asset to any team looking to balance midfield solidity with an element of surprise in attack.
