Fabian Schär Scout Report
Fabian Schär, a stalwart center back for Newcastle United, has emerged as an unsung hero in the Premier League's 2023-2024 season. Even at 32, his performances appear indefatigable and his knack for chance creation sets him apart from his contemporaries, placing him in an impressive 88th percentile rank. This playmaker capacity extends to his goal efficiency, distinguishing him among the top 10% in the league. A scout report on Schär would be littered with praise for his progressive carrying and passing, again featuring in the top 20%, demonstrative of his ability to initiate and invigorate attacks.
Considerations, however, must be made for his apparent defensive frailties. Schär's aerial duels win percentage is alarming, languishing at a lowly 14th percentile rank. Furthermore, his duel win percentage sits below the 10th percentile, hinting at crucial vulnerabilities, which opposing forwards might exploit.
Remarkably, he reinvents himself as a threat in front of goal, with goals per 90 minutes and expected assists (xA) per 90 minutes, comfortably residing in the upper 75th percentile and beyond, an outstanding accomplishment for any center back. Yet, his passing accuracy lingers around the lower 36th percentile, suggesting room for sharpening his distributional prowess.
In possession, Schär is predominantly stationed in his defensive third, but his engagement in the midfield third, at almost 43%, showcases his willingness to venture forward and participate in the team's build-up play. His overall player stats reflect a highly creative, offensively inclined center back with a knack for goal involvement but underscore the need to address weaker aerial and one-on-one capabilities.
From a tactical perspective, harnessing such strengths and curtailing these weaknesses could unlock Schär's potential as a pivotal playmaking defender for Newcastle United.