Junior Messias Scout Report
Scout report for Brazilian star Junior Messias checks in for the 2023-2024 Serie A season, and it's quite an intriguing study. Currently operating as a central midfielder for Genoa, Messias has demonstrated a versatility that enables him to cover various positions on the field, including left midfielder, right winger, and striker.
Although he's moved past the prime age of performance (at 33), his greatest strength clearly lies in his initiating offensive plays, specifically in his ability to hold on to the ball. Ranking in the highest echelon of progressive carrying, Messias explores the width and depth of the field, aiding in swift advances through meticulous dribbling and inducing a direct approach towards the goal.
Despite having a rather mixed bag with regard to chance creation and goal threat, he consistently outperforms his counterparts when it comes to the frequency of attacking opportunities he generates. What's noticeable is his adeptness in the final third of the pitch, where he sees most of the ball, implying an aggressive ability to break into enemy lines, fashioning opportunities for himself and his team.
However, dwelling into Messias's playing style reveals certain facets needing urgent attention — while he exhibits an impressive flair carrying the ball forward, his ability to retain possession and recover the ball post-loss ranks low, thus hindering team possession and potentially counter-productive to his team's defensive stand. Additionally, his progressive passing ability and pass accuracy per 90 match-action both register a disappointing result, perhaps implying a need to work on his distribution skills and decision-making, which could otherwise cause potential concerns in building up plays.
In summary, Messias presents a goal-oriented, energetic play style, coupled with high levels of successful dribbles and shots per 90. His performance bleeds potential, but a focused improvement on his fundamental ball control skills could refine his overall dynamics and influence on the pitch.
