Sam Kersten Scout Report
In this season's scout report from the Eredivisie, centre-back Sam Kersten has displayed a formidable presence for PEC Zwolle. His standout attribute is his ability for ball recovery, coming in the top 2% of the league in this area. This indicates that Kersten is a reactive force on the pitch; when the ball is in the opponent's control, he can be counted on to regain possession. His interception rate is also commendable, ranking in the top 11% of his peers, further underlining his ability to read the game and interfere with opponents' attacking plays.
Despite these impressive defensive stats, Kersten does display a notable weakness in his aerial prowess, winning an underwhelming 20% of his duels in the air. This could render him susceptible to teams deploying long-ball or cross-centric tactics, determined to exploit this vulnerability. Moreover, his duel win percentage is just over 30%, which suggests room for improvement in one-on-one situations.
Regarding his ball-playing capacity, the stats provide mixed insights. While he showcases a decent ball retention percentage and a respectable chance creation ability compared to his counterparts, his progressive carrying and passing remain slightly below average, hinting at a more old-school, safety-first style of play.
Kersten is not one to shy away from physical engagements, committing fouls that put him in the middle of the pack, while his discipline record also reflects a middle-path approach, with a yellow card ranking of just above 34%.
In terms of player activity and possession area, he's predominantly concentrated in the defensive third — no surprise for a centre-back. However, his impressive percentage of possession in the midfield suggests he's not afraid to venture forward and dip into Zwolle's transitional or even offensive plays on occasion. However, with just under 3% in the attacking third, don't expect to see his name regularly on the score-sheet. The combination of these stats paints the picture of Kersten as a reliable defensive bulwark with a remarkable knack for ball recovery, despite some areas needing refinement.