Rubén Alcaraz Scout Report
Rubén Alcaraz, the stalwart of Cádiz's midfield, presents a fascinating study in the balance between experience and efficiency. At 33, his vast experience in La Liga 2 shines through a nuanced understanding of ball retention, a key pillar of his style of play. Alcaraz exhibits an elite level of ball retention, outpacing nearly all his contemporaries, showcasing his ability to protect possession and dictate the tempo from the heart of the midfield. His progressive passing is another standout feature, underscoring his skill in advancing play without risk.
In terms of offensive output, Alcaraz's goal-scoring is a surprising highlight, with a remarkable proficiency compared to his peers. Yet, despite this, his overall goal threat remains modest and his goal efficiency relatively low, pointing to a tendency to perhaps favour shot volume over precision. His delicate touch rectifies this somewhat, evidencing his involvement in pivotal attacking moments, but his pass accuracy lags, signifying a need to refine his distribution under pressure.
Defensively, Alcaraz is an astute interceptor, though his penchant for fouling and high yellow card accumulation could hinder his effectiveness. A lower-than-average success in duels and aerial battles hints at physical attributes that may not match his tactical acumen. His limited dribbling success corroborates this further, indicating that beating opponents one-on-one isn't his forte.
Positionally, Alcaraz stations himself predominantly in the midfield, through which he orchestrates much of Cádiz’s play, offering stability and a lynchpin for transitions. Notably, his touch frequency affirms his integral role, but his extensive contribution to the midfield surpasses his less frequent defensive and attacking penalties, fitting for a central midfielder of his mould. This scout report suggests Alcaraz remains a seasoned and influential figure in the Spanish second tier, adept in technical play but with defensive and distributive areas ripe for improvement.