Angel Gomes Scout Report
As a soccer analyst, the current scout report on 23-year-old defensive midfielder Angel Gomes, of Lille in France's top flight Ligue 1, paints a picture of a player with an excellent set of skills but also some glaring room for improvement. Gomes' commendable combination of ball retention and his creative engine, both north of the 85th percentile, hint at a player who likes to keep possession and create opportunities. This is reflected in his impressive assist rate, one of the best in the league, ranking in the top 5%.
However, Gomes' rather muted goal threat, languishing below the 35th percentile, and the relatively low goal efficiency in the bottom 10%, expose his struggle to convert opportunities into concrete numbers. This might be due to his more defensive positioning, but assuming the role of an attacking midfielder, he needs to improve these stats.
Where Gomes really struggles, and might worry fans and coaching staff, is in his aerial duels; the confluence of his smaller stature and skill set sees him in the bottom quarter most likely. His ball recovery ability isn't fantastic either, ranking below the 30th percentile, which for a defensive midfielder might demand attention.
The player's activity encapsulates his playing style perfectly; seen most often in the midfield third, it elucidates the player's box-to-box work rate. Despite predominantly playing in the defensive midfield role, Gomes spends a respected amount of time in the attacking third, revealing his hidden streak of audacity.
Overall, Gomes might not be the ideal destroyer in the midfield, but his ability to help his team control the game and create chances sets him aside. While his shortcomings are worth noting, his strengths are significant and mold him into a fascinating player to follow.