Analysis show Gelhardt and Mbappe similarities
Last March, Adam Reek, of SAFC Analytics, ran data analysis to find the ‘perfect striker’ – this is what they found.
Theperfectstrikerissomeone who has achieved at least a minimum target in carefully selected position-specific metrics. Those metrics were: expected goals per-90 minutes, expected assists per-90 minutes, shots per-90 minutes, conversion rate, touches in the opponent's box per-90 minutes, dribbles per-90 minutes, received passes per-90 minutes and progressive runs per-90 minutes. These stats provide a good measure of the complete forward as it gives a good indication of a player's ability to get chances (xG), createchances(xA),testthekeeper(shots),successfullybeatthe keeper (conversion rate), dangerous in the box (touches), worry defenders (dribbles), demanding the ball (received passes)andstretchingdefences (progressive runs).
The metrics were then adjusted to only show players that scored a certain number, with the filter increased in difficulty in a last-man-standing exercise until there were only a small amount of players left.
The five players remaining were Joe Gelhardt; PSG star Kylian Mbappe; Leeds’ Wilfried Gnonto; Yorbe Vertessen, on loan at Union SG from PSV; and Copenhagen starlet Roony Bardghji. “Joffy” also holds an interesting record after having 11 touches in the opposition box back in October 2021 against Wolves while playing for Leeds. That’s the most any player has had in a Premier League match after being subbed on as late as the 62nd minute since Opta began recording data (2008-09 onwards). Gelhardt also possessed a better assists per90 minutes ratio than 99% of strikers!