"Think Forward, Play Forward." This mantra has become a central expectation for modern midfielders, who are increasingly tasked with maintaining forward momentum, rather than halting play with lateral or backward passes that slow the progression into the final third.
However, evaluating a midfielder's performance in moving the ball forward requires a deeper understanding of context. Before judging whether a player should have advanced the ball or opted for a bounce pass, it's essential to consider factors such as pressure, positioning, and available options. In some cases, what may appear to be a conservative pass is actually the only viable solution under intense pressure.
In this article, we will break down how to assess a midfielder’s ability to play forward across multiple matches. We'll explore key metrics that help differentiate between passes made under pressure and those executed with time and space, offering a clearer picture of when a player is effectively driving the team forward and when circumstances force a more cautious approach.
Evaluating forward passing
With MyGamePlan, you can seamlessly evaluate action sequences using custom metrics tailored by the end user. The platform makes it simple to jump directly to video footage of key moments, such as a midfielder receiving a pass, enabling a thorough analysis of the context surrounding each action. Additionally, it facilitates a longitudinal assessment of the midfielder's overall performance.
This approach allows analysts to identify patterns across multiple games, providing insights into whether midfielders are effectively advancing the ball forward or if there are recurring issues in their performance in this area.
You can make the metric in the following way:
In this example you are counting the percentage of passes that A. Mac Allister moves the ball forward within 3 seconds after receiving the ball.
You can work with passes, carries, or other events to move the ball forward. Something you can also add for more context is to set up a specific location you expect this behaviour from your midfielders.
This type of overview enables you to analyze a player's consistency, uncovering patterns in their performance and reactions during specific matches. It also allows for a deeper understanding of how a player responds to different opponents and their pressing strategies, providing valuable insights into their decision-making under varying tactical pressures.
Evaluating forward passing under pressure
The expected behaviour depends a lot on the fact if the midfielder receiving the pass is under pressure or not and if he can actually turn and play forward or is under pressure.
That's why recently we also added this condition to the metrics you can build within MyGamePlan.
You can easily evaluate the player's performance by comparing his performance in MyGamePlan on the passes forward under pressure to not under pressure.
This streamlined process and the flexibility to create your own metrics allows clubs to translate data-driven insights into personalized training sessions on the pitch, fostering a more tailored and effective approach to player development.
MyGamePlan is a Belgian startup founded by Berten Knaepen and Dries Deprest, using their expertise from working experience at different clubs. They help clubs like Bayer Leverkusen, KRC Genk and QPR to reach their targets by connecting different data sources into one tool.
