The domestic French market has long been considered amongst the most talent-rich in the footballing world. French clubs have a reputation for trusting in young talent and players are given sustained opportunities at first-team level from an early age. A lot of clubs domestically rely on the cycle of player development and player trading to balance their finances and this is even more true now following last seasons collapse of the deal for domestic TV rights. The sheer depth of talent in French football leads to a trickle-down effect with young and talented players appearing just as readily in the second tier as in the first. In Ligue 2, the French second tier, there are a number of young players who have started the 2021/22 season extremely well. In this article, I have used data analysis to identify five players who are of particular interest and who I think will be scouted by clubs from larger markets.
When I am using data in the recruitment process my methodology remains relatively static. I use Wyscout as the data source, the best option from a cost/quality/depth perspective and Tableau as the tool for visualising and interpreting the data. Using these simple tools I am able to gain insights into the performances of players and indeed clubs from across the football world. I have my own combinations of metrics that are used to identify players that are well but these are also combined with metrics that meet the specific requirements and style that the client club prefers. Having assessed player performances I then move on to the longlisting process using custom-built dashboards within Tableau. These will be shown below and allow me to quickly assess player performance across a number of key metrics depending on the position of the player in question.
There is no doubt in my mind at all that data is an important part of the recruitment but it is only part. After you have used data to cut through the noise and identify a long list of potential targets that will fit you needs you still have to use a combination of live scouting and video scouting to ensure that you have as full a picture of the player as possible. All information is useful in the recruitment process and you can never have too much before you eventually make your decision as to whether you will sign a player or not.
#1 Yassine Benrahou, 22-years-old, Winger, Nimes and Morocco
The first player on our shortlist is the 22-year-old Morrocan wide player Yassine Benrahou of Nimes. He is predominantly right-footed but comfortable when playing from the right-wing and the left-wing. This is a result of both his balance in possession and his ability to control and manipulate the ball comfortably with either foot. He plays in the half-spaces as much as in the central spaces and he is extremely adept at finding pockets of space in which he can receive the ball before turning and engaging the opposition defensive structure. Benrahou spent some time in the youth system at PSG before moving to Bordeaux and eventually to Nimes prior to the 2020/21 season. This season we have already seen the young winger play 1024 in the French second flight.
As you can see from his profile he is an extremely balanced player with good output both in the attacking and passing sections of his data profile. He is averaging 5.54 dribbles per 90 with a success rate of 44.44% but he is more than a ball carrier as his creative metrics show. He is also averaging 6.15 progressive passes per 90 and 5.80 passes to the final third per 90 as well as 3.25 passes to the penalty area per 90. He has quickly developed a reputation as a player who is key for his side in progressing the ball with his ability to carry the ball forward himself or play the progressive passes that break the lines of the opposition. His goal and assist output so far this season has also been extremely impressive with 0.35 goals per 90 and 0.35 assists per 90 from 0.20 xG per 90 and 0.22 xA per 90. This sees the young winger averaging a goal involvement of 0.70 per 90.
