In this article, I will be using both data and tactical analysis to identify a replacement for Jerry Yates at EFL side Swindon Town. I will be looking for players who have competed in at least 20 games in the past season, operating in both EFL League One and Two, for which a newly promoted side can attract. With Yates loan finishing at the end of the season, there is the possibility he may not return, leaving Swindon with a hole they need to fill in their title-winning side.
The 23-year-old Rotherham United loanee bagged 13 goals as Swindon claimed the title on a points per game basis, moving above Crewe Alexandra. Subsequently, with Yates’s parent club Rotherham also gaining promotion to the Championship, this may leave the door open to a return to the County Ground.
However, with Yates impressive form and the current pandemic leading to sides having to reduce their budgets, Rotherham may have to look to what they have before recruiting Rotherham aim to avoid the drop. This could lead to Yates getting his shot at the Championship, leaving Swindon to go looking for a replacement, to partner the already permanent signing of Eoin Doyle.
In this data analysis, I will be identifying a replacement for Jerry Yates through data and statistics to bring up a shortlist. Then I will be using video footage to discuss their suitability to the role required by Swindon.
Jerry Yates at Swindon
Yates role has changed throughout the season dependent on Swindon’s tactical approach. In a 4-2-3-1, Yates has operated in either of the three positions behind the striker. When Swindon operated with a 4-3-3, Yates would occupy one of the wide positions. Second top goalscorer behind the impressive Doyle, there is no doubting his replacement will need to be able to carry the goal-scoring burden.
To identify Yates replacement, we have to look at Yates stats himself. Identifying areas where he has performed above the average in League 2, as well as important to the style Swindon operate gives us six performance Indicators, shown in Yates radar above. From here I identified the players in league 1 and 2 who performed above average in these six (Xg and Xg per 90 paired, same as Cross % and Cross per 90) areas. This gave a list of players who were then whittled down to those who show above-average statistics in at least five of the six areas.
