With the increasing use of statistics in player recruitment, mainly being used as a complement to video analysis (the eye test), I felt it would be a good time to highlight the English Football League strikers that have statistically begun the 2020/21 season impressively, with the January transfer window just under two months away.
This data analysis will use statistics to spot strong performing strikers in the Championship, League One and League Two, some of these may not be spotted by video analysis, it is also worth noting that some players may not be spotted in this data analysis, that would be in a video analysis.
Methodology
I had to take into account the fact that it is still early on in the season, players who would be highlighted in a data analysis at the end of the season may not feature in this analysis due to a number of reasons, including them not breaking through into the first team yet or being injured. Players that have played at least 25% of their teams minutes this season will be included, some teams have played considerably less games than others due to their games being postponed as a consequence of COVID-19.
The metrics used may be slightly different compared to those used in an end of season player data analysis, which will be explained as I go through each section.
This isn’t a recruitment data analysis so the metrics used will be general for a striker with a high weighting towards final third output, particularly looking at the strikers’ goalscoring ability, although, as we know, the modern day forward is expected to do more than just score so other traits will also be analysed.
I hope this data analysis can provide a good insight into which players are worth noting as the season unravels, using statistics for a low number of games can provide little conclusion but the main purpose of this is to highlight strikers who have started well and who to look out for.
Goal scoring ability
This section will analyse the statistics which indicate a strikers’ ability to score goals and be able to finish and take their chances effectively, something that is key for sides looking to sign players in the EFL, such as West Brom or Aston Villa, who have signed strong performers from the Championship last season in Karlan Ahearne-Grant and Ollie Watkins.
The first graph takes a look at goals scored vs. minutes played, rather than goals per 90 as the season is still early and players that have played limited minutes may have done well in only one game, therefore, their statistics could be more flattening than they should be. The longer the season the goes on, the better conclusions we can make about a players’ current ability. Further graphs look more at a players’ finishing ability and their ability to score goals from a limited number of chances.
Ivan Toney has adapted impressively to the Championship, he is currently in a good vein of form having scored three goals in his last four games, Brentford’s ability to sign underrated players and sell them for a significant profit is admired by many and Toney is likely to be one of the next Brentford players targeted by Premier League clubs.
