Following his transfer away from Portsmouth in August 2018, Conor Chaplin has gone from strength to strength. This tactical analysis will assess Conor Chaplin’s impact at Barnsley and the tactics he uses. Despite languishing in the relegation zone, Barnsleys Conor Chaplin is the in-form forward in the league and has proved that he can hold his own in the EFL Championship.
Having spent a short spell at Coventry before signing for Barnsley in Jul 2019, Chaplin was brought into the Barnsley team as a centre forward. He was played in wider areas at academy level but has found his home in a partnership in Struber’s forward line. His exceptional performances for Barnsley in December 2019 earned him the coveted EFL Championship player of the month award.
Beating the defender
Conor Chaplin’s greatest strength is his ability to beat the defender in one-on-one situations. Going forwards and in possession, he has the pace and the close control to get past the defender and drive towards goal. He has a success rate of 69% when one-on-one with 72% of these taking place in the attacking third. Despite stepping up into the EFL Championship, his success rate has been maintained demonstrating his progression in the offence. His abilities here are a testament to his development as a winger in the early stages of his career. It is this strength that sets him apart from other players in this position and gives him a creative streak; once he’s beaten the defender, he creates space for the Barnsley offence.
As shown, Chaplin initiates a counter-attack and is dribbling into the attacking half. Using his close control, he flicks it inside the defender as he crosses his path and runs into the central channel. From here, he attempts to thread a ball through to runner. This is an example of him supporting the play and creating attacking opportunities from deep. It is typical of his playing style that he looks for the space and creates time to pick a pass or take the shot. In this example, the ball is cut out by the defender but it did highlight Chaplin’s close control and blistering pace.
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