After bagging 25 goals for Newport County in the EFL League Two during the 2021/22 season, striker Dom Telford announced that he will not be renewing his contract with the Exiles. Inevitably, this was the catalyst for rumours and speculation of just who would secure his signature after the highly wanted forward. In what was something of a shock to many EFL fans, Telford signed for League Two side Crawley Town, who finished one place below Newport in the most recent campaign.
This scout report will provide a tactical analysis of Telford, and why the exciting striker could be a very important signing for Crawley. There will also be an analysis of his key attributes as well as data to be drip-fed throughout the report, with a further look at how his play style complimented the tactics at Newport County.
Profile
25-year-old Dom Telford came through the ranks at Stoke City but only ever made an impact in their U23 squad. Spells at Blackpool, Bristol Rovers, Bury, and Plymouth Argyle weren’t particularly fruitful for the striker, registering a total of 25 goals in 134 appearances. However, there was always potential in the way he played, and it seems we are now seeing Telford begin to fulfil this, which is perhaps why many were perplexed at his signing for another League Two club.
At 175 cm, the Burnley-born striker relies on his movement and pace rather than his height, finding spaces to work in and unsettle the opposition backline. As you can see from his heat map above, he rarely operates in wide areas in the final third – when his team have possession in those areas, Telford is already taking up a position in the box in anticipation of a delivery. The heat map does give us a clearer idea of how he supports his teammates though as he will often drop deeper into midfield zones to help the progress of an attack.
A dangerous presence in the final third
The first, and arguably the biggest reason for so many clubs chasing Telford this summer is his goalscoring prowess. His ability to turn half-chances into key moments and recognise when he can inflict damage to the opposition is something that every club is chasing. In the 2021/22 campaign, the striker showed a high level of ability in areas such as movement, agility, pace, and finishing, all combining to make Telford the player he was. Below is an analysis of those aforementioned attributes and how they could benefit the tactics of his new club, Crawley.
