With the end of the NWSL 2020 Challenge Cup, it seems that a wave of elite players will now be moving to Europe to continue play. One eye-catching transfer is the potential move of Jess Fishlock to Reading in the FAWSL. Through tactical analysis, we will look into how Fishlock may create an immediate impact alongside her fellow Welsh internationals Natasha Harding (captain), Angharad James, Rachel Rowe and Lily Woodham.
We will see that not only has Fishlock travelled the world and created an immediate improvement in multiple team’s attacking tactics but that she is able to improve teams when out of possession as well. This scout report will look at exactly how she does it.
Background
Fishlock has had a long and adventurous career spanning the globe. Born in Cardiff, she made her senior debut with Cardiff City LFC at age 16. She quickly helped her hometown club to become Welsh Cup champions and subsequently Champions League participants. In 2008 she was drawn to AZ Alkmaar in the newly formed Eredivisie Vrouwen, becoming the first overseas player to be signed in the league. In her first two seasons in the league, she won back to back league titles. Fishlock returned to the UK in 2011, joining Bristol Academy WFC, reaching the FA Cup final and winning the 2011 Club Player of the Year.
From there Fishlock moved on to the Melbourne Victory in 2012 where she helped the club to reach two Grand Finals in a row, winning one (2013). During the 2013 season, she was acquired by the Seattle Reign, who Fishlock helped towards winning the 2014 and 2015 NWSL Shield. Both seasons saw Reign lose in the championship game with Fishlock being included in the 2014 NWSL Best XI.
With Reign, Fishlock entered a cycle of playing the full NWSL season with Reign and then going on loan in the offseason. Fishlock has played with Glasgow City, FFC Frankfurt (who she earned a UEFA Champions League medal with, in 2015), and Lyon (beating Barcelona to win the 2019 Champions League).
Naturally, Fishlock made an impact with the Welsh National Team as well, becoming the first Welsh player, male or female, to earn 100 caps.
Fishlock suffered a season-ending ACL tear against the Utah Royals on June 28, 2019. With that in mind, this analysis will focus on the five games leading up to Fishlock’s injury. During that span, Reign were able to gain eleven points out of a possible fifteen with Fishlock scoring 3 goals and creating 1 assist.
Dynamic passing
Fishlock’s ability as a passer elevates the ability and tactical execution of her fellow teammates. This is reflected in a few key statistics. During our five-game span, Fishlock led the team in multiple key categories. This includes through passes (“direct pass in the empty spaces behind the defensive line, leading the attacking player alone against the goalkeeper”) with 10, deep completions (basically a pass into the opponent box) with 11 and key passes (“important pass, cross, which creates clear situation and opportunity for goal”) with 5.
Fishlock was able to execute these passes from both the halfspaces and the central channel. Additionally, she was able to create these types of passes while both facing the opponent goal and facing away from the opponent goal.
This is a testament to her high level of scanning and subsequent awareness of attacking spaces on the pitch. This vision paired with the technical ability to place the ball exactly where she wanted with the correct pace, helped to create many goal-scoring chances for Reign.
In their match against eventual 2019 league winners North Carolina, we see a glimpse of her passing ability. Fishlock receives the ball from a central position. In the image below we see the moment of her first touch. She has received the ball across her body and used her far foot to push the ball into forward space.
Key in this moment, is that Fishlock’s vision is already locked on Courage’s box and the three attacking movements being executed in that area. We can see that within a split second Fishlock has received the ball, set herself up for forward penetration and assessed her team’s attacking situation.
Fishlock takes one more touch to control the ball and then releases a curved pass into the path of forward streaking Bethany Balcer. Balcer uses the outside of her right foot to execute a volley that narrowly misses wide of the goal.
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