With the transfer window in full swing and the dust settled from this summers Women’s World Cup, clubs are now looking to strengthen their squads off the back of the tournament. One such team looking to build on their successive Primera Division titles is Atletico Madrid. With Barcelona signing Jennifer Hermoso and CD Tacon (Real Madrid’s newly formed women’s team) signing Kosovore Aslani, Atletico Madrid needed to look for striking reinforcements.
They announced the signing of Toni Duggan on a free transfer after she chose not to extend her contract with Barcelona at the end of last season. Of the available players this summer, Duggan represents a shrewd signing given her experience around Europe and experience in Spain. But, what kind of player is Toni Duggan and how can her attributes compliment Atletico Madrids tactics?
This tactical analysis scout report will give you a detailed profile of the player and what caused Madrid to sign her over other strikers.
Toni Duggan Manchester’s very own
Toni Duggan is a 27-year-old versatile centre-forward who has played for Manchester City, Barcelona and has numerous caps for England. Duggan is a poacher style forward who’s main strength includes intricate movements, smart positioning and, clinical shooting inside the penalty area.
Tactical Analysis Positioning & movement
Atletico Madrid signed Duggan for her goal-scoring prowess and that she brings in abundance. Her strongest quality is her ability to find the smallest of spaces inside the penalty area and work on the smallest of margins. The Madrid side scored 64+ goals in the 2018/19 season with Hermoso scoring 24, those goals needed to be replaced. Even though Duggan hasn’t been able to hit the heights of Hermoso in either season with Barcelona, she can improve with the high pressing game tactics employed by Jose Sanchez Vera.
The striker’s two seasons in Spain yielded 29 goals with an identical record of 14 and 15 goals per season. Tricking defenders with her pace and intelligence in short spaces amounts to her incredible goal-scoring ability. If we look at her statistics, an xG of 0.38 per 90, Duggan has surpassed her expected goals ratio by actually scoring at a rate of 0.40 per 90.
Duggan’s bui
