Market Trend #9 Players that are Strong at Key Passes
Updated: Feb 23
Recently, we have seen many players that are strong at key passes (The final pass which leads to the recipient of the ball having an attempt at goal without scoring) increase considerably in price.
For example, the below players are all strong at key passes and have all increased in price considerably in the last 5 days. These are examples of players which have recently been highlighted on the site that have risen. However, many other players that have not been highlighted on the site recently, but, are strong at providing key passes have also increased in price recently.
Emiliano Buendia (Highlighted at £1.37) is one strong example. Buendia is well known for being able to provide many key passes. However, between 14/09/19 - 14/12/19, Buendia did not provide a single assist. Subsequently, his PB scores suffered and so did his price - dropping from the £1.37 price he was highlighted at on the site to a low of £1.15. With two assists in his last two games, Buendia is currently £2.14.
*Buendia is being used here as an example of a player who has increased in price due to recent high PB scores (Partly due to providing many key passes) and is not being highlighted as a value player
Strong Chance of improving PB scores
Players that are strong at key passes can often make for strong Football Index holds because they have a chance of improving their PB scores especially if the difference between the amount of key passes they have created and the amount of assists they have provided is high. This is because often they have a strong chance of providing more assists in the future as they are constantly creating goal scoring opportunities.
Below are potentially valuable players due to being strong at key passes and due to the further reasons below.
Gerard Deulofeu
Price: £1.23
Team: Watford
Age: 25
Position: Forward
Country: Spain
Key Passes per game: 1.8
Pros:
High PB scores - 229 and 210 this season
If Watford are relegated - transfer is likely
Premier League players may increase in price due to Football Index marketing campaigns
Goal and assist in last game
Cons:
May struggle to compete for match day dividends regularly whilst at Watford
Nikola Vlasic
Price: £1.09 *First highlighted at £0.70
Team: CSKA Moscow
Age: 22
Position: Midfielder (Attacking)
Country: Croatia
Key Passes per game: 2.6
Pros:
Very strong at key passes
High PB scores
EURO 2020 - Croatia International
Cons:
Currently in a non-pb league
Signed for CSKA Moscow in July 2019 on a contract until June 2024
Denis Geiger
Price: £0.92
Team: Hoffenheim
Age: 21
Position: Midfielder (Central)
Country: Germany
Key Passes per game: 1.7
Pros:
3 assists in 13 games in the Bundesliga this season
Young
Previous transfer speculation
Cons:
Low PB scores
Jack Harrison
Price: £0.91
Team: Leeds United
Age: 23
Position: Midfielder (Left)
Country: England
Key Passes per game: 1.7
Pros:
On loan from Manchester City
5 goals and 6 assists in 25 games this season
Leeds United are top of the Championship - strong chance of playing in a PB league next season
Cons:
Currently in a non-pb league
Ronaldo Viera
Price: £0.61
Team: Sampdoria
Age: 21
Position: Midfielder
Country: England
Key Passes per game: 1.4
Pros:
Young
Former England Youth International
Cons:
Low PB scores
Isaiah Brown
Price: £0.57
Team: Luton Town on loan from Chelsea
Age: 22
Position: Attacking Midfielder
Country: England
Key Passes per game: 2.9
Pros:
On loan from Chelsea
Young
6 assists in 15 games
Very strong at key passes
Former England Youth International
Cons:
Currently in a non-pb league
Has not played since November
Has a bad injury record
Luton Town are currently bottom of the Championship
Faitout Maoussa
Price: £0.47
Team: Rennes
Age: 21
Position: Midfielder (Left)
Country: France
Key Passes per game: Only 0.5 in Ligue 1, but, average of 1.7 in 3 Europa League games
Pros:
Young
Low price for a young player in a PB league
Scored a quality goal from a solo run earlier in the season (In October)
Rennes are currently 3rd in Ligue 1
Cons:
Infrequently plays full games
Low PB scores