This newsletter will aim at analysing in depth Lucas Gourna’s all round game (and career path), but also give a coaching analysis/perspective on defensive plays for whoever’s interested to sharpen their eye for detail regarding defensive midfielders.
Also, some thoughts on how French clubs can find themselves into the same laughable situation of being forced to sell their best players every season.
Talent pathway done right: no Kanté at US Palaiseau, 9th division at 19.
Green light: one (rare) bright spot and early debut for Saint Etienne in 20-21
Man on a mission: breaking down Gourna’s game in forensic detail
Screening the back four
Picking up second balls
Interceptions
Defending cutbacks
Closing down
Defensive decision making
Bobbling less
Galloping box to box poney
Chelsea and the Stamford Fridge
See where they play: on Saint Etienne’s old school Panini signings in 21-22 and relegation toboggan, and why clubs are equally good at producing talent than ill-manage their club project into being forced to sell them for cheap.
Running circles around Verratti: notes on identifying talent early for top clubs
Data Room: Pizza Rehydrator, Defensive Octopus heatmap
Talent pathway done right
Lucas Gourna’s ascension has been stellar. But the steps are conventional, nevertheless.
Pole Espoir (Reims), he’s from Evry (South-East of Paris).
Signed by a AS Saint Etienne on a pre-contract (French clubs can only sign a dozen of these contracts per season depending on the Academy Category, which makes it more or less a 3 years contract until 16, then a further mandatory 3 years pro deal, which can be a blessing or a drag, from both club/player perspective).
Gourna quickly adjusted back to the right path to take, in his own words
Lucas Gourna is the French U19 Captain (2003 generation):
Timothee LO TUTALA: GK, Spurs and now Hull City,
Loum TCHAOUNA: Hulk, left footed RW with a shot from range. Rennes
Ousmane CAMARA: penalty box CB,decent pro experience: Paris FC, Angers
Souleymane Isaac TOURE: juggernaut left CB, OM on loan at Auxerre
Lucas GOURNA: watch this space
Bryan PEREIRA: look no further for a tackling Wan Bissaka clone. Auxerre
Jaouen HADJAM: dribbling one way left back, now at Nantes, L1
Martin ADELINE: elegant roaming 8/10, under contract at Reims
Mohamed-Ali CHO (2004): electric attacker at Real Sociedad
Abdoullah BA: dribbles, vibes and progressive passes. Sunderland
Alan VIRGINIUS: long stride left/right winger who can score. Lille
Lucas Gourna’s been involved for France U16-U20.
One stand out aspect of his game is his natural leadership skills, being very vocal on the pitch, not only because he often captains the teams he plays in.
Lots of (efficient) pointing and shouting.
Green light
Lucas Gourna was born in May 2003, has been involved in top flight football for AS Saint Etienne as early as Sepember 2020 as a 17 year old, under Claude Puel.
Got an impressive 30 appearances, with 17 coming off the bench in 2020-21.
75’ minutes played as a starter on average, 20’ as a sub.
Man on a mission
Lucas Gourna’s biggest strength is his ability to screen the back 4, his defensive reading and positioning is already top notch, keeps scanning.
He’s on a mission to shut down every access to the opposition’s 9.
Lucas Gourna’s aways on alert with adjustment steps, which gives him a head start to intercept and pick up lose balls.
The play at 0:24 is especally impressive as every piece of footwork is accurate, timing, closing angle rythm, turn of pace, ability to turn seamlessly.
The final play epitomizes having “eyes in the back”, screening runners behind whilst simultaneously looking at the ball.
It doesn’t seem much, but taking a head start by running at the penaty spot whilst the ball is in the air is the reason he can challenge the ball where it drops and prevent equally witty Conor Gallagher to pick up the lose ball as he usually does.
Now, digging a little bit deeper to break down the features of his defensive game
Screening the back four
Screening the back four takes different forms, and it requires game reading ability to identify if it’s better to screen the player or the space (depending of which one being open allows the opposition to progress the better).
Gourna’s positioning to get on the path of aerial trajectories is good, considering Academies pathways don’t often put lot of emphasis on headed play.
ASSE is however one of the best Academies in France, and actually have produced a lot of ready-made top tier professionals, even without them being absolute world beaters.
Situations occur mostly from facing teams playing very direct football – that France allows because Pro Academies play against Amateur players at U17 and U19 National level, and B teams play in the 4th and 5th tier of the pyramid.
Of course, racking up over 60 Ligue 1 games at 19 has been a contributing factor too.
Standing at 1.85 (6.07ft), Gourna is a solid outlet in the air to “sandwich” the opposition’s 9 which is a very useful defensive feature to avoid central defenders to continuously deform the back line (which creates gaps for flick ons, unless full backs or the other central defenders can narrow and sweep efficiently behind).
The intent behind the recoveries is usually positive, with an ability to play an interception x pass, head the clearance towards a team mate, or quickly find gaps to find players in pockets with both feet.
Picking up second balls
Second balls are an often under-considered feature of modern football, whose goalposts don’t move (unlike flavour of the month playing approaches unless the next game to win it must).
No matter the willingness to turn games into one-sided borefests with (flawed) specialists, there will be moments where the game is chaotic especially when the ball is cleared away. Whoever collects most of the “rebounds”, will have chances to re-start attacks from a more advanced location, than if the ball goes all the way and needs to be brought back up again (with the opponent re-organizing behind the ball).
Winning second balls is more a mindset than something to be trained on with very neat training drills.
Generally, players tend to come alive only whithin the group of 3-4 players that directly surround the ball (or simply when they get it).
The level of focus to stay “alive” anywhere on the pitch requires a mental investment not every player can commit to.
The key factors are to start moving before impact, in the zone where it’s likely to drop, and having a mind library of most of the likely trajectories. It’s not a pumpkin nor a medecine ball, nor a baloon. We don’t ever hear about different footballs until managers crash out early in the Carabao Cup with their billion squad anyway.
Start the jumping motion at the apex of the trajectory, in order to head it when it drops.
There’s not so much “gambling” in that regard, anyone not able to win the 1st needs to prepare to get the 2nd (flicked, say behind) or the 3rd (flicked say forward), whithin the radius of a header.
After 3 defeats and 12 goals conceded in 3 games, Erik Ten Hag has switched from attempting to implement juego de posicion to the much more reasonable (and efficient) juego de get the laces throúgh the fútbol and kick it as fàr as possible
Casemiro (who stayed on the bench when he came in for some reason, in case anyone wouldn’t notice) is absolutely crucial to sweep and screen United’s back four.
He’s a Champions League winning type of cheat code for a team, just like Kanté is.
Also, being able to stand one’s ground like Gourna does on the 3rd play, a bit like a basketball center under the rim is key. The more the opponent shoves him, the less likely he is to compete for the ball as well.
Multitasking
One of the key features of Gourna’s defensive game is his ability to multitask, with his peripheral vision.
In terms of cognition, and ability to spot cues in the environment, trained experts (anyone is in one field: matchday stewarts, lifeguards) are able to discern what happens in the near field of vision, and peripheral field of vision; and only keep the relevant information to make decisions.
In other words, not just being baited by the first discernable moving object, which is what “expertise” is based on. Train the brain with information overload in training at key moments (midweek): 2 colours vs 2 colours etc… and players will handle game situations better. Only if there’s a common framework.
Ever since Lucas Gourna started appearing in Ligue 1, this has been a standout feature like on the first play: being able to screen a player despite having eyes on the ball. Maybe he’s actually got eyes in the back (as opposed to having eyes in the sky like most modern DMs do when the ball is about to be put in the box)
It takes a certain level of nerd-ry or tunnel vision to first being aware of Sirius / Eye in the Sky listening to The Alan Parsons Project discography, and not by watching the Chicago Bulls at home. “Hey, that’s the song from my niche album” (still worked with the Pink Floyd). Sounds just like a tactico first noticing DMs play hide and seek with forwards when looking at finding separation.
*My* reality isn’t *your* reality, no need to drown it with words. Snowflake tactical perspective.
Interceptions
Lucas Gourna is a good athlete, with quite the turn of pace on the first few yards to defend large spaces. The change of direction is what you’d expect from a top level base midfielder to make a strong (strength) stop, and then start in another direction (power) to get to the ball first.
The clean-ness and intent of the pass means that the multitasking on transition has been effective and been given the right amount of processing what the environment affords / “sees the picture that lad”
Defending Cutbacks
Defensive is also about rigor and focus, in order to be ready when situations occur, rather than improvisation, hasty clearances or taking pictures from outside the box.
Defending crosses answer to a clear set of movements:
Make sure to see the crosser, and where you want to play next
Benchmarking with Casemiro staying alert, dynamic and on the toes, ready to crash on potential drop points. Also, see the “crab” footwork in the box, and power to burst and close down the Southampton player (having sensed the danger) and slowing down to avoid clattering him. Casemiro’s actually *eLiTe*
That suggests not running back facing goal (104% of own goals happen because of this). Gourna’s crab lateral footwork helps in that regard
Block your run before the cross is played (for CBs, the 6 yard box is a good mark)
So that you’re meeting the cross moving forward, starting from when the ball is hit.
(It is the same logic for attackers, get round the penalty spot, and move towards the ball to connect from when the cross is hit)
This is absolute gold coaching material here, still free of charge.
Gourna’s timing is immaculate. That’s not rocket science, that’s just evidence of a player who’s worked on his game not to be yet another intruder pitch invader without a valid match ticket joke of a base midfielder
Amusing aspect of modern coaching is that it’s all about creating golden chances and cutbacks at one end, and yet nobody pays the same level of attention to cutting off these and defending it properly at the other end.
Closing down
Being able to repeat sprint bursts to close opponents down over the duration of the game is a key component of modern football, that requires “two-way” players who won’t spend the time they don’t have the ball by coughing up their own lungs.
However it’s not bumper cars either. The ability to read the situation and turn pace is key, but so is the ability to slow down when entering the attacking player’s personal space.
Closing down needs to be done with an angle (not to get nutmegged), on the toes with close dynamic steps, body weight leaning backwards (shoulders above heels), with feet not larger than shoulders:
Lucas Gourna is a defensive demon, that knack for defensive workrate is not that usual for upcoming midfielders (who can ball).
Any arm wrestling gamemanship is welcome, the more disruption without holding or grabbing a shirt (which is a foul) will do.
Matic however makes sure Gourna can only met his arm, but that forces him into a choice he’d rather not make, ie a lame square pass for El Shaarawy who’s closed down (and obviously wasn’t ready to receive it).
Casemiro’s benchmark: (a million of plays to chose from)
Defensive decision making
One of the most impressive features of Lucas Gourna’s game is his defensive decision making.
The reality of top teams, is that sometimes they don’t have a 6 (and don’t win anything), and when they do finally come to their senses and get one, the Kanté Casemiro, Mikel, Fernandinho, Carrick ; has to defend in super large spaces behind attackers usually unbothered to put a shift when possession is lost.
Sometimes teams sign Casemiro or Partey, and people still put forward “philosophy”, team talks on All or Nothing (more like: Nothing Whatsoever Until We Replace Ceballos With Partey), Reddit tik tok warmups drills that Malacia teaches to the other players (is the bench comfortable?), or whatever piece of litterature to explain why that team is suddently a contender and not a running gag anymore with a new shiny effective one man midfield as opposed to none.
Being the base midfield for a top team is therefore usually more about backtracking, delaying so that team mates get back in position, and funnel the play in an area where the opponent will crash into swarming team mates.
that’s in case 1. the opponent isn’t so shit that he’s given the ball away already on the midway line: PSG’s under Blanc was expert at suffocating opponents WHITHIN their own defensive shape, by precisely affording them much more space to dribble into than what they could handle.
Thiago Silva – already – dragged the line back until players would chase their touch out of control, without requiring any of Silva, Marquinhos, Motta or Verratti to get involved in actual duels
and 2. in case Pep Guardiola’s attackers don’t inadvertently tangle legs 4 times a game at the exact moment when opponents start promising counters. What a wonderfully unpredictable game football is. Kudos to Craig Pawson, first ref to send a City player at home. Wemember the name.
How many goodly creatures are there here!
How beauteous mankind is! O brave New World!
That has such people in’t!”
Shakespeare. Not Craig, the other bloke
It’s all good to waffle for hours about “pressing structures” to dissect in 43 tweets the complex inner mechanics of a 442 defensive block behind the ball.
MeGa bUmPeR tHrEaDDDD
My immediate reaction when scrolling: D8
However, any situation where the defensive team is facing opponents running at speed in situational / numerical inbalance situation (“crisis situation”) should get a lot more attention, as it’s much more about analysing what could be the thinking, rather than describing what everyone can already see based on an old Italian coaching theory book on zonal defence and 11v0 “training” (whose paperback version stopped being printed in 1987).
Making sure Abraham is screened, and the opponents play in opposite direction / Making sure the Roma player plays in the direction of an isolated team mate, rather than towards the 3 Roma players
The changes of direction are spot on: can’t backtrack into your own net, got to gain yards somehow, especially when the opponent isn’t looking at you. Squid Game style. But without ever being caught flat footed (hence the broken line of running) and having to chase the player (level or behind, clip, cheap foul, easy booking).
When the dangers goes away, get back controlling your area
Is a situational 2v2. Decision making is very good: nearest closes down, the other covers, which is what Gourna does; which allows him to pick up the pass that filters through. If Gourna lunges in and comes level with his team mate (what every bang average ball watcher would do), they’re both flat and easy to split. Small slip, not fazed, efficiency first. Away it goes
Is the kind of situaton when teams are under water, intelligent defending usually provides with an easy turnover of possession. No need to dumbgenpress and concede a stupid free kick. PSG over the years have been experts at this, drop the line, and suffocate opponents whithin your block. Gourna funnels a channel, with the trademark Claude Makélélé “catch my hand if you get too close”
Is what base midfielders need to be aware of: left back drawn to close down his marker, Oumar Solet caught between two and out of position. Gourna has filled in in the left channel (under himself on the video) so that smashing a long pass down the line for Abraham doesn’t end up in a goalscoring chance (because lanky and not technical enough Tammy Abraham also loves these situations).
Bobbling less
Lucas Gourna’s passing range has been improving a lot to now reach the quality standard required at top level. Can play short or pick longer passes.
He had the habit of “topping” the ball sligthly (hitting the ball in the top half), that made passes bouncing on the floor a bit. But that has been ironed out with game experience.
Can play CB, DM, CM, B2B because he’s reliable enough defensively (heading, reading, tackling) and tactically.
He’s been working a lot with video feedback at Saint Etienne’s Academy, and also getting advice from former top flight midfielder Julien Sablé, a coach at ASSE specifically on finding separation to get on the ball more often.
His hide/seek separation and first time spread to a fullback is good and brings build-up to life (thats not The Walking Dead level of “coach told us so, lets roll a pass to Azpilicueta to clip it in the stands for a lack of a better idea”)
Lucas Gourna is poised to find good angles with both feet, doesn’t just slide it to the closest player. The mix between reliability, and willingness to split the defence and find team mates in pockets is a nice balance to have.
A galloping Box-to-Box poney
Even if it’s Gourna’s defensive game that stands out, he’s also an adept player to bring the ball up the field quite rapidly.
Hence the cheap Pogba comparisons in French football circles – also because he’s Lucas Gourna’s playing inspiration.
Suggesting Gourna gallops like a poney on transitions would be a tribute to the hobby he had before getting seriously into football
Both Gourna (2017-19) and Pogba (2006-07) spent time at US Torcy – the club you may have heard of when Le Havre claimed Manchester United “stole” them Pogba in 2009 in a much publicised transfer.
US Torcy was just before in the footballing food chain so there’s that.
US Torcy is one of the most famous amateur Paris clubs where pro clubs get players from (some have senior teams for the sake of it in the Paris Regional Leagues trenches warfare but lots have scrapped it)
Paul Pogba, Randal Kolo Muani, Etienne Camara (Huddersfield), Adrien Hunou, Mourad Meghni, Yohann Pelé, Ibrahima Sissoko all spent a couple of seasons there.
Usually, top pro French clubs have partnerships with clubs from the Paris area (Torcy don’t have one with ASSE though) as a pathway for trials, and scouting.
FIFA’s training compensation mechanisms usually become significant in the first or second transfer (until age 23) at professional level.
Pocket money for small club → pro club academy → 6,7,8 figure fee for a foreign club (much less than what French clubs could make top clubs fork out if they were run properly) → mega bumper fee for a top club.
Age 12-15: 10.000€ per season
Age 15-19: 75.000€ per season
And then there’s the FIFA solidarity payments (running after 23), that split 5% of the transfer fee with every club from age 12. Torcy got 300k from Pogba’s transfer in instance for a single season, what is their annual budget.
French clubs made a fortune with transfers like Dembélé to Barcelona (Evreux), Martial to United (US Les Ulis) etc…Remains to be seen which one of United, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Bayern, Juventus, PSG will pay Lucas Gourna’s.
Back to reality (you’ve just had the ball taken from you)
There’s not that many occurences of Lucas Gourna chasing his first touch or final touch that ends up in these stupid 50/50 where both players are lunging in (“he’s that bad” “no way I give up on my poor touch”) with one of them the eventual casualty.
On the play, Gourna changes the picture by taking on the defence on the ball because options are marked out or unreachable.
A DM that has that good of an ability to take on players is a crucual asset to a team, that draws people to the ball and ultimately opens up new options, which he takes advantage with a zipped masked pass to his left.
Good DMs only use 70% of their skillset, what you see is what you get are rarely good players (nor allow the team to play expansive, title winning football) because how predictable they are (or useless in the opposition half).
Chelsea and the Stamford Fridge
Lucas Gourna already crossed paths twice with Chelsea in the Champions League, introduced at half time at Stamford Bridge and re-energizing the team. Got a key involvement in the equalizing goal, displaying his box to box game.
Not afraid to go into challenges either, stands on his feet and very hard to put off balance. Ability to track runners down the channels
Tempers flared with Reece James… who couldn’t outmuscle him on the initial play shoulder/shoulder. #StamfordFridge
pReSsUrE ReSiStAnT
Being pressure resistant isn’t treating the ball like a hot potato, bumping it to the nearest player under the slightest pressure.
It comes down to attitudes when receiving the ball under pressure, (or receive an imperfect pass with pressure from behind/side – ie on the wrong back/front to what the best game would suggest at that moment), in a standing position, or on the move to prevent the opposition to nick the ball.
If the opportunity arises to let a trailing leg, get a foul.
Lucas Gourna is annoyingly effective at relieving pressure for his team by drawing fouls, just like “white t-shirt under an oversize untucked match jersey with rolled up sleeves” John Mikel Obi was.
Better at it than many seasoned professionals, that’s what one of the things that caught my eye on his first games for Saint Etienne (stats: fbref).
On the first play, getting the left leg pivot foot in front, in the prime position (whoever gets there first gets a touch on the ball with the other leg) is key to not let the Roma defender get in front (he actually bounces off Gourna)
Using the arm also helps put the upper body off balance. This isn’t about flying elbows, but having the arm/hand already positioned, and cushioning the player off it (so that the player meets the arm, and not the other way round)
On the second, getting his body between the ball path and the defender allows to shield and roll the defender.
Arm at bay means that even if the Roma player reaches that distance, arm keeps the body at bay. And even lunging in doesn’t allow the leg to reach the ball because the distance is also too far.
Posture is ideal to stay strong by “squatting”, shoulders above the pivot foot so that the body is leaning neither too far forward (falling over), nor backwards (in which case the defender moves and the attacker falls off).
Nemanja Matic was an absolute master at creating a yard and never getting dispossessed by football players (he once was tackled by Ashley Barnes, however) .
See where they play
ASSE had a highway to put their best Academy talent on show, and cash in on 18-22 y.o with 30+ top flight games after staying up to Sevilla, Frankfurt , Gladbach etc…
That is clearly the route that Puel, as the club’s manager (a rare occurence in French football, where there’s mostly head coaches in most places), decided to take to put Saint Etienne in a more sustainable route after missing out on Europe the year before he took over (ASSE was a regular in Europa League in previous years).
Players like Saidou Sow (CB, 2002), Lucas Gourna (2003), Stefan Bajic (GK, 2000), Mickaël Nadé (CB, 2000), JP Krasso (CF, 1997), Ivann Maçon (RB, 1998 but got a big knee injury), Mahdi Camara (2000), Zaydou Youssouf (1999) even Adil Aouchiche (2002, France U17 top scorer at the World Cup 2019) in which Puel had a lot of trust initially (backed with an enormous wage and sign on bonus).
Moukoudi (1998) or Etienne Green (somehow keeping clean sheets at professional level in goal and even called up for England U21. Miracles do happen).
Backed with winger/goalscorer Bouanga, Khazri and Boudebouz; experienced Debuchy and Kolo that were on wages incompatible with St Etienne’s financial situation, and found themselves in a bit of a limbo as a result. A forever backup 36 year old GK with finally a run into the team, and a soles on the ball Peruvian in Miguel Trauco.
Not all of them world beaters, many written off as “not good enough” but still carried Saint Etienne to comfortable safety in 2020/2021.
Saint Etienne had 8 straight defeats in the first part of the season, everyone rode through the storm and got better in the second part of the season to reach the comfortable Ligue 1 underbelly (we litteraly say “le ventre mou”) that is >42 points stations on the table. Coaching and player improvement, it happens!
Saint Etienne had occurences of having to play games with 15 people (staff and players) ineligible due to COVID protocols like at Strasbourg (0-1 defeat) where Gourna held together the base of a makeshift midfield diamond on his own, paired with box to box Moueffek and Gabard from ASSE B.
Instead of building on what looke like the sky being cleared with Saint Etienne’s 11th place, ASSE decided to sack Puel mid-season 2021/22 after the atmosphere around the club (and board gone AWOL) turned toxic toxic (pitch invasions, pyro, hostile banners and Puel requiring police protection).
ASSE decided to handpick washed up players in the 2013 Panini sticker album in January (some short of any match fitness at all), got relegated anyway.
Fly on the wall documentaries, that’s fine and well when the team eventually reaches their objective.
Otherwise, that’s Sunderland, Til I Die. But ASSE only signed a contract with their caretaker manager’s ego anyway, and not Netflix so we wouldn’t get to see the final product, unfortunately.
Lucas Gourna “only” started 20+11 games in 2021-22 and was swiftly poached by Red Bull Salzburg in the summer 2022.
Getting a €15 mil transfer fee for a 19 y.o. contracted until 2025, with 65 top flight apps to his name is outright horrendous business from ASSE.
If anything, as a benchmark,
Wesley Fofana (19): 30 games, £35 million to Leicester
William Saliba (18): 36 games, £30 million to Arsenal
Lucas Gourna (19): 65 games, 15m€ to Salzburg. LOL
ASSE was set to do a Sunderland in 2022-23, spending the entire first half of the season rock bottom in Ligue 2.
Another spending spree in January 2022 look to get them out of trouble for the time being, a least on the League table (but books haven’t been published yet)
“Bring more players in” is always the yin to the yang that is actual coaching and player development.
A 3 point deduction couldn’t possibly be the reason why the team was 8pts from safety midway through the 22/23 season.
Not even involving players that made the 11th place finish in 2020/21 in 2021-22 was a bit disappointing, both because despite their best efforts (ASSE genuinely work well at Academy level), you don’t produce future french Internationals every other season and fans of popular, anchored in the community ASSE have every right to feel aggrieved they couldn’t get to see more of Gourna (20-21 was behind closed doors).
And two, because if that peculiar young squad was good enough to guarantee safety in 20-21, so would they been able to achieve once again with one more season under their belt in 21-22. And 2022/23 in Ligue 2 BKT (farmer League sponsored by an agricultural machine leasing company, couldn’t make it up. There’s a lot of talent in the two pro farmer League divisions. Only there to be harvested.
Running circles around Verratti
France is a goldmine of talent for whoever isn’t blind or stupid.
Red Bull jumping on opportunities to sign talented players on the cheap because of the general level of incompetence at club level.
Clubs are able to get relegated with the 9th wage bill and players on 20-30k/week (considering they barely fork out a nominal rent for the stadiums they don’t even own) meaning they usually revert to selling their best assets to balance the books and are hardly in a position of leverage in negociations.
Lucas Gourna ran circles around PSG’s Marco Verratti at 17, for his first full 90’ in senior football and only 4th career league start. That’s how good he is.
Was rumoured to be monitored by Chelsea in a £23 mil deal in March 2021.
What’s at stake here: find a way to hijack Red Bull group’s talent evaluation, before players like Ibrahima Konaté (Paris FC, FC Sochaux), C.Nkunku (PSG) move to RB Salzburg, RB Leipzig and end up leaving for 40-80m after a few years.
Pizza rehydrator
Finally, 2 pizza charts courtesy of @mclachbot @ChicagoDmitry
Lucas Gourna’s the most defensively minded of the list.
His improvement curve is steadily impressive, still 19
A club will sign a Kanté / Casemiro level of CL winning cheat code base midfield. Only unknown: which club & when.
Couple of cherrypicked Lucas Gourna numbers
Ligue 1 20-21 – Ligue 1 21-22 – CL 22-23 (3+3 games)
Tackles: 1.1 – 1.5 – 2
Interceptions: .8 – .4 – .7
Dribbled past: .4 – .5 – .7
Fouled: .9 – .9 – 1.7
Dispossessed: .5 – .7 – .2
Passes: 20 – 27 – 25
Accuracy: 87% 88% 77%
Defensive octopus
Looking at Lucas Gourna’s defensive action map for the 2022-23 would back the idea of a fairly effective midfielder able to cover every blade of grass, on the right side of the pitch but also deep and high out wide.
Kanté v Caicedo v Gourna
A look through @smarterscout‘s lenses
Benchmarking Lucas Gourna’s 2021-22 Ligue 1 season with
N’Golo Kanté’s 2021-22
Moisés Caicedo’s 2022-23
Caicedo has stronger metrics in the air and to link up.
Gourna has a dribble in him, which Caicedo may not have to really get away from markers, backed with the eye test.
Otherwise, Lucas Gourna’s skillset (improving by the minute) fares alright considering he’s two years younger than Caicedo.
Lucas Gourna isn’t exactly off the radar (was he actually ever?) but he’s still at Red Bull Salzburg; considering how the “price tag” of these key players skyrockets once they play 50 pro games, the earlier they get poached the better.
He’s not the Mbappé, Bellingham level of unicorn that knock on the door (and don’t grow on trees)
Gourna’s base ability is not uncommon. Just combines a mindset to suceed with excellent coaching along the way.
Tip for clubs, maybe develop these players so a Caicedo, Casemiro or Kanté don’t look like they came from another planet 🛸👽
Sébastien Chapuis 