Kieffer Moore 2019/20 – scout report | OneFootball

In this scout report, I will analyse Cardiff City’s new signing, Kieffer Moore. Cardiff City did manage to renew some players’ contracts, amongst them ex-Manchester United youngster Tom Sang. The tall target man scored 10 goals with Wigan Athletic last season, and he hopes to help his new team get promoted to the EPL. In this tactical analysis, we will see Moore’s role in his former team, Wigan Athletic. Additionally in this analysis, we will see the areas that need improvement from him, and a statistical comparison with his new team.

His role in the team

Moore has an outstanding physical appearance, with 1.95 metres height, and an athletic and strong build. For that reason, his teammates try to reach him deep in the field. Moore most of the time will receive the ball under pressure and will try to do link-up play. Because of his physical characteristics, we can see Moore coming deep into the box and helping his team to defend at set-plays. That is because of his height: he can be an extra defender and can prevent a disadvantageous situation in the box, or help the team to avoid conceding a goal.

Moore when his team has the ball

Moore’s analysis shows that he is a player with a good finishing ability in the box. He tries to take up a good position around the goal area, which will give him an extra advantage against his markers. He tries to read the game and be at the right point at the right time. He will try to position himself in between the defenders: that move will upgrade the difficulty level for the defenders, as they will have to co-operate greatly in tight situations and communicate with each other. Communication is a great skill for defenders, as in scenarios like these, they have to take a quick and efficient decision to mark the striker who is moving between them, and can receive the ball in a dangerous area.

His physical characteristics make him a striker who can receive the ball under pressure and be the linking player. These kinds of players are useful in a team mostly for two reasons: firstly, they can receive long balls, which is helpful for a team and especially if this team gets pressed high up in the field. By doing so, the striker gives time to the rest of the team to take up a high position in the field. The second reason is that these kinds of strikers usually can drag their opponents out of position. In similar situations, a player from the wide areas can go narrow in behind the defensive line and take advantage of this scenario. In the picture below, we can how the defenders followed the ball and let a 1 v 1 situation happen on the other side of the box.

Moore when his team does not have the ball

When his team does not have the ball, Moore tries to press high up the field and block the build-up out from the back. By taking a high position on the field, he puts pressure on the goalkeeper, who tries to play safe and secure passes to the centre backs. Moore’s high positioning doesn’t allow the opponent to play the ball safely out of the back. Moreover, his communication with his teammates is good. He tries to organise his teammates, and guides them to where they can pressure the opponents more efficiently. Communication is a key skill in football, because when a team, for example, is pressing high up the field, without communication the pressing will be unco-ordinated, which will lead to empty spaces in behind them, and the opponent can break their lines easily.

Areas of improvement

Moore needs to improve two areas in his game. The first one has to do with his contribution in the offensive part of the game: his ability in receiving the ball under pressure. Moore is a striker that has the role of the target man on the pitch. His physical characteristics allow him to protect the ball with his body, but when there is too much pressure around him, with more than one marker, he can lose the ball. He does need to improve that part of the game, which would give more chances and time to his teammates to get higher up the field.

Statistical comparison with his new team

Moore signed to Cardiff City in this current transfer season. Moore during the last season had 0.3 goals per 90 minutes, with 0.31 xG rating. On the other hand, Cardiff City was scoring 1.35 goals per 90 minutes, with an xG of 1.33 per 90 minutes. Moore could contribute to Cardiff City’s attacking style of play, as he is a striker that has good positioning in and around the box. Moreover, his vision helps him to come out from a tight situation. Moore’s numbers could be low compared with Cardiff City, but also show that he is a striker that can score at the same level as his expected goals number, which is what Cardiff City does as a team.

Conclusion

Moore’s analysis showed that is a player who has the physical characteristics to be the target man in the team. Moreover, he is trying to put himself into an advantageous position with his movements in between and behind the defensive line. Additionally, Moore is a player that can contribute to the defensive part of the game, as he can be an extra defender in the box for the set-plays.