Ratings
- A1 – Very good, could play higher
- A2 – Strong potential to play higher
- B1 – Good, strong player at level
- B2 – Potential to be strong player at level
- C – Average for the level, rewatch
- D – Below average, don’t follow up
Dominik Szoboszlai
Player profile:
- Nationality: Hungarian
- Age: 19
- Date of birth: 25/10/2000
- Current club: RB Salzburg
- Career: RB Salzburg, FC Leifering (L)
- Position: Central Midfielder
- Secondary Position: 10 / Left midfielder
- Preferred foot: Right
Although he floated in and out of the game a bit, the Hungarian international did impress, getting both an assist and a second-assist in the 2-0 victory. He showed excellent technique and good vision, with a good first touch and picking out some good passes. He also made some good set piece deliveries which were dangerous and made some late runs into the box, but missed a big chance at the back post. He takes risks with his passing which can be good and makes him dangerous but he could refine some of these decisions.
He showed good speed over short distances with a tall build. He wasn’t always that involved though and didn’t tend to roam from his position much. His work rate was fairly inconsistent and I felt he lost concentration a bit at times although he pressed well a few times. He lacked aggression and could come across as a bit casual.
Rating: A1
He’s being linked with Arsenal but I could also see him going to Germany, possibly reuniting with Marco Rose and Rene Maric at Monchengladbach. He’s an exciting player at 19 and will likely make the step up very soon. There are definitely some areas to improve but he’s very promising.
Enock Mwepu
Player profile:
- Nationality: Zambian
- Age: 22
- Date of birth: 1/1/1998
- Current club: RB Salzburg
- Career: RB Salzburg, FC Leifering (L)
- Position: Defensive midfield
- Secondary Position: Central midfield
- Preferred foot: Right
He Zambian international is tall with quite a big frame and very long legs. He swept in front of the centre halves well, receiving on the turn well in build up and was able to protect the ball and evade pressure well. He was strong on the ball, held off defenders and was aggressive in the challenge. He had a good work rate and protected the back line well.
His passing was mostly good, he tried switches of play a few times with mixed success. He did put one good through ball over the top though creating a chance. He made good decisions on the ball and got out of pressure well with quick thinking in tight situations. He could have progressed the ball better but was rightly frustrated at times with the lack of movement and options he had.
Rating: B1
Really impressed in parts of his game, he’s good at the level but I really need to watch more of him to see how well he could make the step up.
Majeed Ashimeru
Player profile:
- Nationality: Ghanian
- Age: 22
- Date of birth: 10/10/1997
- Current club: RB Salzburg
- Career: RB Salzburg, Lustenau (L), Wolfsberger (L), St. Gallen (L)
- Position: Central midfield
- Secondary Position: 10
- Preferred foot: Right
Ashimeru had an impressive performance. The midfielder was dynamic and covered a lot of ground. He had good acceleration and on the ball he was elegant and comfortable showing to be quite resistant to pressing. He received on the turn well, showed good ball control and kept a high tempo with his short passing. He roamed a lot to get the ball and press different areas. He showed some good dribbling to avoid pressure and used feints to create space but didn’t carry to break lines. He had a quieter second half after being very involved in the first. The Ghanian covered a lot of ground, pressing the midfield and winning the ball back well. Although his longer passing was quite weak and could have been better.
Rating: A2
He impressed in the first half especially and I really liked him. I’ll definitely be watching him again.
Noah Okafor
Player profile:
- Nationality: Swiss
- Age: 19
- Date of birth: 24/5/2000
- Current club: RB Salzburg
- Career: FC Basel, RB Salzburg
- Position: Left wing
- Secondary Position: Striker
- Preferred foot: Left
Okafor was playing at a striker and often looked like he was playing out of position. He needs more time to develop in his new role and gain experience. He looked his best when he drifted out the left side and was able to take on his full back to drive into the box. He showed very good dribbling and wanted to carry the ball but was mainly comfortable doing this out wide, he didn’t get the chance to through the middle. He is tall but with fast feet and good ball control. He has a good burst of pace and looks to knock the ball around his opponent.
He made some questionable decisions in the final third, especially with his passing on fast attacks but did produce some good crosses in slower phases. He also missed a good chance and was the only shot he took.
Rating: B2
Needs more time to adapt to the team and playing in an unfamiliar role and looked most dangerous out wide. I think he will end up playing higher, showing glimpses of great technical ability.
Max Wober
Player profile:
- Nationality: Austrian
- Age: 22
- Date of birth: 4/2/1998
- Current club: RB Salzburg
- Career: Rapid Vienna, Ajax, Sevilla, RB Salzburg
- Position: Centre half
- Secondary Position: Left back
- Preferred foot: Left
The tall centre half struggled in Spain and has stepped back to the Austrian league but is still young. He’s left footed with good passing technique, not tending to go long. But, he was good at breaking the lines and finding passes into the striker’s feet or Szoboszlai when he was between the lines. He seemed to lack aggression a bit but did decently in the air. He set the line often but didn’t have to defend 1v1 much.
He didn’t come across as either weak or strong but he didn’t use his physicality and size enough although they largely dominated the game and he didn’t have that much defending to do. He wasn’t very explosive though and could have been quicker to change direction but his speed over medium distances was okay.
Rating: B1
He’s a solid centre half but needs to be more physical in order to step up. It’s likely that he’ll end up returning to a big league as he is a good technical modern centre half, I could see a German club going in for him.
Albert Vallci
Player profile:
- Nationality: Swiss
- Age: 24
- Date of birth: 2/7/1995
- Current club: RB Salzburg
- Career: SV Kapfenberg, SV Horn, FC Wacker, RB Salzburg
- Position: Centre half
- Secondary Position: Right back, Left back
- Preferred foot: Right
Vallci is mainly a centre half but has played a lot of left back in his career, and has been used as a right back at times this season. He produced some excellent crosses which were dangerous. In possession he’d often make up a back three, especially in the first half and then push forward into space when the ball was high on the left. He didn’t tend to make over lapping runs but found space well. His passing wasn’t great, with mixed accuracy and some poor decisions which cost possession too easily. Defensively he looked uncomfortable at times with his positioning and was quite quiet. On the ball he wasn’t great under pressure but didn’t lose the ball or take risks.
Rating: C
His crossing was strong but otherwise didn’t show that much. He’s recently made the step up to his level and was okay overall.