Poznan set up in a 4-2-3-1, with a midfielder dropping deep to create a wide back three in possession. Out of possession they sat in a compact 4-5-1 and didn’t press high much, they were patient and tired to force the ball wide or just not allow ball progression. They played with inverted wingers who liked to occupy the half spaces, allowing the full backs to overlap and run into space. Both sides had some big chances and on the day Pogon were unfortunate not to score and a 4-0 scoreline was slightly harsh but Poznan were still deserved winners overall.
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 in this match
Jakub Moder
Player profile:
- Nationality: Polish
- Age: 21
- Date of birth: 07/04/1999
- Current Club: Lech Poznan
- Career: Lech Poznan, Odra Opole (L)
- Position: Centre Midfield
- Preferred foot: Right
Playing in the double pivot, Moder looked to carry the ball through midfield. At 6’2″ he’s a physical presence in midfield, he was strong on the ball and was able to vary his pace and size of touches well to carry the ball through midfield and able to break lines. He had good awareness and was able to push the ball into space well. He was a box-to-box profile player who made some good late runs into the box and supported the attack well. He scored the opening goal of the game with a great first time finish across goal from a cut back to the edge of the box. He had a powerful right foot, with a shot from just outside the box at the keeper being parried and then scored by a teammate.
When he was able to face goal, he would ever look to travel or made good forward passes, able to break lines and access to the narrow wingers and attacking midfielder. He could also spread play with good passing technique and opened his hips well. However, facing his own goal he had a good first touch but didn’t receive on the back foot and then turn. He struggled to turn when he was pressured from behind and was forced to go backwards often. He was pressured a lot from behind and marked but still could be done more to win that 1v1 and turn into space, possibly limited by poor agility but could grow in confidence receiving with his back to goal.
Defensively he worked hard, was physical with decent aggression, able to use his body. He pressed high up the pitch, winning the ball off the centre back which lead to the second goal of the game. In midfield he pressed the wide areas well, got tight to his man and was a patient defender, staying on his feet well. He had good timing and pressed well, able to get between the ball and the player but could be beaten but more mobile players.
Rating – A1
Overall, Moder had a strong game and was directly involved with three of the four goals his team scored, a great asset for a box-to-box player to show and a valuable quality. He showed decent speed over short distances and strong defensively and in possession, being able to do more receiving with his back to goal would be important judging from this match.
Tymoteusz Puchacz
Player profile:
- Nationality: Polish
- Age: 21
- Date of birth: 23/01/1999
- Current Club: Lech Poznan
- Career: Lech Poznan, Zaglebie Sosnowiec (L), GKS Katowice (L)
- Position: Left Wing
- Secondary Position: Left Back / Right Wing
- Preferred foot: Left
Playing as a left back in this match, Puchacz worked hard throughout, showing good stamina. He showed good speed over distance and worked hard to support the counter attack but tracked back well, covering a lot of ground. He’s 5’11” with a good frame and quite stocky, showing good strength in defence. He stayed tight to his man, used his body well and was strong shoulder-to-shoulder. With good agility he was able to stay tight to his man and defended well.
Going forward he provided width to the team, but he was isolated at times. With Jozwiak as his winger, who wanted to be narrow often and in the half spaces, Puchacz had room to overlap. He was a good option to switch play but was quite isolated and didn’t have the much space due to Pogon’s setup where their wide midfielders stay with the far side full back. He didn’t get into crossing positions and tended to drive towards the byline, attempting a few cut backs, but didn’t get into wide, early crossing positions.
In buildup he took good touches down the line and away from pressure. He kept his passing fairly short and simple, but was often quite isolated at times and didn’t have forward passing options. He carried to ball into space and on the counter well but wasn’t very aggressive in 1v1s and didn’t try to beat his man.
Rating – A2
Kamil Jozwiak
Player profile:
- Nationality: Polish
- Age: 22
- Date of birth: 11/04/1998
- Current Club: Lech Poznan
- Career: Lech Poznan, GKS Katowice (L)
- Position: Right Wing
- Secondary Position: Left Wing
- Preferred foot: Right
Playing on the left wing in this game, the Polish international is 5’10” with a stocky build. He’s very right footed, maintained a narrow position and constantly wanted to move inside, which made him quite predictable at times. He looked to receive between the lines and wanted to play throughballs or shoot at goal, but didn’t tend to travel with the ball that much but showed good control when he did on the counter and evaded pressure well, showing good agility and low centre of gravity to keep the ball tight under pressure and turn away from it.
He wanted to create in the final third, attempting what could have been very dangerous throughballs, but they didn’t come off. Either the weight of pass wasn’t there or the pass just wasn’t on. He took risks but some could have been better calculated with his decisions in the final third at times but had the potential to be very dangerous. His one footedness affected him though and limited his options at times.
He worked hard off the ball with good intensity but his pressing was quite rash and erratic at times. Overall, he is an explosive player with great speed who showed good technical quality but failed to have final product on the day, needs to improve his left foot and precision of his passing in the final third.
Rating – A2
Jakub Kaminski
Player profile:
- Nationality: Polish
- Age: 18
- Date of birth: 05/06/2002
- Current Club: Lech Poznan
- Career: Lech Poznan
- Position: Right Wing
- Preferred foot: Left
Playing on the right wing, the Poland U19 international had a fairly quiet game. He played in narrow positions but could have imposed himself on the match more overall. He dropped into midfield to get some of the ball, he drew out defender and was marked tightly from behind, unable to receive on the back foot and turn. He mainly just played layoffs and his touch was inconsistent.
In the final third he made some good runs in behind the line and showed good intelligence but wasn’t involved much in play and didn’t get that many touches. A few times he could be a little hesitant on the ball in the attacking half and slow to make decisions and wasn’t very effective when play was slower and was best when in the defensive line. He scored the fourth goal with a very good and composed finish after making a run into the box, he took his time, scanned across the box before finishing across the goalkeeper.
Rating – B2
Overall, the 18 year old is raw and I would like to see more of him and to see him be more involved and get more touches. I’ve given a B2 which could easily move to an A2 but wanted to see some quality on the ball and directness, offering more than runs in behind.
Target Scouting 