In a game where the best chances came from mid range shoots, the attacking play didn’t offer an entertaining match with both teams showing a lack of precision in the last phase to finish their chances. Arda Kardazhali take advantage in set pieces after a good combination to surprised the defence and the goalkeeper and score.
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
Stanislav Shopov
Player Profile:
- Nationality: Bulgarian
- Age: 18
- Date of birth: 23/02/2002
- Club: Botev Plovdiv
- Career: Botev Plovdiv
- Position: Attacking Midfield
- Preferred foot: Left
He played as as the right wing, a position who gave him freedom to move to create superiority in different areas and find space. He’s an intelligent player, his tactical display allowed him to adjust his position and find space. He can play in a wide position, offering a support in the first stage of play offering width. When Filip Filipov, the right back, occupied a wide position, he adjusted his position in the half space to fix the defenders and helping Filipov to bring width. He brings variety in his movement with and without the ball, he can offer width, but also took advantage of this position on the right side to cut inside with his left foot to drive the ball or to look to combine with teammates to enter the final third. At times he’d drop deep into central positions, playing with Antonio Vutov in central midfield and organising attack from deep.
At the defensive level, he tracked back to help to Filipov to not be isolated and to prevent underloads. He made good defensive interventions to recover the ball and with his technical ability. He pressed well and was able to launch attacking transitions. He created one of the best attacking situation of his team, in a set piece, he received at the edge of the box, hitting the woodwork with his left foot.
Although he was one of the best players on his team he was substituted in the 54th minute. He is still young and needs to work his athletic aspect if he leaves early we can assume that he has difficulty to play a full match, averaging about 50 minutes a game. Increasing his endurance and athletic aspect would help him to play and influence during a longer time.
Rating – A2
Stanislav Rabotov
Player Profile:
- Nationality: Bulgarian
- Age: 18
- Date of birth: 14/06/2002
- Club: Botev Plovdiv
- Career: Botev Plovdiv
- Position: Centre Back
- Preferred foot: Right
He played as a centre back joining Ivan Bandalovsk in the defence, he occupied the left side of the defence for his 6th start of the season. He’s not a tall defender standing at 179cm, he is still young and could potentially grow. He couldn’t really rely on his physical ability, but this did not impeach him to make good interventions in and out the area. He offers a defensive support to his left back, covering wide well. His marking was effective, not offering space to the opposition to play or to bring others into play. His good reading of the game helps him to make important interceptions in and out the area. In the box, he shows efficiency in his defending with good tackling ability to stop them progressing. His height gives him this agility and speed to get quickly on the ground. Even if, he is not tall, he succeeded in winning aerial duels, his good reading game helps him to cut the trajectory, but also to win over rivals, he compensates his height by his good aggressively on the ball and his good timing to attack at the right moment.
With the ball, he didn’t have to face much high pressure but he could circulate the ball well. During few sequences under pressure he stayed calm and evaded pressure with good dribbling. He was confident with the ball, however he made some errors in his passing game giving back the ball to the opponent, offering counter attacks to them. But most of his passes were precise, he alternates between safe passes to his defenders and vertical passes with which he could break lines. In situations where he wasn’t confronted with high pressure, he should try to hold and drive the ball more.
Rating – A2
Antonio Vutov
Player Profile:
- Nationality: Bulgarian
- Age: 24
- Date of birth: 06/06/1996
- Club: Botev Plovdiv
- Career: Levski Sofia (Y), Udinese (Y), Cosenza (L), Lecce (L), Botev Plovdiv (L), Levski Sofia (L), Botev Plovdiv
- Position: Attacking Midfield
- Secondary Position: Striker
- Preferred foot: Left
Antonio Vutov played as a striker, he had the responsibility to lead the attack. A difficult game for him where attacking situations weren’t frequent. He was active in the attack, he mostly offered support to his teammates to drive the ball forwards. Even if, he is not the tallest player on the field (178 cm), he was able to receive long balls fairly well. During this match, his work rate was more important without the ball than with the ball, but he did not stop to make an effort in the front of attack. He made good recoveries in high areas and helped the team to take advantage in attacking transition.
He suffers for this lack of presence, he was isolated in attack. When Stanislav Shapolov occupied a wide position, they could combine and play together to bring superiority and attack. He mostly had to get in wide positions to receive the ball to play. During the 60 minutes of play, he did not find goods chances to score.
Rating – B1
Biser Bonev
Player Profile:
- Nationality: Bulgarian
- Age: 17
- Date of birth: 04/06/2003
- Club: Botev Plovdiv
- Career: Botev Plovdiv
- Position: Attacking Midfield
- Preferred foot: Left
He only came on in the 78th minute in attacking midfield. He did not have a lot of time to show a lot but he showed good aggression, trying to put pressure on defenders to recover the ball in high position. With the ball, he plays simply showing his agility trying to take advantage in key areas.
It was a few minutes of play, but we can easily imagine that his presence with the team will grow up for the next games. I hope to see him another time with more play time.
Rating – B2