Patrik Vydra is a tall, right-footed defensive midfielder who currently plays for Mlada Boleslav on loan from Sparta Prague. He is 21 years old and has been one of the key players in the squad of Mlada Boleslav, who also play in the Conference League. His team plays mostly in a 3-4-1-2, with Vydra dropping back low in the defense. He is able to play as a central midfielder but also as a center back. Vydra is also one of the key players in the Czech U21 squad, who recently qualified to the U21 Euro in Slovakia.
Vydra’s strength is quite good, particularly in his shoulders and back. He shields the ball well and often uses his body to stay between the opponent and the ball, helping maintain control in duels. However, his turning speed is below average, making him vulnerable to quick attackers who can dribble past him. His normal speed and acceleration are quite decent, but nothing spectacular. His reaction time is inconsistent. He’s sometimes struggling to control or react quickly when receiving passes. Aerially, Vydra is not particularly strong despite his height. He does not jump high, but his height definitely helps him in the air. Off the ball, Vydra’s work rate can appear lazy at times, as he sometimes walks or jogs when his team is out of possession or high in attack.
Vydra sees the ball often during games, primarily operating as a central player for his team’s buildup. His passing is mostly progressive. He keeps his short passes mostly to players centrally, and his longer passes tend to target the wings, either wingers or a deep running striker. His passing abilities is accurate on both distances. Vydra is capable of dribbling past opponents. He keeps the ball close to his body and uses his physical strength to position get well between the ball and the opponent. His ball retention is solid, but he can lose possession under pressure, particularly when with turning speed being an issue. He can also struggle when receiving a pass, but that happens rarely. Vydra strongly prefers his right foot, though he can receive or pass with his left when necessary.
Defensively, Vydra shows mixed qualities. His positioning is generally central, but he often moves towards the sides to support play when the ball is out wide. He intercepts the ball well by cutting passing lanes or directly challenging opponents. However, his challenges can sometimes lead to fouls, particularly when sliding. But overall, his tackling looks quite good. One of his weaknesses is awareness. At times, he appears unaware of his surroundings and does not react quickly enough to movement around him, which can leave open gaps in the midfield. His pressing is inconsistent. While he often presses opponents, he sometimes follows them too far up the field, leaving space behind him. Definitely if he positions lower to help the center backs. Additionally, Vydra’s turning speed makes him vulnerable to quick changes of direction in 1v1 situations, allowing fast attackers to get past him quite easily.
Patrik Vydra is a promising defensive midfielder with strong passing accuracy, and defensive presence in duels. His physical attributes are useful and quite good, but his weaknesses in turning speed, reaction time, and defensive awareness need improvement. Vydra shouldn’t play as a centerback again in my opinion. If he works well on his weaknesses, he could really improve as a good 6 or even 8. The loan spell to Mlada Boleslav has been looking really good for him and his future career, as it’s definitely better than playing in the B-team of Sparta Prague.
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