A qoute from the Fiorentina Fangpage refering to Vlahovics performance yesterday:
"Surprise, surprise, the Serbian is the highest rated player once again. He didn’t get on the scoresheet but was absolutely instrumental in the Tanino equalizer. Held the ball up well all day long and set up teammates on more than one occasion to score. Probably could’ve had a goal himself, but it wasn’t to be today. He may be as good as gone but that hasn’t stopped him from giving his heart and soul every game. Very mature from the young Serb."
This is exactly why I personally think we should go for him. Maybe he won't keep up to the so called "xG", maybe he won't produce the same numbers as Haaland (which, as I already mentioned, will fortunately unfortunately never be a United player), but he'll make our overall attack better, he'll make our wingers better, he'll constantly drag two defenders and most important thing he'll leave his heart on the pitch. Don't expect him to put his head down, when things go downhill or he is going through a goalless patch - he seems to be the type of player, who will work even harder to get back on the line of success (Lukaku, cough, cough).
Why in the world would you go for a striker that won't score as much or assist as much before the train definitely has left the station for the player that will score that much and assist that much? The battle for Haalands signature hasn't even started yet, and going for another striker now would mean we are out of that battle. A hard no!
Some stat comparisons with Haaland that tells a lot about what kind of players they both are and qualities they possess from Serie A and Bundesliga this season:
Possession:
Dusan has 34 touches on the ball per 90 on average, Erling has 35.
Dusan carries the ball on average 21,8 times per game, Erling averages on 18,6.
Out of those carries 8,3% is progressive for Dusan, while 17,7% of Erlings carries is progressive.
Of these carries Dusan enters the last third with the ball 0,69 times per game, Erling enters the last third 1,1 times per game.
Of these carries Dusan enters the penalty area with the ball 0,32 times per game, Erling enters the penalty area with the ball 1,8 times per game!!
Dusan is dispossessed while carrying the ball 2,93 times per game, Erling is dispossessed while carrying the ball 0,9 times per game.
Pressing:
Dusan presses 9 times per 90, Erling presses 12,3 times per 90
Dusan presses 5,4 times per 90 in the final 3rd, Erling presses 8,3 times per 90 in the final 3rd.
They are both targets for high longballs:
Dusan has participated in 4,7 aerial duels per game and won 44,9% of them, Erling has participated in 4,4 aerial duels per game and won 68,2% of them.
Passing:
Dusan has 69,9% pass completion, Erling has 70%
Dusan completes 1,1 progressive pass per 90, Erling completes 1,9 progressive passes per 90
Dusen completes 0,59 passes into the penalty area per 90, Erling completes 1,3 passes into the penalty area per 90.
Dusan's xA per 90 = 0,10 , Erling's xA per 90 = 0,31
Goals and contribution:
Dusan has scored or assisted 0,69 non-penalty goals per 90 this season
Erling has scored or assisted 1,5 non-penalty goals per 90 this season
Erling is ultra fast, while Dusan is not.
If we give Haaland a good go and miss out on him, then we should have a plan B ready, but until then he should be plan A.
