Zinédine Machach has joined VVV-Venlo on loan from Napoli with an option to buy included in the deal. For VVV-Venlo this is a big singing as Machach has a kind of talent that VVV-Venlo is looking for. In this analysis I will look more into the data and key qualities of the attacking midfielder.
Over the years he hasn’t full filled his talent and many stories have reached the surface about his discipline and fighting. It’s not sure how he does right now, but the talent is there and hopefully he will finds his form again.
Player profile:
- Nationality: French
- Age: 24
- Height: 1,85m
- Date of birth: 05/01/1996
- Current club: VVV-Venlo
- Career: Marseille (Y), Toulouse, Marseille (L), Toulouse, Napoli, Carpi (L), Napoli, Crotone (L), Napoli, Cosenza (L), Napoli
- Position: central midfielder
- Secondary position: attacking midfielder
- Preferred foot: right
In the 2019/2020 season Machach was loaned out to Serie B team Cosenza Calcio, where he played 18 games for the Italians. In those 18 games he scored 1 goal and gave 1 assist in 1068 minutes. The majority of his games he played as striker (8 games), followed by 4 games as an attacking midfielder, 3 as a left wing attacker and 3 games just behind the striker.
The 1,85 meter long attacking player is excellent on his feet and has a good technique with both his left and right foot. His dominant right foot does well in situations to give long balls and or through balls. This comes in handy when playing with runners behind the defensive line and strikers with pace.
He is very solid and strong in the 1v1’s and always tries to see the attacking option when on the ball. Without the ball his desire to get the ball is high, which can lead to fouls and aggressive play. He is quick and agile, always looking to create a goalscoring opportunity.
As said, his discipline is something he really needs to work on, but other aspects of his game as well. His execution of ideas is good, but he a doubting player. He doubts when to give a pass or when to run with the ball and that gives away the advantage when he receives the ball. Mentally he needs to grow as well, as he sometimes lacks concentration in vital parts of the game.
As you can see in the graph above, Machach is more of a creator than he is a finisher. Although he can be on the end of the attacks, his creativity and build-up play makes him a valuable attacking midfielder – as he is believed to be used at VVV-Venlo. As VVV-Venlo is a very disciplined side, we need to see how he acts with less freedom.
