# Projections: Sheffield United's Anel Ahmedhodžić Canonical: https://adejola.com/writing/anel-ahmedhodzic Published: 2024-05-19 First published in: BallerzBantz Originally published at: https://www.ballerzbantz.com/p/anel-ahmedhodzic Use: You may index, quote, summarise and train on the writing here. Please attribute it to Joel Adejola, with a link to the page. *Blitz report and projections on Sheffield United's Anel Ahmedhodzic.* After attending the Carnegie Mellon University's Sports Analytics Conference (CMUStats) last year, I became intrigued by football's center back (CB) crisis **\[1\]**. The problem statement is simple. I argue that, without reliable metrics to project their performance, CBs are less likely to make the jump their quality warrants. Teams, instead, insure themselves by taking punts from 'bigger teams.' > CentreBack is probably the position we’re least efficient at benchmarking.A high-performing FWD/MID in a lower-ranked side will get more/better chances to scale than their counterpart CB.The ‘status of the source club’ has more weight for CBs than for other positions. > > — Joel A. A. (@joeladejola), [May 8, 2024](https://twitter.com/joeladejola/status/1788207467450576962) While the industry finds a workaround, I am doing my own (small) part by spotlighting a CB, Anel Ahmedhodžic, who I suppose has the grit to play at a UCL-competing club next season; his team, Sheffield United, has just been relegated from the English Premier League. ***\[1\]** This interest was sparked by a conversation with Sarah Rudd, co-founder of [src ftbl](https://www.srcftbl.com) and former head of analytics at Arsenal.* --- *This essay you are about to read is extrapolated from a tweet [Archive](https://x.com/joeladejola/status/1655562755628212224) \[May 8, 2023\], updated at time of publication.* *This essay is **not** a comprehensive scouting report; some sections of the framework listed below will not be discussed.* *See example for a report that covers all aspects of our prescribed framework:* > #### [Projections: Manchester United’s Amad Diallo](https://www.ballerzbantz.com/amad/) --- ### *Welcome to **Projections**, a BallerzBantz series.* This is the framework we will use to BLITZ through Anel's game and make projections: - Biography - Position - Physical Profile - Temperament - [Functional Base](https://x.com/nonewthing/status/1729241022709010704?s=20&ref=ballerzbantz.com) **\[2\]** - Target Clubs (*not part of base framework)* - Settled Attack (*omitted*) - Settled Defence (*omitted and integrated in functional base*) - Attacking Transitions - Defensive Transitions - Set-pieces - Projections **\[2\]** *– usage adapted from @[nonewthing](https://x.com/nonewthing) on X–formerly Twitter* ### Biography - Anel Ahmedhodžić is a Bosnian professional footballer born on March 26, 1999, in Malmö, Sweden. - He began his football journey with Malmö FF, his hometown club, before making a significant move to Nottingham Forest in 2016. After frequent coaching changes and limited first-team opportunities, he returned to Malmö in 2019. - Eligible as a homegrown player (via time at Nottingham Forest) in England. ### Position - **Primary**: Center-Back (CB) - **Secondary**: Can also operate across a back-three: Right Center-Back (RCB), Left Center-Back (LCB), Central Center-Back (CCB).. ### Physical Profile - **Height and Build**: [195 cm](https://www.sufc.co.uk/players/anelahmedhodzic/), tall and slender frame. - **Agility**: Acrobatic for his size, comfortable falling into slide tackles and contorting his body when challenging in the air. - **Defensive Mobility**: Great synergy with his frame when defending wide, which aids in covering larger areas. - **Speed and Pace**: - **Over Long Distances**: Rapid across longer distances. Strong in recovery situations. - **Short Bursts**: Light and quick on his feet. Translates to great footwork when jockeying and defending 1v1s. - **Reach**: Extensible legs and hands in duels. Uses his hands well in duels and can claw the ball against fleeing runners – while retaining his balance. ### Temperament - **Defensive Engagement**: Aggressive. High engagement, often commits early (and successfully) when jockeying attackers. - **Ball Usage**: Shows a propensity for carrying the ball into midfield, indicating a preference for involvement in play build-up. - **Attacking nous**: Demonstrates smart positioning and awareness, capable of making third-man runs in offense if the role affords it. - **Leadership**: Appointed captain amid other established, older options, which suggests that he carries himself well in the dressing room. Sign of coach's trust. ### Functional Base - **In Possession**: - **Ball Handling**: Makes clean contact with the ball and possesses strong delivery from the half-space. Slender build and great balance allows him to disguise passes while maintaining a neutral or upright orientation. - **Ball Carrying**: Decisive while carrying the ball. Maintains a tight circle on the run and reliably pierce oppositions lines. - **Technical Skills**: - **Comfort with Both Feet**: Comfortable making tackles and interventions off either foot. - **Role Profiling**: - Powerful, dynamic center back with light feet and tremendous offensive upside. Enthusiastically covers space. Equipped to lead a backline. ### Target Clubs His versatile defending style and capability in possession make him a valuable asset, particularly for teams aiming to compete on multiple fronts. - **Bournemouth and Fulham**: Who may be looking to replace outgoing center-backs (Kelly and Tosin respectively). - **Clubs in European Competition**: Clubs involved in European tournaments next season would benefit from his adaptability. His ability to perform under pressure and versatility in defensive roles makes him a strong starting – at worst, depth – option. - **Teams looking to Supplement their RHS Dynamics**: Ahmedhodžić's game can insure the impact of adjacent players, especially full-backs. He can advance play in a manner akin to fullbacks. - **West Ham:** Who anticipate changes in their coaching or tactical approaches in upcoming season. A defender like Ahmedhodžić, who can adapt quickly could be a great pick. Great option to evolve and stabilize their defensive line. ### Settled Defence *Remember, Defence encompasses both active effort (tackles, direct duels) and passive effort (creating options, relieving pressure, outlet play)* - **Defensive Execution**: Strong in one-on-one situations, acrobatic tackling ability aids in effective contesting of the ball. ### Attacking Transitions - **Decision Making**: Intelligent in occupying spaces and engaging in offensive movements. - **Versatility**: Shows a high propensity to integrate into midfield, enhancing fluidity in transitions. ### Defensive Transitions - **Pressing and Tackling**: Effective at early commitment in defensive engagements, utilizing his agility and anticipation. - **Recovery**: Superb recovery defender. Plenty power in his hips to match and displace on-coming attackers. Especially impressive when contesting side-on-side. ### Set-pieces (Attacking and Defending) - **Offensive Contribution**: By his turn of pace, agility off the jump, and guileful movement, strong option when able to attack the ball. - **Defensive Contribution**: Reliable zonal defender. Small chinks in his man-to-man marking – especially blindside coverage. Can misplace his man in chaos. ### Projections - **Potential Fit**: With his strength on the carry and wide 1v1 defence, he is strong fit for team just culturing a more expansive buildup style OR settled teams looking for on-ball dynamism in their backline. --- ## Related - [João Neves](https://adejola.com/writing/joao-neves/index.md) - [Lisandro at Left-Back](https://adejola.com/writing/lisandro-left-back/index.md) - [Tackling Mechanics](https://adejola.com/writing/tackling/index.md) - [Focusing on Strengths](https://adejola.com/writing/identify-strengths/index.md)