BY MUNYARADZI MADZOKERE
ZIMBABWE and Aston Villa enforcer Marvelous Nakamba (pictured) has been rated among the top defensive midfielders making their debuts in the English Premier League this season despite his side’s struggles in the competition.
Nakamba is one of several defensive midfielders, who are in their rookie season in the Premier League together with teammate Douglas Luiz, Manchester City’s Rodrigo and Kenny McLean of Norwich.
While Nakamba has shown obstinate reluctance to surge forward, an analysis by Stew Burney on eplanalysis.com suggests that the 26-year-old Zimbabwean is among the best when it comes to his defensive side of the game.
“Nakamba made the most interceptions p90 of these Premier League rookies registering 1.87 p90. McLean and Rodri both posted similar numbers at 1.26 and 1.11 interceptions p90,” said Burney in a comparison of the top rookie defensive midfielders in the league.
“Marvelous Nakamba is second only to Wilfred Ndidi (of Leicester City) when it comes to tackles in the defensive third and second only to Oriol Romeu when it comes to tackles in the middle third. “Whilst his tackle success rate is the lowest amongst his position-mates, he certainly puts himself about in across both the defensive and midfield third. Nakamba’s willingness to tackle all over the pitch perhaps explains Douglas Luiz’s aversion to tackle all over the pitch,” he added.
Nakamba, who made the big move into the Premier League from Belgian side Club Brugge last August, has established himself as a mainstay in the Villa defensive midfield featuring in 21 of the 28 matches played so far.
The Zimbabwean has tried his best to provide a dependable shield for the Villa defence, but the club remains mired in the murky waters of relegation.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
“A similar story emerges when analysing Nakamba and Douglas Luiz. Nakamba showed a willingness to apply pressure across the field which is highlighted by a combined 22.6 pressures p90 across the midfield and defensive thirds and an impressive 34.3% success rate, the highest amongst his position mates.
“In analysing the various data points, a very clear picture of Marvelous Nakamba’s role in Aston Villa’s team has been painted. He rarely plays progressive passes, passes into the final third or passes into the box, and tends to simply be the destroyer, handing over the responsibility of creating and linking play to the likes of Douglas Luiz and Jack Grealish.
“Nakamba is the typical defensive midfielder. He attempts a lot of tackles and applies a lot of pressure all across the pitch, his tackling success rate is poor, but he makes up for this with an impressive pressure success rate,” Burney said.
The Premier League is set to resume on June 17 with Nakamba’s Villa hosting Sheffield United at Villa Park.
