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🔹Conclusion 1️⃣ Berterame has adapted to different roles- he may be used as a wide attacker as well as the 9 2️⃣ He should provide an upgrade on Suárez's box poaching ability- without losing much of his linkup play 3️⃣ However there are concerns over his defensive work rate, creativity & runs in-behind

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Can Lionel Messi do it on a humid day in Florida?

❗ Re-discovering his ability to time runs in-behind defenses could be key to Berterame maximising his goal production in Miami 👇 As pointed out by @shelatneel.bsky.social- Tadeo Allende’s movement (& finishing) was crucial for Inter Miami in the MLS playoffs www.thetransferflow.com/p/can-lionel...

thetransferflow.com

How Inter Miami scored 100 goals en route to their first ever MLS Cup.

❔ Can he rediscover his movement behind defenses? ▫️ Domenec Torrent has implemented a patient build-up approach at Rayados- often leading to them attacking lower blocks ▫️ Berterame hasn’t received many through balls this season 👇 But, he was able to do this more frequently in the past (deep runs)

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❓ Will his lack of pressing be an issue? ▫️ Defensive work rate is important to support Messi in the Inter Miami attack ▫️ Berterame hasn’t been particularly intense out of possession in recent seasons- although Monterrey don’t currently press much ▫️ Age factors may also have impacted his pressing

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🔻 He's also a less creative forward than Luis Suárez ▫️ Whilst Berterame has been more effective at getting on the end of chances than Suárez, he offers much less creativity for teammates ▫️ Berterame was more creative in a 2nd striker role, but not at the level of Suárez

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❗ However, Berterame will have to provide far more linkup passes if he's to replace the impact of Luis Suárez, and his connection with Messi

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▫️ Whilst he isn’t often an outlet for long balls, due to the Monterrey style of play, Berterame has been pretty effective in the air 👇 Good number of linkup passes per game, finding a teammate after receiving back to goal

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▫️ The change in Berterame’s role has particularly helped his decision making when shooting ▫️ Often a long-range shooter in the past, his xG per shot was below average for a Liga MX striker in 2022-23 🔺 In 2025-26, the Argentine has the 5th best xG per shot

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👇 Now, Berterame has a much more specific striker profile ▫️ The focal point of the Rayados attack, he’s consistently finished chances from inside the box, connected attacks by receiving back to goal, and won aerial duels

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🔹 An all-round forward transformed into a goal poacher ▫️ Berterame arrived in Liga MX as a wide attacker or second striker 👇 In 2022-23 he ranked at or above Liga MX average in all key striker concepts

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🧵 Analysing the new Inter Miami striker | Germán Berterame 🔹 Style of play, strengths and weaknesses 🔹 His fit for Javier Mascherano’s side 🔹 Data and graphics from Twelve Football 👇👇👇

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🔹 Conclusion 1️⃣ More runs into the box can improve Romero's xG, reduce his number of long-shots & develop his creativity by getting into cut-back positions, on the left-side of the box 2️⃣ He needs to shoot less often from range 3️⃣ Romero can improve his shot efficiency by working on his technique

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4️⃣ Reduce his number of blocked shots 👇 Another example below of a big set-up touch, large back-lift & a blocked shot ▫️ Romero shouldn't shoot from here anyway, he should get his head up & pass out wide, but the technique makes the defender's job easier

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4️⃣ Reduce his number of blocked shots 👇 Romero also uses a large back-lift when shooting ▫️ An effective technique for creating powerful shots ❗ But, the time between the set-up touch & the shot is too long ❌ Defenders have time to read his decision & react, leading to many efforts being blocked

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4️⃣ Reduce his number of blocked shots ▫️ Romero scored a few stunners from range at youth level, but his technique has proved unsuccessful in professional football, with less time and space 👇 He likes to take a large touch before striking the ball, giving him a bigger run-up

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4️⃣ Reduce his number of blocked shots ❗ Nearly half of Romero's shot attempts have been blocked ▫️ This is another argument for Luka cutting-down his efforts from range, but there's also a technical adjustment to be worked on

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3️⃣ Better decision making ❗ Romero shoots too often from distance 👇 His xG per shot is only 0.06 in 2025-26, amongst the worst ranked players in Liga MX, and his finishing from distance is a weakness ▫️ Romero's 4 goals have come from inside the box, he needs to cut down the shots from range

2️⃣ Get the most out of playing on his natural side 👇 Romero is not a particularly creative passer 📈 But he could improve his xA with better movement 👉 By making runs into the box from the left-half-space, Romero should receive possession more frequently in cut-back situations, on his stronger foot

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1️⃣ More runs into the box 👇 It's important that Romero can penetrate defenses through his off-ball movement, given his lack of dribbling ability ▫️ With Paradela & Agustín Palavecino, Cruz Azul already have key, ball-to-feet, creators ❗ They lack off-ball runners, to receive the creative passes

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1️⃣ More runs into the box 👍 Luka showed an ability to get into the box and shoot from higher xG locations during his first season in Liga MX 👎 With fewer box touches in 2025-26, his xG p90 has dropped from 0.26 to 0.12

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▫️ The signing of José Paradela has also impacted Romero's positioning ▫️ Paradela, Cruz Azul's main creative hub, is more comfortable on the right side of the pitch- so plays as the right "10" in Larcamón's 3-4-2-1 👇 Romero has been shifted over to the left side, when he's received game time

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🔹 The context ▫️ The 21-year-old hasn't impressed since Larcamón joined as head coach for the 2025-26 season 👇 Romero only stands-out as above league average for his out of possession work

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🧵 Luka Romero | Aiding his individual development 🔹 Analyzing his first year in Liga MX 🔹 4 suggestions of areas to focus on, in order to improve Romero's output, within Nicolas Larcamón's system 🔹 Data & graphics from Twelve Football 👇👇👇

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🔹 Conclusion 1️⃣ Chivas need to better defend central, direct attacks to reduce their xG per shot against 2️⃣ More protection for Romo, who struggled in an aggressive role 3️⃣ A better rest defense & more intensity in the counterpress 4️⃣ Reduce turnovers with more patience & individual development

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🔹 A right-side weakness under pressure ▫️ Their right-center-back was another source of turnovers 👇 Both Campillo & Daniel Aguirre suffered when put under pressure & can develop individually ▫️ This clear weakness makes pre-match preparation easier for coaches looking to press the Chivas build-up

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▫️ Luis Romo, a key part of their build-up, can improve his decision making ✅ Romo played more progressive passes, per game, than any other center-back during Apertura 25 ❌ But his verticality had a clear drawback, the high rate of losses p90

🔹 More patience in-possession ▫️ Performance in defensive transition could be improved by cutting down the number of turnovers 👇 Their long ball % was above league average last season ❗ However, only 2 sides created fewer shots in direct attacks 👉 It's a high-risk strategy with low rewards

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👇 Chivas rank poorly in many counterpressing metrics ▫️ Their reaction after losing the ball has been poor ▫️ This has allowed opponents to quickly move the ball into the final 3rd ▫️ Chivas also turned-over the ball more frequently than any other side that made the quarter-finals (liguilla)

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🔹 Improve in defensive transition ▫️ Chivas haven't been as intense or aggressive in counterpressing situations, compared with regular opposition build-up- there are rest defense issues 👇 Many of the central, direct attacks faced by Chivas have come in defensive transition

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🔹 Possible solutions ▫️ Milito could move Diego Campillo, 24, back into midfield ▫️ Campillo played more on the right of the back-3 last season, but could come into midfield as Chivas recover defensive injuries 👇 Milito could also give minutes to Brandon Tellez, who's part of Tapatío (their B team)

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▫️ Omar Govea, 29, is the youngest midfielder to have played a significant number of minutes for Chivas last season 👇 Govea is talented on the ball, but isn't particularly intense out of possession

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▫️ A lack of protection from the double-pivot contributes to the amount of active defending that Romo has been required to do ❗ Chivas lack an energetic & effective pressing midfielder 👇 Fernando González is a good holding midfielder, but struggles with a more active role, losing 3/4 of his 1vs1s

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🔹 Luis Romo needs better protection ▫️ Romo, a versatile 30-year-old, has often played in the center of Milito's back-3 👇 He's been asked to play an active defensive role, often jumping to press opponents & contest duels high up the pitch ❗ Romo has struggled with this role & lacks recovery speed

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👇 Their opponents also had success from direct attacks ▫️ Only Cruz Azul received a higher % of shots in direct attacks, but their xG per shot against was the 2nd lowest in Liga MX ❗ Chivas did force many attempts from range, but this couldn't greatly limit their overall xG per shot against

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🔹 Central weakness 👇 The majority of opposition final 3rd entries have come from the half-spaces & central lane ❗ Only 29% of box entries against came via crosses, the lowest percentage during Apertura 25 ▫️ Chivas must improve their control of central areas to reduce their xG per shot against

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🔹 The style of play ▫️ Milito has focused on the out-of-possession approach, with greater intensity in their press & a higher defensive line ❗ Their style suffers from a common weakness 👉 The press limits opposition box entries & shots, but their xG per shot against is high (4th worst)

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🔹 The context ▫️ Chivas had some struggles adapting to Milito's style at the start of the Apertura 25 season, before improving towards the end of the campaign 👇 Significant up-tick in xPoints after dropping below league average ❗ Playing the top 4 Liga MX sides in a row also impacted the trendline

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🧵 C.D. Guadalajara | How they can improve this Clausura 26 season ▫️ Chivas had a decent 1st season under Milito, finishing 5th in xPoints & reaching the quarter-finals ▫️ However, improvements are required to compete for the title ▫️ All data & graphics from Twelve football 👇👇👇

Tom Harrison @tomh36.bsky.social · 31/12/2025

🆕 ✍️ Five ways that Rayados can improve next season 👇 1️⃣ Better final 3rd penetration 2️⃣ Develop left-wing creativity 3️⃣ More on-ball quality in midfield 4️⃣ Better control of central zones when out of possession 5️⃣ Improve in defensive transitions cambiodejuegoenglish.beehiiv.com/p/five-ways-...

cambiodejuegoenglish.beehiiv.com

Five ways that Rayados can improve next season

Analyzing opportunities for improvement from Domenec Torrent's side

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Tom Harrison @tomh36.bsky.social · 30/12/2025

Very true, and whilst it is a blindspot, it isn't hugely significant

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Tom Harrison @tomh36.bsky.social · 29/12/2025

Absolutely, I see what you mean. Just saying his scoring rate vs xG is a bit exaggerated by models that don't consider that many of his goals have been helped by a blocked keeper sightline Like the West Ham goal wasn't that good a finish (not in the top corner) but Areola saw it late & reacted late

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Tom Harrison @tomh36.bsky.social · 28/12/2025

I'm definitely not saying it's sustainable! But I do think the over-performance is a bit less than models suggest. He's scored multiple times when the keeper's sightline has been blocked, which results in more goals than models expect. I analyzed it in this thread 👇 bsky.app/profile/tomh...

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❗ Current xG overperformance doesn't seem sustainable, but there is a blindspot in the models, which could be underrating some Aston Villa goals ▶️ Now, defenders need to adjust their positioning in these situations, avoid blocking the sightline, to give their keeper the best chance of making a save

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❗ Whether by luck or by design, Aston Villa keep scoring from lower xG positions when the goalkeeper's sightline is blocked ⬆️ This partly explains xG overperformance, alongside work on ball striking technique, as described in this @greggevans40.bsky.social article- www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...

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🔷 Aston Villa coaches may have also trained players to identify these situations, & shoot when they believe the opposing keeper doesn't have a clear view of the ball ▶️ This may differ to some coaching ideas, which would encourage players to find a teammate in a higher xG position

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❓ Is this a deliberate tactic? Could it be? 🔷 Impossible to control the open-play situations- but they may become more likely by: 1️⃣ Consistently finding free players between the lines 2️⃣ Cutting the ball back to outside the box after forcing the opposing defensive line to retreat

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