Oscar Gloukh's Surprising Stats Defy Ajax Criticism
Translated & summarized from Walla by baba
Ajax player Oscar Gloukh has faced criticism for his performance despite surprisingly strong statistics. While commentators and his coach have pointed to his missed chances, data shows Gloukh has a high rate of goal contributions, close to that of a departed star player. However, new competition has arrived with the loan signing of Steven Bergwijn, who is expected to challenge Gloukh for a starting position on the left wing.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israeli player Oscar Gloukh faces criticism at Ajax despite strong goal contribution statistics.
- Gloukh's goal involvement per 90 minutes is close to that of departed star Mohammed Kudus.
- New signing Steven Bergwijn is expected to compete with Gloukh for a starting left-wing position.
- Commentators like Kenneth Perez have criticized Gloukh's finishing and overall play.
- Ajax is struggling to replace the impact of Mohammed Kudus, who was sold for a significant fee.
Ajax continues to underperform in the Dutch league, recently drawing 1-1 at home against Nijmegen, a result that dropped them to fifth place, five points behind the leaders. Following the match, Israeli player Oscar Gloukh faced harsh criticism after being substituted in the 60th minute, having failed to capitalize on his chances. ESPN commentator Kenneth Perez specifically targeted Gloukh, stating his shots were "childish" and unproductive. Coach Michel also expressed dissatisfaction, telling Gloukh after the substitution that he must convert his opportunities more effectively.
Ajax is struggling to replace Mohammed Kudus, sold to Paris Saint-Germain for a potential €55 million. Kudus was a key player last season with 17 goals and 12 assists, providing speed and dangerous runs that are currently missing from Ajax's attack. Gloukh and 17-year-old Abdallah Mazan have been given opportunities on the left wing this season but tend to cut inside, drawing criticism for not replicating Kudus's impact.
However, an analysis by FootballTransfers reveals a different picture regarding their activity. Gloukh and Mazan have recorded more dribbles, crosses, and runs compared to Kudus's average last season, indicating significant involvement on the wing. The main issue lies in their final action and chance conversion.
Despite the criticism, Gloukh's goal involvement numbers are surprisingly strong. He has scored one goal and assisted four in eight league games, averaging 0.88 goal contributions per 90 minutes. This is close to Kudus's average of 0.97 last season, a smaller gap than the criticism suggests. Mazan's statistics are considerably lower, with one goal in eight appearances and an average of 0.29.
Adding to the competition, Ajax signed Steven Bergwijn on loan from Sunderland with a reported €16 million purchase option. The 24-year-old winger, recovering from injury, debuted against Nijmegen. Bergwijn, who has extensive experience in top European leagues, is expected to bring speed and attacking penetration to the team.
In player ratings, Bergwijn scores higher than Gloukh and Mazan. Ajax's technical director Jordi Cruyff is reportedly considering placing Bergwijn in the starting lineup on the left wing soon. For Gloukh, this means he must continue proving himself to maintain his place in the team, despite his relatively good statistics.