6. Levi Colwill

[Tomo 21,733]

In matches where Colwill played 45 mins or more we've conceded 1.22 goals, in matches he hasn't we've averaged 3.18.

[KEVINAA 106]

 

 

 

 

Edited July 25 by KEVINAA

[Special Juan 27,439]

As long as he shows that sort of fight in the PL

[NikkiCFC 8,060]

People now say well done but in PL touching opponents face is straight red card and he would be called different names...

[Vesper 29,031]

[Strike 7,254]

One good game. Just let him have a run at LCB

[Vesper 29,031]

Levi Colwill has the potential to become a world-class centre-back. But do Chelsea have the perfect partner for him?

https://www.scoutednotebook.com/p/levi-colwills-perfect-partner-a-jumbo

Levi Colwill completes a line-breaking, screen-stretching pass into Nicolas Jackson’s feet against West Ham United

 

Let’s revisit those three key pillars from earlier.

In terms of Progression, Colwill is already elite. He has covered more Progressive Passing Distance than any U23 player in the Premier League this season. The only outfield players that can better his 2,611 yards are Jan Paul van Hecke (2,934) and Virgil van Dijk (2,869).

I imagine JPVH and VVD would be off the scales on the imaginary Duo-O-Meter. Throw in Micky van de Ven as a LB/CB hybrid and the Netherlands are laughing.

When looking at Progressive Carrying Distance, Sávio (728), Ryan Gravenberch (756) and Jérémy Doku (866) are the only U23 players that can better Colwill’s 707 yards. When compared all Premier League centre-backs, Colwill ranks 8th in total this season.

In a potential partnership, Colwill could realistically tick both boxes for Progression. However, I would encourage him to index further into his passing. That means when scouting potential partners, we would need to look at ball-carrying.

Before I go any further, I appreciate team styles, possession adjustment and further considerations need to be taken into account before matching up two players on paper - Stephen again covers that expertly in another analytical epic - but for the purpose of Monday Night SCOUTED musings, this process represents the very first step: creating a shortlist for future interrogation.

When looking at duels, Colwill is again impressive in both areas. In his Premier League career, he has won 68.8% of his aerials and successfully tackled 66.7% of opposition dribblers. Based on my personal opinion, I would be looking to support Colwill’s ground game. During his loan spell at Brighton, his ground duel success rate dropped to 53% yet he maintained a 71% win rate in aerial duels. This season, despite the much smaller sample size, the same disparity has returned (47% ground success, 61% aerial success).

Finally, the most difficult section: Defending. This is where the aforementioned possession and style adjustments are needed the most. Colwill consistently blocks shots and makes clearances - an indicator of good positioning but not 100% evidence of it - and although his output and approach during his left-back minutes may paint him as a front-footed defender, I feel he would benefit from delegating the aggressive metrics to his partner.

Boiling this down to an over-simplified metric split, I would want to build the following. For Progression, Colwill will take charge of Progressive Passes and his partner can lean into Progressive Carries. For Duels, Colwill will patrol the skies and his other half will dominate on the floor. For Defending, Colwill would lead Clearances, Blocks and Recoveries while his partner would pick up the Tackles via the Ground Duel focus and add on Interceptions.

So far this season, Colwill has played alongside either Wesley Fofana or Tosin Adarabioyo. Here are each player’s per 90 output for the metrics we are looking for during the 2022/23 Premier League season.

• Progressive Carries: Fofana (2.11), Tosin (0.69)

• Ground Duel Success: Fofana (66%), Tosin (58%)

• Tackles: Fofana (2.25), Tosin (1.3)

• Interceptions: Fofana (1.9), Tosin (1.12)

So, on paper at least, it seems as if the answer is yes: Chelsea do have the perfect centre-back partner for Levil Colwill.

It remains to be see whether Fofana will return to his pre-injury levels - the early signs are promising - but I am excited to see how this partnership develops. As for Tosin, I feel like he provides better cover for Colwill’s skillset. But, as the game against West Ham showed, he can step-up as an accomplished partner when necessary.

[Thor 2,440]

On 25/07/2024 at 19:28, Special Juan said:

As long as he shows that sort of fight in the PL

I was one of the people that thought he was overrated given everything I’ve seen. Even when he played CB he was making mistakes and having people cut inside on him.

 

He has been faultless this season. Spectacular. I was very, very wrong. He looks so calm on the ball and his positioning has improved 10 fold. 
 

Starting to see the hype everyone else saw. Because last year he looked a dud for the most part aside from his passing. This year he has been a wall and opens games up for us as well. 

[DDA 9,691]

13 minutes ago, Thor said:

I was one of the people that thought he was overrated given everything I’ve seen. Even when he played CB he was making mistakes and having people cut inside on him.

 

He has been faultless this season. Spectacular. I was very, very wrong. He looks so calm on the ball and his positioning has improved 10 fold. 
 

Starting to see the hype everyone else saw. Because last year he looked a dud for the most part aside from his passing. This year he has been a wall and opens games up for us as well. 

I’m still struggling to see what the hype is all about. Admittedly, I haven’t been watching him closely and my doubts are probably aligned with how shakey our defence has been in general. I will defo be watching him more and more throughout the season and will hope your words ring true.

[Vesper 29,031]

1 hour ago, DDA said:

I’m still struggling to see what the hype is all about. Admittedly, I haven’t been watching him closely and my doubts are probably aligned with how shakey our defence has been in general. I will defo be watching him more and more throughout the season and will hope your words ring true.

top valued left-footed CBs on the planet, this list is every one valued at 30m euros (£24.97m) or more

this shows how rare they are

many on here are not available

Gvardiol is listed as a LB, or he would be top here as well (Colwill would drop from 4th to 5th most valued)

in order: (italics are the only ones remotely available and who I also rate to replace Badi, strike-throughs are hard passes for me)

   
Gabriel Magalhães
Alessandro Bastoni 
Micky van de Ven sigh
Levi Colwill 
Riccardo Calafiori sigh
Gonçalo Inácio
Sven Botman
Pau Torres
Lisandro Martínez (so overrated, fuck this thug dwarf)
Jarrad Branthwaite   (so expensive though)
Piero Hincapié
Castello Lukeba  
Nico Schlotterbeck 
Nathan Aké 
Murillo 
Willian Pacho  sigh
Dávid Hancko 
Alessandro Buongiorno 
Nayef Aguerd 
Max Kilman 
Jorrel Hato 
Lucas Beraldo
Benoît Badiashile 
Jakub Kiwior
Hiroki Ito 

Edited October 1 by Vesper

[Special Juan 27,439]

9 hours ago, Thor said:

I was one of the people that thought he was overrated given everything I’ve seen. Even when he played CB he was making mistakes and having people cut inside on him.

 

He has been faultless this season. Spectacular. I was very, very wrong. He looks so calm on the ball and his positioning has improved 10 fold. 
 

Starting to see the hype everyone else saw. Because last year he looked a dud for the most part aside from his passing. This year he has been a wall and opens games up for us as well. 

I agree fella.

[Fernando 6,488]

9 hours ago, Vesper said:

top valued left-footed CBs on the planet, this list is every one valued at 30m euros (£24.97m) or more

this shows how rare they are

many on here are not available

Gvardiol is listed as a LB, or he would be top here as well (Colwill would drop from 4th to 5th most valued)

in order: (italics are the only ones remotely available and who I also rate to replace Badi, strike-throughs are hard passes for me)

   
Gabriel Magalhães
Alessandro Bastoni 
Micky van de Ven sigh
Levi Colwill 
Riccardo Calafiori sigh
Gonçalo Inácio
Sven Botman
Pau Torres
Lisandro Martínez (so overrated, fuck this thug dwarf)
Jarrad Branthwaite   (so expensive though)
Piero Hincapié
Castello Lukeba  
Nico Schlotterbeck 
Nathan Aké 
Murillo 
Willian Pacho  sigh
Dávid Hancko 
Alessandro Buongiorno 
Nayef Aguerd 
Max Kilman 
Jorrel Hato 
Lucas Beraldo
Benoît Badiashile 
Jakub Kiwior
Hiroki Ito 

I been on the Piero Hincapié train for two seasons while we waste money on Disassi.....

I think he will make a good compliment with Levi. 

[Vytis33 1,168]

 

[Vesper 29,031]

7 hours ago, Fernando said:

I been on the Piero Hincapié train for two seasons while we waste money on Disassi.....

I think he will make a good compliment with Levi. 

Hincapie is left footed, like Colwill

Plays the same position, LCB

He would be a Badi replacement, not a Disasi replacement 

[robsblubot 3,531]

1 hour ago, Vesper said:

Hincapie is left footed, like Colwill

Plays the same position, LCB

He would be a Badi replacement, not a Disasi replacement 

There are coaches who believe that while foot preference plays a part, it’s more about where the CB is used to play.

That switching sides for a CB is usually tricky regardless of foot preference, for example.

of course it’s far more common to see right footed CBs playing on the left than the other way around… for obvious reasons. 

 

[Vesper 29,031]

38 minutes ago, robsblubot said:

There are coaches who believe that while foot preference plays a part, it’s more about where the CB is used to play.

That switching sides for a CB is usually tricky regardless of foot preference, for example.

of course it’s far more common to see right footed CBs playing on the left than the other way around… for obvious reasons. 

 

Leverkusen play a back 5

so Hincapie plays at middle CB

but when they played a back 4 he was at LCB

he also played LB and left wingback

I do recall the last time I saw him play at RCB

Edited October 1 by Vesper

[Vesper 29,031]

he is playing LCB tonight