✨👀 Striker Focus: George ILENIKHENA

Gifted Expertise Offers Remarkable Guidance Efficiently

Sébastien

Nov 24, 2023

That shot ended up in the Atlantic Ocean

What would’ve destroyed a 16 year old striker’s confidence forever (losing 1-0)

Did not deter George Ilenikhena, who scored *that* goal moments later

First time, top bins, curtains. Thank you very much.

One of the evergreen truths of scouting (or cheat codes), look at the next play after a good/bad one, which will tell you more about the player than the initial play you flagged up.

Background

George Osrzehmen Ilenikhena was born on August 16, 2006* in Lagos (Nigeria)

*: Argentina-Serbia Montenegro 6-0 in the 2006 World Cup. God dammit.

Moved to France age 3 with his four siblings.

Joined amateur club Antony (south Paris suburb) in U11.
Scored 11 goals in 5 games at U15 level in the doomed 2020/21 season that was curtailed in October. Then joined professional club Amiens SC where he shared the pitch with Gaël Kakuta and Papiss Cissé.

George scored 24 goals in U17 whilst being U16 in 2021-22.

His 2022-23 season was a goalfest, as U17

Scored 10 in 6 National U19 games
then 6 in 10 for the National 3 team (5th tier)
Then promoted in the first team where he scored 2 in 2 starts (and 14 subs appearances)

Becoming the club’s youngest ever goalscorer at 16 years, 4 months and 28 days

Ligue 2’s youngest goalscorer since 2005-2006, and the first 2006-born player to score in GER, ANG, ESP, FRA and ITA.

Now plays for Antwerp, with former Spurs Toby Alderweireld and (shadowing) Vincent Janssen.

Profile

George Ilenikhena is a quick, 6ft1 (185cm) trigger happy left footed forward keen to run in behind and run the channels. His movement in the box especially on crosses is surprisingly mature, so is his ability to contest and get the better of senior defenders in a variety of duels

That’s 20.4 mph, not too shabby. Osimhen’s top speed is 34

His game back to play has solid foundations and he’s shown repeated ability to retain the ball in final third with composure by setting up team mates.

He works hard across the backline off the ball.

His overall game will top up, and his headed play might be the aspect with the biggest room for improvement as of now.

There’s non unwarranted parallels with Lukaku’s layoffs and runs in behind (and similar early struggles with Law XI), and Sturridge’s left footed variety of explosive actions off and behind the front with a similar first touch.

Format

There’s two ways to approach this George article, one relates to the player himself whilst the second encompasses the full “catalogue” of 9 plays.

I’m not using video for copyright reasons, however screenshots are chosen in a way to pay specific attention to footwork and act as “dots” on the trajectory of runs.

Most of the coaching points are therefore evergreen, and re-usable, which is the thought process behind these presentations.

We’re gonna call him George because it feels convenient to do so.

Separation movement
- Separation on crosses
- Double movement in the box
- Run behind the CBs
- Double movement in open play
- Evading the defender’s field of vision
- Dotting the i on needle passes
- Cat and mouse
- Out of sight close to heart
Channel running
- Roll the CB
- Intimidate the CB
- Separation to cut inside
- Creating space

Back to goal
Finishing
Carrying
Playmaking
Headed play
- Flick ons
Workrate against the ball
Gamemanship
DATA ROOM
- Um, maybe wait for him to like, start a game?
- Under the radar, but still over Osimhen’s radar

Separation movement

Striker movement can be worked on, and in case of George, probably has been.

A first look at his goal vs KSK Lierse Kem gives a good idea about how dynamic and alive George is inside the box.

Nevertheless, players usually find what works best to receive the ball in prime positions on crosses or in open play.

It’s about identifying good tendencies, as it’s always better to have a good base to work on (rather than expect Kai Havertz to not ask the ball at the third post this time)

Strikers are like sunflowers, if the ball is the sun.

Separation on crosses

Finding separation on crosses rely to three pillars:

Gather momentum
Exit the defender’s field of vision
Dart when the ball is hit

Contact with the defender is key to make the presence felt (and draw his attention)

Find the exact spot on the fringe of the defender’s field of vision to be a “moving shape” that causes distraction

Go around the penalty spot, in the opposite side of the crosser

Dart at the near post when the cross is hit, whilst reappearing in the defender’s active field of vision

Whatever flick works, shinpad or knee does (not this time)

Double movement in the box

Strikers need to “be alive in the box”, therefore have to go again if the first move doesn’t work out because not in sync with the passer.

Whilst the team mate chases the backpass, apply pressure on the remaining defenders to cut of options

Runs behind CBs

Attacking decision making relies on the reading of a set of similar situations, such as the behaviour of the CB pairing when exposed: do CB1 and CB2 stay in position, are pulled out (and do the fullback take a nap).

The quickest strikers computes it and takes advantage of the space vacated, the better. Football is a game of real time problem solving and quick thinking.

Not playbook memorizing with wall passes 9.

George starts from the opposite CB to run diagonally and receive a straight pass

Diagonal run to beat the offside and exploit fullbacks taking a nap

Powerful stride to create separation with the marker

Small accurate steps on toes in order to land the next right step correctly

The trick here is to land the right foot beside the ball, but also create some sort of delay so that the defender lunges before the shot is pulled out. George’s right arm makes contact with the defender’s chest.

George does the latter well (as the shot goes through the legs), although his foot edges the position of the ball and therefore doesn’t allow him to go cleanly through the ball. Shot is topped and goes sligthly wide

Double movement in open play

Succesful strikers’s rate of “runs” for “runs for service” has to be akin to 4 to 1.

No different on that play, especially when different players have different readings of the situation.

Antwerp have a LW on the ball, a 10 and George upfront.
Lack of pressure on the carrier + fullback drawn out invites to exploit the space behind the fulback.

George starts from the opposite CB to run across the backline

His movement is spot on, however the 10 is preferred as an option into feet

Time to change plans, and go away from the carrier

Ideally round the penalty spot, which he doesn’t quite do, and the cross goes slightly above his head

Evading the defender’s field of vision

Working the backline with runs still need to feature the succesful criteria that is to evade the defender’s field of vision at some point.
Strikers are usually invited to stay whithin “half a box” wide of each other (20 meters / yards) and exploit consecutive intervals

From that point, Antwerp’s RW might have wanted to draw defenders to the corner flag for a decoy (because Baldé the LB screens the pass)

George decides to arc his run to the left, but still doesn’t reach the “edge” of Koundé’s field of vision

An introduction to how the field of vision functions helps to figure out what strikers have to take advantage of. Put it simply, strikers need to be a presence in the area where they’re a “moving color shape” at the edge of the field of vision (the “far peripheral” area).

Defender knows there’s something moving there, but unsure what it’s really about, will inevitably check his shoulder (at the very moment when he should be making a decision to step in or back off).

That’s what gives the striker the edge, and makes the defender trailing.

Because George never quite escaped Koundé’s field of vision, the french CB/RB whatever can just slap his arm and get in the way to cut off the pass

Let’s keep in mind the importance on staying on that “far peripheral” area

and how George (and every half decent striker pulling his weight, really) fares on every play.

Dotting the i on needle passes

One of the things midfielders love is to have options ahead of them

One of the thing strikers love is service into feet

Why can’t they find a common ground more often?

It’s got to do with synchronisation, and exploiting small windows of shared “affordances” (defenders sees the space / option and feels he can play it, so can the striker). Coaches’ role is to design situations in training where players encounter these situations, not scribble a whiteboard and waste erasable ink.

George stops his motion to detach from the motion, and appear in the small window between defenders

Separation movement, and the importance of staying alert, always shoulders open and having small dynamic toes to push and go in the other direction

George dumps the ball for his midfielder, balance is slightly off even if the pass is drilled, pivot foot slightly behind and shoulders not really above the ball so it flies over

One of George’s trademark moves is - akin to a young Lukaku - explode away once he lays the ball back.

Going away, he not only created space for another player to drop into, but gets ready for a subsequent cross

Ready to attack the D and the likely subsequent second ball

Cat and mouse

One of the most important things to teach strikers is to go against the flow, play cat and mouse… basically being different.
This is why holistic recruitment is the only way to succeed when scouting forwards.

You want mavericks, because they think differently.

- Ball moves to the right, you go left -

LW is about to receive possession, George hides right where the defender doesn’t like having a moving thing

Ball is switched to the right wing, George darts to the left side. That’s asking questions both from his CB (who’s looking for the nearest pitch exit) and the other CB who ends up isolated, with different limbs obviously quite undecided where to go next

The gap between CBs is created, and George makes sure to be able to connect with a subsequent cross with a diagonal run, watching both the goal and the crosser

Defender’s checking his shoulder, that’s right, because that moving shape isn’t the White Lady, it’s George Ilenikhena. Not a more reassuring sight insde the box

Out of sight close to the heart

Always starting from the opposite side CB (ideally, 2/3 distance between them) which ranks between walking on a LEGO brick and an english power plug for CBs as for things defenders don’t like.

George’s still kind of the far side CB’s zone but not quite, and not really in the near CB’s zone.

When exactly do you pass on the marking duty.

In the case where even an experienced CB like Pepe (born in 1983) doesn’t quite pass the marking efficiently to handle George Ihenikhena (born in 2006), George finds himself with space and a decision to make

His first touch carries him away from the box, so spins and lays it back for a midfielder in support, which is good stuff

Channel running

Running the channels is an essential game demand (yet doesn’t appear in most galaxy brain tacticoachs’ game model), to relieve pressure to teams when they want to get out of their half.

It answers to the reading that the opposition’s fullback is out of position, therefore asks a question to CBs whether to track that run wider than the box.

CBs hate having to defend wider than the box

Antwerp try to exit their half, George sees the channel is open

The cross is quality, Daniel Sturridge-esque. Bended chip/clip to the far post, albeit sligthly too easy for the goalie who catches it

There’s running the channels, and there’s doing it with poise

George’s “half bounce” touch to keep it alive when it drops is exquisite

So is his very much Daniel Sturridge’s switch of play. Or Robin.

There’s running the channels, and there’s doing it with guile

His curved run is ideal to run along the backline, then take a curb and run in behind

Thanks to his pace, George gets there first and ends up good side

His deceiving carry towards the touchline is a good preparation to bait the two defenders to leave the byline open, and akin to a quick witted NBA player, rolls the defender and attacks the box unmarked

Roll the CB

Strikers need to bring CBs to the tipping point on the pitch.

A good place to do so is the acute angles of the box, where CBs hate to be drawn towards

The idea is to identify where the ball is going to drop, and resist the challenge to screen access to the drop point

Then when the ball bounces and is at reach, carry it along on the turn

What can be a clear injury hazard if the leg and balance aren’t solid, hips ready to absorb contact; can also turn into a great way to get players in the book

CBs can’t let George go past, needs to grab whatever he can to bring him down

It takes some form of anticipation to get the leg in front, keep balance (with shoulders above feet) so that the defender bumps into the quad and goes flying

George stands his ground and sends Frenkie to Hollywood

Not everything relies on pure strength and manipulation of the defenders’s body.
This time, George plays that “quick witted U15 striker feint” (that usually stops working, sometimes because coaches yell, or defenders get better)

But mavericks, they back themselves more than they listen to whatever they’re told.

George lets the ball roll between his legs and goes litteraly through, until he’s illegally stopped by the Porto CB, and puts the ref into trouble as to whether that was a DOGSO - as Antwerp was already one man down. Yellow card, for whatever reason.

Intimidate the CB

Faring in duel, and standing one’s ground is paramount, but sometimes the challenge can be won before being played.

George’s leg movement challenges the defender in an unusual way, before the ball really is in contention

nicks the ball but stops abruptly with a sole on the ball

As the defender lunges in, George drags it back to keep it under control, forcing the defender to go to ground

The touch to play a runner through down the line is well executed, all the more unusual for a young poacher striker.

Separation to cut inside

Get the ball on the right wing to cut inside blah blah blah

There’s a line in the sand, separating house cats with ruthless 1v1 animals.

The difference mostly lies on whether the attacking player waits for the defender to set his (terrible) defensive footwork, or if that he attacks him straight away.

Madueke, Saka, Doku. Some are nicer than others.

Pass from A to B, George (C) comes alive

Maintaining “technical distance” to receive a pass, thus by backracking to open up an angle

So that he can manipulate the ball with his strong left foot

Defender is in the “slow down” stage (balance backwards) but George has already started shifting it.

Defending 1v1 with Fikayo TOMORI

Sébastien

October 16, 2023

Read full story

Defender: SPRINT - SLOW DOWN - SET FOOTWORK

Striker: FIRST TOUCH - ( SET ) - SHIFT IT

Good attacking play is to make to have the defender trailing at the stage prior

That small “pause” in George is to draw the defender’s attention to the ball. While doing so, the defender brings out his membership card as Proud Alumni of the Marc Cucurella Academy of Terrible Fulback Defending: balance backwards, and both feet firmly set in fresh concrete

That’s the moment George shifts it, whilst the RB looks more focused to tightrope walking. Penalty box is lava

Lashes out a powerful shot with the laces, unfortunately probably too much in the middle of the goal

Shoulders above the ball to hit powerfully avoiding the shot to fly over

Forcing the goalkeeper into a punched save with both fists

Creating space

A succesful counter relies on space creation to pick the best option.

Having the nous to not squeeze the ball carrier’s path is a form of game intelligence which George certainly displays here

George identifies that the CB is isolated resulting of the CB being out of position

George runs wide to create a problem for the CB pairing

which allows the counter to progress centrally

Identifying you’re the one starting from the centre (to go wide) and acknowledge that creating space will benefit a team mate is a valuable thing, especially coming from a 17 year old poacher you’d absolve for asking the ball for him and himself only.

Back to goal

Some of George’s involvement back to goal rely on some nice bits of technique and improvisation, with a (volleyed or clipped) touch reminiscent of a young Daniel Sturridge

George comes alive as the midfielder is on the ball, draws a CB out

George is a good player, so drags a CB with him. So go the rules of football, if you’re bad nobody cares.

The pass is flicked on by an opponent, and this is the nice bit of adaptation / improvisation that George pulls out to volley the lose ball straight into his team mate’s path

another instance of going for the penalty spot before thinking about darting at the near post

When there’s defenders closing down from behind, strikers need to adopt a set position but open up their body so that the near foot (sole) touch makes the ball difficult to reach

George is in a “set” position, however is still quite square

which allows the defender to go through and nick the ball (and get the player in the process) which isn’t called as a foul

One of George’s go to moves in attack is to ask in behind straight after a layoff, this time really reminiscent of a young Lukaku.

The balance is slightly off, the pass works out, but it’s not an economy saving motion as there’s too much compensation to do everywhere else

The move unfortunately doesn’t go through because Oriol Romeu does what he does best, and none of it involves playing the game of assocation football. **The interesting thing however is the way George spins on his left toes, swings the leg behind**

so that he’s immediately in position to run in the other direction

George’s timing to find separation is quality, so is the technical execution to keep the layoff on the floor

Senior football comes with its lot of vicissitudes, one of which acknowledging that if you don’t swing an arm, you’ll likely be the one at the receiving end of it.

Getting on the turn can be a dangerous endeavour without being prepared to handle the defender from behind

Unlucky not to draw a foul here, but that’s the way it is

Being reachable also comes with the realization that technical distances have to be maintained. Too close, that’s redundant

therefore George jogs backwards to maintain a reasonable technical distance

The back foot first touch is quality, set pisture is good and arms will inform if the defender gets too close

the “banana drag” is fluid and opens up a new picture

which he does exploit efficiently by switching play to the far side.

There’s instances however, where George lets the ball bounce in front of him, because he’s focused on holding off the defender, losing an advantage that taking it before it lands would have created

Strikers who can play back to goal are good (strength)

Strikers who can run in behind and stay on the move are good (power, speed)

Strikers who can do both in the same play are rare

George belongs to the third category (and he can carry)

Creatin separation from his marker, and a clear yard of space

Excellent back foot first touch, with balance, arms

Who then plays the “3” in “1-3-2”, but the one thing to look at is how swiftly George spins and bursts away to offer another option

Another instance of doing two demands in the same action, much more per adaptation than design this time

Antwerp get the ball, George lurks opposite side because he’s playing cat and mouse

The timing of the run looks quite obvious, George is rapid, but for some reason his team mate didn’t hit “F5”

So ends up playing pass way behind, which George reaches out to control in a nice bout of improvisation

The banana drag to turn forward foresees situations where he’ll lash out from 20 yards in the future. That assured carry, arm stretched means trouble

Unless the coach purposefully designs his team with a hologram upfront, any decent striker ought to be solid therefore capable of getting his body in the way

Controls it under pressure of the defender, but it goes away

Getting sure to retain possession is the left leg getting between the defender and the ball

Strikers don’t always receive clean and immaculate service, this is a combination of the technical quality of the passes they receive, the type of passes (a throw in, here) or just having to resist to defenders using every trick (and more) from the playbook to put them off balance off the ball

on the move, so that he can roll the defender

Creativity stems from coming up with unexpected solutions to problems.

Finishing

George has some pure striker instinct to connect with crosses and make sure he’s gonna trouble goalkeepers.

ball’s not recovered yet, and George lurks between CBs

ball’s recovered, and George’s ready to dart to the near post

Scoring goals by connecting with crosses is much more a matter of timing and deception, rather than pure technique. Players just need to feel how they can flick the ball, and it doesn’t really matter which part of the knee or shinpad creates the required backlift.

George certainly does that here and gets his reward.

Going round the penalty spot on the opposite side to shot the ball at an angle is a good and repeatable coaching point to succeed at crosses

however, arriving a tad early in position, and without much of an angle to connect (he’s facing the near post)

therefore making it hard to generate power

On this one, George is played through resulting on rolling the defender on a … long goal kick because why not

situation is a bit peculiar as the ball is about to bounce for the second time

from a technical point of view, the execution make sense, wait for the ball to drop (and not on its way up) to volley it

however, generating a lot of power on the half volley is difficult and maybe taking a touch beforehands would have made it easier to set a good defensive footwork before going through the ball

Taking a penalty when the team missed the first one, to win the Belgian Supercup

with toes following up in the general direction of the shot

Finishing in a crowded box? Composure

Quick strikers aren’t usually very gifted with their feet.
Daniel Sturridge was an exception. So does George Ilenikhena by the looks of it

To land the right foot level with the ball, get shoulders over it, with arms for balance

Roof it top bins with shoulders over the ball

The Bee Gees had it right in 1977. Strikers need to stay alive in the box.

No centre forward (nor any player, really) should ever be flat footed in the box.

Skip, be on toes, ready to volley the ball in or out

Skipping on toes is the reason George can lift the leg easily in a shot/reflex that goes in

Carrying

Football’s never really evolving into *new* things (#SayNoToTacticos), as opposed to performing the same moves but quicker, sooner and more often.

Ball carrying forwards have always existed, the peculiar Nicolas Anelka was probably the most “talented” French forward of the past 25 years with Thierry Henry.

Both could take on an entire backline on the ball.

Chelsea identified Nicolas Jackson very early and saw in his second striker / winger outings, the guy to lead the line for Chelsea.

Good thing, George already looks like a 9 for anyone willing to pay attention.

Reaction time and speed is always a good combo

Everyone saw that Henry outside of the boot flicks to knock past people, George does with the inside of the foot this time. He’s isolated

Takes time to slow down and check that, indeed, he needs support

Connecting with a supporting option, when most 17 year old forwards would rather test their ego against the defender’s pace (and who’d blame them)

Getting in behind and clipping a cross at the far post (which is the thing to do once players get deeper than the box, really)

Composure when carrying often doesn’t come with the package, it’s knock it past first, think after. Not for George who showed at Porto that he could be an outlet to bring the ball into final third, but help retain it

In a perfectly normal instance for a 17 year old CF able to take on an entire defence, making sure to create “stages” on the way to clear the pathway, or make sure nobody gets into his personal space.

Dribbling to score a solo goal is an enticing trail of candy to follow, but effectiveness might dictate to draw a foul if an arm can’t be used to move players out of the way.

By failing to leave an arm behind him, George gets dispossessed and the ball is turned over

Counter attacking decision making answer to a clear set of universal actionable coaching points to make it work.

Antwerp on the counter attack, George gets on the move (bottom)

The most important one is to never carry in a straight line, because straight for a straight pass doesn’t open the picture enough, as opposed to diagonal - that commits defenders - to set a straight pass toward goal.

Ideally, and that’s a free gold coaching tip, get players to aim for the angle of the 6yd box

George’s first touch is directly diagonal to commit the defender as soon as possible

Diagonal carry = straight pass, he can then square to his team mate to set the opposite winger for a tackle-in

Playmaking

Setting team mates in a better position requires to overcome the urge to get a shot off yourself, combined with an ability to see the picture quickly enough

George’s movement is spot on and assured, he wants the ball there

defender’s got “no chance from a velocity standpoint”. dude’s like rapid

Realizing the cross in the mixer won’t be the best option (his view is screened by two defenders, the striker doesn’t look to get to the ball first here), so cuts it back

This one is “elite” behaviour on a counter.

Diagonal carry for a straight pass, and that’s exactly what George does

Attacking Pepe diagonally, despite him being 2.35 times his elder

So that he can set his team mate on the overlap for a prime chance, where “not great Bob” Diogo Costa looks happily the ball rolling wide this time

Chance favors only the prepared mind

Louis Pasteur

Direct free kick and George is the quickest to react when the goalkeper spills it

Squares it but that’s too quick for his own team mates, and a chance to tap the ball in goes up in smoke. “robbed assist”

Headed play

George however isn’t the most succesful header of the ball, at 6ft1 (185cm)

The reason for this is that he mis-times jumps by taking off too early (so on his way down when the ball actually reaches the drop point).

Wanna win the ball? Start jumping from the apex point

Flicks ons

Forwards need to stay alert. Ball is for me, I jump, is not, I anticipate the flick in a realistic drop point

George sees the ball (about above the ref’s head near the tunnel) isn’t gonna reach him,

arcs a run in a C to get under the flick on

There’s other ways for strikers to be useful on aerial duels (or at least when the ball is up in the air), which doesn’t always involve logging a “1” on a spreadsheet

Samuel Eto’o (5ft11 - 180cm) was an expert at disrupting defender’s jump by mis-timing (early, as he’s shorter) his jumps… on purpose

Bal bounces in front of Willian from Cech’s goalkick in 2013 (on the apolitical Gazprom Z)

Not my fault ref I’m just a shit header, despite the fact that I once was one of the best strikers in the world (and a damn good header when he had to)

Oh, what a coincidence, the defender gets a lame ass header off it and Oscar + Mikel pick the second ball like a dog with a bone. Really unfortunate turn of events

Workrate against the ball

One of the good things about George is that he’s hardly the kind of striker who’s gonna play in a hoop for 90s (think Klaas-Jan Huntelaar), too bad for that spheric thing that rolls past him this time.

Working the backline is part of a defensive strategy:

As the first screen, so that midfielders can set pressing traps and midfielders/defenders intercept.

There’ll be three layers, so the deeper it starts on the pitch, the more it exposes the back line.

As a match pile up of small things over 90’, if you want the opposition’s CB to cock up big time from the hour mark on, make sure he can’t see any more of you beforehands with these “predatory” closing down runs on the edge of defender’s field of vision

Another thing that George isn’t stingy with is closing down goalkeepers, he loves forcing long armed and long legged folk to fire stray kicks out of play

Gamemanship

There’s however bits here and there that George will improve over time.

As a matter of context, and even if there’s usually no need to underline the obvious, George’s base to start is mightily impressive.

Every aspect of it won’t be taught, but developped over time

Shirt pulling to back off defenders

In order to back off a defender efficiently, shenanigans are always useful.

They are meant to complement a strong “set posture” (which is the strongest position)

Pulling shirts helps, towards the floor is definitely less obvious to notice for the middle man.

George’s right leg “stutters” and isn’t anchored to resist, his balance is slightly leaning on the defender.

Pull the shirt harder, get the right leg more solidly planted, closer to the defender

Defender only needs to tilt George and he loses balance

George’s stride when finding separation is noticeable, making sure he’s

keeping his eyes on the prize
getting away from the ball carrier to ask questions

Anything up to the chest touch is perfect, then he falls victim of the defenders’ gamemanship at senior level. That’s probably a cheap foul, but something strikers can take advantage of by

taking a step to make the defender’ ~~face~~ meet the arm
taking a step to maintain a posture to absorb the shove, then go again

Trashtalking

Scouting forwards is a holistic process. If you want mavericks because the desired football actions come more naturally to them (hide and seek, play cat and mouse, move opposite side to the flow of the ball), that means acknowledging that the “behavioural trait” are part of the package

And by no mean something that needs ironing out, George takes no prisoners and vents his frustration or reactions to defenders as part of his endeavour to work the backline all game long

Because as Green Day put it in 1997 (about a decade before George saw the light for the first time, take that, old reader), nice guys finish last.

Oh, nice guys finish last
When you are the outcast
Don't pat yourself on the back
You might break your spine

DATA ROOM

Um, maybe wait for him to like, start a game?

George hasn’t started a Jupiler Pro League game, however is on 3 goals in his last 4 games - or shall we say for the sake of accuracy; last 55 minutes on the pitch. There’s also a goal in the Croky Cup on November 1.

Which makes it 4 in 5 before the November international break.

Had more game time including a start away at FC Porto, well documented here.

That’s a 130 minute radar, with the very important caveat that not all minutes are equal in football (Jurisprudence Michy Batshuayi).

9 x 10’ cameos don’t equal 90’ with the pressure related to starting against fresh CBs

Under the radar, but still over Osimhen’s radar

If we want to look at Osimhen’s season compared to George’s 260 minutes in Jupiler Pro League and Champions League, the results certainly invite at a closer reading.

None of the numbers quoted here seem out of place judging

George’s excellent movement especially in the box (hence the high NPxG/shot)
George’s passing accuracy which is decent (8/10), as seen on footage
Open play shots created for others, as shown why and how
George likes a dribble too
George doesn’t turn the ball over cheaply

Broja is a valuable option off the bench, to get shots and stretch defences.
Broja’s goal vs Wolverhampton was a real indication of his finishing ability in a certain set of situations. Nevertheless, he hasn’t shown a lot more in open play (and in finesse to finish chances in the box - even if he likes early shots from weird angles in the box) to warrant getting a starting role at Chelsea.

Champions League passmaps

Yeah, Royal Antwerp shipped 14 in 4 games, including 7 when George was on the pitch. How did you know

The ball retention is quite sound nevertheless, in the “penalty box in front of the penalty box”.

Breakfast of Champions

Receptions suggest he’s quite a reliable outlet for his team mates and all across the front, despite being rock bottom with 4 defeats in 4 as a team.

There’s channel receptions, passes in the D, passes back inside, receptions inside the box, some long passes as well.

National team

George was capped at U16 level for France in August 2021

However this solitary call up for a camp (no friendlies) wasn’t followed up by subsequent call ups for France U16

No more call up for France U16 in 2021-22, where the team took part in the Montaigu Tournament (and finished 6th out of 8)
No call up for France U17s in 2022-23 where the team was playing the qualifiers for the 2023 Euros in Macedonia then the tournament in Hungary
No call up for France U18s as of yet.

My opinion / thinking out loud

Due to the scarcity of the 9 market in Europe (if we’re really here to discuss Vlahovic, Toney as 80 million strikers and whether Havertz can finally turn into one after failing to show any sign he could in over a hundred games)

Anyone displaying some natural (or worked on) ability to do 9 things is worth a look.
The fact that George shows such a level of ability on his cameos that are reminiscent of Lukaku and Sturridge’s debuts make him a very interesting prospect.

He doesn’t look like to be over-trying like maybe Sturridge was in 2009-2010 (with some very shot oriented cameos) and looks to be moving more seamlessly than a 18 year old Lukaku was in 2011.

It’s generally rare to have quick strikers with a good touch in open play, so are strikers able to get involved across the front line but still keen to run in behind.

The movement, stride makes it very surprising that clubs didn’t wake up yet.

Being one or two Fabrizio tweets away from fame (for whatever that means about the state of football reporting - do people even like football anymore) doesn’t take away anything from his current run of form, only interrupted by the November international break.

Two once Belgian based striker transfers come to mind:

Loïs OPENDA and Jonathan DAVID,

who got a 15 million transfer from Brugge to Lens in 2022 for the former
who got a 27 million transfer from KAA Gent to Lille in 2020

None of the fees are outlandish.

It wouldn’t be the dumbest idea for Chelsea to take a punt at Ilenikhena, continue developping him by giving opportunities to see out games.

George turned 17 in August, and has 32 pro games to his name already.

His next stage is backup striker at Chelsea, not a loan at Strasbourg.