Adam Wharton.
X-Factor player or superstar in the making?
I’ve spoken about this before when video scouting, but rather than focusing on what a player does throughout a different number of games and combine it into one pot, I much prefer to do it on a game-by-game basis, as then you have added context to a performance. The level of opposition, the different pressures that come with that specific game, and whether there’s a tactical tweak that platforms players’ skillset differently.
Crystal Palace vs Liverpool.
In the opening five minutes of this game, you saw the reason why fans, pundits, scouts are gravitated towards him. Quick release in his passing, only wanting to play forward, trying to break the opposition structure whether that be from a five yard pass to a long pass.
The next five minutes however you could see the holes on his game defensively. He’s late to push up, ball watches and is drawn to the ball rather than keeping shape and closing off the passing angle behind him. Three times Liverpool get around him easily but passing through him as soon as he goes to close down, which is a slow move from Wharton to do so. He also ball watches twice in this period where if the ball is cut back, Wirtz has a free shot at goal because Wharton is not noticing the space he’s left by having his eyes on the ball at all times.
Wharton’s role defensively is to pickup Gravenberch when the ball is moved or starts from the left side and the Liverpool player moves into a more central position, especially when they’re building inside the Palace half. What Palace don’t want is for the game to become stretched and end to end because they’ll get overloaded in the middle every time with Liverpool having as manager as four players in there. What has become very apparent is Wharton isn’t sure of himself in duels, he looks hesitant and it shows in his attempts. Kind of putting a leg out, kind of not, chasing shadows in the 11th minute and 23rd minute.
Without being too harsh, the rest of the half for Wharton from a defensive standpoint was tough for him. Consistently out of position, consistently ball watching, consistently pressing and pushing on his own and then getting passed through and weak in duels too. He does get back and try and rectify his mistakes, but he’s wasting a lot of energy doing that when he could conserve it just by doing the right thing off the ball in the first place.
On the ball, he was as progressive as anyone could be with his passing. As I mentioned earlier, his instinctive thought is forward. You can tell when a player is forward thinking by the run motion after they pass the ball. Do they immediately look to receive again (controller), do they watch the game unfold (complimentary midfielder) or do they carry on running forward to try and effect the game in threatening areas (playmaker) — Wharton is very much the latter. Trying through balls, taking as fewer touches as possible to pass, getting it into an attacking player quickly ahead of him to dumb it down.
This carried on straight into the second half where 6 seconds in, Wharton attempts a through ball to Mateta. Scans right and then left, receives > pass.
This is all he did with the ball as he makes one pass before getting subbed in the 60th minute for Will Hughes for what I presume is to do with what he wasn’t doing out of possession.
There is one specific moment I do want to touch on with Wharton and his off the ball problem in this game and it’s his walking. At the very top you can’t walk as much as he does in this game just because the nature of the game is so fast how. You can’t leave a massive gap in the middle, you have to be early rather than late, at least it gives you time to make a better decision. He doesn’t shift when the team shifts, he doesn’t follow runners and stays central on his side rather than closing the angle and remaining compact.
Crystal Palace vs Fulham.
I think because it’s been so consistent in the game vs Liverpool and not even two minutes into the opening game vs Fulham, Wharton’s instructions out of possession are relaxed. Because you don’t switch off and be in almost auto-pilot mode that early. I think he’s allowed some grace by Glasner with the three centre backs being aggressive and covering for him if the space between the two central midfielders becomes too big. As you can see in below, the gap centrally widens, Wharton doesn’t increase intensity whatsoever, and even though nothing comes of it, there’s a free Fulham midfielder in the vacated space.
Even on three minutes, Wharton’s demeanour seems lazy when either trying to close down, put pressure on any player or even engage in a duel. I know Palace are passive out of possession but it seems to be a constant theme with him that he’s not comfortable, not trying as much or reserving energy.
It’s not like he won’t do it, because he did do it by sprinting back and following the run of Emile Smith Rowe even if he slowed down at the end.
But then for the rest of the game, he’s reverting to type OOP.
He comes to life when he gets the ball. You can feel the confidence he has. One part of his game I don’t think he gets praised enough for is using the momentum of the opposition player when they go to close him down against them whether that be carrying or a first touch. It’s usually a two touch motion and the pass is almost like a chip shot from a golfer on the edge of the green. The way he uses his foot to pass the ball in a downwards motion to get a slight bit of pace but enough height that it’s hard to deal with.
I think with the way Palace play, the skillset of Wharton is a perfect match. Going back to front quickly with switches of play or through balls and quick passes into the forwards. He also showcased his ability to play quickly with both feet too with the same release. Effectively means he can play at any angle and get his passes off. I do think in some of the instances he’s tried to force the issue rather than the actual pass being on, but I personally appreciate the thinking behind trying to get his team on the front foot and into better positions. You want to keep the risk in the player rather than take it out of him; that way with improvement the risk will still be there but the decision of when to take that risk will be better.
Crystal Palace vs Dynamo Kyiv.
Normally, I wouldn’t watch games against opposition where the player in question is obviously a good few levels above the talent he’s up against, but Palace dominated possession in this game, and I wanted to see if Wharton changed his approach to this match-up. The short answer is no. He doesn’t look to retain possession until the game is out of reach. I counted three passes that went back to the centre-backs, and that was when Palace were 2-0 up, and in around the 70th or so minute, he then relaxed and recycled possession much more frequently than he did when the game was in the balance. We know the 22-year old has issues out of possession, but with a game like th,is I focused solely on what he did to get on the ball, the type of pass he made and If he ever dropped into the backline to pick up the ball. And I’ve come away thinking whoever compared this player to Michael Carrick is on a wind-up. This is KDB, Bruno Fernandes, style of midfielder. They don’t slow the game down, they don’t recycle possession and pick the ball up from deep areas. They can do that of course, they can play any pass they want, but instinctively it’s not in their nature. In this game, for example, Wharton was taking at max three touches and either playing through balls, switches or cute passes centrally at pretty much a rate of every other pass. Even when Palace dominate possession, he still treats the ball like they’re on the counter, moving the ball forward into players with space or in threatening areas quickly. What this game also reassured me with was his understanding of space and what positions to pick up. He’s rarely, if ever, on the same line as his midfield partner.
Wharton’s next move.
I think recruitment these days can be hugely flawed in their logic to bring a player to their club. I think they can sometimes look at only what the player offers rather than what can this player do with the rest of the squad and how he fits into that. Adam Wharton’s skillset is his passing ability and his through balls, switches, fast, punchy passes into central areas. What his passing compliments best, is runners in behind, width from the full backs, a 9 that can be used as a bounce pass and a 10 that stays central who can also move left and right. What he needs to fully be on max with his performances is someone alongside him that can cover ground for near enough two people and another ball player that can also create space for him to be effective with how quick he is on the ball. You don’t want him to go to a team where as soon as they win the ball back they contain, you want a team who’s intentions are to fly forward. To bullet point this to make it easier to follow;
To get the best out of Wharton:
Athletic ball winner
Speedy wide players (full backs included)
A striker who wants to get in behind with speed
Two other central midfielders who can occupy space
It doesn’t make sense for Manchester United to sign him unless they plan an overhaul. Liverpool are already getting ran through centrally, and I don’t think him going there makes much sense either. That can change if Alonso gets the job in the summer, but I don’t think their current options help Wharton anyway. Which means I think his best two landing spots are either Chelsea or Manchester City; both have the players to cover his weaknesses and complement his passing game.
Chelsea already have Enzo Fernandez for this.