Scouting: Alassana Jatta🔎
Name: Alassana Jatta
Age: 26
Position: Striker
Notts County appearances: 46
Notts County goals: 25
Notts County assists: 6
Notts County style of play (in possession only:
Possession/passes (1st)
Field Tilt (1st)
Shots (2nd)
Shot creation (2nd)
Crosses (1st)
Through balls (2nd)
So as you can see they’re very ball dominant, create chances consistently which goes hand in hand with a striker getting chances because they constantly look to cross the ball and get in behind.
Match performance vs Walsall: 1st January 2025:
First half: It’s very striking from early on that despite Jatta’s height (6’4) he’s not really using it to his advantage in general play. Doesn’t engage from aerials, prefers to look for the second ball, doesn’t back into players and use physicality with his frame but instead he’s light on his feet and on occasion drops in to the middle to offer a passing option. He’s also so far favoured the right side between the left back and left centre back and looked to run beyond the last line of defence when the ball is in the opposition third.
Not a lot of variance with his runs so far, keeps going to the back post in crossing situations, hasn’t looked to close the angle yet albeit with his size, perhaps floated crosses with longer hang time is better but isn’t particularly dominant in the air anyway. Nice goal through a last line run between full back and centre back and slots it calmly into the bottom right hand corner. His timing of runs when the ball is in the centre circle and with space to run into has been noticeable so far.
Intelligent play from Jatta into the 30th minute, first time chest from a long ball into the midfielder and then targets the centre back he got the better of in a crossing situation and almost gets on the end of it. Is avoiding the bigger Walsall centre back completely in duels and movement within the box. Finally uses his size in possession by pinning the centre back and laying it off for a teammate which eventually leads to a corner.
Second half: Didn’t touch the ball until the 66th minute when he dropped in from the right channel to receive a pass and then play it across to the left side. Again like the first half, has operated on that right side and looking to take advantage of the height difference on the full back by going again, like the first half, back post in crossing situations, issue is that’s the most difficult cross to execute.
Working hard for the team, has ran out of steam slightly around the 80th minute. Not had any effect on this second half. However, has shown good touches and passes with the ball, keeping it short and making the right decision to progress up the field.
Match conclusion: Against a high line in the first half like Walsall had, he was causing a lot of problems with his runs on the last line. A speedy big guy that once he gets going is very quick over long distances. Rarely used his size to his advantage in open play but targeted the back post in crossing situations due to height advantage as mentioned. Naturally gravitated towards the right side and making runs down the channel rather than occupying the middle of the field. Second half when Walsall dropped their line he was nowhere near as effective and without that high line he was more or less anonymous despite the good usage of the ball in the middle of the park. However he kept making consistent runs despite lack of ball coming to him, albeit the runs were the same every time and pretty predictable.
Match performance vs Colchester: 18th February 2025:
First half: Not really involved in the first 20 apart from winning a foul from backing into the centre back. Single presser off the ball, gets back into shape quickly. Like vs Walsall, has been hugging the right side of the field and looking to get in behind but Colchester have a deeper line and not affording space. Also like vs Walsall, goes to the back post in crossing situations, doesn’t show much variety.
Keeps making runs down the channels, looking for ball into feet down that side too when there’s sustained territory. Missed a very good chance 6 yards out from a ball across but didn’t shorten the angle to create separation, instead the defender was able to put him off due to waiting for the ball rather than going to the ball. Towards the end of the half retained the ball well with a nice dribble to evade a tackle and a clean left footed pass out wide.
Second half: He actually made a near post run from a cross and was so close to connecting. Funny what happens when you close the angle eh? For the rest of the opening 15 he’s gone back to making far post runs, even where situations are needed for him to go near post from a cut back.
It’s actually getting infuriating at this point. Stop. Running. To. The. Back. Post. Every. Time.
Makes a good run off the right side to the middle to get the ball and keep the attack going but then kills the cross once again with a back post run where if he went near post he could have had a a great chance. Nice touches and ball retention in the final third towards the end of the game.
Match conclusion: Colchester played a deep line so his threat in behind and ability to get shots off wasn’t evident in the 90. Ball retention was good, close touches and dribbling ability down the sides but the movement and ‘runs’ towards the far post were hard to watch. Didn’t use his size or physicality to his advantage. Struggled with hold up play, went to control with his chest with most of the direct balls and couldn’t retain the ball a couple times. Works hard for the team, gets back into shape and follows runs at full back when needed. But overall didn’t have much an effect on the game.
Match performance vs Port Vale: 13th February 2025:
First half: I’m going to rip my hair out. It’s not just a Jatta problem, It’s what seperates League Two and One strikers from Championship level or above. But only having one run, to the back-post, will not fly at a much higher level. There’s a gaping hole in the middle towards the near post and Jatta stands back-post and sticks there rather than deciding for the crosser to put it in that area.
Lucky to stay on the pitch after raising his hand to Smith. Dropped into the middle to receive the ball and kept it moving. Was barely in the game outside of this. Made one good run from a reverse pass into the box but was unlucky to not receive the pass. Worked hard for the team in a single press and dropped back in at right back when needed.
Second half: Has been beaten in the air twice by a much smaller centre back at Port Vale. Didn’t attempt to jump and instead backed into him, which didn’t work.
Created separation to get a shot off outside the box which went over after a good run on the outside of the centre back. Been moved over to the left side of the field after a substitution and not had an impact going forward. Can’t fault his work ethic and help from defending set pieces. Cleared two corners from the front post, and that was the last touch of the game from Jatta.
Match conclusion: Looks a bit lost without David McGoldrick alongside him. His runs are poor, not using his physicality or height to his advantage, got bullied by Smith at the back for Port Vale who’s a fair bit shorter than him. Didn’t run the channels as much as he had previously despite the space being left open down those sides in transition. Showed flashes of his light touches and ability to escape pressure using his dribbling but apart from that an easy game for the Vale backline.
Match performance vs Doncaster: 9th November 2024:
First half: Nice turn round the corner to his teammate in the middle of the pitch to which he bursts past the last line of the centre back but the pass through is a poor one and intercepted by Doncaster. Again keeps going to the backpost in crossing situations despite their being space in the middle to run and attack as Doncaster are getting their distances wrong, he has to notice that.
As I live and breathe. Jatta scores from the exact space that has been vacated by Doncaster by attacking the ball centrally and heading home. Do more of this and not once every 8 games, variety is good, understanding your winger is good, attacking central spaces or near post spaces are good.
Loose touch with his chest from a long pass but does well to retain possession and start again. This time a run to the backpost that makes sense due to an in swinging cross but mistimes his jump and goes over him for a goal kick. Best half I’ve watched of Jatta so far. Hasn’t used his height or physicality to his advantage but made good last line runs, used the ball well and an emphatic header from a central position.
Second half: Showed intensity to try and win the ball back down the left channel. Few moments later held off two Doncaster defenders and won a foul, first time seeing him use his arms in a physical battle to his advantage.
Has rarely been involved in the game in this second half, tried to drop deep and get the ball, offered to run channels but teammates not finding him. Has gone back to his default setting of actively going to the back post and making the cross harder for his teammate again. I really don’t get it.
Retained the ball well again to keep the possession ticking over. Into the 80th minute also showed his speed and power in open space to run into before winning a throw in in the final third.
Really upped his game towards the end of the second half. Retained the ball well multiple times and passing it wide to start attacks from the middle of the pitch.
Match conclusion: Probably the best overall package from Jatta. Showed his speed and power in open space, showed how good his link play can be, battled well in duels and scored a goal from a different run than he usually makes.
Player breakdown.
Movement/Speed: Never seen a player so wedded to going to the back-post as he does, It’s 99% of the time. If he showed variety in his runs he’d score so many more goals due to the sheer amount of crosses Notts put in. He’s a striker that will cheat xG models because the back-post lurk will give you a high quality chance at least once a game with how dominant Notts are at times. However, his last line runs are very good. Again favours that right side and makes those inward runs with his speed over longer distances. He gets chances in this side because of the quality of team he’s in, but can’t help but think he’d score and look better in front of goal had his chance creation be direct balls for him to run into rather than spamming back-post crosses. He would be very effective in transition but Notts rank 23rd in the league for that. To add some fuel to that fire, Jatta has 4 shots from counters this season and has scored all 4. I have noticed that when the ball is being passed around the edge of the box, he likes to make a reverse run centrally to open up a 1v1 shot for himself if the ball is played perfectly.
Shooting technique/shot placement/Finishing: I don’t mind his shot placement, but it’s a very hit and miss execution. It’ll be mishit from close range, whether that be a leg thrown at it or getting caught up between both feet. He looks most comfortable when he’s played through on goal and can slot it either side rather than being a penalty box finisher. There’s a Darwin Nunez to him in that he generates chances from being in the box but his split second decision is to get contact on it which sometimes goes down the middle or off target, it’s not natural for him.
Carrying: Doesn’t really get the opportunity to carry the ball as he’s focused on running beyond most of the time, but it doesn’t mean he can’t do it. He’s a good dribbler and shows nice inside and outside touches when mixing dribbling/carrying together.
Link-up: Very good link-up player for the level, retains the ball well, can pass off both feet, would translate well to League One level seamlessly. Has quick two action movements that keep the play ticking over and doesn’t slow down settled possession.
Pressing: Definitely has intensity to his game and presses as a single figure with other forward players backing up, but would have no issue with being more intense in a different structure. Knows when to go and when to stay, gets back into shape at the right times too.
Aerial/Hold-up/Physicality: Borderline not there at times. 6’4 but plays like he’s 5’10. Can’t head the ball from a standing start, often gets beaten over his shoulder. His ability to hold it up with his chest is very inconsistent, often bounces off him and has to try and regain possession and getting into a duel. Physically rarely uses his frame or size to his advantage either, he’s quite easy to win the ball off if it’s a 50/50 with his back to goal.
Current level: Upper League One striker.