How Good is New Man Utd Keeper Lammens?

A Look at Manchester United’s Latest Acquisition

Manchester United has made a noteworthy addition to their squad by signing Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp on transfer deadline day, outpacing Aston Villa’s interest in Emiliano Martinez. The central question now arises: how skilled is Lammens, and can he secure the position of first-choice goalkeeper for the long haul? This article delves into an in-depth analysis of his strengths and weaknesses based on his previous season’s performances.

Statistical Insights: A Top Goalkeeper

According to club evaluations, Lammens has showcased impressive stats in key goalkeeping areas such as handling crosses, shot-stopping abilities, and minimizing errors leading to goals. His standout performance saw him lead all goalkeepers across Europe’s top leagues with a total of 173 saves and a stellar 77.4% save percentage.

Using expected goals (xG) data, he was anticipated to concede around 66.4 goals but impressively allowed only 48, making him second in Europe for goal prevention by stopping an estimated 18.4 goals. Nevertheless, while data paints a favorable picture, it is essential to evaluate his performances on video to fully grasp these statistics’ context and relevance in the Premier League environment.

Handling One-on-One Situations

Let’s analyze how Lammens performs in one-on-one scenarios. The distinction between far and close one-on-one situations significantly impacts a keeper’s approach. In longer confrontations, where the attacker begins further away, Lammens demonstrates acumen—even if he has minor weaknesses.

He possesses the agility to swiftly approach attackers and adopts a strategy where he narrows the angle as the attacker enters the box. By spreading himself wide and maintaining his position, he minimizes scoring opportunities. His keen sense of timing allows him to avoid committing too early, which often helps him avert penalties and easy scores.

However, there are times when attackers can exploit gaps if Lammens is either too slow to engage or if they manage to take an early strike at goal.

Stopping Long-Distance Shots

Lammens faced a significant number of shots from distance last season, often with defensive players obstructing his view. In these situations, he tends to position himself several yards off his line to better challenge incoming shots. This approach effectively reduces the angle attackers can target, giving him a better chance to save shots aiming for the top corners.

Despite facing less direct pressure in the Belgian Pro League, his ability to gather shots confidently suggests that he can handle shots that are more complex to save than they might appear.

Mastering Crosses: Strengths and Limitations

Sources within the club have praised Lammens for his efficiency in dealing with crosses, as he ranked first in Europe’s top leagues for cross-stopping last season, catching 13.2% of them. However, the Premier League’s physical nature and challenging corner routines pose a new set of difficulties; he frequently misjudges the flight of the ball, particularly from set pieces, resulting in goals conceded during corners.

Last season, he allowed eight goals from 85 corner situations, while his rivals featured better or worse percentages. Although his statistics suggest room for improvement, his proactive style of claiming aerial balls presents hope for Manchester United, who have struggled in defensively managing corners.

Ability with the Ball at Foot

The 23-year-old has demonstrated comfort in distributing the ball with both feet, though he predominantly favors his right. His quick decision-making during build-up play, especially when transitioning the ball, enhances the flow of attacking plays. However, his long-range passes can result in contested situations, indicating the need for refinement when pressed by opponents.

One particular highlight is his tendency to show for the ball, offering a reliable option for teammates and maintaining composure under pressure.

The Final Assessment: What Lies Ahead for Lammens?

The analytics position Lammens as an impressive goalkeeper, but a video analysis offers a nuanced understanding of his capabilities. Standing tall, confident, and proactive, he has the potential to evolve into a complete goalkeeper. The transition to a more physical league poses its challenges, requiring adjustments in handling set pieces and facing pressing opponents. With the right guidance, he could certainly emerge as Manchester United’s go-to keeper for years to come.