Kamada

Kamada has things that are good about his game and things that aren't so good. He has good game awareness and makes decent runs. He keeps passing moves alive. He's not fast and doesn't tackle well. He often gets caught out due to lack of pace and strength. He seems to lack composure in front of goal for us. A lot of criticism could easily come from the last easy open goal he missed. In my opinion Glasner was wrong to start him in that game and should have subbed him at half time. Kamada was just back from injury and was struggling at around the half hour mark.
 
No, but this thread is about Kamada.

Maybe you should start one for every player in the team and we can discuss them on there.
Yes I think I probably know that lol
All I said originally was that Kamada from last April, the Cup final and more so semi final, where surely you must agree he was awesome, has generally been excellent. He gets a lot of unfair stick. That's about it, and some people are on my back more than his lol. People on here said JP was shite, as was Hughes and even Ebs had his moaners!!
I think the best thing is I shut the fcuk up from now😂
 
We have a political leader in charge of the country who you wouldn’t trust to help you cross the road, so people in charge are not always correct.

It is wise to use your own eyes when assessing performances. They don’t lie. Kamada makes costly mistakes in games and he’s done it from day 1 that he joined us.

That’s a bit of a mad comparison.

Football is far more meritocratic than politics - if we’re going to use terms like ‘good footballing brain’ as an argument, then it has to be highlighted that Glasner has a better one than anyone posting here.
 
Kamada has things that are good about his game and things that aren't so good. He has good game awareness and makes decent runs. He keeps passing moves alive. He's not fast and doesn't tackle well. He often gets caught out due to lack of pace and strength. He seems to lack composure in front of goal for us. A lot of criticism could easily come from the last easy open goal he missed. In my opinion Glasner was wrong to start him in that game and should have subbed him at half time. Kamada was just back from injury and was struggling at around the half hour mark.

I think that's a good summary of his game.
 
There's been a few references to 'the stats' and Kamada in the thread lately, so I'm copying the below from a post I did a few month's ago, based on league games in the 24/25 season.

The 'stats' absolutely support the argument that Kamada is a hugely influential player for us.






Forward Passes per 90 Mins:
1. Wharton - 7.33
2. Kamada - 5.11
3. Lerma - 3.83
4. Hughes - 3.72

Progressive Dribbles per 90 Mins:
1. Kamada - 1.44
2. Wharton - 0.96
3. Hughes - 0.85
4. Lerma - 0.51

Forward Passes Received per 90 Mins:
1. Kamada - 3.22
2. Hughes - 1.15
3. Lerma - 1.03
4. Wharton - 0.75

Pass Completion:
1. Kamada - 80%
2. Hughes - 76%
3. Wharton - 75.6%
4. Lerma - 75.3%

Tackles per 90 Mins:
1. Hughes - 2.82
2. Kamada - 2.70
3. Wharton - 2.33
4. Lerma - 1.38
 
Like many I’m in that half like, half frustrated with Kamada. I’ve had times preferring him alongside Wharton and then preferred Hughes alongside Wharton. Think Wharton needs to be top of his game when he works well with Kamada. Don’t think Wharton has been that good in recent times though? Won’t be sad to see Kamada go because he is an in and out of form player unlike Hughes. I do wonder if Kamada would be better in a 3 in midfield. I suppose we will never know with Glasners Plan A only set up?
 
There's been a few references to 'the stats' and Kamada in the thread lately, so I'm copying the below from a post I did a few month's ago, based on league games in the 24/25 season.

The 'stats' absolutely support the argument that Kamada is a hugely influential player for us.






Forward Passes per 90 Mins:
1. Wharton - 7.33
2. Kamada - 5.11
3. Lerma - 3.83
4. Hughes - 3.72

Progressive Dribbles per 90 Mins:
1. Kamada - 1.44
2. Wharton - 0.96
3. Hughes - 0.85
4. Lerma - 0.51

Forward Passes Received per 90 Mins:
1. Kamada - 3.22
2. Hughes - 1.15
3. Lerma - 1.03
4. Wharton - 0.75

Pass Completion:
1. Kamada - 80%
2. Hughes - 76%
3. Wharton - 75.6%
4. Lerma - 75.3%

Tackles per 90 Mins:
1. Hughes - 2.82
2. Kamada - 2.70
3. Wharton - 2.33
4. Lerma - 1.38
Hallelujah!👏🏻
 
There's been a few references to 'the stats' and Kamada in the thread lately, so I'm copying the below from a post I did a few month's ago, based on league games in the 24/25 season.

The 'stats' absolutely support the argument that Kamada is a hugely influential player for us.






Forward Passes per 90 Mins:
1. Wharton - 7.33
2. Kamada - 5.11
3. Lerma - 3.83
4. Hughes - 3.72

Progressive Dribbles per 90 Mins:
1. Kamada - 1.44
2. Wharton - 0.96
3. Hughes - 0.85
4. Lerma - 0.51

Forward Passes Received per 90 Mins:
1. Kamada - 3.22
2. Hughes - 1.15
3. Lerma - 1.03
4. Wharton - 0.75

Pass Completion:
1. Kamada - 80%
2. Hughes - 76%
3. Wharton - 75.6%
4. Lerma - 75.3%

Tackles per 90 Mins:
1. Hughes - 2.82
2. Kamada - 2.70
3. Wharton - 2.33
4. Lerma - 1.38
Were these stats from when he played in the front 3 or when he played in a middle two, because that will skew these stats. Wharton, Hughes and Lerma have never played in an advanced position and we already know that both Hughes and Lerma are more defensively than offensively minded.

An interesting comparison would be the stats of Wharton vs Kamada when they have played as a 2 together.
 
There's been a few references to 'the stats' and Kamada in the thread lately, so I'm copying the below from a post I did a few month's ago, based on league games in the 24/25 season.


Forward Passes per 90 Mins:
1. Wharton - 7.33
2. Kamada - 5.11
3. Lerma - 3.83
4. Hughes - 3.72



Forward Passes Received per 90 Mins:
1. Kamada - 3.22
2. Hughes - 1.15
3. Lerma - 1.03
4. Wharton - 0.75
So only 1 in 10 of Wharton's passes are successful!? I know he makes more high risk/reward passes but those stats look very questionable
 
Were these stats from when he played in the front 3 or when he played in a middle two, because that will skew these stats. Wharton, Hughes and Lerma have never played in an advanced position and we already know that both Hughes and Lerma are more defensively than offensively minded.

An interesting comparison would be the stats of Wharton vs Kamada when they have played as a 2 together.

It's every league game from last season.
 
So only 1 in 10 of Wharton's passes are successful!? I know he makes more high risk/reward passes but those stats look very questionable

Those are volume totals, rather than success rates or anything like that.

'Progressive Passes Received' refers to how often they receive forward passes from others - Wharton is typically the one making these passes, so rarely the receiver - he only receives, on average, 0.75 forwarded passes from teammates per 90 minutes.

Hope that makes sense!
 
There's been a few references to 'the stats' and Kamada in the thread lately, so I'm copying the below from a post I did a few month's ago, based on league games in the 24/25 season.

The 'stats' absolutely support the argument that Kamada is a hugely influential player for us.






Forward Passes per 90 Mins:
1. Wharton - 7.33
2. Kamada - 5.11
3. Lerma - 3.83
4. Hughes - 3.72

Progressive Dribbles per 90 Mins:
1. Kamada - 1.44
2. Wharton - 0.96
3. Hughes - 0.85
4. Lerma - 0.51

Forward Passes Received per 90 Mins:
1. Kamada - 3.22
2. Hughes - 1.15
3. Lerma - 1.03
4. Wharton - 0.75

Pass Completion:
1. Kamada - 80%
2. Hughes - 76%
3. Wharton - 75.6%
4. Lerma - 75.3%

Tackles per 90 Mins:
1. Hughes - 2.82
2. Kamada - 2.70
3. Wharton - 2.33
4. Lerma - 1.38

To me, the biggest thing about Kamada is not just how below-average the weaker aspects of his game are (physical, heading, pace, goals etc) but also how even his supposed strong suit (passing, positioning, linking play) just isn't actually that impressive.

What the stats don't tell you is how many safe passes (even including forward passes) he makes, rather than decisive, ambitious, or progressive ones. That is often the cause of a high completion rate, and it's certainly true of Kamada. Even then, the stats also don't show how (very) often he takes an extra touch and a second too long to release the ball, or passes the ball just a tiny bit between the receiving players feet, all of which causes teammates to check back a fraction and the attack to stutter. He does it a lot.

There are 'tackles' and then there are ''TACKLES!!!'. The stats don't tell you how often he seems to leave the big header or challenge to his teammate, and attempt to mop up an easier challenge afterwards rather than leading from the front with bravery. There is a lot to be said for taking up a good defensive position that discourages an opponents forward pass, for screening rather than pressing, but Kamada tends to leave his partner to chase and press the ball and do little to help, rather than taking turns to press.

All three of Wharton, Hughes, and Lerma are far physically brave than Kamada. Sometimes that comes with rashness of course, but at least there is also heart there. Kamada seems too contained and controlled in what he will and will not try to do, and also how he does it, to the point where he seems to be taking care of himself a bit. 'If I don't stray from my little job and don't try and do anything too significant, I can't be to blame...', that kind of thing.

There is a difference between seeing a lot of the ball and taking responsibility.
 
To me, the biggest thing about Kamada is not just how below-average the weaker aspects of his game are (physical, heading, pace, goals etc) but also how even his supposed strong suit (passing, positioning, linking play) just isn't actually that impressive.

What the stats don't tell you is how many safe passes (even including forward passes) he makes, rather than decisive, ambitious, or progressive ones. That is often the cause of a high completion rate, and it's certainly true of Kamada. Even then, the stats also don't show how (very) often he takes an extra touch and a second too long to release the ball, or passes the ball just a tiny bit between the receiving players feet, all of which causes teammates to check back a fraction and the attack to stutter. He does it a lot.

There are 'tackles' and then there are ''TACKLES!!!'. The stats don't tell you how often he seems to leave the big header or challenge to his teammate, and attempt to mop up an easier challenge afterwards rather than leading from the front with bravery. There is a lot to be said for taking up a good defensive position that discourages an opponents forward pass, for screening rather than pressing, but Kamada tends to leave his partner to chase and press the ball and do little to help, rather than taking turns to press.

All three of Wharton, Hughes, and Lerma are far physically brave than Kamada. Sometimes that comes with rashness of course, but at least there is also heart there. Kamada seems too contained and controlled in what he will and will not try to do, and also how he does it, to the point where he seems to be taking care of himself a bit. 'If I don't stray from my little job and don't try and do anything too significant, I can't be to blame...', that kind of thing.

There is a difference between seeing a lot of the ball and taking responsibility.

I think there's a good amount of truth in what you say, but I do also think you're kind of dismissing or trying to explain away the stats that go against your preconception, rather than just considering them for what they are. Of course you can always add layers and layers of context to stats, but I've given quite a wide cross-section of stats that you'd expect midfielders to contribute to, and he performs relatively well in all of them.

I find the suggestion that Kamada doesn't chase and press to be very hard to agree with - I think he's by far the best of the four midfielders at it. He might not be as 'all action' as a Lerma or Hughes, but he's constantly looking for opportunities to step up and press, I would argue more so than any of the others.

I think Kamada's 'job' in the team is also way broader than Lerma or Hughes when they play - he's the only one of the four midfielders who makes off-ball runs, occasionally goes beyond the forwards and is generally much more fluid in his activity. But I also think he's far more error-prone than the other two as a result, which is a very valid criticism - not dissimilarly to Wharton, he tends to have at least one really problematic turnover a game. Against Burnley he had 2 or 3.

I think he has a huge amount of responsibility in this team, and how often his teammates give him the ball is part of the proof of that.
 
I think there's a good amount of truth in what you say, but I do also think you're kind of dismissing or trying to explain away the stats that go against your preconception, rather than just considering them for what they are. Of course you can always add layers and layers of context to stats, but I've given quite a wide cross-section of stats that you'd expect midfielders to contribute to, and he performs relatively well in all of them.

I find the suggestion that Kamada doesn't chase and press to be very hard to agree with - I think he's by far the best of the four midfielders at it. He might not be as 'all action' as a Lerma or Hughes, but he's constantly looking for opportunities to step up and press, I would argue more so than any of the others.

I think Kamada's 'job' in the team is also way broader than Lerma or Hughes when they play - he's the only one of the four midfielders who makes off-ball runs, occasionally goes beyond the forwards and is generally much more fluid in his activity. But I also think he's far more error-prone than the other two as a result, which is a very valid criticism - not dissimilarly to Wharton, he tends to have at least one really problematic turnover a game. Against Burnley he had 2 or 3.

I think he has a huge amount of responsibility in this team, and how often his teammates give him the ball is part of the proof of that.
In my opinion both Wharton and Kamada would benefit from playing in a 3 man midfield with a Jedinak style of player sat between them and a back four.
 
Sorry i may have gone overboard in criticizing Kamada. I was trying to make sense of those sucky 8 minutes vs Burnley.

Also, forgot to mention how at 43:38, so 3 seconds before the clear handball, Larsen was decked from behind while challenging for a header at midfield-- shouldve been a free kick, but no whistle.
 

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