Blimey O'Riley: A Stunning Debut, By Numbers
I hope you know I try and be measured at all times. But sometimes a debut is so eye catching I can’t help but be very excited. The 900-minute rule for player evaluation still stands, by the way!
So was it as Matt O’Riley was thrown into the hot furnace atmosphere of a bitter, seething Tynecastle for his Celtic debut, and a big step up from English League One.
Hands up who recommended we don’t expose him to this and start with the safer McCarthy instead (for those watching in black and white, that’s my hand up)?
O’Riley started on the right of the midfield three, the position frequented by Rogic most of the season.
Within 10 minutes he’d won the ball back in his own half; won the ball in the attacking third and had a shot; and executed a gorgeous pack pass to Jota.
He had my attention.
Match Data
Over 86 minutes before cramping up (League One is a particularly rambunctious league but the SPFL is much quicker) these are some key stats and how he compared in the match with others:
He wasn’t on the ball all that much as Celtic lost control of the game in the second half. His 33 completed passes compares to 33.16 from Rogic, so in a game where Celtic exert usual control, we can expect a lot more from him.
The headline is clearly the 8 chances created.
To put this in context, Turnbull has created 8 chances in two games this season (at home to Hearts and in the League Cup Semi Final against St Johnstone). But only 4 and 3 respectively were from open play and the rest from set piece passes.
The season record is 10 when Christie recorded 3 assists and 7 other chance creating passes at home to Dundee.
The best Rogic has managed is 7 in a wonderful personal display at St Johnstone.
Turnbull’s best from open play is 5 at home to St Johnstone.
So 8, away at Hearts, on debut, was quite an achievement.
The other notable data points are packing stats. His pack passing was good with 9, but he supplemented that with receiving 16 forward passes and had the overall highest team pack score (146 – current season the highest average is 124 from Rogic).
Rogic’s Receive Pack Score average is 84 from 16 passes. So, to match a highly inform and experienced peer under these circumstances, is highly promising.
O’Riley has the highest Expected Scoring Contribution with 1.43 xG + xA and the highest Attacking Threat score of 15.
What really impressed me was not even the data but the way the lad played.
His first touch, balance and vision, playing with his head up, were exemplary. He has the lovely knack, like Rogic, of rolling the challenger and using their momentum against them to escape over a few yards with the ball. His pass to Giakoumakis for the assist was off his right foot despite being left footed.
He also won 4 challenges/intercepts and lost 9. He was competitive physically which seasoned O’Riley watchers said would be his weakest aspect.
I will report back after 900 minutes and we need to give the kid time to settle and grow.
But that was a lovely debut.
Blimey.