Hicham Boudaoui: Player Analysis
There has been a lot of buzz lately about Kephran Thuram, a midfielder for Nice in Ligue 1. He's on the radar of many top clubs and is highly sought after. Another midfielder that should be talked about, plays for Nice as well, is Hicham Boudaoui.
Player Profile
Name: Hicham Boudaoui
Age: 23
Height: 1.75cm
Nationality: Algerian
Club: OGC Nice
Position: CM/DM
Games Played: 34
90s: 20.8
Goals: 1
Assists: 2
Style of Play
Boudaoui is typically deployed as a central midfielder or a defensive midfielder in OGC Nice’s setup, which often features three midfielders. He usually occupies the deepest position among the three, functioning as a deep-lying playmaker and receiving most of his touches from deep positions.
One of Boudaoui’s notable strengths is his tackling and interception abilities. Compared to other Ligue 1 midfielders, he ranks significantly above average in these aspects. Additionally, he possesses strong recovery skills, which will be further discussed later. These strengths indicate that Boudaoui has the potential to excel as a top defensive midfielder.
On the other hand, Boudaoui’s attacking contribution is a weakness. Playing in a deep role for OGC Nice, he has managed only one goal and two assists in Ligue 1. Therefore, he does not pose a significant threat in terms of attacking output. We will delve deeper into his attacking numbers shortly. Another area where he struggles is his aerial ability, which will also be discussed later.
2022/2023 Season Stats
Attacking Play:
As previously mentioned, Boudaoui’s attacking numbers are not particularly impressive. This is primarily due to his deep positioning, even when deployed as a central midfielder. His primary responsibilities within the team include assisting in the build-up, maintaining possession, and halting fast breaks.
Boudaoui’s non-penalty expected goals (NpxG) per 90 minutes stands at 0.04, and his expected assists (xA) per 90 minutes is 0.1. He also attempts approximately one shot per game. These statistics are not what one would expect from an attacking player.
Defensive Play:
This is the area where Boudaoui truly excels. A closer look at his tackling and interception numbers reveals his ability to read the defensive side of the game. Boudaoui wins around 1.5 tackles per game, positioning him among the highest in the league.
However, he has lower numbers in defensive actions such as clearances and aerial duels won. The defensive tactics employed by his team or his position as a midfielder might contribute to these lower figures. Typically, defenders are known for high clearance rates, while Boudaoui’s height of 5 ft 7 inches limits his chances of winning aerial duels, making it a potential weakness.
Possession
A midfielder’s possession numbers are crucial, as the midfield is often where games are won or lost. Boudaoui’s underlying possession statistics are impressive, as indicated by the accompanying pizza plot.
In terms of winning and losing possession, Boudaoui appears to be more successful in winning the ball back (recoveries) than losing it (dispossessed). The visualization above demonstrates this, with Boudaoui averaging approximately 7.3 recoveries per game. This showcases his tenacity in winning back possession, a vital trait for a defensive-minded midfielder. Furthermore, he displays a strong ability to maintain possession, with only 0.81 dispossessions per 90 minutes. Despite not executing a high volume of passes, his secure ball control contributes to a high pass completion rate, as depicted in the visualization.
However, his numbers in progressive passes, passes received, and touches in the attacking penalty area are relatively low. Once again, this can be attributed to his defensive role within the team.
Conclusion
Based on our analysis thus far, it is evident that Boudaoui excels in defensive duties and ball retention. These attributes are crucial for top-class defensive midfielders, and considering his age of just 23, it appears that Boudaoui is on the right track to develop into one.
In terms of his club progression, it is likely that Boudaoui will remain at OGC Nice for the next season or two. At this stage of his career, he may not possess the required skill set to play for teams like Manchester City, Liverpool, or Real Madrid. However, a move to clubs such as Dortmund, Benfica, or Leipzig would be a suitable step forward. Alternatively, joining a mid-table team could also represent a positive career progression for him at this time.
