Gerard Deulofeu: Scout Report

Gerard Deulofeu

Style, Strengths & Weaknesses

Like every other La Masia graduate, he has Barcelona DNA. He is attack minded and capable of playing in different roles. He can play on either flank and as a striker, but in my opinion he is most prolific when he plays as a left winger, giving him more chances to cut inside, he does it very efficiently and is able to score goals and provide assists. Also, it gives left backs more chances to cross the ball. If you had a chance to watch his goals for Barça B last season, he generally cut inside from the left before taking a shot off on goal.

Gerard Deulofeu’s physique restricts his overall game as he is a small and feeble player; he could find it difficult in the Premier League due to this reason. But the same way Lionel Messi compensates for this weakness with his balance, speed & acceleration, young Deulofeu is also able to effectively take on the opposition defender using his strengths. These attributes give him the chance to score more goals and he can be more effective at one on ones. His acceleration and speed tend to be a challenge for defenders. Loaning him to the Premier League was a smart move on Barcelona’s part, as it’s the best league to improve on his physical weakness.

He is really good with the ball at his feet, has a flawless dribbling ability and very good technique. Deuloufeu is a good short passer with great ball control. The most impressive feature of his game is, he is both effective in open areas and tight spaces. His technical attributes let him easily play in tight areas and when he combines the technical attributes with his acceleration and speed, it is almost impossible to stop him in open areas. It is uncommon to have both features in one player. He can hug the touch line or cut inside, his versatility is a huge problem for any defender.

The defensive contribution of Gerard is extremely limited. While he contributes in the attacking department of the team he offers little in terms of the defence. He doesn’t like to chase his opponent and can become a problem for the full backs. When it comes to attack, his versatility is hugely beneficial to the side but it’s a problem because he often loses his position on the pitch. His constant movement results in him changing his position very often and when they lose the ball it is hard for him to retain his defensive duties.

In my opinion, Gerard’s biggest weakness is his mentality. I’ve seen him play more than 20 times and it is obvious that he has some problems in terms of discipline. For example, he knows that he has to press more to the opponent and he knows how to do it efficiently but he doesn’t have enough will to conduct the pressing. He plays spontaneously, on the pitch he needs to stick to the tactics and rules.

Concisely, Gerard Deulofeu is an extremely talented individual and is only 19. He has time to improve and learn to become a better player. His lack of knowledge in terms of defence is inevitable and he has a lot of work to do in this regard. I am sure that Roberto Martinez will help him to solve his disciplinary problems. At the end of the season, he has a great chance to go back to Barcelona and become a major part of the team. He can compete to be a third player of the forward trio.

Quotes

“We’ve known him for years. He has a lot of potential and his style of play makes it very obvious. But we can’t rush the issue of his promotion [to the first team], his place is in Barça B and he needs to improve aspects of his play – it’s a question that only he can work on, it’s about his performances.”

— Pep Guardiola, ex-Barcelona Manager, via TribalFootball.com

“In the first half he played on the right, and he wasn’t performing at his best. In the second half we switched him to the left and he opened up the pitch and looked for one-on-one plays. He’s a special and different player.”

— Jordi Roura, Barcelona Assistant Manager, via TribalFootball.com

“Deulofeu is a great pupil who wants to be a great player so he has to continue improving certain things in order to make a difference.

— Eusebio Sacristan, Barcelona B Manager, via Football-Espana.net

“He is a player with a lot to offer, but he still needs to improve a lot before he can form part of the Barca first team. We have to see how Gerard adapts to games like these. We should not forget that he is still very, very young.”

— Tito Vilanova, ex-Barcelona Manager, via Goal.com

“We need to be patient as he’s a young man, but in the same manner I think we can enjoy his quality. He’s decided to come to Everton and we need to look after him well. Clearly he’s got the talent to help the team and we’re really excited about Gerard’s progress.”

— Roberto Martinez, Everton Manager, quoted by SkySports.com

“Ever since I saw Gerard Deulofeu play almost 2 years ago in the Catalan capital, it was clear that he was an outstanding performer. What alarmed me the most about the skilled, blonde haired winger, was his age, he was the youngest player in the Juvenil A starting XI, the U19 team. These statistics always stand out, which is why I’ve followed the evolution of ‘el chico dorado’ ever since.”

— Dominic Vieira, Managing Editor, AFootballReport.com

Transfer Situation

Having just been loaned out to Everton, his foreseeable future is at Goodison Park. Barcelona have loaned him out with the intention of allowing him to progress as a player, tracking his development and making a judgement on whether he is capable of making it into the Barca first-team. His popularity and performances in the youth teams will discourage Barca from allowing him to leave on a permanent.

Though, it must be said that if he is not going to be able to showcase his talents at Everton to the fans, coach and the board, then it would be hard to get a chance at Barcelona. The youngster was reportedly tracked by a number of big European clubs. Everton may not have necessarily been his option, but an informed choice from the coaches, taking into account the possible game-time he will receive.

It’s also interesting to note that Deugines Carvajal is the players’ agent, the same individual who was behind the Roberto Soldado, Fernando Amorebieta, and Marc Muniesa moves from Spain to the Premier League. He is also the same agent that has/had the likes of Raul, Morientes, Mendieta etc. on his client list.

It will be an interesting campaign for Gerard Deulofeu, and he will be hoping to get a decent run of games.