72% defensive duels won: Should Coventry City secure a new deal for this stalwart?

Kyle McFadzean has been a regular at the heart of Coventry City’s defence this campaign. 

Appearing 32 times in the Sky Bet Championship so far, the 35-year-old has played a key part in seeing the Sky Blues still have a chance of reaching the play-offs at this stage of the season.

Coventry City manager Mark Robins has even gone as far as to describe McFadzean as a ‘warrior’ and the Sky Blues’ ‘outstanding’ player in the first half of the season.

There is an issue, though.

The 35-year-old’s Coventry City contract expires in the summer, and so far, no extension has been announced.

With that in mind, we thought we’d take a look at Kyle McFadzean’s numbers for the Sky Blues in the Championship this season, according to Wyscout, and try to determine whether or not the club should offer the experienced defender a new contract.

As a centre-back, defending is what you are mainly going to be judged upon, and McFadzean’s numbers in this area do not disappoint.

The 35-year-old has 4.78 duels per 90 so far this season, defeating his opponents in good 72% of these.

Similarly impressive, McFadzean wins 69.6% of his 4.03 loose ball duels per 90, once again showing his dominance in this area.

McFadzean, too, wins the majority of his aerial duels, beating his opponent in 61.1% of his 3.38 aerial duels per 90.

Not only are his defensive numbers good, especially when you factor in his 4.78 interceptions per 90, but his passing out from the back is also very accurate – something crucial for centre-back’s playing in a progressive, modern, system.

McFadzean averages 44.52 passes per 90, with a passing accuracy of 86%.

It isn’t just backwards or sideways passing, either, with the centre-back passing the ball forward 14.24 times per 90.

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