We’ve taken a peek at Opta Stats to see who are the Hyundai A-League’s pass masters. The Reds’ Spanish ace Isaias is leading the way with an impressive 1037 completed passes so far this season.
But has any other A-League star reached the 1000 completed passes figure yet?
Isaias: Adelaide United – 1037 completed passes
He’s the Hyundai A-League’s professor of the pass. While Isaias might not get the same attention as team-mates Marcelo Carrusca, Sergio Cirio and Awer Mabil, make no mistake he is the heart-beat of the Adelaide United side.
Arguably the most-important piece of coach Josep Gombau’s Spanish revolution in the City of Churches, the 28-year-old has set the standard for midfield players since arriving in the competition last season.
It’s no surprise with his technique and style that Isaias was a graduate from the famed Barcelona Youth Academy. Always wanting to be on the ball, Isaias doesn’t often give away possession cheaply, whether it’s playing a raking cross-field pass or shorter ones in intricate areas, all traits honed playing with Espanyol in La Liga.
A fierce competitor, Isaias has a trait that all good footballers have in their armoury, able to read the play and put opponents on the backfoot by stealing possession and then helping to launch attacks with a killer-pass or retain possession while the Reds readjust their system.
There are still11 rounds to go this season but Isaias looks like finishing as the Hyundai A-League’s pass master. Can anyone catch the Spanish maestro?
Luke Brattan: Brisbane Roar FC – 928 completed passes
Brisbane may have not been as successful as previous seasons but it hasn’t stopped Brattan producing his trademark crisp passing game.
He has always been regarded as one of the best young passers in competition and has managed to maintain that standard for a number of seasons.
Like Isaias, Brattan does a lot of the gritty work in the middle of the park before managing to put Roar on the front foot with clever passes in between the lines, allowing attacking players like Thomas Broich and Henrique to do their thing.
Nigel Boogaard: Adelaide United – 884 completed passes
The only defender in the top five, Boogaard is arguably in career-best form.
Thriving under coach Gombau’s short-passing, fluid attacking game, Boogaard’s passing game has gone to a new level, often getting the Reds on the attack with an incisive pass from the back.
But he doesn’t try to overplay his hand too much, always looking to get the ball into the feet of Carrusca, Isaias and his wingers who can cause opposition defences more damage.
John Hutchinson: Central Coast Mariners – 863 completed passes
Hutchinson might be coming towards the end of his career – having been with the club since the Hyundai A-League’s inception – but he’s still delivering for the Mariners.
Phil Moss’ side has completed the most passes of any other team in the competition and Hutchinson is a huge factor in that.
Hutchinson uses all his experience and plays it smart; always looking to play the simple short pass to players in better positions so they can do their thing.
Milos Dimitrijevic: Sydney FC – 861 completed passes
Dimitrijevic is enjoying a cracking season with the Sky Blues.
Always calm when in possession, the Serbian playmaker will never give possession away needlessly, no matter how much pressure he is under and backs himself to wriggle free and find the right pass.
A lot of his impressive interplay can go unnoticed but his controlled passing has been a big factor in Sydney’s encouraging season so far.
*For more Opta stats on the Hyundai A-League check out our homepage at www.a-league.com.au
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