Rayan Vitor was included in this year's edition of SCOUTED50 with a clear message: control the Hulk within.
Rayan has the skillset to become a low-touch threat that raids the box from out wide or runs in behind. His lightning-bolt left foot is always cocked, locked and loaded to dispatch cut-backs first time, but he’s also effective in the air. He wins more aerial duels (37) than he completes take-ons (23) so setting him up to cut in and drive at opponents is odd.
This is probably why he chooses to let rip from outrageous range. The average distance of his 72 non-penalty shots this season is 21.1 yards, generating just 0.08 NPxG per Shot. He's basically in a competition with Hulk - yes, that Hulk - to see who can shoot from the furthest distance away. Both players are tied for the most matches this season with 4+ shot attempts.
However, on Sunday against Vitória, Rayan did what we were begging to see: he didn't shoot from outside of the box. He abandoned his post out wide right and escaped the confines of Zone 12 to find his home inside the penalty area. Rayan was effective and efficient, resulting in his first-ever senior brace and single-game PBs for Touches in the Attacking Penalty Area and Non-Penalty xG.
Have you spotted the team effect of his refined role on the graphic? Correlation is not causation but Vasco have won just two of the matches in which Rayan has attempted 4+ non-penalty shots, both when his Average Shot Distance was at its closest to goal. A pretty convenient coincidence for it to not have any influence.
This has the potential to be a formative match for Rayan’s career. You wouldn’t want to completely separate him his trademark pot-shots. Even the Avengers need Bruce Banner to 'Hulk out' in certain situations.
But if the Vasco coaching stuff have highlighted the same benefits of this approach, this out-of-character display can become the norm.
You still wouldn’t like to face Rayan when he’s angry. In this mood, you wouldn’t like to face him at all.
@PenaCartel@ringmagazine Yeah I get that. I just think there would’ve been no first fight if they didn’t agree to these terms for the second fight, not saying I agree with it.
‼️ BREAKING ‼️
Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn 2 will take place on September 20th in London. The Riyadh Season card will be promoted by Sela, Matchroom and Boxxer.
🚨 BREAKING: West Ham are now in advanced talks with Manchester United over the signing of right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka.⚒️🏴 #WHUFC#MUFC
(via @skysports_sheth🌕)
If English clubs want to compete in Europe they had to scrap replays ✅ and they should scrap the Carabao Cup. There's too many games in the schedule. Real Madrid played one extra and Bayern Munich two extra games in April, while Man City and Arsenal both played three. No rest.