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+---- Thread: You Drive McRae-zy: Why the Analytics Say Cal is CM #1 (/showthread.php?tid=10340)
You Drive McRae-zy: Why the Analytics Say Cal is CM #1 - GedgeBrah - 2026-08-01
Part 1: You Drive McRae-zy: Why the Analytics Say Cal is CM #1
- For now
The SSL S27 draft class is firming up and there's a healthy batch of CM eligible / competent players, namely the following:
Cal McRae - Atletico Medellin
Callum Wiggins - PS Jakarta
Butters Stoch - Stockholm IK
Leif Janson - Stockholm IK
Peg Bittner - Port Royal FC
Teddy Fantobens - PS Jakarta
Thomas Thunder - Port Royal FC
Tobias Gruber - Atletico Medellin
Note: Although all are competent central mids, not all are currently plying their trade in the middle third for their clubs.
Matchday 13 is now in the books for the Academy, so it's time for a little dive into the numbers to see compare the current stock of CM competent draft hopefuls. In part 1 I'll explore the defensive side of the ball.
Part 1 - Defensive Play
Tackling and Pressure
- Cal McRae leads the group in total tackles per 90 with 3.12, a full standard deviation from the mean of the group. Closely followed by name-kin Callum Wiggins with 3.08.
- Within this, Wiggins, Fantobens and McRae lead the way with key tackles per 90 with 0.31, 0.27 and 0.25 respectively.
- The amount of defensive pressures per 90 is relatively homogenous, although Cal McRae also tops the group here with 3.25 pressures per 90, with Wiggins not far behind again with 3.08.
- The shining light of McRae's current CV however appears to be his overall possession winning. He also leads the pack with 8.62 possession winning events per 90 -- well above a mean of 6.64 amongst the group.
Clearances and Blocks
- The two more defensively-minded mids in McRae and Wiggins largely standout here, as expected
- McRae averages 2.38 clearances per 90. Wiggins second place at 2.15. A group average of 1.17 clearances per 90.
- Cal McRae also earns top gong in most blocks per 90 with 0.88, ahead of Thunder and Fantobens with 0.46 and 0.45.
- A similar story with shots blocked per 90. McRae has produced 0.62, ahead of Gruber and Fantobens with 0.5 and 0.36 respectively.
- I'm positive these numbers have nothing to do with Atletico's recent run of form.
Headers
- McRae does give up a bit of the limelight to Wiggins in this aspect.
- Wiggins 'heads' the group with 0.23 key headers per 90, 'ahead' of Cal in second with 0.12.
Thanks for joining me on a brief glance at the defensive side of the central midfield draft group.
Admittedly a favourable viewpoint for the McRae given his defensive role, but stay tuned for a further look at the support and attacking aspects of play in the coming weeks. There may be a few surprises if current numbers stay the way they are... hint: Cal is providing over 5 key passes a game :0
Adios
RE: You Drive McRae-zy: Why the Analytics Say Cal is CM #1 - Definia - 2026-08-02
McRae has been such a vital part of our midfield this season at Medellin, it's just unfortunate that the sim has decided to let us down with results. Hopefully we can go out with a bang on the final matchday tomorrow and good luck in the draft!