MARC ROCA
The Jesse Marsch revolution is underway, having already signed Aaronson & Kristensen, they followed that up with the signing of Marc Roca. Now there looks to be some outgoings, mainly Phillips and Raphinha and replacing that quality will be very difficult. But, Leeds are on the right track and with Marc Roca, they are one step closer to becoming the force they once were in the PL.
Marc Roca has spent the last two years wasting away on the bench at Bayern Munich. He earned that move by playing over 100 games for Espanyol as a tempo dictating, defensive midfielder who can also play no 8. Given he didn't play at Bayern, all the stats you see used will be from his last season at Espanyol.
passing maestro
Just before we move onto the absolute repertoire of passing, it's important to note how good Roca is first at getting on the ball to be able to pass. He uses off the ball movement so well, to always make himself available, picking up space between the opposition to give full backs and centre backs an option and ensure they don't lose the ball in the defensive third. It's a trait that makes your defence love you but also your manager, as you become the outlet to progress the ball forward.
So, he's got the ball and he distributes it in a few different ways depending on where he is on the pitch. Now, obviously, he's not restricted to making these passes in these zones but these are the most typical.
BLUE. This is where he recycles the ball from, popping it off to a different defender or his midfield partner to keep the ball moving and waiting to progress the ball forward
GREEN. Kicking it up a gear and plays passes to the feet of his teammates. In this section, you'll see switches to the wingers or fullbacks to try and get a team to break their defensive shape.
YELLOW. Now we start to see some of the play making and vision. Rather than playing switches to feet, he's looking to get his wide forwards in behind with line breaking passes and balls over the top.
RED. It's red for a reason, because it spells danger. This is where the playmaking ability is turned all the way up and he's looking to whip a cross or through ball to find the striker to get a shot away on goal.
The truth is that he can make any of these passes in any zone, that's what makes him such a threat. Stats are good here too, and you need to consider that this was in a dire Espanyol team that finished dead last in La Liga. So, he could be characterised as a DLP, which are rare nowadays.
dark arts
Fernandinho is looking down and smiling somewhere, because he's a proud father. He gave birth to a generation of dark artists and his leading pupil, Malfoy to his Snape if you will, is Roca. Now you're gonna laugh and say no... it's obviously Casemiro but Roca committed 98 fouls in the league, the 2nd most in all top 5 leagues but only 7 yellow cards and no reds, what a guy!
But more seriously, we mentioned that he's an intelligent player and how he moves into space to help others when building out from the back. As a DM, that's a great skill to have, because it allows you to understand where the opposition will want to move the ball and react. He is a ball hawk in that regard, he tries to guess what the opposition want to do and just as they begin to action it, he presses the opposition to try and win it back. Statistically, he averaged 21.15 pressures per 90, with a 30% success rate. Those numbers are on par with Fabinho at Liverpool, so he's keeping good company.
In terms of tackling, it could be better, he isn't a great tackler (more of a nuisance). His long legs certainly helped with interceptions and wrapping his foot around tackles from various angles, quicker forwards were able to break away slightly and sometimes he was able to win it back this way or foul, but crucially not pick up a card.
how do leeds play with him?
He hasn't played for two years, coming to a fast paced league and the fastest team within that league, and that team has a new manager with a slight transition in play whilst losing key players. I was tired just writing that, imagine having to deal with it. We are very sure he will have a slow start whilst he adapts to the league and new system.
We are prematurely believing that Kalvin Phillips is Manchester City bound and Roca will take up that mantle. Now whilst he is a brilliant passer and is well rounded enough to fit into the Leeds system, he isn't the high energy all action presser that Philips has shown himself to be. So Leeds may very well need to sign a no. 8 to partner with him in midfield, or use one of the existing options. But if I was to pick which player is better suited to a Pep Guardiola team, it would definitely be Roca. Taking up the same positions Rodri does, having time and space on the ball to break down low blocks. Phillips isn't as technically gifted but far more industrious and so Pep maybe going after something he doesn't already have (or replacing Bernardo Silva). But given the amount of games Rodri played, and with no Fernandinho, you can't help but feel Roca would be the better suited option. But, obviously, Pep knows better than us.
But with Jack Harrison, Dan James, Rodrigo & Bamford in front of him, Roca will love the way they attack the channels and space and stretch teams vertically for him to display his repertoire of passing. In fact, if he endears himself to the Elland Rd faithful, Pep Guardiola may just be thinking that he got the wrong guy.