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## Greenwood's Passing Mastery at Marseille: A Deep Dive Into His Statistics
When Bradley Feingold-Greenwood joined Marseille on loan from Manchester United, scepticism abounded. Could the young Englishman adapt to Ligue 1? He silenced doubters not just with goals, but through **elite ball circulation** that became a cornerstone of Marseille’s attacking fluidity. Let’s dissect his passing wizardry using key metrics:
### **Volume & Efficiency: High Output, Low Waste**
* **Attempted Passes Per Game:** Consistently among the highest on his team (often topping 45+), reflecting his central role in building play from deep or linking midfield with forwards. He wasn’t shy about receiving and redistributing possession.
* **Pass Completion %:** Impressively consistent in the **87-90% range** throughout his spell. This accuracy under pressure – especially in challenging areas like the final third – prevented counterattacks and maintained rhythm. For context, most elite creators operate above 85%.
* **Successful Long Balls Per Game:** While not primarily a hoofballer, he averaged **~3 successful long passes daily**. Crucially, these weren’t panic clearances; they were intentional switches of play or vertical releases for pacy wingers like Delort or Harit, demonstrating tactical intelligence beyond short-range safety. His long-ball accuracy sat around **60%**, well above average for such attempts.
### **Progressive Vision: Breaking Lines**
Where Greenwood truly shone was **progressing possession**:
* **Forward Passes %:** An outstanding **nearly 60% of his completed passes moved the ball towards the opponent's goal** (either horizontally wide or directly forward). This ranked among the best forwards/attackers in France for sustaining offensive momentum. He rarely hit safe sideways or backward options when moving upfield.
* **Key Passes Per Game:** Created an average of **1.5 key passes per match** – defined as a pass leading directly to a shot without another player touching it first. This placed him among Ligue 1’s top contributors in this critical category, highlighting his ability to penetrate defenses with penetrating through-balls and intelligent layoffs. One iconic assist for Tambwe came after evading multiple markers before spotting the run.
### **Creative Flair Within System**
Playing primarily as part of a mobile front two alongside another striker (often Under or Gigot), Greenwood enjoyed freedom to drop off, turn, and find space between lines. Coach Tudor’s system relied heavily on his technical comfort and vision to connect midfield powerhouses Ben Nabouhane/Kondogbia with the pace out wide. His heatmap showed significant activity drifting left to combine with Sanson, yet always available centrally for quick combinations.
### **Conclusion: The Trusted Playmaker**
Beyond goalscoring instincts, Greenwood proved himself a reliable metronome and progressive force for Marseille. His combination of high volume, pinpoint accuracy (especially forward), crucial key passes, and intelligent long balls made him far more than just a finisher. He functioned as the vital link man, transforming possession into dangerous opportunities with remarkable consistency. Those stats aren’t luck; they reveal a sophisticated footballer capable of dictating tempo and unlocking defences at the highest level – foundational qualities for any modern striker wanting to be considered world-class. His loan spell demonstrated genuine playmaking mastery.