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Jansson v White: Who's best?

Discussion in 'Leeds United' started by Whitejock, Mar 21, 2020.

  1. Whitejock

    Whitejock Well-Known Member

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    Spotted an article about this & thought it might answer the questions. It didn't - well, not for me. I don't know how to comprehend the stat illustration, but thought it might be a worthwhile discussion to eat into the looong non-footie months we face. Can anyone interpret this? Do the stats tell the definitive story, or is there more to it? Have a read & tell us what you think ....

    https://the72.co.uk/159441/leeds-united-ben-white-vs-pontus-jansson-stats-comparison/

    Pontus Jansson was a rock for Leeds United when he came over from Serie A. In fact, it can be argued that signing for the Whites saved his international career. Sidelined by both injury and Torino, it was an initial loan deal that first brought the affable Swede to Elland Road.

    A series of impressive displays alongside Kyle Bartley was enough to convince the Leeds United hierarchy to lay out the cash to turn a temporary loan into a permanent deal. It was a deal that well-suited the Whites, he provided that defensive stability at the core of what used to be a shivering backline.

    So, when it was announced that he was to depart last summer, there was a fair degree of fan outrage on social media. That was ramped up somewhat when it was announced that he was leaving for a relatively low fee and that his replacement was to be Ben White, an untried young centre-back on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion.

    White’s displays have been a revelation in this centenary campaign from the Whites, a campaign with its fair share of ups-and-downs. However, shining through has been the consistency of youngster White who has gone from ‘unknown’ to ‘must-have’ and on the radar of several Premier League sides.

    With memories of Pontus Jansson fading into the ether, Leeds United fans have been asking whether White has been an upgrade on the Swedish international. Whilst opinion is always hard to judge, and even harder to nail down, here’s a little comparison of the two: White this season vs Jansson last season. ‘Per 90’ statistics have been used to iron out any imbalance caused by this season remaining unfinished at this point.


    Pontus Jansson (2018/19) vs Ben White (2019/20) – a comparison
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    Jansson (red) vs White (blue)

    The above, overlaid player radars compare Pontus Jansson’s ‘per 90’ output from the 2018/19 Sky Bet Championship campaign to the ‘per 90’ output from Ben White during the current, 2019/20 campaign. The ‘PAdj’ shows defensive statistics adjusted for average team possession for each player (Jansson 59.7%/White 60.1%). The rationale here is that a side dominating possession more is unlikely to be making as many defensive actions.

    Pontus Jansson (2018/19) vs Ben White (2019/20) – how do they measure up

    Each player has his own particular strengths, that is clear to see by the overlaid radars. Jansson leads the way in terms of aerial dominance winning a higher percentage of headers (64.2%) than White (49%) and winning more headed challenges (3.4) than White (2.8). Having said that though, White’s game is all about the ball on the ground and at his feet.

    White plays more successful long ball (15m+) passes per 90 minutes (2.8) than Jansson did (2.6) but it is Swedish international (54.2%) who leads the way completion-wise over White (43.75%). As a point of comparison, both players tried 55.8 passes per 90 minutes in their respective seasons with Jansson’s mix of long/short pass attempts being 4.8/51 compared to White’s 6.4/49.4.

    One area where youngster White dominates his more senior predecessor Jansson is in three key defensive duties: tackles, interceptions and blocks. White has made 2.5 tackles this season (Jansson 1), 3.4 interceptions (Jansson 1.9) and 1.3 blocks (Jansson 1.1). This gives Ben White 11.6 defensive actions (when adding in 4.4 clearances per 90) as opposed to Pontus Jansson’s 10.1 defensive actions (when adding in 6.1 clearances per 90).
     
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    Last edited: Mar 21, 2020
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  2. davy

    davy Well-Known Member

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    I like Pontus, he's a lad with an edge, but I trust White far more on and off the park.

    Fewer errors, calmer under pressure, more versatile - could you have seen Bielsa playing Pontus in midfield?

    And Pontus was more liable to cause us problems off the field I think, I always had my doubts regarding his fondness for the limelight and if there was someone in the squad likely to challenge authority I suspect he was that man. Nothing to back this up by the way. <laugh>
     
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  3. Eric Le Merde

    Eric Le Merde Well-Known Member

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    I would take White over Jansson any day of the week, especially if he signs for us. The areas where I think Jansson was better was raising urgency and passion within the crowd and hence the team but mainly scoring goals. OK he didn't score many but they did seem to arrive at key times, from memory. The passion Jansson has though could have been his downfall, not always seen as a team player.
     
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  4. Eireleeds1

    Eireleeds1 Well-Known Member

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    I would also take White. Caveat to that though is we had Jansson for as long as we wanted basically whereas White is gone at end of season. I expect his loan spell to be extended to whenever season ends
     
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  5. Infidel

    Infidel Well-Known Member

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    Jannson & White together would of been some force.
     
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  6. ristac

    ristac Well-Known Member
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    Under a Bielsa team it wouldn’t be possible but with promotion and if Bielsa called it a day both would be pretty good, I’d like to see Pontus return otherwise I’d pick White. Pontus might have to just be a little more cautious with his approach in the PL (bookings and hard tackler approach) and I wonder if the extra skill he’d come up against would catch him out.
     
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  7. 2020VisionofLeeds

    2020VisionofLeeds Well-Known Member

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    I think White is a very good Prem player in the making. Pontus is a very good Championship player. That’s the difference.
     
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  8. lifecheshirewhite

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    Both bring different things imo, Jannson dominated the air, White dominates the ground, would like to see them together, both better than Cooper imo.
     
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  9. ellandback

    ellandback Well-Known Member
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    I would have got rid of Cooper and kept Jansson and White. Best in the league.

    I have to say I loved Jansson's passion, it was more than a pay check to him

    Jansson should have played second leg v Derby
     
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  10. NostradEmus

    NostradEmus Firpo is Shit

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    I like Jansson. I just like big strong centre halves. I'd echo the fact that the two of them would have been very useful.

    We have missed Pontus at set plays.
     
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  11. Mj shoulder

    Mj shoulder Well-Known Member

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    Jannson more comannding Centre back, in the air and physically to say he is only a good championship player is odd, he's an international if memory serves correctly. White will be a great footballing centre back at some point in the Premier league and probably internationally I'd like them both.
     
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  12. ellandback

    ellandback Well-Known Member
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  13. Whitejock

    Whitejock Well-Known Member

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    What are you trying to say with this post, Ell?

    Is it to illustrate that stat-wise, Pontus seems to be failing?

    * Played one third less games
    * Scored zero goals
    * 30% drop in aerials won (meaning Cooper is now 20% better than him - yes, Cooper, you read right.).
    * Rating has dropped below 7 this season, lower than Cooper & White!

    Or was I supposed to pick up something else? :) I honestly don't know, but admit to being surprised by the above.
     
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  14. FORZA LEEDS

    FORZA LEEDS Well-Known Member

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    I don't think even he knows :biggrin:
     
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  15. lifecheshirewhite

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    Shows White as poor in the air.Great young player, but his heading ability stops him being a top defender.
     
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  16. ellandback

    ellandback Well-Known Member
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    Stats for Pontus this, and last season, along with White and Cooper this term.

    Stats don't lie.

    Pontus was quite a bit better last season.
     
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  17. Whitejock

    Whitejock Well-Known Member

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    Gotcha! That's what I thought too, but wasn't sure if that was what you meant. White still needs a bit of work on heading, though, it would seem.
     
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  18. JonnyLosAngeles

    JonnyLosAngeles Well-Known Member

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    PJ was playing for a much better team last season, not a surprise.

    And he knew it!

    upload_2020-3-22_15-9-24.jpeg

    The expression on his face says it all!
     
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  19. Whitejock

    Whitejock Well-Known Member

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    If his team this season is poorer, then surely he'd have more opportunity to shine in stats like 'Aerials Won' for instance?
     
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  20. JonnyLosAngeles

    JonnyLosAngeles Well-Known Member

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    Maybe...
     
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