u down with obv: left backs

This is one of the positions I was looking forward to the most, and the data did not disappoint. Left sided players, if they’re clever and skillful enough, can find themselves in key areas to pick out tremendously difficult routes to goal to defend.

Whether it’s whipping the ball in from angles goalkeepers hate, sneaking back post to line up a wicked volley or snaking through defenders to create dangerous passing lanes, elite left sided players are a mf’n problem.

Before I get into it though, I must pay respects to Izzy Rodriguez. I set the minimum minutes played limit to 1500, a number Rodriguez was 55 minutes from hitting. Had she, she would’ve been near the top of the list. While it sounds harsh to leave her out, if she would’ve achieved 1500 minutes, she still would’ve been hundreds behind everyone else (the lowest total was 1853), which felt unfair in the long run.

Anyway, sorry Izzy, let’s release the left backs!