Hi, hello and welcome to the grand finale of u down with OBV!

This series has been a StatsBomb-guided look back at the 2023 NWSL season to find the top-5 players in total OBV (On Ball Value) per 90 at every position. OBV is a unique StatsBomb metric which pulls in multiple data points from passes, shots, dribbles & carries, and defensive actions to measure a player’s impact on increasing the likelihood of their team scoring a goal, or conceding one.

Seriously, it’s a whole lot, and everything is assigned a value. If you haven’t watched this video yet to see how intricate it gets, please do. It’s kinda wild.

Anyway, we’ve been through every position on the pitch, except one: strikers. Before we get to them, get you can get caught up on (or bookmark) our analysis of goalkeepers, center backs, right backs, left backs, defensive midfielders, center midfielders, central attacking midfielders, left wingers, and right wingers.

But now it’s time for those players sitting at the tip of the spear, those menaces meant to haunt center backs, those goal-hungry center forwards. As per usual in this series there were surprises and lots of variety. Also, there’s a name that made me sad and I may or may not have gone on a rant oops sorryyyyyyy.

Ok that’s enough, onto it.

5) ashley hatch: .09 OBV/90

Pass .05 | Dribble & Carry .08 | Defensive Action .01 | Shot -.05

Ashley Hatch is having a bit of a weird one in the Washington Spirit’s new style of play, but prior to 2024 she’d been the team’s top scorer since 2017. As far as OBV goes, there’s nothing that truly jumps out, which is somewhat telling given that a lot of Hatch’s goals have been penalties.

Her pass OBV was her highest number, which is sort of interesting. But remember Mark Parsons had the Spirit in a 442 for most of 2023, and she was in a strike partnership with Trinity Rodman. Also, she was a fairly regular corner taker from the left side, notching one assist from nine corners. In open play she nabbed her other assist (out of eighteen key passes) by getting Trinity Rodman behind the line against Louisville.

This may give some idea as to the type of qualities the current Spirit coaches are trying to extract from Hatch. Unfortunately it hasn’t quite worked, as she’s more comfortable centrally than on the wing, and also more limited wide without solid 1v1 dribbling skills or a dangerous burst of acceleration.

This sort of means that Hatch should probably be playing centrally, but her shot OBV was not only her lowest number, also a negative one. A lot of this could be dependent on the system and style of play, which called for elite athleticism and directness.

But also, there were quite a few shots from good locations, and a pretty poor underperforming of non-penalty xG (4 goals from 7.25). Getting into the position to score is extremely important, but being able to score those chances is the most important. It remains to be seen how the rest of 2024 goes for Hatch, but if Spirit coaches want to develop her passing more than her ability as a target forward, on this evidence that appears to be fair. It’s just a question of whether or not Hatch agrees.

4) ebony salmon: .12 OBV/90

Pass .01 | Dribble & Carry .23 | Defensive Action -.04 | Shot -.08

This is where I get mad. Ebony Salmon is a unique talent with all the physical tools to perform in this league. That was said before she came to the NWSL, and when she hit the ground scoring, it became obvious. Then Louisville did whatever the fuck Louisville were doing in her time there, and let Kim Björkogren run her out of town.

She looked excellent in Houston under Juan Carlo Amorós, then he bounced to Gotham and Sam Laity decided to do whatever the fuck as well. Laity frequently played her as a winger, likely because she’s fast, but she was not at all comfortable in the position. She had a handful of starts at central striker, but eventually they ended up choosing Diana Ordoñez and Salmon was transferred back to England to play for Aston Villa.

I dunno man, that comparison kinda speaks for itself. It frustrates me when good players get poor coaching, and that authority and misguidance wastes their talents and years of their career. Salmon was fun in this league, and would likely still be here if she played for a competent coach.

Anyway, here’s her shot map which highlights her not being comfortable coming in from the right wing. Also, Laity’s system was a slog, and chances at goal were minimal, though Salmon somehow led the Dash with 3.69xG, but scoring only one goal.

What made Salmon fun and dangerous was her combination of a lightning quick first step and rapid acceleration to top speed. This made her a threat when dribbling and carrying the ball into the final third. Except in Laity’s system, instead of having her central to attack defenses from the middle, he pushed her wide, where the plan was to 1) use this skill to get behind, and 2) ???.