🚨 NEW PODCAST SERIES🚨
🎙️Making a Modern Football Club: Rebuilding Celtic FC
🔍 Episode Two: ‘Identity, Recruitment and
▪️Defining the Celtic identity
▪️The four core pillars
▪️Role-based recruitment
▪️The iceberg player model
▪️Ending window-to-window variance
Listen ⬇️
thecynic.co/podcasts/mod...
🚨 NEW PODCAST SERIES🚨
🎙️Making a Modern Football Club: Rebuilding Celtic FC
🔍 Episode One - ‘The State of Play’
▪️Domestic vs European Reality
▪️Structural Weakness
▪️Identity Instability
▪️Recruitment Process
▪️Academy Pathways
Listen ⬇️
thecynic.co/podcasts/mod...
More scouting threads coming soon 📊
Suggestions welcome — like this one from @GavinMillerPF
🔗 trutactics.substack.com
📍@WillGlavin
8️⃣
🧩 Final word:
De Bruyne gives Napoli what they missed—penetration from possession.
Expect:
➡ +8 assists
➡ +5 goals
➡ A more cohesive, dangerous midfield unit.
7️⃣
📈 Value uplift:
Napoli OBV last season: 1.62
KDB adds ~0.3 OBV on his own
That’s a 15–20% increase in creative value from midfield.
6️⃣
⚙️ Tactical Fit:
Expect him as a No.10 or advanced LCM in a 3-man midfield.
Supported by:
— McTominay (power, off-ball threat)
— Gilmour (tempo, control)
De Bruyne gets space + freedom.
5️⃣
🎯 What Napoli lacked, KDB brings:
✔ Final-third invention
✔ Vertical progression
✔ Elite vision under pressure
✔ Experience at the highest level
4️⃣
📊 What is OBV?
On-Ball Value (OBV) measures how each action—pass, carry, or shot—impacts the team’s chances of scoring.
➡ Positive OBV = more valuable possessions.
(Think xGChain, but smarter and action-specific.)
3️⃣
🧠 Enter De Bruyne:
— 0.34 xA per 90
— 2.8 key passes per game
— OBV: +0.31
Even in reduced minutes, his creative value remains elite.
2️⃣
⚠️ Napoli in 24/25 lacked elite final-third quality:
— 1.22 NP xG per game
— Just 2.74 passes into the box
— Shot OBV: -0.12 (poor shot selection)
They had structure, but no cutting edge.
🧵 THREAD: How Kevin De Bruyne transforms Napoli’s midfield 🇧🇪➡️🇮🇹
1️⃣
After analysing De Bruyne’s 24/25 output and Napoli’s metrics, the fit is obvious:
He instantly raises their ceiling.
#Napoli #KDB #SerieA
🔄 Think Kosugi would thrive in MLS? Agree or disagree — would love to hear your thoughts.
💬 Drop your takes below
#Scouting #MLS #Transfers #KeitaKosugi #Djurgården
🔹 6. Final Take
🇯🇵 Keita Kosugi (2006)
▪️ 19 y/o full-back
▪️ Tested in Europe
▪️ High ceiling, low cost
▪️ Built for transition-heavy systems
Someone will take a chance — and I think it’ll pay off.
🔹 5. Where He Fits in MLS
💡 Could slot in as a starter at clubs like Minnesota, RSL, or Cincinnati
🔁 Rotation / development LB for LAFC or Nashville
📈 Long-term upside + resale potential for a Euro return
The type of move that could pay off in 18–24 months with the right structure.
🔹 4. The Risks / Adaptation Areas
⚠️ Needs to bulk up to handle physical duels
⚠️ Left-foot dominant — limits versatility
⚠️ Still developing final-third quality (low assists)
That said, these are coachable — especially in a league that’s shown patience with younger imports.
🔹 3. European Experience That Stands Out
▪️ 11 games in the Conference League
▪️ 2 goals — including a clutch equaliser vs Rapid Vienna
▪️ 989 mins at European level
▪️ 4.19 clearances & 2.01 blocks per 90
He’s played big minutes in high-stakes matches. You don’t get that from most 19-year-olds.
🔹 2. Strengths That Translate to MLS
✅ Pressing energy
✅ Speed in transition
✅ High duel success (ground + aerial)
✅ Strong in progressive passes & carries
✅ Comfortable in multiple systems (4-3-3, 3-5-2)
He plays with tempo, knows how to win the ball & can drive forward — tailor-made for the MLS.
🔹 1. Player Profile
▪️ Keita Kosugi – LB / LWB
▪️ 19 years old
▪️ Djurgårdens IF (Sweden)
▪️ Starter in domestic league & UEFA Conference League
▪️ Key contributor in Europe at just 19
This isn’t just raw potential — he’s already showing end-product under pressure.
Just scouted 🇯🇵 Keita Kosugi again — and I’m convinced he could be a great fit for MLS.
Here’s why this 19-year-old LB from Djurgården is a name clubs across the league should be tracking.
👇 A thread 🧵
I'm definitely planning to catch some of their games this season, appreciate the info!
Some exciting talent listed here! Big fan of Inoussa and Hjertø-Dahl
Why is there no international break in MLS? Surely, with the level of players in the league, this is a must!
🟢 Why Celtic?
If Celtic secure the deal this summer, they’d be signing a winger who’s ready to contribute now — but still has huge upside.
He is a profile that fits the club’s strategy: young, dynamic, coachable and big potential resale value.
🔀 Versatility
While most dangerous on the left, Ørjasæter can also play on the right or centrally as a 10.
But his combination of pace + right-footedness makes him a natural inverted LW.
🧠 Mental Side
Generally makes smart decisions.
Composed under pressure.
Strong work ethic: presses, tracks back, and supports his full-back.
🧩 Tactical Intelligence
He finds space intelligently, making himself available between defensive lines.
Not just a flair player — he works hard off the ball.
High defensive work rate & tactical discipline.
🎯 Technical Traits
Excellent dribbler, strong in 1v1s.
Can carry the ball over long distances.
Good shooting technique, especially cutting inside on to strongest right foot.
Crossing? Still developing — but improving his accuracy from deep areas.
⚡ Physical Attributes
One of the quickest players in Norway’s top flight.
Agile and balanced.
Presses aggressively & covers ground at pace — a huge asset in transition.
🧠 How He Plays
An inverted left winger who loves to cut inside on his stronger right foot.
He’s not a traditional touchline-hugger — think dynamic, inverted movements to threaten opposition.
