Scouting Report: Is Lars Stindl Manchester United's Arturo Vidal Alternative?
Could Hannover 96 utility player Lars Stindl be Manchester United's cheaper summer transfer window alternative to Arturo Vidal?
Juventus want £40 million from United for Vidal, per Jamie Jackson at The Guardian.
What happens if Juventus up the ante and their demands spiral out of control?
In that case, United manager Louis van Gaal should take a look at Stindl as a viable plan B to Vidal.
To cover that hypothetical scenario, here is a scouting report on Stindl, a 25-year-old, 5'11", 172-pound German.
Stindl Positives
An all-action midfielder with the capacity to play box-to-box or on the wings, Stindl is indispensable to Hannover.
While not having Andre Hahn-type straight-line speed, Stindl's short burst of acceleration is a dependable go-to move.
That was why Stindl averaged more dribbles per game (2.2) than Vidal (0.4) last season.
Zipping in between two Mainz players, Stindl manufactured space and supplied a cross for Hannover centre-forward Artur Sobiech.
Generating separation from Stuttgart centre-backs Antonio Rudiger and Georg Niedermeier, Stindl created his own shot.
Cutting in from the left wing, Stindl played an incisive pass between Eintracht Frankfurt centre-back Carlos Zambrano and defensive midfielder Marco Russ to Hannover left winger Szabolcs Huszti.
Intercepting Borussia Monchengladbach left-back Oscar Wendt's pass, Stindl broke free and played a reverse pass to Hannover centre-forward Mame Biram Diouf.
Anticipating a cutback from Hamburg's Hannover loanee, Artjoms Rudnevs, Stindl noticed Hoffenheim right-back Andreas Beck out of position.
Predicting the run of Hannover central midfielder Leon Andreasen, Stindl perfectly hit a one-touch pass with Marco Reus-esque precision.
Stindl flashed scoring potential with goals against Hertha Berlin, Hamburg and Eintracht Frankfurt.
Stindl Negatives
Ineffective defending is a red flag in Stindl's game.
A lapse in concentration from Stindl resulted in him not marking goal side of Freiburg substitute Philipp Zulechner, who poached a goal.
Stindl was caught off guard by Bayern Munich right winger/deep-lying forward Thomas Mueller's run in behind.
There was only a plus-0.3 difference between Stindl's tackles per game (2.3) and fouls per game (2.0).
Whereas, Vidal had a plus-1.8 difference (4.1 tackles per game, 2.3 fouls per game).
In addition, Stindl's tackle percentage (30, per Squawka.com) was 13 percent lower than Vidal's (43, per Squawka.com).
Despite roaming forward, Stindl was inconsistent in the attacking half.
| League Only | Arturo Vidal | Ander Herrera | Lars Stindl |
| Goals | 11 | 5 | 3 |
| Shots Per Goal | 5.2 | 13.6 | 18 |
| Assists | 5 | 5 | 2 |
| Key Passes Per Game | 1.5 | 1.6 | 1.5 |
| Passes Per Game | 45.9 | 47.2 | 46.2 |
| Pass Completion % | 83.7 | 80.6 | 77.4 |
Bottom Line
Stindl has the characteristics of a Van Gaal player: can start in two positions, high motor, all-round playing style, is team-focused and a leader of men.
If Juventus continue to inflate Vidal's valuation, then United should have Stindl on the long list of fallback options.
Statistics via WhoScored.com.
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