José Macías is the most sought after property in Mexican football. Last season, he scored 12 goals
in 26 appearances, for Club León in the Apertura and then back at his parent club Guadalajara
after he was recalled from his loan. He scored 0.58 goals per 90 for Guadalajara, and 0.51
per 90 for León, 0.39 if penalties are removed. He was also ninth of all players, not just
the ones we looked at, in Liga MX for goals per 90 and shots on target per 90.
Macías looks to find space by bending runs around the wrong side of defenders, curving
away from the side the ball is on and into the defender’s blind-spot.
He’s also adept at movement in the penalty area, backing away from the goal if the defence
drops back too much so he can find space; he’s intelligent enough to know where a
good opportunity is likely to find him.
As a finisher, Macías has an extraordinary ability to dig out enough room to shoot – his
movement generally takes him away from defenders, but even if they try to crowd him out, he
seems to find a way to guide a shot on the target. He possesses good control and while
he generally finishes quickly from counter attacks or crosses, he’s got the ability
to take the ball on himself through skilful dribbling. He also has the shooting skill
to compensate for the occasional heavy first-touch, and manages to generate power from a low back
lift if needed, or guide the ball into the far corner of the goal. His finishing is excellent.
His link-up play is good rather than exceptional and while he’s quick, he doesn’t generate
most of his chances through pure pace but rather through the intelligence of his runs
or positioning. He’s reasonably good in the air, although consistent across both his
clubs is that he’s a focal point for passes that serves his runs, rather than aerial balls.
As a striking prospect, he looks to have everything to succeed at a top club.
Monterrey boast two excellent young players, Montes and defensive midfielder Jonathan Gonzalez,
while midfielder Carloz Rodriguez is also a talent. But with Sebastian Vegas recently
moving from Morelia to Mazatlán, Montes is the outstanding young centre back in Liga
MX who might be for sale.
Montes is a right-sided centre-half in Monterrey’s back four. At 1 metre 95 he’s physically
imposing and boasted a 60% success rate for his six aerial duels per 90 last season. Defensively,
his game is sound – he makes nine successful defensive actions per 90, as well as 7.6 interceptions
per 90 adjusted for opposition possession. His timing is good in the tackle, accruing
only one yellow card last season in almost 2000 minutes played.
His passing is accomplished, too, with 8.5 progressive passes and 5.8 passes into the
final third per 90 last season. He’s best at drilling short or medium length passes
low up the pitch as his longer passing can be overhit, but he occasionally finds a good
length to release Monterrey’s right-side attackers.
He moves well across the ground, especially when covering deep or across, and looks like
a relaxed and confident player. His ability to turn with the ball at feet looks a little
laboured at times, but he carries it forwards well enough before looking to pass forwards.
His first-time clearances can seem a bit too relaxed at times, giving the ball straight
back to the opposition, but this is also because when he clears, he looks to find a team mate
rather than just hoof it forwards.
Montes’ size is generally beneficial – he’s a nuisance at attacking set pieces and can
generally hold players up when defending through his body positioning alone. When he does give
away fouls, it’s often because he’s leaned too much into a player who then goes down,
but in a physical league his bulk will generally be an advantage.
Uruguayan attacking midfield Leonardo Fernández has yet to appear for his parent club but
last season he managed eight goals and two assists in just over 800 minutes last season
on loan at Toluca. His contract with Tigres is in place until 2024 but they would be unlikely
to resist a large offer.
Fernández has played in the hole in 4-4-1-1 and featured in both wide positions of a 4-2-3-1.
A predominantly left-footed player, he can also strike it well with his right, as his
goal against Queretaro in March showed.
He likes to drop off, too, finding central positions from which he can play long passes
into the channels. In advanced areas, he’s capable of sliding through passes to on-running
players, or playing quick balls to find overlapping runs.
His passing metrics are impressive, with 0.63 key passes, 1.2 deep completed passes and
0.83 deep completed crosses, as well as 6.3 progressive passes, all per 90. He’s also
a capable ball carrier, with 5.6 dribbles per 90 at 57% and 2.9 progressive runs, which
are runs where a player gains 30 metres towards the opposition goal.
He’s skilful, too, and his quick feet mean that when receiving the ball under pressure
he’s able to move it on before being closed down too much. He also seems to be a player
who wants to run the game, constantly showing for it and moving into positions in which
he can receive the ball.
Fernández is not great in the air, as might be expected, and he sometimes seems keener
to protect himself by going down rather than standing up to a tackle, but for a smaller
creative player this is perhaps understandable. He wins quite a few free-kicks and has himself
got an excellent set-piece delivery, both from corners and free-kicks. Whether he’ll
start to get substantial game time at his parent club remains to be seen, but Fernández
could develop into a very strong creative talent.
Versatile Roberto Alvarado usually plays either as an attacking midfielder or an inverted
right winger, but he has also lined up as a left winger and a central midfielder. Cruz
Azul use a variety of formations, and Alvarado’s ability to play across various positions has
certainly been an asset.
Last season, Alvarado scored four goals and registered six assists. He’s hard to pigeon
hole: not quite a pure number 10, because he’s too good out wide, but constantly looking
to come inside, so not really a winger either. He even drops deep to help out defensively
and prompt attacks with longer range passing.
Alvarado is very left-footed, which explains his drift inside from right hand positions,
but even as a left-winger he likes to cut inside and use his dribbling ability – 4.9
dribbles at 53% success and 2 progressive runs per 90 last season – and his passing
to create from central areas. He does also possess the ability to cross, especially standing
deeper balls up towards the far post, but he’s most creative sliding through balls
along the ground. Last season he managed 0.56 key passes per 90 and 5.6 progressive passes
per 90.
He’s great at receiving the ball in space and immediately releasing a pass, or at carrying
it infield from the right and then changing the angle of attack.
Alvarado is also capable of excellent moments of skill – his first goal of a brace against
Tijuana in March was a scooped lob from outside the area, the second a lovely side-footed
shot on the run with his weaker right foot into the far corner.
He’s still prone to doing too much with the ball sometimes, carrying it further than
he should and losing it, and his versatility could mean it’s hard to know exactly where
he’s best. He also needs to work on his defensive game. But Alvarado is a genuine
attacking talent with a high ceiling, good enough to play for a top side in Europe should
he continue his development.