Toulouse had a great 2022-23 season. They managed to qualify for Europe and played in the UEFA Europa League. The French club played with the likes of Liverpool in Europe. However, the 2023-24 season didn’t turn out the way this club wanted to. Toulouse are battling relegation and are sitting in the bottom half of the table.
However, the French club has returned to form and are climbing up in the league table. They are four points clear of the relegation zone, with only eight games remaining. One of the reasons behind their recent success is the form of Dutch forward, Thijs Dallinga.
The 23-year-old joined the French last season. He scored 18 goals in his first season at the club. In his second season, the forward scored 15 times and 10 goals came in the Ligue 1. Let’s look at what this youngster has added to Toulouse and why he could be the future of Dutch football.
Back to form in 2024
Thijs Dallinga took some time to score his first goal in the current season. He scored his first goal in October and ended 2023 with five league goals in the current season. In January, the forward struggled to score. He scored a goal in February marking his first league goal in the current year. The forward has been at the top of his game since then.
The above touch map shows the touches taken by the Dutchman in the last seven league games. Thijs has been all over the field in the final third. He averages nearly four touches inside the opposition penalty box per 90 minutes.
After scoring his first league goal of 2024 in February, the forward netted two more in the same month. In addition to this, Dallinga gave a match-winning performance against Nice. The Dutch forward created and scored a goal each for his team. He even scored his fifth goal of the current year and has five in the last seven games. He averages more than three shots per match in these seven games.
The above plot measures the striker’s shot-taking frequency, accuracy, and key factors in a prolific goal scorer. Thijs is rated among the best and is in the top right quadrant. He averages 2.75 shots per 90 minutes in the league and has an accuracy rate of 46%.
The above visual evaluates the striker’s efficiency in converting scoring chances into non-penalty goals, an indicator of clinical finishing ability. Dallinga has only scored one goal from the spot this season. He is once again among the best in the business.
The 23-year-old Dutchman is not a player who takes a lot of touches in a match. However, his positioning helps him to get involved in plays in every area of the field. In these last seven matches, he is everywhere on the field making some crucial passes. The player also added his second assist of the season.
Thijs Dallinga has reached double figures in the last two seasons. He is young and has shown a lot of promise. A few big clubs might be eyeing a move for him in the future.
Visuals via TFA data viz engine