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In the light of my previous article which attempted to compare the styles and strengths of the top five MLS scorers for the 2018 season, let’s take a look at how Cano compares to those five..
Cano will be 31 years old in February of 2019 before he could see much action for RSl. Younger than Wright-Phillips and ibrahimovic, but older than Zardes, Martinez and Manota. He has been a professional for a little over 10 years starting with team in his native Argentina and then out on load to clubs in Ecuador and Colombia. The loan to Colombia lead to him getting signed by Independiente Medellin for the 2012 season. He spent three season with them increasing in minutes and goals each season.
At the end of his contract with Independiente in 2015, Pachuca signed him and brought him to Liga MX. Following a brief stretch with Pachuca, he was loaned out to Leon, which is run by the same ownership group. During two seasons at Leon he accumulated 43 appearances and 11 goals. Back with Pachuca for the 2017/2018 Liga MX season, he saw the field in only 11 matches and failed to score a goal in aa competition for time with the experienced Franco Jara and Sebastian Palacios. The arrival of Ulloa from the England Premier finally spelled the end of his time in Mexico.
In 2018 Germain was acquired on a free transfer (or perhaps loaned back to) Independiente in Colombia and once again found his mojo and put in 32 goals across the split schedule of the top league in Colombia. His 20 goals in the second half of the season were a league record.
During his second stint at Independiente last season he played both sides of the top two in a 4-4-2 or 4-1-3-2 formation rather than as a lone striker. He also served as a captain and the first choice on penalty kicks. He showed consistent finishing skills, but required service from others and is less than average at creativity.
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His heat map for the second half of the Colombian season displays his balance with only a slight tendency to the right and perhaps resembles that of Bradley Wright-Phillips most closely. One worrisome point is the lack of much presence in the defensive box.
During the second half of the season he was scoring a goal every 112 minutes and average 3.4 shots per game which is a step above all five of the MLS leaders we looked at. Although the seond half of the season consisted of only 20 matches, his 7 missed chances still compares favorably with all five MKS leaders. Throughout his entire career Cano has averaged a goal every 167 minutes even with dips in playing time and changes in teams and leagues.
Finally here is an edited highlight reel to give you a look at the man in action around the goal.
While there are definite questions moving forward and any deal is still just a rumor, it appears that a fresh breeze could blow through Rio Tinto next spring.