Marc McNulty — EFL Scouting
Marc McNulty caught the attention of many who watched the League 2 Playoffs as Coventry beat Notts County and Exeter to get promoted. The Scotsman impressed throughout the playoffs by showcasing great movement and a goal. Helping his team reach League 1.
McNulty has had a very impressive season in League 2. He scored 20 non-penalty goals (0.53 /90) and got 6 assists (0.16 /90). His goal contribution was brilliant throughout the season and made him a key player for Coventry City, taking 2.73 shots /90.
He finished as joint top scorer with Billy Kee, with 25 goals. Two ahead of Mohamed Eisa. The striker has been attracting the attention of other clubs. He’s already been linked with a move to Portsmouth, and McNulty himself has said he would love to return to Pompey.
Intelligent Movement
Here is McNulty’s goal in the League 2 playoff semi-final second leg. This was the goal to put Coventry 2–0 up. County are on the back foot and retreating as Coventry attack. McNulty is constantly scanning and looking over his shoulders. He drifts across to the right centre back, moving behind him, in his blindspot.
He scans again to see there is lots of space in the box past the penalty spot and the holding midfielder is being drawn to the ball. McNulty holds his run and drops into this space. The Notts County defence is completely focused on the ball and the centre backs are unaware of McNulty’s position. This allows McNulty to stroll into the box from his deeper position and score an easy goal.
McNulty is an active attacker who hugs the defensive line and is constantly looking to get in behind. Here the Cheltenham right back (🐍) is out of position, leaving a dog-leg. McNulty runs into this space, curves his run into the box and curls the ball into the far post.
In another goal against Cheltenham, Coventry counter while the Cheltenham full backs are higher up the pitch. McNulty waits on the outside of the defender and gets behind the defence by latching onto a long ball. He then chips the ball over Scott Flinders into the top of the net. He uses his pace and anticipation to beat the Cheltenham defence and get into a lot of space to run in on goal for the 1v1.
Here McNulty takes advantage of sluggish centre backs who aren’t concentrating. He starts off by standing behind the left centre back, as the long ball comes in he changes direction and and darts between the defenders and finishes with composure. You can see the moment that 6 realises where McNulty is.
The Scottish Striker often positions himself outside of the full back. This spreads the defence and ruins their compact scheme. The full back is retreating and is struggling to know where McNulty is. McNulty is trying to get behind the defence but the full back cuts out the diagonal ball.
A good first touch allows him to receive balls comfortably and get them under his control as he charges down on goal.
Movement in the Box
McNulty could be seen as quite one dimensional. He looks to play on the front foot and get in behind. His strengths lie in movement and speed, which he is always looking to utilise.
Another strength is his awareness in the box. McNulty could easily be described a poacher. A lot of his goals come from difficult finishes in awkward positions when the ball is loose in the box.
The striker can look uncomfortable in lower tempo parts of the match. He doesn’t tend to be involved in much buildup and his movement in the box isn’t always great when he teams are in crossing positions.
In this passage of play, strike partner Biamou is in a wide area of the box looking to cross the ball in. McNulty had enough space in the box to make an intelligent run to attack the ball. The dotted line shows the run he should have made to meet to cut-back.
However, McNulty was hesitant and didn’t make enough movement. A run across the defender would have allowed him to exploit his space and get the ball in a good position at the near post.
Here is another situation where his movement to meet the cross could be better. He wasn’t active to meet the cross by competing for a header or making a run in front of the defender. Instead he was quite static and the defender cut out the cross.
Build Up
The Scot doesn’t get very involved in build up. He is always on the shoulder of the defensive line and doesn’t tend to drop deeper to receive the ball. His strike partner, Biamou, will often do this.
The two strikers play well off each other. Biamou is the target man in a classic big man and little man attacking duo. They link up well and McNulty is able to make good runs off Biamou who can hold up play or flick the ball on.
McNulty tends to take very few touches on the ball. He’ll often lay the ball off and then make a run. This creates quick play and an attacking threat. McNulty has decent close control at speed but won’t use skill to beat his man.
Conclusion
Marc McNulty is a very competent League 2 striker and will do well for Coventry again in League 1 next season, assuming they keep him. He has experience in League 1 before and will hope to keep up this form. He’s a fast, intelligent player with good control and finishing. He has caught the attention of other clubs and Coventry will be trying to hold onto him.
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