Instead of singling out players due to a performance in one game, I went looking for numbers to explain our current form. I was looking at the latest Opta Stats and there is some form of correlation between teams who keep the ball more and the current league table. Though Manchester United have less passes than City, they have a higher pass completion rate. Chelsea is also high up in the passing stats. Looking at Liverpool, they rank 4th though Spurs have a game in hand. What is more shocking is at 39%, our pass completion seems to be very low. Only 4 other teams have lower passing rates. We have no player in the top 5 passing stats suggesting we don’t have a general playmaker. The exception to this rule at the moment is Arsenal who by virtue of their pass philosophy will always rank high. Newcastle have less passes but I choose to look at the quality of opposition they have faced. That said, they still have beat the opposition and must be commended for their good start. So what can we deduce from this numbers Lucas Leiva is a hell of a player for his position- Not only has he put in the most number of tackles, he is the highest success rate. We need to improve our passing completion- players like Adam either need to step it up. It’s all good trying some Hollywood passes but we need to be more accurate. The more you get your team mate first time the more we are likely to be scoring. There is no Central playmaker-Someone from midfield needs to step up because with Gerrard’s injury record we cannot rely on him solely for playmaking purposes. Yaya Toure is head and shoulders above everyone and we need someone like him to keep things ticking. Need to be more clinical-Not only have we taken 11 less shots than United, they have scored 14 more goals. That ruthlessness or lack of it is what has cost us crucial points against Sunderland and Stoke. With City’s money, Spurs looking good and Arsenal hovering around, we need to improve on this numbers otherwise 4th may be very tricky come end of the season. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11096_2705370,00.html
Isn't 39% your shooting accuracy? That's the main problem imo - you aren't scoring the goals that you should be scoring. Missed chances against Sunderland and Stoke have cost you games that you would have won had you been more clinical. I reckon you'll need to score more than the 1.33 goals per game you are currently averaging if you want a top four spot.
Think I mentioned that. Do you think this is also the reason Berbatov hardly gets a sniff. He may score many but he does tend to be wasteful.
Disappointed in our passing stats. I'm hoping Adam can settle down and become more accurate. However, I do think we need an upgraded version of Adam (Ever Banega). We really lack that one CM who is always free, not afraid to take the ball in tight situations and has the composure to take his time or play it quickly and effectively. Someone like Aqua, Silva, Modric etc. We have been wasteful in front of goal this season but I'm sure it won't be long until we bang them in. The encouraging thing is that we have the chances to miss as opposed to not having chances at all.
Maybe it was a bad idea to sell him but it's done now, no going back but I don't think he would have made much difference.
i think with skertl and carragher at the back hoofing and guys taking the "hollywood" route rather than the fast no more than two touch passs and move they are supposed to be doing.... well i'm not suprised really.
The problem with staistics are that they are just that. Opta-stats provide data they do not become information until they are considered with other factors (often qualitative). Any conclusions drawn from these stats alone are very likely to be misleading. As an example, take Swarbs contention that we need to score more than the 1.33 goals per game that we are currently achieveing. According to the figures he is probably right. However, we do have a few number of games to consider within which there have been some 'freak' scores. Plus with a tally of 1.33 per game (or maybe less) Arsenal won the Premiership! Every side would love to increase their productivity in front of goal. Every side would like to improve their pass completion. However the more important stat is chances created. I don't care if we score 1.33 per game if we are making 10x that in chances (and of course conceeding less).
I agree that stats don't often tell the whole story - the same could be applied to Lucas being the top tackler. A good statistic in itself but perhaps it shows that we don't keep possession enough hence why Lucas is able to make all the tackles?
Nah, Arsenal never won the title with that low a figure Dave - the lowest they ever managed to win it with was 1.69 in 1970/71 The lowest by any team since 1950 was in fact Liverpool in 1976/77 with 1.48
Thanks Jonesey, I stand corrected on the fugure - but the basis of my argument I believe is still right. It's really far to early to make judgements.
Opta stats have de Gay as the best goalkeeper. I wouldn't judge anything from these stats. Lucas is world class though.
I don't trust opta stats (or any other) to tell me anything that I don't already know I have eyes and a brain....I watch football matches and can tell for myself if as a team, we've passed poorly or been wasteful in front of goal. Ultimately the only stats I give a **** about are what the score was and what position we are in the league table.
Some stats are interesting though. When it comes to passing and shooting it becomes boring and pointless.
I think it's more that Berb tends to slow the play down and hold the ball up, which is what we want in some games but not in others. Which probably links to why, in some games, he get two or three goals but fails to score again for another two or three. I'm not just using the stats - the stats only support what I've already suspected from seeing Liverpool play this season. Also, the stats show that Arsenal and Spurs are creating, getting on target, and scoring more chances than you are (remembering that Spurs have played one game less). So if you are to get fourth you either need to create more chances, convert a higher proportion of chances, or improve your defence. Barring the Spurs game your defence hasn't been too bad so far, hence I think you will need to improve your attacking play. Otherwise you are effectively banking on Arsenal and Spurs getting worse as the season goes on.
