Possession

Funny old game last night. VAR gave us a boost none would have predicted, but the thing that I've been thinking about actually for some time is our possession stats.
They're awful. The other team often has 75% of the ball.

Last night, and from a couple of other games like this, we've still taken all the points.

I can't help thinking that we're fortunate to get so little of the ball but still get points. Maybe under the Bruce MO, that's how it'll be. Not exactly entertaining though, which it should be, at least some of the time.

 

Bruceyball

 

Why are we fortunate? Points are awarded for wins not possession. Dubrav did a couple of excellent saves in the first half last night, but in the second half our defence marked their attackers out of the game, and we ran out comfortable winners. I don't think Sheff Utd can say they deserved to win that game by using the possession statistics.

It was a great "away performance", if we play exactly the same at home to Sheff Utd I'd be annoyed though and I'd expect more possession for the reverse fixture.

Man City was a different scenario, a home performance, but they obviously have far better players than us all across the park, so we're naturally going to be on the back foot for most of that game.

 

Pulis ball! That's been my point all along, people who moaned about Rafa are now licking Bruce's ring piece pretending the footballs better, it's not, it's actually worse. Rafa would have been crucified for 25% possession in one half.

I predicted a comfortable finish this season considering that teams grown over getting promoted and surviving in the PL twice. The worry is next season if we don't keep all our CBs and there's a few outgoings. Then it's a whole different dynamic within the team. If Bruce is still coming up with the goods then I'd say respect.

One things for sure, we need to sign Fernandez to another contract. Amazing defender.

 

My point is a general one. I would guess that most teams that win their games, probably have more possession than 25-30%.
I accept that that teams that have great goalkeeping performances often trump stats which indicate the other team playing them off the park.
It's nerve wracking to defend for 85 minutes, just wanting the game over!

 

possession is easier than being effective! on a similar note I'm sick of hearing people complain about our strikers not scoring … it doesn't ****ing matter we are scoring goals and defending well .. simple as that. i don't care where the goals come from and im sick of people ignoring the defensive attributes of almiron and our other attacking players.

 

Exactly - it's what you do with it, not the amount you have....

 

or whos scoring you score as a team

 

tbh I wasn't so nervous yesterday as I felt we were keeping them out with ease, the only nerve wracking moment was when Miggy stupidly gave away a free kick on the edge of box that, thankfully, they wasted.

We're just much more of a defensive side these days, and different to the Keegan/Robson all out attacking teams with bad defences.

 

I still think we need to find a better balance. You can't just keep defending, there will be too many Villa days where our attack doesn't do anything. However, I'll give credit to Bruce - he seems to be trying to fix the problem. Shelvey scored from open play - the key problem has always been getting our midfield near their attack. I think he's been working on getting Shelvey, Almiron and Max further up the pitch. But that will also improve with understanding between full back and wide player.

Sunday will be a huge test. All three of those players, or whoever plays there, need to be pushing up. We cannot be getting through a match vs So'ton with 25% possession.

 

I don't think we need to change anything until we are safe , but over time and with a signing or two I think we can work towards a more fluid approach

 

So does this out weigh his lack of end product then?

 

imo yes because we are winning and he is a key part in how we counter whether he scores or not … you score and defend as a team.

 

So in some respects you could say he has "some" end product then? I believe he has more end product than Joe Linton (and he's scored an actual real life goal). I've never seen someone cover a pitch as much as that guy does....even right up to the final whistle at times, the guy's relentless.

Sorry i'm in a bit of WUM mood today, had a very frustrating day at work and fancied a bit of fun !!

 

we agree mate

 

This seems quite a personal subject for you. Anything to confess to?

 

Nope, you?

I have always had more than sufficient possession thank you

 

it absolutely does matter that the 'strike force' have not been scoring, but there is a relationship between possession and them scoring,, especially the centre forward.
Almiron, frankly, offers very little in defence, albeit I do think he tries hard and could become a player. Schar, Yeldin, Ritchie playing will resolve at least some of the possession paucity, and will much increase the crosses into the box, albeit I am beginning to doubt that we will see Ritchie again this season.
When you bring on Atsu as your sub, you know you have a problem with your squad depth.

 

I'm pretty sure Chelsea were still laughing their tits off at the fact we bought Damien Duff from them when we came asking about Atsu. Bet they love doing business with us. We'll forget Kenedy ever existed I think.

 

I fail to care.

But the games have been more entertaining, not that I really know why they have.