Okay I know they are only stats etc. etc. - and our football at times this year has been far superior - but I'm surprised to see that last year we were in most respects better - * We have conceded 0.20 more goals per game this season than last season and kept 3 less clean sheets. * We have scored 3 less goals this season (so far) * We have completed 78.92% of our passes this season, which is 5.74% more than last season. *Our crossing accuracy is 1% worse than last season. * We have taken 33 less shots than last season, although 10 more shots have been on target this season. * We have also created the same amount of clear-cut chances as last season, but have converted 4% less of them. * We have made 9% fewer passes in the attacking half of the pitch this season but made 4% more passes in the final third. To take that extra step forward, what this seems to suggest is that we need to go for the jugular more often and close games off[./SIZE]
The stat that's missing is total passes completed, which is probably in the tens of thousands. Jol's system has us playing more like Arsenal and Swansea, less direct than we were under Hodgson or Hughes. I'd be willing to bet that our pass count is 10-20 percent higher than last year. Back when those OPTA stats were available, the best teams always had huge pass counts and the worst teams (in terms of their league position) had the lowest total pass counts. We were usually in the bottom half, but I bet that's changed.
You are absolutely correct DR - Murphy and Dembele have total of 3500 between them and a joint successful pass rate of 80%. Incredible. Here's a statistical breakdown for all the players and for all sorts of stuff - it's great fun to play with (if you have the time). Which defender has committed the least number of fouls but had the most committed on him? Answers on a postcard to xxxx c/o Greggs. I especially enjoyed comparing the shots made v shots on target categories. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/fulham/4942862/Fulham-Football-Club-Statistics.html ENJOY
It's interesting to note how highly Bryan Ruiz scores on chances created and fouls won. The fact that he's ahead of - for example - Damien Duff is interesting considering the amount of game time each of them has had over the season. It backs up my feeling that Ruiz adds something to our game and is one of those players who is always likely to make something happen for us. We need to keep picking him next season once he gets fit again. I was surprised to see how highly he featured on 'tackles won' as well - I was expecting him to be way down on that. That isn't to knock Duff, by the way, he simply happened to the first similar player I noticed on the list who was lower on the stats despite having played a lot more minutes.
It's a lot easier to form opinions based on watching players performances than reading them off a chart. A player can make 60 sidewards and backwards passes in a game and it will look good on the stats whereas another might make 10 defence splitting passes or great cross field balls. I think we would all agree we have played better football this year yet the stats seem to suggest otherwise. I wouldn't take much notice of them.
A fair point, but they can be useful in getting past our preconceptions about certain players. Assuming my preconception that Duff has played more minutes than Ruiz is correct, it's very surprising that Ruiz made more tackles than Duff, and certainly goes against the common perception that he isn't strong enough physically. I agree that a blanket stat of passes can be misleading - Etuhu had a higher completion rate than Sidwell last season, I think, largely because Sidwell was a lot more ambitious in what he attempted - but the 'chances created' stat seems a significant one. We all talk about what we are going to do when we finally lose Murphy to old age, maybe Ruiz has the game to provide that creativity, albeit not from Murphy's midfield anchor position.
adding to the Captain's thought, the third leading passer on the team was Brede Hangeland, behind Murphy and Dembele. And while I won't take anything away from his passing ability, most of his passes are safe passes to other defenders and back to the 'keeper. There was a stat there called "Chances Created" where Hangeland drops down the list and Murphy, Dembele and Dempsey float to the top. Another stat they should have is "Telepathic Connections" ... this is what happens when Murphy and Dempsey make eye contact and, reading each other's minds, Dempsey darts toward an open spot between two defenders just as Murphy deftly lobs the ball into the spot where Clint will be in a few seconds. It's a Jedi thing. When asked how he communicates with teammembers, former US basketball star Charles Barkley said, "Eye contact."
