Just seen these graphs online which might be of interest to some: please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Just thought it was a nice way of summarising things.
The statistic on Sky last Sunday was interesting, 19th in actual chances on goal and the same for on target chances, 6th for most time in the oppositions half and a crazy 2nd for the amount of time spent in the final third of the oppositions half. Ideally we need to punch through sometimes, this crossing business is getting well too predictable and one dimensional, the wide players need to monitor where RVW is and Fer or Howson need to start playing some through balls as one of these days one of those passes will find the way through and RVW is going to be in the right place, I've noticed with the movement thing RVW losses players well the problem is the defence seems to tighten up so the through ball option becomes difficult, sometimes this is why we're forced to play it wide.
The whole winger thing is entirely Hughtons doing. He loves them. Those central players are drilled to put it to them to create, you can tell by the positions the wingers take and runs they make. Stats like this just continue to reinforce his inability to gel a side and develop a modern style of play. Sometimes I want to change my opinion of him and then a comment from him or a stat like this makes me realise how clueless he is.
Spurs are doing reasonably well on both fronts, I do think AVB is building a very good team there, Bale going could be a blessing in disguise for them now they have Eriksen, Lamela and Paulinho in the side. City and Arsenal's shots per goal is brilliant. Reinforces that those two teams have probably played the best football so far this season. As for us, not completely surprised, I think we have a lot of shots against us from outside the box which probably puts us in a worse position on the defensive table.
Two succinct summaries here: (1) of how we've performed over the first 6 games; (2) of carrabuh's inability to see wood for trees when it comes to Chris Hughton. Re. our attack, it just shows how small the margins are. IMO we are unlucky not to have scored three more than we have, RvW's header against Hull, and two against Villa (own goal from Russ Martin's drive across, and GH's scuffed attempt saved by Guzan). Had we done so we would be in the Languidly Clinical box. Lots of room for improvement, but hardly cause for despondency.
What about the statistic I mentioned before the Stoke game? 19th Goals, 19th Chances on goal 6th amount of time in the oppositions half and 2nd amount of time in the oppositions final third? It's the indecisiveness and the lack of creativity which is our enemy at the moment.
Yes, as I said, lots of room for improvement. The key IMO is sorting out central midfield. Against Stoke we looked better balanced in that department, and I'm hoping to see the same again on Sunday. With Tettey behind them, Fer and Howson should be able to give us more in centre midfield and that in turn will provide more options for the three ahead of them. Re. fine margins, defensively, if we cut our shots faced per game by just 2 we would be in the Formidable category! That again is just a matter of getting the balance right.
Chelsea always seem to play with a lot of space because of the manoeuvrability their players have, it will work in our favour if they start getting sloppy, once again this where those three need to be at their best and press them into making mistakes. In the week Chelsea destroyed Steau with some counter attacking football, this is a real test for our players especially when it comes to not losing possession cheaply as they will punish us.
As usual carrabuh is wrong. Defensively we are ranked 5th best in those stats but surprise, surprise, "Hughton gets it wrong" according to the master tactician.
Six games is far too early to start drawing conclusions, IMO. At this time last season, city had 3 points, but then the new players began to gel and a 10 match unbeaten run ensued. I'm not saying that will happen again, but I still feel confident that a steady accumulation of points will see City mid-table by the end of December. Perhaps also, Carrabuh needs to put Mourinho right on a few things: http://www.insidefutbol.com/2013/10...ho-warns-chelsea-against-complacency/102895/?
I had exactly the same discussion with another Canaries fan earlier today!!! I think Spurs will be challenging for 'top 4' this season, so our 2-0 defeat will look quite reasonable.
