Stats. can prove ...something?....

[david in sweden]

several of the current threads on here are highlighting ; Possession (or the lack of it)... and Goals v. shots (or the lack of).

 

I keep stats. (and most nerds do)... and have checked back through the last 9 games. (after the QPR (H) fiasco). The results are; as follows...

 

Possession wise - in all 9 games (5A 4H) ...we have averaged 54% v. 46%.

 

In same 9 games; we've had 119 shots v. 68 from opponents. (more or less even home and away). However...we have scored.... ONLY 9 goals ...but conceded only 8.

 

No surprises ?....we have most possesssion, and twice as many shots, but ** still don't score more than opponents do,... (and they score most often in the period 30-45 mins.....interesting ?)

 

SOLUTION ; more shooting practice for everyone, as we clearly get enough of the ball, but spend too much time passing and not enough " shooting " at goal.

 

No.... I'm not touting for a Nobel Prize !

 

(**Although throughout the season we have had 10 different players s score League goals + 3 OG's that helped the tally.)

[Wurzel]

As I commented to a Newcastle supporting friend yesterday, Saints with a killer instinct would have been a top 8 team this season. Having said that I've no idea if 9 goals from 119 shots is good , average or poor ( I would guess the latter but don't have the stats)

[Whitey Grandad]

There's an interesting article in The Times's football supplement today about a book called 'The Numbers Game' which a analyses all the questions such as whether a strong defence is better than a strong attack and the importance of possession. Might be worth a read.

[SaintBobby]

One stat that doesn't seem to be collected is "shots from inside the penalty area".

 

Shots on target from inside the area have a very high % conversion, I'd guess. Shots off target from outside the area have a 0% conversion (barring some weird deflection) - but they all get grouped together as "shots".

['00']

Figure can lie & liars configure.

[SaintBobby]

ws...

 

as we clearly get enough of the ball, but spend too much time passing and not enough " shooting " at goal.

 

 

 

 

Not totally sure how you derive that. We have nearly twice as many shots on goal as our opponents, but aren't scoring many more goals.

 

That might indicate we're shooting TOO MUCH (e.g. wild, useless shots from 30 yards out)

[david in sweden]

Not totally sure how you derive that. We have nearly twice as many shots on goal as our opponents, but aren't scoring many more goals.

 

That might indicate we're shooting TOO MUCH (e.g. wild, useless shots from 30 yards out)

 

 

 

well " my stats " were for all shots (both on/off target), of course that could mean that we were unlucky and up against a string of very good goalies in that period...OR .....we need more shooting practice?

 

The mere fact that opponents scored 8 goals from (total) 68 efforts and we managed only 9 from almost twice as many (119) ...suggests to me that we are not lacking opportunites - but accuracy.

[Manuel]

From watching games I too get the impression that we lack a bit of bite up front. The purchase of a top quality striker in the summer would do us very nicely.