Stato
Well-known member
- Dec 21, 2011
- 6,585
https://experimental361.com/2020/11/02/scatter-graphics-premier-league-2-nov-2020/
Scatter Graphics out from Experimental 3-6-1 seem to show that, despite all the received wisdom going around that 'Brighton don't have a cutting edge', it is the small number of chances opponents need to score against us and not our attacking effectiveness that is preventing us from getting points.
Now I'm not moaning. I accept that nearly half of our games have been against teams in the top 5% for attacking effectiveness and that 9 of the 14 goals we have conceded came in those three games. I also accept that we have a young defensive unit adapting to playing in a new formation. With work, particularly on set pieces, and better concentration levels, the defending should improve.
What I'm wondering is why all the pundits who watch us, Barry Glendenning on this week's football weekly podcast being the latest, trot out the same comments that we play pretty football, but have no cutting edge? We are one of only five teams in the league to have scored in every game we've played this season. We are averaging considerably more goals per game than we have in previous seasons. Our top scorer is in the top ten goalscorers in the division and, in seven matches, we have seven players who have already scored league goals this season.
On the other hand, our goals against record is in the bottom four in the division, we are statistically the worst at letting in set piece goals (penalties included) and, although we allow the fewest shots per game of any team, we seem to be conceding more goals per shot than anybody else. Away to Everton, in our worst performance of the season (until the second half last Monday), we scored two goals, despite having some weird fetish for playing all set pieces backwards. We also gave them the ball in dangerous areas and didn't track dangerous attacking players in our final third, allowing them to score far too easily. Yesterday we managed to score without even playing a striker, but then left a £90 million sub unmarked for a free header to chuck the point away.
So, help me out. Do I have it wrong? Or is it our defending that needs the improvement? If so, why is everybody talking about us 'struggling for goals' and not 'struggling to keep them out'?
Scatter Graphics out from Experimental 3-6-1 seem to show that, despite all the received wisdom going around that 'Brighton don't have a cutting edge', it is the small number of chances opponents need to score against us and not our attacking effectiveness that is preventing us from getting points.
Now I'm not moaning. I accept that nearly half of our games have been against teams in the top 5% for attacking effectiveness and that 9 of the 14 goals we have conceded came in those three games. I also accept that we have a young defensive unit adapting to playing in a new formation. With work, particularly on set pieces, and better concentration levels, the defending should improve.
What I'm wondering is why all the pundits who watch us, Barry Glendenning on this week's football weekly podcast being the latest, trot out the same comments that we play pretty football, but have no cutting edge? We are one of only five teams in the league to have scored in every game we've played this season. We are averaging considerably more goals per game than we have in previous seasons. Our top scorer is in the top ten goalscorers in the division and, in seven matches, we have seven players who have already scored league goals this season.
On the other hand, our goals against record is in the bottom four in the division, we are statistically the worst at letting in set piece goals (penalties included) and, although we allow the fewest shots per game of any team, we seem to be conceding more goals per shot than anybody else. Away to Everton, in our worst performance of the season (until the second half last Monday), we scored two goals, despite having some weird fetish for playing all set pieces backwards. We also gave them the ball in dangerous areas and didn't track dangerous attacking players in our final third, allowing them to score far too easily. Yesterday we managed to score without even playing a striker, but then left a £90 million sub unmarked for a free header to chuck the point away.
So, help me out. Do I have it wrong? Or is it our defending that needs the improvement? If so, why is everybody talking about us 'struggling for goals' and not 'struggling to keep them out'?
