Lowensda Posted January 20, 2012 Report Share Posted January 20, 2012 From the always bob-on Executionersbong! http://theexecutionersbong.wordpress.com/2012/01/19/9-point-statistical-deconstruction-of-evertons-season-so-far/ 9 Point Statistical Deconstruction of Everton’s Season so far Posted on January 19, 2012 by theexecutionersbong The below is a brief overview of the key talking points from our somewhat challenging season to date. There isn’t really much point to the article, just some raw data with a bit of commentary and some subjective ranting on each issue…. 1.Slow Starters As the table (left) shows, we have had major problems starting games well which has led to us conceding first in 66% of our games this season with no first half goal in our last 10 league games. 2. …..But strong finishers One thing we have got right this season is playing to the final whistle – testament to the fitness and focus of the squad. The Blues have won more points (11) in the final 10mins of games than any other side in the league. A whopping 76% of our goals have come in the second half – the most in the top flight. This is due largely due to Moyes substitutions with 33% of our goals being scored by subs – again a league high. 3. Reliance on crossing Baines has put in more deliveries than any player in the top flight. Crossing is something of an imprecise art with completion figures always low in comparison to usual passing data. Baines has made 48 successful crosses from 171– a 28% accuracy rate…his assist ratio is way down though – just 1 compared to the 11 he made last season. Our friends from across the park make more crosses per game than any side in the top flight as shown in the passing table further down the article. 4. Missing the Cutting Edge The Stoke game was perhaps the best example of this lack of cutting edge as we had 67% of the ball but failed to register a single shot on target. There is an over reliance on Royston Drenthe who is comfortably our most incisive player from open play with 5 assists from just 6 starts. Out of the 10 home games we have lost five– RD made just 1 sub appearance in those 5 games. Of the other 5 he has featured we haven’t lost and he has chipped in with 2 goals and 1 assist. Leon Osman is our highest ranked player in the division for through balls per game but is way down in 63rd position with just 2 all season. David Silva (13) polled the highest. Rodwell is statistically our best passer; ranked 19th in the top flight for retention with 88% but with 0 through balls. 5.Conversion Issues As the above table shows our conversion of 7% of chances to goals is below the league average of 10%. Wigan and Liverpool have the joint worst figures here with 6.3%. Saha is our highest ranked player in the division in terms of shots per game with 50 shots in total yielding just 1 goal. 6.Problems with counter attacking For the most part, with Drenthe and Coleman missing we have had no pace in the final third. We also lack somebody in the middle of the park who can turn defensive situations into attacking ones with long diagonal passes – e.g. Modric registers the 6th highest long balls per game in the top flight having successfully delivered 146 our of 178 (82% completion) long passes for Spurs to feed Bale/Lennon runs in behind at speed. Fellaini doesn’t have this in his locker. Jags is ranked 8th in the top flight in terms of long balls per game, with a 56% accuracy. Our first fast break goal of the season came last week – unsurprisingly Donovan and Anichebe were involved and with Drenthe looking ready for a prolonged run in the side we are starting to look more setup for counter attacking than we did earlier in the season 7.Territorial Dominance As the chart shows, only Liverpool spend a higher % of time in the opposition half than the Blues…this is a common feature of sides who squeeze the play using a high line. 8.Solid at the back We don’t concede many shots as the below table shows – and concede the fewest amount of shots in the league at home. However, opposition conversion of chances against us is disproportionately high overall and especially so at home (14%) being the highest in the league. Distin is statistically our best defender thus far, ranked 11th in the league for clearances per game and 13th in the league for interceptions per game. 9. Squad The squad is not balanced enough in terms of age. Compare the side that finished the 2009 Cup Final (average age 25) and that which finished to Bolton a few weeks ago (average age 29). This shows it’s an ageing squad…although it is does have raw youth on the periphery….but minimal in-between. The only outfield players in their prime would be Baines, Heitinga and Jags. It’s a similar problem Capello will face at this summer’s Euros when England will struggle to make it past the group stage. Cahill, Neville, Distin and Saha are all in the winter of their careers. All have been terrific servants to the club but out of the 4, only Distin is looking able to continue as a regular starter. The other 3 will (probably) be retained til the end of next season but are now only good enough as cover. Gibson will take the Arteta/Neville midfield slot whilst Coleman will take over as right back competition to Hibbert. Barkley has the tools to replace Cahill as a more natural trequartista however we have no in house replacement for Saha. With the lack of funds, Moyes will continue to try to ‘evolve’ and not ‘revolve’ to coin a well known DJ. ……The above is just some scribbles based on the previews/ reports from the games this season and is in no way presented as any kind of definitive assessment. Please feel free to chip in with further key themes I have missed…. Cheers, EB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyh Posted January 20, 2012 Report Share Posted January 20, 2012 Leon Osman is our highest ranked player in the division for through balls per game but is way down in 63rd position with just 2 all season. Baines has put in more deliveries than any player in the top flight. Bloody hell that just about sums it up for me. I can't remember the last time a ball was played through the middle from midfield to a striker. The only time we play it through the middle is when the cbs hoof it. Only plan is ever to work it wide. Surely Moyes can see this? Doesn't matter what transfer budget you've got - you can tell your players not to work it out wide every ... single ... attack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeO Posted January 20, 2012 Report Share Posted January 20, 2012 I can't remember the last time a ball was played through the middle from midfield to a striker. Landon to Vic last Saturday ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyh Posted January 20, 2012 Report Share Posted January 20, 2012 Landon to Vic last Saturday ? Good point! General point remains though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeO Posted January 20, 2012 Report Share Posted January 20, 2012 Good point! General point remains though. I agree...it was a long time coming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcopaulo Posted January 20, 2012 Report Share Posted January 20, 2012 wasn't vic playing as a wide right mid then though? not technically to the striker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archie HKR Posted January 21, 2012 Report Share Posted January 21, 2012 stats are gash all that matters is that we have been crap so far this season the players and moysie need to pull there finger out tactics have been crap and alot of the players are not fit to wear the shirt of our great club Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louis Posted January 22, 2012 Report Share Posted January 22, 2012 There was an opta stat published on twitter earlier that Everton have conceded the least shots in the league. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcopaulo Posted January 22, 2012 Report Share Posted January 22, 2012 surely the highest shots to goal ratio conceded? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan Posted January 23, 2012 Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 Thanks for taking the time to post this mate its a really good article. Personally I believe that we would stand a good chance of fighting toward Europa League football if we made 3 changes to our squad. 1) We need to buy a playmaker (I know there is money issues etc). Fellaini is an anchorman, Osman (although one of my favorite players in the squad) just is'nt good enough and Gibson I dont think can live up to it. 2) We need a natural goalscorer. Now I know that Beckford isn't exsactly Wayne Rooney standard but he was scoring a few goals for us. He was the best finisher we had in the squad last year and would be our number one striker this season if we would have kept on to him (unless Yakubu would have picked up form). Its very hard to find a proven goalscorer at a decent level for little money. 3) The club needs to introduce more youth into the squad. As you said tanaciousj, the squad isnt getting any younger. Neville celebrated his 600th birthday against Blackburn - which makes me scared because he's one of a handful who are starting to get on. I think the most obvious introductions to the squad should be Barkley, Vellios, Gueye and Duffy. Barkley for obvious reasons, Vellios would be a pacey strikers perfect partner if we played two up top, Gueye I think will come on to be a great player - just give him time and Duffy, well, I dont need to go into that hes been absolutely brill, my hat goes off to the lad. Its not all doom and gloom lads I'm sure a buyer is just around the corner for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevO Posted January 23, 2012 Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 Aidan 1) We have Barkley, he can be a play maker. 2) Agree 100%. 3) Again, agree 100%. I'd rather see a hungry kid play than an aging has been who doesn't have it in his locker anymore. I really can't see a buyer coming anytime soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan Posted January 23, 2012 Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 Aidan 1) We have Barkley, he can be a play maker. 2) Agree 100%. 3) Again, agree 100%. I'd rather see a hungry kid play than an aging has been who doesn't have it in his locker anymore. I really can't see a buyer coming anytime soon. Barkley is'nt ready yet though, although when he is he will be fantastic I have every faith in him. And as for the takeover, all we can do is keep our fingers crossed that it is soon. (but tbh I cant see it coming soon either I was just trying to be positive ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevO Posted January 23, 2012 Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 He may not be 100% ready, but can we afford to spend on someone else for him to replace them in 12 months? Or throw him in at say 80% ready? I'll try to keep positive with you mate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romey 1878 Posted January 23, 2012 Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 Barkley will never be ready if he doesn't play. And he couldn't possibly do any worse than what's already there. I say throw in and bed him into the side this season because it's already a write off and come next season he'll be raring to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowensda Posted January 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 He may not be 100% ready, but can we afford to spend on someone else for him to replace them in 12 months? Or throw him in at say 80% ready? I'll try to keep positive with you mate. Barkley will never be ready if he doesn't play. And he couldn't possibly do any worse than what's already there. I say throw in and bed him into the side this season because it's already a write off and come next season he'll be raring to go. My thoughts exactly....not quite a 'Boom' moment but close. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeO Posted January 23, 2012 Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 Neville celebrated his 600th birthday against Blackburn - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve_E Posted January 23, 2012 Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 Barkley will never be ready if he doesn't play. And he couldn't possibly do any worse than what's already there. I say throw in and bed him into the side this season because it's already a write off and come next season he'll be raring to go. Exactly. "not ready" is bullshit. We all saw him play against Werder Bremen, Villareal and QPR; that kid already has the quality to make a difference "against men". And the fastest way for his game to mature is to play in the Prem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hafnia Posted January 23, 2012 Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 http://thepremierleagueowl.com/2012/01/23/david-moyes-is-restricing-everton-just-as-much-as-the-lack-of-cash/ A very good article - some really good points made. particularly this one: Of all the managers in the Premier League, Moyes probably has the easiest ride – he’s protected by the mitigating circumstances of financial doom. Bad result? We’ve got no money. Good result? Miracle worker. A proper, old-fashioned no-lose situation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevO Posted January 23, 2012 Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 http://thepremierlea...e-lack-of-cash/ A very good article - some really good points made. particularly this one: Of all the managers in the Premier League, Moyes probably has the easiest ride – he’s protected by the mitigating circumstances of financial doom. Bad result? We’ve got no money. Good result? Miracle worker. A proper, old-fashioned no-lose situation. Wow, that is a strong article. But its nothing people here havent said before, and i tend to agree with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan Posted January 23, 2012 Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 (edited) http://thepremierlea...e-lack-of-cash/ A very good article - some really good points made. particularly this one: Of all the managers in the Premier League, Moyes probably has the easiest ride – he’s protected by the mitigating circumstances of financial doom. Bad result? We’ve got no money. Good result? Miracle worker. A proper, old-fashioned no-lose situation. Read the article a couple of hours ago and thought it was stunning. Im not sure if I agree with 100% of it but if the season continues like this then I undoubtedly will. As for Barkely I would'nt mind if he got thrown in this season too. At least it would give us something to be excited about because thus far in my life this is the crappest ive ever felt towards Everton, its just boring football. Edited January 23, 2012 by AidanLewis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hafnia Posted January 23, 2012 Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 Call me crazy, just the introduction of Barkley alone would put bums on seats at goodison. This season is over, as is the career of Neville, Saha and Cahill. Out with them, in with Barkley, Vellios and sell Jags to get in Onuoah and a striker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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