Selby White wrote:Can see what you are saying ISR but have to disagree with your statement on the best/worst defence in the league(based on chances created).
The thread is about "the big picture" looking at 10 matches not one or two individual moments and on the face of it if you look at strike rate per chance your argument does carry a point.
However its what constitutes a chance and the quality of the chance. Many of our shots are from distance or in a packed penalty area because of the way teams set up against us and not clear cut. Alternately the few chances opponents get (other than long punts) are often a little more clear cut because its often on the counter and not so many defenders about.
In this instance I would expect a better strike rate.
I think people need to stop reading the BBC stats and actually judge what is happening, always hard to score against packed defences. A shot from 20yards through a crowded penalty area isn't the same as a tap in from 6yards with defenders scurrying back.
For me the fact we limit our opponents to so few chances, have conceded less and have more clean sheets tells me so far this season our defence is the best in the division.
Firstly - as you correctly identify -Im not actually saying we have the worst attack or defence in the league, and obviously the way teams and we are set up is an important factor. My assessment is not actually based on BBC stats (however I suspect if I looked at the shots on goal to goals figs to goals - I’m pretty sure I’d be more or less right) my assessment is based on attending games, where our conversion rate, particularly defensively is poor.
Again this is merely anecdotal but demonstrates the point in question. Corners - on average this season we will have had between 12 & 15 corners per league game and have yet to score. The opposition will have had less than half that figure and have scored 3 goals from 1st or 2nd phase play.
As regards the big picture if your competitive set (as was the case last season Norwich / Sheff Utd - quote bielsa ) converts 3 times as many chances as yourself Its hard to conclude you are more potent in attack. As regards the defence, we look solid as teams invariably don’t have the ball to attack us, if and when they do, on that rare occasion we are under pressure there is a good chance they score. The combination of our inability to finish off teams and our defensive fragility creates a level of tension in the stands that transmits to the players, which will only increase as the season progresses.
My big picture conclusion Re the first 10 games, is we are playing exhilarating football; our performances have been good we should have taken 30 points. The only games we could and should have possibly dropped a point were WBA, Barnsley and Swansea. Our performance level will however drop off for a period and If we are to get promoted we need to address our shortfalls in both defence and attack. I also believe our defensive weaknesses also comprise our selection and point man in attack.
I will put my neck on the line here selby and offer a little foresight of our 11th game. I’m not sure we will win, lose or draw, but we will have double the amount of chances and corners to Millwall, however they will score from one of those corners and we won’t. Let’s hope I’m wrong.
