I think it’s going to be interesting with the new forward options we have in Draper, Taylor and Moylan, how much having strikers to sniff out chances has been our problem, or strikers who allow us to get up the pitch and create more, versus weaknesses in the build up and ability to create throughout the team, and the defensive playing style.
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As of today (typed on 9th January), compared to other League One teams we are still:
Bottom for number of touches in the opposition box – we have had 370, the next lowest is Wigan 399 and then Burton 435. For context, Peterborough have played a game less but have more than double (744), eight teams in total are over 600.
Bottom for accurate crosses per match – 2.6 – for context again, 6 teams have over 5, Portsmouth top at 5.8. Our crossing success rate is also low (19.4%) – only three other teams under 20% – perhaps new targets might help.
23rd for total corners – 94 – the top is 193 (!) with the 11 teams having 140 or more.
20th for shots on target per match – 3.3 (bottom Burton 2.8). Interestingly we have a high shot conversion rate still, which doesn’t tend to align with having poor forwards? Although some have been outside the box, or with limited shots we’ve scored a few pens.
19th for expected goals – 26.2, although we’ve scored 29. Doesn’t always align with poor forwards if you’re scoring at a better rate – if you compare with say Exeter, who have an expected goals of 28.6 but only 18 goals. The most in the division is 48.7 (Posh – 50 goals). A few of our goals have been low percentage shots I think (think Hamilton, Erhahon from range) rather than creating gilt-edged chances.
13th for big chances missed – 24 big chances missed – the most is 46 (!) and the lowest is 17.
Hopefully the main measures we will improve on for the second half of the season are goals and points, but it’ll be interesting to see if some of these other attacking efficacy measures also improve, some of which seem to show more issues in the build up and chance creation (but admittedly, a lack of forwards can also play a part in that).
I wonder if we will now also see full backs/some pace added to the team to help provide ammo for the new forwards, or how much we think the forwards are a fix for our problems!
Writer: Rasenimp
Thank you to Graham Burrell and Lincoln City Football Club for the photograph!
