| One set of stats that McKenna needs to take particular notice of 10:01 - Dec 4 with 892 views | ringwoodblue |
I was looking at our stats on Soccerstats as data is my business and these stats stood out for me:
Mins. Goals For/Against
0-15. GF 5. GA 0
16-30. GF 5. GA 2
31-45. GF 7. GA 5
46-60. GF 7. GA 1
61-75. GF 8. GA 6
76-90+ GF 7. GA 6
So thats 12-1 in the first 15 mins of each half (title-winning form) and then 27-19 in the last 30 mins of each half (playoff form)
Why can we not sustain our performance levels throughout the game? Why do we seem to switch off after the first 15 mins of each half? Why do we sit back and invite pressure at the end of games?
McKenna needs to answer these questions if we are to stay in the promotion race this season. [Post edited 4 Dec 2022 10:06]
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| One set of stats that McKenna needs to take particular notice of on 10:49 - Dec 4 with 763 views | Guthrum |
If you're playing a high-energy game, even the fittest players are going to get a little tired. Also, opposition teams will go for it more as the end of the half approaches, looking to gain a moral advantage heading into the break or to win/draw at the end.
We're scoring more in those periods, too. So it's actually that things open up after cagey starts. |  |
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| One set of stats that McKenna needs to take particular notice of on 10:57 - Dec 4 with 743 views | LankHenners |
Naturally players are at their fittest at the start of the game and it's difficult to keep up such high energy levels as the game goes on. Getting off to a flyer then keeping the other team at arm's length is something we did better at the start of the season (MK Dons, Shrewsbury, Bristol Rover for e.g.) but equally sometimes the other team defends well and is able to get their chances later on.
Injuries probably play a part, right now we can't refresh our entire attack and bolster our midfield like we were able to do in the first couple of months because half of them are unavailable, but even despite some poorer results latterly, there's still very few games we've dropped points.
Fleetwood's been the only game recently where we 'sat back and invited pressure' and the only other games I can think of are Plymouth and Wednesday when it was two very good teams making the most of a spell where they were on top.
Absolutely we can improve on getting a killer 2nd, especially at home, but I don't really see it as a huge problem, and am confident it will become less of one once we have the injured players back. |  |
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| One set of stats that McKenna needs to take particular notice of on 11:18 - Dec 4 with 705 views | Darth_Koont |
We always start with high tempo and lots of movement. And the opposition often has to work out what we’re doing too – especially with players like Chaplin, Harness or Edwards having pretty disruptive roles and tasked with looking for the space between the lines instead of just taking up a position.
That’s also in the second half and after any new instructions from McKenna I imagine. But of course as the game and opposition settle then it becomes much more even. Not to mention the opposition often needs to get forward because they’re trailing.
So the stats aren’t all that surprising for the kind of team we are and the league we’re in. They do reinforce what we’ve seen in matches and with all the dropped points — we need to be a lot better at killing games as we can’t manage the high tempo throughout and nor can we expect teams to be paralysed by our attacking play for 90 minutes.
I’m not sure that McKenna wants us to kill games though. Like when we’re really struggling to pass the ball out through a tight press but almost double down on it, it almost seems as if the front 5 or 6 in the team are being told to keep playing their game and keep trying stuff. Maybe that’s a positive thing to concentrate on our strengths and build confidence that way? But might also be a more sober analysis that we’re in league one with Champ/League One players and trying to be clever and effective with game management isn’t that realistic in the long run. |  |
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