Coolblade
Member
- Joined
- May 11, 2015
- Messages
- 266
- Reaction score
- 1,889
A few observations from the stats (from the away end, with a weary sigh):
As always, only one stat ultimately matters. We won the xG battle 0.82 v 1.06 but the performance says something far more familiar: We’ve handed another winnable game to someone else.
Team set-up: Every Blade with functioning memory knows our most productive flank this season is the partnership of Seriki and Brooks down the right. They run, they beat players, they make things happen. We created by far our highest dribble volumes and right‑side entries when they’ve started together. So, we benched both and we lined up with Chong and Hoever on the right. Their combined first-half output:
- Chong: 19 touches, 0 key passes, 0 dribbles attempted or completed , 1 aerial duel won, 8 passes total, 0 shots, hooked on 59’
- Hoever: 1 dribble, 1 key pass, 53 touches, 75% passing, but a crucial slip on the goal and constant discomfort until he’s removed on 65’
So Southampton just didn’t have to defend the right side and because we stripped our most dynamic flank, everything swung through the left where Burrows (69 touches, 9 crosses, 2 key passes), O’Hare (3 shots, 1 key pass, 83.3% passing), and Cannon (2 shots, 4 aerial wins) tried desperately to generate something resembling threat.
They were willing but predictable, and Southampton simply directed their defensive block towards them.
First half: Southampton’s goal comes courtesy of a sloppy sequence that begins with Hoever slipping, Peck failing to close down swiftly enough and the shot taking a wicked deflection off Arblaster, wrong-footing Cooper entirely. But that’s half their xG. Southampton nearly double it moments later from a corner with Ross Stewart’s header
After that our numbers look pretty strong, Shots: United 8 – Saints 6, Shots on target: United 3 – Saints 1, Box touches: United 11 – Saints 10, xG (open play): United 0.63 – Saints 0.73, Dribbles: United 3 – Saints 1, Passes into final third: United 58 – Saints 63, Duels: dead even at 55–55
Second half: the moment Wilder finally corrects the starting mistakes, things improve. From 60’ onwards: Shots: United 8 – Saints 7; Shots on target: United 3 – Saints 1; Key passes: United 7 – Saints 4; Box touches: United 12 – Saints 11; Set-piece xG: United 0.43
Brooks in 30 minutes completes 3 dribbles, attempts several more, draws fouls, commits defenders, and looks like the only player capable of shifting Southampton’s back line at speed.
Bamford in 25 minutes produces 2 shots, 1 on target, 0.29 xG (the highest of any United player), 1 key final-third combination, and the best chance of the match in the 90th minute. Plus 100% pass accuracy, and 2 duels won
Defence: After the early issues , the back four actually have one of their most statistically solid collective nights.
- Ben Mee: 11 clearances (match-high), 6 aerial duels won, 0 fouls conceded, 76.7% passing, including several long diagonals. Overall Calm, disciplined, dominant
- McGuinness: 3 aerial wins, 4 clearances, 84.1% passing, No dribbles conceded, No fouls
- Burrows: 69 touches (second-most in the team), 2 key passes, 9 crosses, 5 clearances, 2 tackles, one of our best statistical performers.
Team defensive metrics: 31 clearances (to Southampton’s 24), 9 interceptions, 0 errors leading to shots after the opener, xG conceded after the goal: 0.25. Shots allowed inside box: 6 (we had 10)
Southampton didn’t play through, didn’t overwhelm us and didn’t created after the opener.
Midfield: a blend of graft, tidiness, and not quite enough incision
- Peck: 50 touches, 2 key passes, 72.2% passing, 2 tackles, 1 interception, showed [Lots of recycling, helpful under pressure
- Arblaster: unlucky deflection on the goal, but better thereafter with 53 touches, 78.8% passing, 1 interception, 2 clearances, and helped carry us forward second half
However whilst we had some good spells we never controlled the centre for long enough. We miss Riedewald, who provides a balance missing from any other midfield combination
Creativity: we win the metrics, but again lose the only number that counts: xG: United 1.06 – Saints 0.82; Shots: United 16 – Saints 15; Shots on target: United 4 – Saints 3; Shots inside box: United 10 – Saints 11; Set-play xG: United 0.43 – Saints 0.09; Passing accuracy in final third: United 54.9%
We weren’t blunt, we just weren’t sharp. The lack of early threat on the right, combined with sloppy delivery from the left (Burrows 2/9 accurate crosses) meant we built pressure without ever tipping it over into real chances.
Attack: movement, effort, but penetration missing
- Cannon: Ran willingly but lacked supply, with 2 shots, 1 on target and 4 aerial duels won but poor 40% pass completion
- O’Hare: 3 shots, 1 on target; 1 key pass, 83.3% passing and created our biggest chance of the match (although also 2 turnovers)
- Bamford: The best forward on the pitch. See stats above. Should score, should start
Final thoughts: This wasn’t Southampton outplaying us or being smarter, faster or stronger; and It wasn’t a re-run of Charlton’s chaos. It was down to us, slow to start, unlucky with a deflection, unhelped by a baffling selection, and unable to take the chance that would have levelled it.
The good news: the numbers say we’re competitive in nearly every game. The bad news: competitive isn’t enough if we keep sabotaging ourselves. Still the effort was there (in the main) the shape improved after the substitutions, the fight was there, and the performance perhaps deserved more.
On we go.
UTB.
As always, only one stat ultimately matters. We won the xG battle 0.82 v 1.06 but the performance says something far more familiar: We’ve handed another winnable game to someone else.
Team set-up: Every Blade with functioning memory knows our most productive flank this season is the partnership of Seriki and Brooks down the right. They run, they beat players, they make things happen. We created by far our highest dribble volumes and right‑side entries when they’ve started together. So, we benched both and we lined up with Chong and Hoever on the right. Their combined first-half output:
- Chong: 19 touches, 0 key passes, 0 dribbles attempted or completed , 1 aerial duel won, 8 passes total, 0 shots, hooked on 59’
- Hoever: 1 dribble, 1 key pass, 53 touches, 75% passing, but a crucial slip on the goal and constant discomfort until he’s removed on 65’
So Southampton just didn’t have to defend the right side and because we stripped our most dynamic flank, everything swung through the left where Burrows (69 touches, 9 crosses, 2 key passes), O’Hare (3 shots, 1 key pass, 83.3% passing), and Cannon (2 shots, 4 aerial wins) tried desperately to generate something resembling threat.
They were willing but predictable, and Southampton simply directed their defensive block towards them.
First half: Southampton’s goal comes courtesy of a sloppy sequence that begins with Hoever slipping, Peck failing to close down swiftly enough and the shot taking a wicked deflection off Arblaster, wrong-footing Cooper entirely. But that’s half their xG. Southampton nearly double it moments later from a corner with Ross Stewart’s header
After that our numbers look pretty strong, Shots: United 8 – Saints 6, Shots on target: United 3 – Saints 1, Box touches: United 11 – Saints 10, xG (open play): United 0.63 – Saints 0.73, Dribbles: United 3 – Saints 1, Passes into final third: United 58 – Saints 63, Duels: dead even at 55–55
Second half: the moment Wilder finally corrects the starting mistakes, things improve. From 60’ onwards: Shots: United 8 – Saints 7; Shots on target: United 3 – Saints 1; Key passes: United 7 – Saints 4; Box touches: United 12 – Saints 11; Set-piece xG: United 0.43
Brooks in 30 minutes completes 3 dribbles, attempts several more, draws fouls, commits defenders, and looks like the only player capable of shifting Southampton’s back line at speed.
Bamford in 25 minutes produces 2 shots, 1 on target, 0.29 xG (the highest of any United player), 1 key final-third combination, and the best chance of the match in the 90th minute. Plus 100% pass accuracy, and 2 duels won
Defence: After the early issues , the back four actually have one of their most statistically solid collective nights.
- Ben Mee: 11 clearances (match-high), 6 aerial duels won, 0 fouls conceded, 76.7% passing, including several long diagonals. Overall Calm, disciplined, dominant
- McGuinness: 3 aerial wins, 4 clearances, 84.1% passing, No dribbles conceded, No fouls
- Burrows: 69 touches (second-most in the team), 2 key passes, 9 crosses, 5 clearances, 2 tackles, one of our best statistical performers.
Team defensive metrics: 31 clearances (to Southampton’s 24), 9 interceptions, 0 errors leading to shots after the opener, xG conceded after the goal: 0.25. Shots allowed inside box: 6 (we had 10)
Southampton didn’t play through, didn’t overwhelm us and didn’t created after the opener.
Midfield: a blend of graft, tidiness, and not quite enough incision
- Peck: 50 touches, 2 key passes, 72.2% passing, 2 tackles, 1 interception, showed [Lots of recycling, helpful under pressure
- Arblaster: unlucky deflection on the goal, but better thereafter with 53 touches, 78.8% passing, 1 interception, 2 clearances, and helped carry us forward second half
However whilst we had some good spells we never controlled the centre for long enough. We miss Riedewald, who provides a balance missing from any other midfield combination
Creativity: we win the metrics, but again lose the only number that counts: xG: United 1.06 – Saints 0.82; Shots: United 16 – Saints 15; Shots on target: United 4 – Saints 3; Shots inside box: United 10 – Saints 11; Set-play xG: United 0.43 – Saints 0.09; Passing accuracy in final third: United 54.9%
We weren’t blunt, we just weren’t sharp. The lack of early threat on the right, combined with sloppy delivery from the left (Burrows 2/9 accurate crosses) meant we built pressure without ever tipping it over into real chances.
Attack: movement, effort, but penetration missing
- Cannon: Ran willingly but lacked supply, with 2 shots, 1 on target and 4 aerial duels won but poor 40% pass completion
- O’Hare: 3 shots, 1 on target; 1 key pass, 83.3% passing and created our biggest chance of the match (although also 2 turnovers)
- Bamford: The best forward on the pitch. See stats above. Should score, should start
Final thoughts: This wasn’t Southampton outplaying us or being smarter, faster or stronger; and It wasn’t a re-run of Charlton’s chaos. It was down to us, slow to start, unlucky with a deflection, unhelped by a baffling selection, and unable to take the chance that would have levelled it.
The good news: the numbers say we’re competitive in nearly every game. The bad news: competitive isn’t enough if we keep sabotaging ourselves. Still the effort was there (in the main) the shape improved after the substitutions, the fight was there, and the performance perhaps deserved more.
On we go.
UTB.
