A few observations from the stats (WBA):

[Coolblade]

A few observations from the stats (WBA):

- starting again with our stand out performer, Brooks had the highest overall score (hardly a shock!) not just for his goal, but for his wide ranging contribution including a pass completion rate of 91%, most successful dribbles (5), two key passes, even joint most successful tackles! A clear MOTM!

- staying on the offense, O’Hare and Gus (back in more usual positions, and better able to work together) were back to being key contributors, between then having 7 out of our 10 key passes. Moore had a weaker game with just 13 attempted passes with a completion rate of 61% (and fewest touches) which is partially down to his role but demonstrated his inability to have any meaningful impact on the game.

- in midfield, Peck having the highest pass completion rate of the team at nearly 95% is perhaps worthy of mention. And our tackle count was 50% higher than against Burnley. Tom Davies with joint most tackles and joint most shots showed his value in both directions.

- defensively, both centre halves scored highly (25 successful defensive contributions between them); we were outdone by another slightly unlucky deflection, and even then Anel was very close to blocking the shot. And both full backs showed good support going forward, with Burrows attempting 8 crosses (next best 2) and Gilchrist with second most successful dribbles (after Brooks).

- one last thought. None of our players won more than three aerial duels (across the pitch). For WBA, Bartley won 8 and Furlong won 7. With Souttar and Souza absent and Moore having a quiet game, we arguably struggled badly in the air - which we will need to address going forward?

 

[cahill]

A bit geeky but have a like sir

 

[Birdwell Blade]

Hey I love that! Thanks for taking the time to do it

 

[SGBlade]

Agree. This stuff is an interesting contribution, cheers.

Would be interested to see what the advanced stats say about us vs west brom’s best and worst players. My sense of the game was that we were slightly the better side in possession and in terms of forcing the game but they had more decent chances (although we had plenty of good openings ourselves). Overall I thought it was a really good game of championship football played by two decent sides.

 

[Barmyblade]

Thanks Cool

The lack of height and strength remains a concern. Against the Baggies we only had 2 players over 6 feet. Anel and Keiffer both at 6 foot 5. Hamer at 5”7 Peck 5”8 Ohare 5”9 Davies 5”11 means our midfield is much smaller than most. Robinson at 5”11 Norrington Davies at 5”11 and Burrows 5”11 means our next tallest defenders are Gilchrist at 6” and McCallum at 6”. McCallum does also has an awesome jump on him.

And opposing fans always seem to say we are a big and strong outfit!!!

 

[FTPE]

Peck dropped into the Norwood space, basically as deep as our centrebacks when we built from the back. He's not afraid of a risky pass but from there most of them were sideways and backwards under very little pressure.
This isn't me calling out Peck, it's just worth considering when people point out how much Hamer lost possession

 

[Coolblade]

Peck dropped into the Norwood space, basically as deep as our centrebacks when we built from the back. He's not afraid of a risky pass but from there most of them were sideways and backwards under very little pressure.
This isn't me calling out Peck, it's just worth considering when people point out how much Hamer lost possession

I agree. If Hamer tries 10 through balls, which results in five key passes and a 50% pass completion rate, then I’m delighted! Which is why I try to balance the stats against the players’ role in the team, and rarely (if ever) call out our attacking players pass completion stats - save in a good way (ie. Brooks’ 91% for his position is outstanding!)

As I repeatedly say, stats are definitely not a complete answer, merely a helpful guide to cross check against any confirmation bias which we all possess.

 

[bakeblade]

Thanks Cool

The lack of height and strength remains a concern. Against the Baggies we only had 2 players over 6 feet. Anel and Keiffer both at 6 foot 5. Hamer at 5”7 Peck 5”8 Ohare 5”9 Davies 5”11 means our midfield is much smaller than most. Robinson at 5”11 Norrington Davies at 5”11 and Burrows 5”11 means our next tallest defenders are Gilchrist at 6” and McCallum at 6”. McCallum does also has an awesome jump on him.

And opposing fans always seem to say we are a big and strong outfit!!!

Add in Soutter at 6.7 and Vini at 6.2, and we did look a big side for the first time in years

 

[Nagima]

The loss of Souttar will dip our heading statistics a bit. I am less worried about defensively as Anel Robinson Gilchrist and Burrows are decent enough in the air.

The midfield and forwards is another matter. If Moore isn't winning in the air that loss isn't being offset. Though I will give 0'Hare some credit. For the size of him he somehow manages to position himself well enough to give him a 50 50 chance of winning it.

I would make more use of McCallum and give him time in Hamers spot. He is a decent enough player but his ability to leap very high is a great asset we should use more.

 

[Birdwell Blade]

Peck dropped into the Norwood space, basically as deep as our centrebacks when we built from the back. He's not afraid of a risky pass but from there most of them were sideways and backwards under very little pressure.
This isn't me calling out Peck, it's just worth considering when people point out how much Hamer lost possession

I was watching Peck closely because my mate was moaning about him playing so deep. What he was actually doing, a lot of the time, was dropping in for Anel/Robbo when one of them made a run forward (in an overlapping CB kind of way). I think CW and co have asked Peck to do this looking at how we were playing, so rather than Peck driving forward, we seemed to be encouraging both CB to do it for that surprise element I think. Might be wrong.

 

[Coolblade]

Agree. This stuff is an interesting contribution, cheers.

Would be interested to see what the advanced stats say about us vs west brom’s best and worst players. My sense of the game was that we were slightly the better side in possession and in terms of forcing the game but they had more decent chances (although we had plenty of good openings ourselves). Overall I thought it was a really good game of championship football played by two decent sides.

Thanks SG.

Unsure what specific stats you are looking for. Xg is generally regarded as the best measure of chances created (as used by Motd) but is still pretty subjective despite attempts to demonstrate and use objective criteria. For example, I have seen one xg analysis for this game state 1.37 vs 1.34 (so a fair result) with another 1.42 vs 0.96 - which suggests we were unlucky.

In terms of objective criteria, most stats for this game were pretty even. To demonstrate how perceptions vary, their worst outfield starter in the stats was Molumby - who I had thought played pretty well!

 

[FTPE]

I was watching Peck closely because my mate was moaning about him playing so deep. What he was actually doing, a lot of the time, was dropping in for Anel/Robbo when one of them made a run forward (in an overlapping CB kind of way). I think CW and co have asked Peck to do this looking at how we were playing, so rather than Peck driving forward, we seemed to be encouraging both CB to do it for that surprise element I think. Might be wrong.

Yeah, I'd agree with that.
I'm no tactician, but wouldn't our midfielders be better breaking forward though than Robbo?

 

[Birdwell Blade]

Yeah, I'd agree with that.
I'm no tactician, but wouldn't our midfielders be better breaking forward though than Robbo?

Same here, I’m no Sausage Rohl tactical genius myself. I’d agree with you, it just looked like they had instructions to push on when they could. Anel used to have it in his locker but you don’t see it so much from him now, especially since we went to 4 at the back.

 

[FTPE]

Same here, I’m no Sausage Rohl tactical genius myself. I’d agree with you, it just looked like they had instructions to push on when they could. Anel used to have it in his locker but you don’t see it so much from him now, especially since we went to 4 at the back.

Oh yeah observation wise I think you're spot on. I'd just prefer Robbo did the defending and Peck drift forward. Anel is cultured enough to spray the ball left and right.

 

[thehet]

If someone could clip all the times Hamer turns over possession needlessly when a better option was on, and disprove this theory that he was trying some outrageously clever pass that would have led to a goal.

Even though he’s our best player, he’s just very careless with the ball. Way more than O’Hare for example.

 

[AWetFlannel]

Yeah, I'd agree with that.
I'm no tactician, but wouldn't our midfielders be better breaking forward though than Robbo?

Think it's more to do with Peck being more likely to thread a quality forward pass from a deep position than Anel or Robbo.