Stats lie

[Freethinker]

been today and wow totally blown em away could have been six or seven looking at stats 69 percentage to them shots equal at 9 each how's that work

 

[dc_blade]

Second half we let them have the ball for periods so they had a lot of possession without getting anywhere near us. Excellent game management, a big change from last season.

 

[Guesty]

been today and wow totally blown em away could have been six or seven looking at stats 69 percentage to them shots equal at 9 each how's that work

Simple, for most of the second half we let them have the ball.

When we got it, we looked to move it forward quickly and cut them open. Often it worked, but when it didn't they got the ball back quickly. They just knocked it from side to side interminably until they worked out whose turn it was to throw himself to the floor (hint: it was usually Grealish's turn).

 

[Chali 2na]

As said above, we let them have the ball for large patches so the possession stat is to be expected.

The shots may have been similar, but I don't think there's any doubt that we created the better chances

 

[Lil red rooster]

only one stat matters .

 

[Guesty]

As said above, we let them have the ball for large patches so the possession stat is to be expected.

The shots may have been similar, but I don't think there's any doubt that we created the better chances

I wonder how many shots were from good goalscoring positions? I'd wager we'd have a lot more, but then two of our goals came from miles out so maybe not.

 

[Beans]

Restricted them to just two shots inside the box, everything else from long range (and a heck of a lot of them blocked - the grey arrows). Basically let them have the ball for last 20-30 and did a hell of a job stopping them doing anything with it.

By the time our 4th went in they’d taken 3 shots of which all were outside box and 0 on target.

 

[DronnieBlade]

Some of the play patterns today, especially 1st half were, honestly, as good as you will ever see.

Terrific stuff, and I hope the gaffer has given em all a few days off.

UTB

 

[Guesty]

Restricted them to just two shots inside the box, everything else from long range (and a heck of a lot of them blocked - the grey arrows). Basically let them have the ball for last 20-30 and did a hell of a job stopping them doing anything with it.

By the time our 4th went in they’d taken 3 shots of which all were outside box and 0 on target.

Ha, nailed it.

Some of the play patterns today, especially 1st half were, honestly, as good as you will ever see.

Terrific stuff, and I hope the gaffer has given em all a few days off.

UTB

That's the pity with not having MOTD style highlights, we don't get to see the bits that don't end in a clear chance. That sequence with Fleck dummying it, getting it back and playing it down the left flank was absolutely glorious. We won a corner but you won't see it on TV I'd wager.

 

[blade too long]

Ha, nailed it.



That's the pity with not having MOTD style highlights, we don't get to see the bits that don't end in a clear chance. That sequence with Fleck dummying it, getting it back and playing it down the left flank was absolutely glorious. We won a corner but you won't see it on TV I'd wager.

Might do we get extended highlights

 

[Freethinker]

I wonder how many shots were from good goalscoring positions? I'd wager we'd have a lot more, but then two of our goals came from miles out so maybe not.

yes the point am making if you hadn't been to the match today and looked at the stats you would have concluded villa were a lot closer to us than what actually happened

 

[Guesty]

yes the point am making if you hadn't been to the match today and looked at the stats you would have concluded villa were a lot closer to us than what actually happened

Oh I fully agree. Possession is fine but when it's sterile like there's was it doesn't tell the story of the match. Similarly you can shoot all you want from 30 yards and on the stats it'll look like a well worked chance taken from six yards.

 

[Topplayersleave]

We might have let them have the ball in non threatening areas in the second half
But how the BBC got the possession at 53% - 47% in Villa's favour at half time is beyond me.