The below isn't opinion, it is just statements being made on the basis of looking purely at goals conceded data when on the pitch. Rank in terms of goals conceded in brackets. I don't believe too much should be read into any one piece of data. For example - players who come off the bench a lot towards of the end of games where we concede will see a huge impact on their numbers. So I am not surprised regular subs like Moreno, Milner & Chamberlain score worst here. Likewise, anybody who avoided playing in teh spurs and man city loses will be spared a big hit in their numbers.
1. Our best keeper is Karius (1)
2. Our best back 4 is: Gomez (9) - VVD (6) - Klavan (3) - Robertson (2)
3. Our best midfield 3 is: Gini (5) - Hendo (7) - Can (13)
4. Our
best only forward 3 is: Mane (4) - Salah (
- Firmino (11)
Subs: Migs (16), Lovren (9), Matip (14), Trent (12), Moreno (18), Milner (15), Chamberlain (17)
What might that suggest?
1. Karius instead of Migs makes a huge difference.
2. Robertson instead of Moreno makes a huge difference.
3. VVD instead of Matip makes a huge difference.
4. We suffer when either Gini or Hendo is out.
5. Klavan deserves the new contract he is reportedly being offered. He has the best goals against record of all center backs and has the best on the ball numbers of them all too. Although clearly has some weaknesses to his game (Aerial numbers), his strengths massively outweigh his weaknesses.
Now for the mind fuck part of it. Moreno keeps more clean sheets per 90 than Robertson. Work that one out!!!
Again - probably a result of Moreno playing in several high scoring games like Man City, Spurs, Watford.
Digging into these a bit more.
1. We very rarely concede from outside the box when Gini, Hendo or Karius plays (midfield pressure on the ball? It is something people were critical of Can in the past (e.g. Wanyama) and Milner recently (Nainggolan).
2. We concede most from outside the box when Klavan, Can, Trent, Milner & Migs play. (weird to see Klavan as having the best goals against record but the worst from outside the box. Poor defensive headers? Doesn't close people down?)
3. Gini & Hendo block the least shots of our central midfielders - good positioning rather closing down then?
4. Klavan blocks almost half as many shots as our other center backs - the above makes some sense now.
Okay one last one that I think you may like - who is our most effective corner taker?Firmino (1 Corner, 1 Key Pass) 100%
Trent (9 Corner, 3 Key Pass) 33%
Moreno (3 Corner, 1 Key Pass) 33%
Henderson (5 Corner, 1 Key Pass) 20%
Chamberlain (32 Corners, 5 Key Passes) 16%
Salah (57 Crosses, 7 Key Passes) 12,3%
Milner (60 Crosses, 7 Key Passes) 11,7%
So it seems Firmino took one, created a chance, then quit while he was ahead
I think the eye test here rings true. Many have commented this season that Chamberlain and Trent put in the best corners. The others at the top are just low sample size and can be ignored. Trent numbers should also have a pinch of salt with them for that reason but his crossing technique is outrageous so I suspect he will keep better numbers than most.
