Stats going into Saturday

Saturday looks set to be an interesting prospect; Crewe are almost the polar opposite of us - fast out of the blocks and then languid in the second half. They’re top of the first half table, having scored 8 and conceded 2 but near the bottom for the second half with 6 goals against and just the 1 goal scored.

Unsurprisingly, we’re more or less the reverse of that. Tables here for reference:

https://www.soccerstats.com/halftime.asp?league=england4

Looking a little deeper at their xG progression over 90 minutes on the excellent Experimental 361 site, it is evident that they have so far posed very little threat in the second half of games. This is a typical example; a very busy first 40 minutes and then absolutely nothing after that.

[img]https://experimental361.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/2022-08-20-crewe-northampton.png?w=390&h=&zoom=2[/img]
Is that a fitness thing, something else or a mere random quirk? If it’s the former you’d like to think we have a good opportunity if we can hold our own in the first half. I’d expect the emphasis will be on us being resolute in the opening period of the game.

Some other interesting graphics on there. This one suggests that we’ve been pretty busy going forward but conceding too many opportunities (though crucially not goals).

[img]https://experimental361.files.wordpress.com/2022/09/2022-09-07-103-ad.png[/img]
This graphic though just reaffirms the good work our back 5 have been doing, and I don’t expect that to change drastically any time soon.

[img]https://experimental361.files.wordpress.com/2022/09/2022-09-07-103-def.png[/img]
Finally, Tuesday night’s opponents Gillingham must be an absolute joy to watch. They have scored 1 goal in 7 games and are bottom of the away table having lost all 3 games, scoring 0 and conceding 6.

[img]https://experimental361.files.wordpress.com/2022/09/2022-09-07-103-att.png[/img]
If we can find away to snaffle 3 points off Crewe on Saturday, we’ve got a fantastic opportunity to really string some results together. Interesting and exciting times.

P.S. more graphics and stats here:

https://experimental361.com/category/divisions/league-2/

I really like that site, some very interesting stats so far.

It seems we have had the most 'effective defence'. Does that mean we've been very good at blocking shots and forcing attackers to take shots in less favourable positions, or does it suggest that our opponents have been just as wasteful as us and we're going to start being punished soon? I'm optimistic that it's a result of the former because we've already played 4 of the 8 teams that have a higher xG than us so far.  

That Gillingham stat is mental.

I guess our defence is like having a really good credit rating.

You need to borrow money to prove you can pay it back to get an excellent credit rating. We appear to concede a fair few shots but we're really good at keeping them out.

You don't get a credit rating if you don't borrow. If our defence isn't tested we'll never know how truly effective they are.

Good signs, if you ask me.

Listening to a podcast this morning & they said Crocombe has the highest shot/save percentage in the division at about 88%. Not bad going.

Quoted from ska face

Listening to a podcast this morning & they said Crocombe has the highest shot/save percentage in the division at about 88%. Not bad going.

That doesn’t surprise me. He’s been absolutely superb.

Hate coming up against teams with stats like this. The longer a run is, the more likely it is about to end.

Presumably, if Crewe score early and do nothing in the second half it's because they are trying to defend the early lead?  That's what I'd infer from those stats, potentially a negative approach after half time to hold on to a lead maybe.

Quoted from ska face

Listening to a podcast this morning & they said Crocombe has the highest shot/save percentage in the division at about 88%. Not bad going.

That's a ridiculously high save percentage. He's gone from strength to strength since coming in.

Still have no idea what xg is

Yawn