We're joint third in goals outside the box (10). That's about 20% of all our goals. I didn't realise we scored so many outside the box. I'm guessing most of them were scored by Harry.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c1l229n3j9go
20% seems like a high figure - but I expect that most of the goals scored from inside the box come from either corners or open play crosses. Given we can't cross a ball for toffee it comes as less of a surprise
Quote from: demeant0r on May 26, 2026, 05:34:33 PMWe're joint third in goals outside the box (10). That's about 20% of all our goals. I didn't realise we scored so many outside the box. I'm guessing most of them were scored by Harry.
Wilson 3
Iwobi 2
Cairney 2
Kevin 1
Reed 1
Tete 1
Quote from: HV71 on May 26, 2026, 05:47:40 PM20% seems like a high figure - but I expect that most of the goals scored from inside the box come from either corners or open play crosses. Given we can't cross a ball for toffee it comes as less of a surprise
We can but some of the good crosses amount to nothing because there's no one in the box. Love Raul but he leaves his striker duties to cover for for his teammates too often.
Makes the case for buying a reliable box striker even stronger !
Castagne, Tete and Sess can all cross on a reasonably consistent basis, it's only Jedi who lets himself down by being so erratic.
Quote from: Chi_FFC on May 26, 2026, 05:57:56 PMQuote from: demeant0r on May 26, 2026, 05:34:33 PMWe're joint third in goals outside the box (10). That's about 20% of all our goals. I didn't realise we scored so many outside the box. I'm guessing most of them were scored by Harry.
Wilson 3
Iwobi 2
Cairney 2
Kevin 1
Reed 1
Tete 1
Some absolute worldies in there TBF.
"last season I led this team in ninth-inning doubles in the month of August."
Only recently heard a pundit saying our problem is that our players are are frightened to shoot from distance!
Quote from: RaySmith on May 29, 2026, 04:58:10 PMOnly recently heard a pundit saying our problem is that our players are are frightened to shoot from distance!
Some of our players are exactly that.
Sander Berge plays deep lying midfield, precisely the position where shots from distance can make a difference over the course of a season. He played 3,000 minutes and managed to screw up the courage to shoot just eight times. Five were on target and none went in. Perhaps he has other qualities. All these goals flying in from outside the box, maybe he's laying them on for others? Surely a deep lying midfielder would be doing that? Nope. One assist all season is all he managed.
They don't do stats for how many consecutive passes by a deep lying midfielder go exclusively to defenders/ the keeper. I once counted ten consecutive passes that met the criteria. We are paying to watch this.
Sadly this is, objectively, timid and dismal. Lukic is a little better, but there's a lot more bark than bite about him.
Incidentally Palhinha played 2,000 minutes and had twenty shots, scoring four goals. For a dreadful Spurs. He kept them up.
Midfield rebuild urgently needed.
Quote from: RaySmith on May 29, 2026, 04:58:10 PMOnly recently heard a pundit saying our problem is that our players are are frightened to shoot from distance!
I do feel though that there are times when our midfield are in good positions they should take a pop.
OK they probably won't score but it plants a seed of doubt in a defenders mind. 'should I stand my ground or go forward and cover the possible shot'
Lampard had the knack of unsettling defences, creating space and scoring some blinding goals.
Quote from: Carborundum on May 30, 2026, 09:52:43 AMQuote from: RaySmith on May 29, 2026, 04:58:10 PMOnly recently heard a pundit saying our problem is that our players are are frightened to shoot from distance!
Some of our players are exactly that.
Sander Berge plays deep lying midfield, precisely the position where shots from distance can make a difference over the course of a season. He played 3,000 minutes and managed to screw up the courage to shoot just eight times. Five were on target and none went in. Perhaps he has other qualities. All these goals flying in from outside the box, maybe he's laying them on for others? Surely a deep lying midfielder would be doing that? Nope. One assist all season is all he managed.
They don't do stats for how many consecutive passes by a deep lying midfielder go exclusively to defenders/ the keeper. I once counted ten consecutive passes that met the criteria. We are paying to watch this.
Sadly this is, objectively, timid and dismal. Lukic is a little better, but there's a lot more bark than bite about him.
Incidentally Palhinha played 2,000 minutes and had twenty shots, scoring four goals. For a dreadful Spurs. He kept them up.
Midfield rebuild urgently needed.
So right, the difference between Palinha and Berge in the middle of the park, is enormous. Always felt Joao would arrive on the edge of the box and have a pop at goal, even though i think i´m right in saying he only got a total of eight goals in the two seasons he was with us. Saved Spurs this season with a similar output.