Season review in statistics: The defence.

[sloth]

Found these interesting stats on whoscored.com. Supposed to be a general discussion about our defence though, and if anyone wants to add stats of their own that would be great.

 

[sloth]

Looking at the above it looks like we concede the fewest shots per game, make a lot of tackles per game, particularly at home, make far more interceptions per game, and yet commit very few fouls. All good stuff, but then how come we conceded more goals than any of the other seven?

 

[Wardy]

Sandro

 

[stonecolddeanaustin]

Looking at the above it looks like we concede the fewest shots per game, make a lot of tackles per game, particularly at home, make far more interceptions per game, and yet commit very few fouls. All good stuff, but then how come we conceded more goals than any of the other seven?

The use of a high line. It results in most of the play being in the opposition half or away from our goal as we press the midfield, which results in fewer shots per game against us. It also results in a compressed pitch which aids the interception and tackle count. However, when it does get broken, the shots taken are usually good opportunities and so have a higher conversion rate than your standard chance.

 

[bugsdad]

Looking at the above it looks like we concede the fewest shots per game, make a lot of tackles per game, particularly at home, make far more interceptions per game, and yet commit very few fouls. All good stuff, but then how come we conceded more goals than any of the other seven?

Set pieces. Defended so poorly against them and also full backs allowed too many crosses to come in.
Indicates that both our backs were weak defensively.

 

[ShelfSide18]

Intuitively I suspect that this shows that, as many of us have noticed, is that whilst the collective defensive ethic and organisation has improved this year, this is still undermined by individual defensive errors. We also were very poor at defending set pieces at the back end of the season.

I think stats like this show that good progress has been made as a team collective, but the personnel we've had can be questioned. You look at Walker, Benny, Daws, Naughton, Gallas and there are question marks over them for various reasons. You need to match that collective organisation with highly capable players and I think under Redders we had less organisation but better players, under AVB we've had more organisation and lesser players, so in many ways it looks as if we haven't improved (this is defensively and offensively here) - the key is for AVB to get better players in to make his system more effective. This has been a case I've made from what my eyes have told me this season, the stats maybe back that up.

I'd also be highly interested to see the difference between those stats with Parker and Sandro in the side too, not as a means to criticise Parker who I think has played well, but by the change in dynamic of our central midfield since Sandro got injured which I suspect may have had an impact on the way we defend.

 

[LeSoupeKitchen]

I'd like to see the Arsenal stats for when Mertesacker and Koscielny played together.

 

[mpickard2087]

Set pieces would definitely account for a large part of it in my opinion.

 

[Ribble]

I'd like to see the Arsenal stats for when Mertesacker and Koscielny played together.

Here's a few (apologies for that fecking badge):

 

[Wardy]

Here's a few (apologies for that fecking badge):

I still can't work out how they managed this. They're both VERY average

 

[stemark44]

Brad Friedel in goal at the start of the season didn't help.
I would also factor in Ekotto at LB and Dawson and Gallas at CB.

 

[Main Man]

We had that phenomenal spell where we only conceded one shot on target in 4 games.

But then teams switched on to our high line and exploited it. Repeatedly.

Our defensive frailties cost us Champions League, not our centre forward (or lack of).

 

[Ribble]

I still can't work out how they managed this. They're both VERY average

They're not amazing but they know their roles and stick to them. They don't need to worry about too much else bar getting it to Arteta to start attacks. This is unlike Vermaelen who, despite being their biggest 'name' in defence and supposed captain, is utterly wank at sticking to his job or leading the back line.

 

[thePessimist]

We had that phenomenal spell where we only conceded one shot on target in 4 games.

But then teams switched on to our high line and exploited it. Repeatedly.

Our defensive frailties cost us Champions League, not our centre forward (or lack of).

then how come our stats come out so good?

 

[Kingellesar]

If you take away the Chelsea H and Arsenal A, our goals conceded would be as good as the rest, if not better. Those two games we played far too open and high (Ade getting sent off didn't help) so yeah I think our defence has done wonders. Just think we have Sandro and Kaboul to come into it again too.

Now, these damn strikers.

 

[vegassd]

I think it would be interesting to see the split of first half / second half of the season as it would pretty much sync up with the departure of Sandro. It certainly felt like we were letting quite a few goals in since Christmas.

 

[gregga]

Also, much as admire him as a keeper, Lloris' shot stopping abilities are average at best. When a shot does come in, he rarely makes anything other than routine saves. However, he frequently intercepts through balls before the striker can latch on to them, further reducing the number of shots we concede.

 

[beats1]

Looking at the above it looks like we concede the fewest shots per game, make a lot of tackles per game, particularly at home, make far more interceptions per game, and yet commit very few fouls. All good stuff, but then how come we conceded more goals than any of the other seven?

If you notice alot of our goals have come due to either
1. set pieces, without Caulker we seem to struggle
2. Freidel, slow off his line and gets caught out
3. DM, since Sandro has gone both Parker and Dembele have made silly runs at the same time leaving us exposed and the defence looking rabbits in the headlights

 

[IGSpur]

Looking at the above it looks like we concede the fewest shots per game, make a lot of tackles per game, particularly at home, make far more interceptions per game, and yet commit very few fouls. All good stuff, but then how come we conceded more goals than any of the other seven?

I think I read somewhere earlier in the season, and it wouldn't surprise me knowing our luck, that the percentage of chacnes converted is the highest amongst us. So despite the fact we give so few opportunities, when strikers face us they just always seem to be clinical. Ahh to be a Spurs fan

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Found these interesting stats on whoscored.com. Supposed to be a general discussion about our defence though, and if anyone wants to add stats of their own that would be great.

Sloth, the thing I would make clear when posting stats like these is that they are the whole teams defensive stats. Not just the stats for "The Defence". A lot of the data will refer to other areas of the pitch. The ability to defend well all over the pitch will contribute to those stats above.

I'm not saying that was your intention, just that by labelling it "The defence" makes it sound like we are only talking about the back 4/5.

I think one of the reasons for some of those stats above is that AVB has got the advanced players defending better/more coherently as a group.

If I have some time later I will try to dig up some stats to corroborate this.