Interesting statistics from Opta (sky page)

[Skillz]

We dominate the midfield area and in alot of games have had our opponents stuck in their own half for large parts of the game. This leaves our defence just behind the half way line and us sending in crosses left right and centre.

 

We also slow games down a lot particularly away from home meaning less passes.

[Spanish_fan]

1. Arsenal 475 passes per game

2. Man United 439

3. Chelsea 431 passes

4. Liverpool 400 passes

5. Spurs 371 passes

[Mike]

we only use one pass where other teams use two.

absolute meaningless b******s spanish fan.

[DecidedByPoll]

1. Arsenal 475 passes per game

2. Man United 439

3. Chelsea 431 passes

4. Liverpool 400 passes

5. Spurs 371 passes

 

 

When you bring stats about where the passes are made and who makes them it's fairly pointless exercise. Man UNited's center halves sit very deep and play the ball between them alot, we don't. We find Xabi a bit of room and allow him to find the point of attack, it takes less passes, but can be as equally as effective.

 

Is there a point to this?

[Swan Red]

I wouldn't bother Mike

[CarraLegend]

1. Arsenal 9983 passes

2. Man United 9679 passes

3. Chelsea 9502 passes

4. Spurs 8166 passes

5. Liverpool 8010 passes

 

If there is a long ball team among the top teams in England that is Liverpool.

I am surprised to see Chelsea in third position, but that is probably due to the fact that opposing teams defend a lot against them and thus their back four are relatively free to pass the ball among themselves. I keep insiting that modern defenders don't need only to defend well but also need to be comfortable on the ball, which is not the case of Liverpool's. Valencia played many long balls from the defense but nowhere near the amount Liverpool do.

What do people think is the reason for Liverpool making fewer passes than the "used to be the big three". Benitez tactics or lack of technical ability?

 

You really dont like Liverpool do you? You seem absolutely determined to make out we're some sort of lacking in technical ability long ball team. You're bordering on the obsessed with it.

[Stevie H]

1. Arsenal 475 passes per game

2. Man United 439

3. Chelsea 431 passes

4. Liverpool 400 passes

5. Spurs 371 passes

 

we play 75 passes less than arsenal per game and are comfortably above them in the league as a result. works for me.

[Spike]

1. Arsenal 9983 passes

 

of which 9983 were little bits of interplay on the edge of the oppo's box as they fanny about trying to walk the ball into the net.

[Stevie H]

Is there a point to this?

 

none whatsoever.

[Reggie]

Arsenal play games as if it were a five a side. Little one touch passes which in the end get them nowhere, against the top teams.

 

Liverpool on the other hand get down the flanks (Kewell and Finnan mostly), and whip balls into the box. Not twenty passes before we even get near the box.

 

I know which style I prefer watching at the moment.

[Spanish_fan]

The stats are slightly misleading as we've played a couple of games less than other teams. However, we do play a higher percentage of long passes than the other teams. This is in part because we have a number of players who can accurately pass that long, and we'll often see Alonso hitting a 40 yards ball to the wide midfielder, which stats don't account for.

 

IN terms of answering your questions, I think it's a bit of both. Some players need to be better at retaining the ball but with Crouchie in the team now we're willing to hit a long ball in the knowledge he will probably get something on it. I know this relates to your thread about players at the back needing to be better, or maybe more clever on the ball, which in essence was true, but the great strength of the side currently is not giving chances to the opposition. If this means wellying it downfield when it's called for then fair enough.

 

I don't care if we play alot of long balls or not. I like the fact that there's a variance in tactics and the way we play. If Arsenal learned to play a few more long balls they may be higher in the league (hence buying Adebayor (sp?).

 

I am not against the long ball tactic at all. I am very much in favour of mixing the short passing and the long passing, and you are right that Arsenal should be playing more long balls (and Barcelona), but I see many times Liverpool squander possesion because many players are not able to pass it well under the slight pressure. And that is an area of the team that needs improving IMO.

[CarraLegend]

but I see many times Liverpool squander possesion because many players are not able to pass it well under the slight pressure.

 

And that happens at every football club in the world.

[AJ The Red]

Its easily sorted just tel Carra and Hyypia to pass the ball an extra time to each other each time they recieve it .. job done

[Bailo]

Wait till John L reads this - he's a well-known lover of total football and the main proponents of it.

[Guest Anders Honoré]

Or tell Alonso not to swing the ball out wide but instead pass it to whoever is next to him and then they pass it again.

 

Are you saying alonso is a longball merchant?

[Guest corf]

Are you saying alonso is a longball merchant?

 

Areant both gerrard and alonso long ball merchants? thats why we bought crouch. Rafa is the new graham taylor.

Edited January 20, 2006 by corf

[Crazy Horse]

I've done some statting of my own. Number of passes required to gain one point in the league.

 

1. Chelsea 155.8

2. Liverpool 182

3. Spurs 204.2

4. Man United 215.1

5. Arsenal 269.8

 

From which I conclude that the more you pass, the less likely you are to score points. So, Spanish Fan, your point is?

[adayinthelife]

Valencia played many long balls from the defense

 

 

I don't care if it's the right ball.

[Extraordinary Swindle]

In fact it has already happened this season but Benitez in his own words has Liverpool working at 70% of what he wants. Part of that 30% remaining will be having better players on the ball, especially defenders.

Should that not be 73.33%? (44 points from a possible 60).

[John am Rhein]

IF we can get defenders who are better on the ball then great - as long as they can actually defend.

 

But we're not doing so bad with out 'long ball tactics'. If they win the European Cup then they must be good.

[kop205]

Christ on a bike, what the f*** are those stats meant to prove? He'll be saying next that Xabi Alonso just hoofs it - after all, just look at the Luton game, smacking the ball 60 yards up field with no intention of finding a red shirt...

 

Does anyone seriously think we are a 'long ball team' in the 'hit and hope' sense of the term.

 

We have players adept at hitting long passes. There is a difference between that and aimless long balls.

 

I think our football is excellent to watch and when that hasn't been the case over the last few years, I've been ready to say so.

[CarraLegend]

Christ on a bike, what the f*** are those stats meant to prove? He'll be saying next that Xabi Alonso just hoofs it - after all, just look at the Luton game, smacking the ball 60 yards up field with no intention of finding a red shirt...

 

Does anyone seriously think we are a 'long ball team' in the 'hit and hope' sense of the term.

 

We have players adept at hitting long passes. There is a difference between that and aimless long balls.

 

I think our football is excellent to watch and when that hasn't been the case over the last few years, I've been ready to say so.

 

He seems to be obsessed with saying we're a long ball team who's defenders have no ability on the ball whatsoever and thinks putting up crappy stats makes him look good but its the total opposite, he's a bizarre character. Is he Charlie Nicholas?

[owenthomas]

..he's a bizarre character. Is he Charlie Nicholas?

[Guest miketyson]

Arghhh..

 

Stats..

 

Put 3 men & 3 women in the same room & stats will tell you that the average person has one testicle.

[Guz]

I keep insiting that modern defenders don't need only to defend well but also need to be comfortable on the ball, which is not the case of Liverpool's.

 

If ever there was a game needed to illustrate one of our big weaknesses, this was it. First half particularly, our distribution from the back was poor. All over the pitch our passing wasn't at it's finest but god help me it pains me so much when our defenders look up and play it long (not necesarilly hoofing it but still long) rather than move with the ball a further 10-15 yards and look for one of our midfield. We can't conceed posession so easily against teams like United. Even if it includes dead posession and just keeping the other team from the ball - do it but for the love of god Sami, Carra, Stevie and John - please please please pass the ball along that green stuff out there as the first option and then look long if needed, not the other way round.

Edited January 22, 2006 by Guz