Seasons Stats

[atkinsm1]

While obviously the season still has a few twists and turns to play out, I was a bit bored tonight and decided to do my own stats on the season. Also, reflecting on DS's comments this week on wanting to strengthen up front, I wanted to see how we stacked up on goals scored and goals conceded.

- The table, at least for us, well and truly doesn't lie as far as our position goes. We've only taken 1 pt from the teams currently in the top 6 (Draw vs Brighton) and a further 7 pts from teams in 7/8/9th position (most of those in the last couple of weeks vs Cardiff and Ipswich). 86% of our points came vs teams currently below us. Whereas last year we took points off the likes of Norwich and B'Muff, and cocked up against teams below us occasionally, this year it's crystal clear that we're not top 6 material.
- So, is it the lack of a striker, or not scoring enough? The top 6 averaged 65 goals scored, vs our 64, and on goals scored we're currently 4th in the table. Admittedly, Judgey will be unlikely to be with us for some/all of next season, and Sergei and Swift will be heading home, but with Scotty back fit, and Vibe suddenly finding the goals, is that where the main problem is?
- Looking at the defence, we've conceded 64 goals this season, 27 more than the average in the top 6, and 4 more than the average of the teams below us. Let me say that again - 27 goals....and think how many worldies Button pulled off this season to save us in games.

Centre backs, defensive midfield, full backs - that's what we need to be looking at. Stop the leaks, and we will be back pushing for top 6 next season.

 

[epsombee]

But haven't we always struggled for a consistent 20+ goals a season forward/striker/goal machine? I do like the way that we currently have a few players who can chip in with the goals but I would love to see a player for us with 20+ goals a season for at least two seasons. Then we'd sell him in the third year. I have always seen us struggle to keep the other team from scoring. It is almost as though we want them to get at least one goal against us so their fans can go home saying, "weeeelll, at least we got that goal against them..".

 

[jlove]

Defending has been our biggest challenge for a few seasons. A previously well-loved Head Coach clearly did not consider defence a priority and we've lived with that legacy. The recruitment of Bjelland - the only 'experienced' player we've added for years - and the constant links with defensive midfielders indicates that the recruitment team have focused on the leaking of goals and I fully expect that strong attempts to bring in defensive players are being made continuously.

While a 20-goal a season striker is always a good thing, the better measure is the number of goals scored by the attacking four and, unfortunately, we have been unable to field a consistent group this season. Again, we need recruitment in that area, but the main weakness is in the attacking midfield, especially as we have relied on loans and lost Jota and now Judge. Smith seems to have got us back playing more like the "Brentford Way", despite the attentions of well-known posters who think their scouting abilities are second to none, and calls for two-up-top and wingers from the oldies. I expect that new acquisitions will not focus on strikers, although you never know what opportunities are out there!

 

[Frothybaby]

I think I would prefer to have three strikers rotated for next season. If they could get enough goals between them to give us a chance of promotion, yet stay off the top scorer position, we could keep them for a season to develop. Then once they get prolific, we could sell one at a huge financial gain, still have two and then bring in youth players or lower league strikers to start building them up. This would be a better option for wealth creation. Instant 20 goal striker give you a hole once they go and a period of experimentation.

 

[mhead bee]

But haven't we always struggled for a consistent 20+ goals a season forward/striker/goal machine? .

No.

 

[IDontBeeLieveIt]

Bar a few good performances from Canos we don't have a winger. That's the area we're by far the weakest imo and would add strength to the attack and cover to their respective full back. The team had no balance in the middle of the park - the area that's critical for us with 5 in the midfield.
Assuming Bjelland is back and playing well I'm not that worried about the back. I'd probably be only looking for 1 more centre back as I don't think JOC has the pace to cut it at this level. Similarly for midfield a proper battler in the middle like Macca mark II is probably all I'd want us to consider adding. As mentioned on the other thread I'd therefore be hoping for at least two if not three wingers to be recruited. As with the defence, which I think would benefit from cover from better wingers, I think the strikers would suddenly look better with the better service this would bring imo.

 

[Milton Keynes Bee]

Currently have scored more goals away from home than any other Championship side despite having played one away game fewer than all of the others.

 

[PhilE]

Interestingly our goal difference is 0 not just overall but also both home 30/30 and away 34/34.

Also our draws tally is low for the third year in a row - has any team had as few draws as us over the last three seasons - 10 / 9 / 8.

 

[IDontBeeLieveIt]

Also our draws tally is low for the third year in a row - has any team had as few draws as us over the last three seasons - 10 / 9 / 8.

I think that's deliberate and a calculated risk to get more points via wins than draws.

 

[PhilE]

has any team had as few draws as us over the last three seasons - 10 / 9 / 8.

To answer my own question.

Apart from the PL, which seems to have fewer draws overall even when accounting for fewer matches, we have the fourth lowest draw tally over the last three seasons. We have 27 draws, level with Port Vale and behind Rochdale, Hartlepool (both on 26) and Peterborough with an amazing 20.

 

[Justybfc]

I like the no drawing thing, so many teams seem happy to settle for a point and football is primarily for entertainment, win or lose and you know where you stand

 

[psg150]

No.

How many clubs have a 20+ goal striker? Very few and not always the top clubs. Blackburn had two last year and they were still rubbish. Clearly we'd all love one but I'd note that if he had played the full season, Vibe would have probably made the mark. As other posters have noted, what is required is 40+ goals from the front four. No doubt the way we play means that we'll never crack the top ten clubs for least goals conceded, so those goals are ever more important.