The season in stats...

Discussion in 'The Hornets' Nest - Watford Chat' started by Steve Leo Beleck, May 13, 2018.

  1. Steve Leo Beleck

    Steve Leo Beleck Squad Player

    Here's an attempt to see if some of the plethora of stats that are now available can tell us anything about how we did this season.

    A change in style

    Pretty obvious from watching us this season but our style has changed significantly since our first season back in the Premier League. In 2014/15, we played the most long balls in the division, dropping to 8th most last season and this season only 13th. We've also had a significant increase in short passes, from 308 per game (2015/16) and 304 (2016/17) to 352 this season. Simply put, we play the ball on the floor a lot more and have more possession. Key to that is Doucoure, he plays an average of 61 passes per game, way ahead of Cleverley in second on 49 and Capoue in third on 38. So much of our game goes through Doucoure, it will be interesting to see how we adapt if, as expected, he leaves.

    Set piece problems persist

    Quique had us in a good place defending set pieces (joint 6th best for goals conceded) but we conceded the 3rd most last season (17 goals) and now the 2nd most this season (17 again). The lack of a deadball specialist continues to hurt us at the other end as we were 16th for goals scored from set pieces this season, to go with 13th last season and 16th in our first season.

    Discipline improving

    We were the second dirtiest team for yellow (73) and red (3) cards in 2015/16, then the dirtiest team last season with a phenomenal 84 yellows and 5 reds but have improved to only the 7th dirtiest this season (63 yellows, 3 reds). Doucoure was our dirtiest player this season, picking up 10 yellows, with Jose Holebas in second with 7.

    The defence

    Amazingly, we were the 5th best team for limiting shots at our goal, behind only Man City, Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea, and ahead of Arsenal and Manchester United. Despite being the 5th best team for shots allowed at our goal, we conceded the 3rd most goals this season. Not sure what that tells us to be honest - we were a bit unlucky perhaps?

    Injuries, injuries, injuries

    Richarlison was the only player to appear in every league game this season but Doucoure played by far the most minutes (only missing one game through suspension). After that, it's quite a sorry tale. These are the number of league games our players started during the season:

    Doucoure - 37
    Richarlison - 32
    Kabasele - 27
    Holebas - 26
    Mariappa, Gomes - 24
    Cleverley - 22
    Janmaat - 21
    Deeney - 20
    Femenia - 19
    Capoue, Pereyra - 18
    Prodl - 17
    Carrillo, Gray - 16
    Karnezis - 14
    Zeegelaar - 12
    Hughes - 11
    Britos - 10
    Cathcart, Deulofeu, Wague, Chalobah - 5
    Okaka - 3
    Kaboul - 2

    It's pretty clear that for a mid-lower table team to have a really good season, it's imperative that you keep most of your best players fit. Burnley, Brighton and Huddersfield all had 6 players that started over 70% of their games. We only had 3.
     
    PowerJugs, Malteser, TripleH and 13 others like this.
  2. hornetboy1

    hornetboy1 First Team Captain

    That's an extraordinary stat. 5th best at limiting shots at goal, but 3rd worst defensive record. Basically the defence is relegation standard.

    That tells me we are good at retaining the ball. This is down to our ability in midfield. Teams don't get to our goal all that often, but when they do, we do little to keep the shots out. It does seem that every time someone shoots on target, it goes in.

    It all adds up to what we already knew. Midfield is good, defence is crap. Defending from set pieces is pretty bad, although that has improved since Gracia took over.

    Again, another damming stat is taking free kicks. Holebas takes most of them, and is pretty useless at it. 16th at scoring from set pieces is nothing to be proud of.

    Add to this being top of the inept league and it paints a picture where there is massive scope for improvement.

    It's amazing with all this adversity, we actually finished 14th. That's a big achievement.
     
    PowerJugs and folkestone orn like this.
  3. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    No wonder Richarlison is burnt out - about the only one along with Doucouré was hasn't been injured really!

    Holebas beaten for bookings is a surprise!
     
    Bwood_Horn likes this.
  4. WillisWasTheWorst

    WillisWasTheWorst Its making less grammar mistake's thats important

    Don’t be fooled by the passing stats. We spend so much time passing the ball around in our own half allowing the opposition to get nicely back in position. Especially at home.
     
  5. Jumbolina

    Jumbolina First Team

    Doesn’t that stat about shots to goals indicate a poor keeper all things being equal? It’s not what I have seen with my eyes but that is what the stats would tell me.
     
    wfcmoog likes this.
  6. UEA_Hornet

    UEA_Hornet First Team Captain

    I think you'd have to see the types of shots and where they were made from to get better evidence for that.
     
  7. hornetboy1

    hornetboy1 First Team Captain

    It could possibly mean that, but I know Gomes does make a lot of good saves. In the case of Karnezis, he does have quick reactions, but his reach when diving is not that great.

    I think it's a case of our defenders allowing too many clear cut chances, leaving the keeper with very little chance of saving it. Having said that, Karnezis has to take the blame for a few of the recent goals conceded.
     
    PowerJugs likes this.
  8. Steve Leo Beleck

    Steve Leo Beleck Squad Player

    Two further stats related to our players:

    Richarlison suffered the most fouls out of any player in the Premier League, having been fouled 95 times over the course of the season, ahead of Jordan Ayew on 87 and Dele Alli on 84. Something to bear in mind when judging the tail off in his form - he can go to ground easily but he has been kicked from pillar to post and has never hidden in a game.

    Doucoure won the ball in the middle third of the pitch more than anyone else in the Premier League. This has been crucial for us both in an attacking and defending sense and another reason why, despite his levels dropping slightly, I wouldn't be so blasé about him leaving as some on here seem to be.
     
  9. UEA_Hornet

    UEA_Hornet First Team Captain

    Richarlison had 97 shots at goal during the season, which was the third highest total in the league. Only Kane and Salah had more, while Eriksen equalled him. Unfortunately only 24 were on target.
     
    The Voice of Reason and wfc4ever like this.
  10. Forzainglese

    Forzainglese Reservist

    How many tackles did Holebas put in, compared to Doucoure?
     
    wfc4ever likes this.
  11. Forzainglese

    Forzainglese Reservist

    Everyone seems to accept Doucoure will leave this close season, and I understand why. But we would miss him hugely - he gets through a terrific amount of work, never hides and always attempts to be proactive and make things happen. I would hope Watford attempt to keep him, no matter how much is offered for him. I realise this may not be easy but he would be very very difficult to replace.
    Richarlison seems to me to have tremendous potential, but he is not the finished article by a long way. I wonder if many clubs will come in for him at all: He is not yet good enough for any top club to want to play him and why would he move sideways?
     
  12. Forzainglese

    Forzainglese Reservist

    Just one of his short-comings.
     
  13. Hogg-DEENEY!!!

    Hogg-DEENEY!!! Squad Player

    If I were Gino, I'd have a word with him saying he's a talent-sure he'll end up somewhere else in the next few years, but that for next season at least, he's much better off with us. Whether he'll listen or not is another matter
     
  14. wingco

    wingco Reservist

    The real champion of shooting with a blindfold on was Carrillo, 24 shots with 3 on target
     
  15. TripleH

    TripleH Academy Graduate

    How do the stats regarding goals conceded from set pieces compare between Silva and Gracia?
     
  16. lancyclaret

    lancyclaret Academy Graduate


    Burnley actually had their worst season "injury wise" for years with first team starters/regulars missing large chunks of the season.

    Heaton missed 34 games, Brady 23, Defour 14, Wood 12, Lowton 12, Ward 11, Arfield 10, Mee 9, Tarkowski 7. In addition, fringe players like Walters, Marney and Wells were unavailable for most of the season.

    Cork was the only starter who managed to avoid injury.
     
  17. Steve Leo Beleck

    Steve Leo Beleck Squad Player

    I don't think you understand what an injury hit season is. We've topped the injury charts for the last two seasons by some distance. Citing Tarkowski and Mee as examples of players that you missed - they made more starts than all but two of our squad!

    If this was your worst injury season for years then your coaching and medical staff deserve some real credit. Ours are shambles and it's derailed the last two seasons.
     
  18. PowerJugs

    PowerJugs Doyley Fanatic

    I'd agree with this. Hazard's shot in the 4-1 win for example I think would have been saved by Gomes who is class above from a shot stopping PoV but his distribution, especially from feet has always been his biggest downfall. Karnezis is also very timid and unsure handling crosses whereas Gomes is more decisive, even though he tends to punch more his punches are generally assured and get it away from goal. Karnezis holds the ball more and has a better distribution method.
     

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