Feeling a bit of dread about Saturday

[tHeArAb]

but when passing lateral and backwards its easier and less chance of going astray. The stats on forward passing would be interesting...

Most likely why Butcher has such a high percentage. More often than not he's passing to someone within 10 yards of himself. Bit of a misleading stat but interesting all the same. Where did you get it from BackRowArab?

[BackRowArab]

Most likely why Butcher has such a high percentage. More often than not he's passing to someone within 10 yards of himself. Bit of a misleading stat but interesting all the same. Where did you get it from BackRowArab?

Modern Fitba/Ortec Sports

Regarding the types of passes, that's where the expected passes come into effect. Expected passes take into account the length of pass, where on the field it is made, etc and is compared to hundreds of thousands of other passes and gives it an expected value of being completed, compared to how many other passes the same have been made.

Its like Expected Goals, but for passes.

[tHeArAb]

Modern Fitba/Ortec Sports

Regarding the types of passes, that's where the expected passes come into effect. Expected passes take into account the length of pass, where on the field it is made, etc and is compared to hundreds of thousands of other passes and gives it an expected value of being completed, compared to how many other passes the same have been made.

Its like Expected Goals, but for passes.

Interesting. So Powers, despite some people thinking his passing is sideways & sh*te, is actually doing better than expected. Butcher would be the best of the three with Harkes the worst, actually worse than expected.

[BackRowArab]

Harkes most likely has the worst expected passing as he plays the furthest forward and tries more "difficult" passes than Butcher. Unfortunately, he still incompletes more of those passes than would be expected.

[Chick A Saw]

Harkes most likely has the worst expected passing as he plays the furthest forward and tries more "difficult" passes than Butcher. Unfortunately, he still incompletes more of those passes than would be expected.

As far as i saw on Saturday, and sometime previously as well, Harkes was passing the ball just to get rid of it, and maybe was the reason Aberdeen had so many chances. More often than not, his longer passes were into areas where our players had not been for several minutes, which begs the question, is he taking time to look for the pass, or is he just getting rid of the ball and shifting the blame?

[BackRowArab]

Judging by the shouts from Mellon every game to "keep the ball moving" I think he is wanting quick passes and no dillying on the ball

[GUNBOAT]

Think this thread title will roll to the end of the season.

[stokearab]

but when passing lateral and backwards its easier and less chance of going astray. The stats on forward passing would be interesting...

Correct. If you play it sideways all the time putting the responsibility onto someone else it's going to increase your completion stats. Stats that say a player made (for example) 85% successful pass completion doesn't tell you about why how and where the 15% passes were cut out by an opponent, or the missed opportunities you lost to play it forward into dangerous positions. There are some far better players in the Premier than the ones listed above who create chances and goals but will possibly have lower completion percentages.

As a matter of interest Backrow can you look up the stats on that site for Ryan Hedges of the Sheep?

[stokearab]

As far as i saw on Saturday, and sometime previously as well, Harkes was passing the ball just to get rid of it, and maybe was the reason Aberdeen had so many chances. More often than not, his longer passes were into areas where our players had not been for several minutes, which begs the question, is he taking time to look for the pass, or is he just getting rid of the ball and shifting the blame?

I watched Southampton v Everton today and spent most of the match watching Stuart Armstrong. I'm not comparing Ian Harkes to Armstrong because they're at a different stage in their careers. But they do both play pretty much the same position. If I was coaching Harkes I'd ask him to watch Armstrong in that 90 minutes and learn.

When the ball came out of the back 4 to Armstrong he didn't play it away immediately he waited until a red shirt was along side him or ahead of him. Then he followed the play and made himself available outside the box. He would take up position in space, offer for the ball, draw players to him and play it away, trying always to create for the forwards ahead of him. A couple of times he ran past the back line and got cross balls into the box for his strikers. It was a masterclass of midfield play and he didn't run around at 100mph to do it. He did it with an economy of energy, mixing short bursts with slower pace and patience. Sometimes I wonder if Ian Harkes thinks because Scottish football is played at a high tempo he has to always play in a hurry. It's definitely holding him back, he's a skilful player and maybe just needs to slow himself down a bit and wait to make a better pass. It'll be interesting to see if playing alongside Jeando imoroves him. Hope so because he seems like a great lad and I'd love to see him being part of a better team.

[BackRowArab]

Correct. If you play it sideways all the time putting the responsibility onto someone else it's going to increase your completion stats. Stats that say a player made (for example) 85% successful pass completion doesn't tell you about why how and where the 15% passes were cut out by an opponent, or the missed opportunities you lost to play it forward into dangerous positions. There are some far better players in the Premier than the ones listed above who create chances and goals but will possibly have lower completion percentages.

As a matter of interest Backrow can you look up the stats on that site for Ryan Hedges of the Sheep?

Hedges' pass completion is 76.65% with an expected passing % of 78.38%