Passing and the Niasse effect, much better from Ralls
It would be not too far wide of the mark to suggest that 2 of our best performances this season have followed 2 of our worst. The introduction to the side of a specialist forward who knows the Premier League has seen someone who has been able to hold the ball up, while showing a burst of speed and strength our attack has lacked with Zohore being awol for most of the season.
I thought I'd have a look at our passing stats from the last 4 games to see what has changed. These are all taken from whoscored, so their stats are presumed correct and whatever their definitions are of certain pass types, these are to be accepted.
The first thing to notice that our pass success rate has risen over the last 2 games. We managed nearly 72% passing accuracy at the Emirates, marginally better than the season-long rate of Burnley and Newcastle. I suspect it's going to need to stay closer to that rate for us to have a chance of avoiding relegation. It dipped to 63% against Bournemouth, but we created far more chances than we did against Newcastle, where our passing success rate was 60%.
Part of the reason for our improved passing stats is that, against Arsenal and Bournemouth, our long ball success rate has been well above our season average. Our main long ball hitter, Etheridge, has similarly seen a big increase in the success rate of his hoofs upfield.
We've also seen an increase in the number of long balls we play, no doubt looking to seek out Niasse. We completed 450 passes in our last two games, compared with 595 against Huddersfield and Newcastle - further proof that when we have the ball for spells and look to break down teams, we are not the best, yet create chances by going longer.
It's noticeable that we have played a longer ball game in our last two home matches than our last two away. Against Bournemouth, our back 4 booted away 35% of all their passes. Sol Bamba whacked away nearly a third of his passes, yet played long balls only around 13% of the time at Arsenal and Newcastle. Maybe Warnock has told him to stop thinking he's Franz Beckenbauer.
Joe Ralls has really stepped up his performances as well. While I am not certain what whoscored.com defines as a 'key pass', Ralls had managed 13 in 17 performance before the Newcastle game. He's hit 9 in his last 3 games while his pass success rate, previously at around 65%, has seen rates of 75%, 77% and 82% in his last 3 matches. He's now hitting more key passes and successful passes than Camarasa; a hero a month ago against Leicester but arguably not guaranteed to get back into the side. If we are going to go a bit longer more often, Paterson may well keep his right midfield free role.
Re: Passing and the Niasse effect, much better from Ralls
It’s a lot easier to pass when you’ve got teammates looking for the ball and movement in front of you.
Re: Passing and the Niasse effect, much better from Ralls
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Lawnmower
It’s a lot easier to pass when you’ve got teammates looking for the ball and movement in front of you.
Absolutely, and that is where Niasse and Reid have made a difference.
As for Camarasa, he has to come straight back into the starting XI once fit as he is still our best midfielder.
Re: Passing and the Niasse effect, much better from Ralls
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Blue blood
Absolutely, and that is where Niasse and Reid have made a difference.
As for Camarasa, he has to come straight back into the starting XI once fit as he is still our best midfielder.
With so much pace available to us surely playing from the back now and then would give us more possession to play a more accurate long pass to the runners up front. Its depressing watching Etheridge just lump it upfield every time he has the ball.
As well as Paterson played yesterday NML would add to that pace in attack and he can finish as we saw against Arsenal, Paterson is there for the flick ons from the long ball but how accurate are these flick ons? they usually end up just giving the opposition the ball back
Re: Passing and the Niasse effect, much better from Ralls
Quote:
Originally Posted by
pulsy
With so much pace available to us surely playing from the back now and then would give us more possession to play a more accurate long pass to the runners up front. Its depressing watching Etheridge just lump it upfield every time he has the ball.
I think Etheridge has been outstanding this season ... but I have one major criticism of him, which is his speed of distribution. The amount of times we have 3 on 3 with pace to burn and he holds on to it. Then when their defence gets back he boots it. With Niasse on point we should be looking for quick flat kicks at least 2/3 times per game.
Re: Passing and the Niasse effect, much better from Ralls
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Des Parrot
I think Etheridge has been outstanding this season ... but I have one major criticism of him, which is his speed of distribution. The amount of times we have 3 on 3 with pace to burn and he holds on to it. Then when their defence gets back he boots it. With Niasse on point we should be looking for quick flat kicks at least 2/3 times per game.
Do you think that he needs to compose himself before kicking the ball? he just can't seem to put his foot through it.
Re: Passing and the Niasse effect, much better from Ralls
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Eric the Half a Bee
It would be not too far wide of the mark to suggest that 2 of our best performances this season have followed 2 of our worst. The introduction to the side of a specialist forward who knows the Premier League has seen someone who has been able to hold the ball up, while showing a burst of speed and strength our attack has lacked with Zohore being awol for most of the season.
I thought I'd have a look at our passing stats from the last 4 games to see what has changed. These are all taken from whoscored, so their stats are presumed correct and whatever their definitions are of certain pass types, these are to be accepted.
The first thing to notice that our pass success rate has risen over the last 2 games. We managed nearly 72% passing accuracy at the Emirates, marginally better than the season-long rate of Burnley and Newcastle. I suspect it's going to need to stay closer to that rate for us to have a chance of avoiding relegation. It dipped to 63% against Bournemouth, but we created far more chances than we did against Newcastle, where our passing success rate was 60%.
Part of the reason for our improved passing stats is that, against Arsenal and Bournemouth, our long ball success rate has been well above our season average. Our main long ball hitter, Etheridge, has similarly seen a big increase in the success rate of his hoofs upfield.
We've also seen an increase in the number of long balls we play, no doubt looking to seek out Niasse. We completed 450 passes in our last two games, compared with 595 against Huddersfield and Newcastle - further proof that when we have the ball for spells and look to break down teams, we are not the best, yet create chances by going longer.
It's noticeable that we have played a longer ball game in our last two home matches than our last two away. Against Bournemouth, our back 4 booted away 35% of all their passes. Sol Bamba whacked away nearly a third of his passes, yet played long balls only around 13% of the time at Arsenal and Newcastle. Maybe Warnock has told him to stop thinking he's Franz Beckenbauer.
Joe Ralls has really stepped up his performances as well. While I am not certain what whoscored.com defines as a 'key pass', Ralls had managed 13 in 17 performance before the Newcastle game. He's hit 9 in his last 3 games while his pass success rate, previously at around 65%, has seen rates of 75%, 77% and 82% in his last 3 matches. He's now hitting more key passes and successful passes than Camarasa; a hero a month ago against Leicester but arguably not guaranteed to get back into the side. If we are going to go a bit longer more often, Paterson may well keep his right midfield free role.
If whoscored.com says that any City player hit a "key pass" against Huddersfield, their definition of the term is crap. :hehe:
Re: Passing and the Niasse effect, much better from Ralls
Quote:
Originally Posted by
the other bob wilson
If whoscored.com says that any City player hit a "key pass" against Huddersfield, their definition of the term is crap. :hehe:
Yes, that had crossed my mind!!
Re: Passing and the Niasse effect, much better from Ralls
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Blue blood
Absolutely, and that is where Niasse and Reid have made a difference.
As for Camarasa, he has to come straight back into the starting XI once fit as he is still our best midfielder.
This. And with the better movement up front, Camarasa could be even more effective. There's a renewed sense of optimism.
Re: Passing and the Niasse effect, much better from Ralls
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Des Parrot
I think Etheridge has been outstanding this season ... but I have one major criticism of him, which is his speed of distribution. The amount of times we have 3 on 3 with pace to burn and he holds on to it. Then when their defence gets back he boots it. With Niasse on point we should be looking for quick flat kicks at least 2/3 times per game.
I always thought that this was a tactic. Allows our midfield and defence to reset or allow time to find our only target man to allow the midfield to push up behind.
Perhaps your right and maybe he needs to take a leaf out of Edersons books and just punt it to the channels and hope someone can pick it up. His kicks are probably the poor point of his game mind
Re: Passing and the Niasse effect, much better from Ralls
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Des Parrot
I think Etheridge has been outstanding this season ... but I have one major criticism of him, which is his speed of distribution. The amount of times we have 3 on 3 with pace to burn and he holds on to it. Then when their defence gets back he boots it. With Niasse on point we should be looking for quick flat kicks at least 2/3 times per game.
When Etheridge has the ball it’s probably our longest spell in possession 🙂
