Match Week Feb 10-13: Shot through the heart & you’re to blame

67YAZ

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Here’s a fascinating passing by chart for EPL sides by the Athletic. The two that pop to me are Brighton, with its many connections from back to front, and Forest…holy hell, Forest.

 

Zososoxfan

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Here’s a fascinating passing by chart for EPL sides by the Athletic. The two that pop to me are Brighton, with its many connections from back to front, and Forest…holy hell, Forest.

I've never quite understood how to read these. The outliers are fairly easy to understand--like Bournemouth and Newcastle. But for instance, you reference Brighton's map--how is it that different from LCFC or Chelsea? There are a couple of other really interesting things here IMO. First, the use of GKs is very pronounced, and thus the lack of GK involvement for Spurs, Arsenal, and Newcastle stands out. The other is the width--MANC is so narrow, but I think of them as one of the best sides at utilizing the full width. Is the map's width average player position, or exclusively where the passes are being made/received from?
 

DJnVa

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Dec 16, 2010
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From the article:

We went over this when we did these last season, but in case you’re just catching up: what you’re looking at here are called pass networks, and they show how teams pass the ball around in their average shape.

The circles are players (or actually, in this case, positions) and the lines show passing links of at least five completed passes per 90 minutes from one position to another. Sizes represent the number of passes and colours indicate how much the passes help the team’s chances of scoring a goal. So far so good?

You’ve probably seen a pass network for a single match before, but this season-level version averages data from all the games a team has played in its most common starting formation. For a team like Arsenal, who can twist their trusty 4-3-3 to suit the situation, that means the viz includes minutes before the first substitution from all 20 Premier League matches so far. For Chelsea, who change formations every time Graham Potter sneezes, the network covers just a small fraction of their total minutes.
 

67YAZ

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I've never quite understood how to read these. The outliers are fairly easy to understand--like Bournemouth and Newcastle. But for instance, you reference Brighton's map--how is it that different from LCFC or Chelsea? There are a couple of other really interesting things here IMO. First, the use of GKs is very pronounced, and thus the lack of GK involvement for Spurs, Arsenal, and Newcastle stands out. The other is the width--MANC is so narrow, but I think of them as one of the best sides at utilizing the full width. Is the map's width average player position, or exclusively where the passes are being made/received from?
DJ caught the good description of what these charts are doing. It does help me get a sense of how teams are playing, where they are most likely to attack/progress the ball from, and where they set up shop.

I think your observation about City playing narrow fits with what a lot of folks have discussed in the game threads here - they are playing narrow, channeling everything through KDB and hoping he can make the magic happen. And Brighton's map looking like City's, Pool's, and Arsenal's is what pops out to me. They are winning with the same style the top clubs employ at a fraction the wages.
 

SocrManiac

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Imagine being a kit designer with the entire color wheel in front of you and picking infant milk vomit yellow as the palette. Was this chosen with a blindfold and a dartboard?
 

Jimy Hendrix

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Him with a manager who likes him, keeps the ball and just desperately needed someone to solve creativity and cutting edge issues is quite different.
 

OCST

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Declan Rices name is off center on the back of his shirt and it non stop irritates me.
 

speedracer

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pigeons taking up good positions in the box but keep running away when Chelsea need them to support the attack
 

fletcherpost

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This is a long wait for what seems like a simple VAR decision.

Honestly thought Chelsea were gonna pump West Ham after the first half hour of this match.
 

Catcher Block

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I guess the reasoning is he was sliding for the block and his arm was out to brace himself. Mind you, it looked like he deliberately handled.
Yeah, as a (former) member of the fullbacks union, I sympathize with guys who get called for a hand ball when their arm is extended more than a few inches off their torso, or as part of a natural sliding motion on a cross, etc.

But this seemed like a specific, deliberate attempt to place his arm there, and it's almost surely going on net for a tricky save if not for his arm.
 

fletcherpost

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That’s the worst should’ve-been-given thst I can recall in a long time
Agreed.

I sometimes wonder if they have a 'nothing to see here button' that sometimes gets pressed by mistake and they just have to go with it. The Rice offside VAR decision took way longer than it should which makes me think someone really wanted to give it but just couldn't find a suitable justification, try as they might.
 

HowBoutDemSox

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Spurs strike first but the Foxes quickly answer and go up 2-1 with a couple of absolute rockets. Could be a wild one.
 

fletcherpost

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Southampton a goal up against ten man Wolves, they have to get all three points from this match now, they'll be gutted if they don't.
 

teddykgb

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Arsenal lucky to be nil nil at the half. They’ve dominated possession but Brentford with the best chances …one of which should have been a goal except for an awful ref decision.
That decision was so soft. xG has it favoring Brentford which seems about right but I’m still really impressed with this Arsenal side. They’ve implemented positional play so well and are constantly proving and threatening the way City used to. I’m jealous of their football even if they haven’t turned it into many clear cut chances today. Brentford have put in a lot of work and will suffer 60-90
 

Jimy Hendrix

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Spurs getting worked by Leicester, who look open enough that I still wouldn’t say it’s over even at 3 - 1.
 

fletcherpost

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Brentford having some joy at the moment. Toney hit one wide, but it wasn't the best chance, not much of the goal to aim at. They look like they're one killer pass away from a tap in. Getting in behind Arsenal on the right flank a couple of times in the last few minutes.

Good contest.
 

SocrManiac

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These commentary teams are awful. They’re still talking about the knee to knee contact that occurred on the side that isn’t hurt.
 

Jimy Hendrix

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Very Spurs to splash the cash only on a RWB, afterwards the one they already have plays an absolute monster match, then they start the new 2x expensive guy and he fuckin’ stinks. He’s so payed some intermittent nice stuff offensively, but he’s been a turnstile.

Hopefully just adjustment.
 

coremiller

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Jul 14, 2005
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Very Spurs to splash the cash only on a RWB, afterwards the one they already have plays an absolute monster match, then they start the new 2x expensive guy and he fuckin’ stinks. He’s so payed some intermittent nice stuff offensively, but he’s been a turnstile.

Hopefully just adjustment.
Tanganga and Dier haven't exactly helped him out much.