Been looking at some statistical data and according to it, this is the shape we've used most in each of the last three third division seasons, and the most used players within that shape. Here's 22-23:
My analysis would be that it's almost identical in the two previous seasons but changed this. Our strikers are doing more work short and our midfielders are playing further forward. Our wing backs are much more defensive. One knocks on to affect the other I suppose with each of the above. Duff's Barnsley were a great example of everyone's role working together to keep a collective shape and it seems we've lost that.
22/23 - 6/11 signed for us in Championship. 23/24 - 3/11 signed for us in Championship. 24/25 - 0/11 signed for us in Championship. Worse players = worse results.
That Duff side were easily good enough to go up but we know where that went wrong. I wonder if we’ll get that close again in the next few years. Could be a long wait. Maybe a 20+ years one like the late 50s to that magical Clarke/Hunter inspired period.
still treating players like stock trading - buying undervalued penny shares hoping one comes good. Forgetting they need a balanced portfolio and need some consistent performers in there and also some with high expected earnings to bring a good ROI. Theyve also missed out buying ones in the most important sectors too. Probably because they think they already have some in that sector - they just arent performing well (or at all) at the moment but again hoping they recover and good.
Most of my friends appear to have been through a shape change. They used to be shaped like an I and now they're all shaped like an O
It basically shows you that our left side is terribly weak these days and we only get an joy on the right now that Okeefes become useless at free kicks along with everything else we have zero attacking threat and no actual strikers. Easy to see why we are doing so poorly.
The case for the prosecution rests. Not one player has an average position inside the box this season: almost as if we don’t have a centre forward … Left wing back noticeably deeper, right side a little too. Midfield further up - suggesting less protection for a struggling back three. All in all it isn’t hard to see why the results haven’t come.
At the time we got 5million for kitch and 4 for mads everyone said it was great business just a shame the replacements weren't very good. Lopata and the lad from non league were ready for this standard of football. And since then neither is pines.
Incidentally, these are average position maps for teams in the Premier League 23/24. No player is in the opposition box. I don't think they ever are.
They're never gonna average a position in the 18 yard box otherwise they'd just be offside 85% of the game.
