Jaw Dropping Stats – Midfield Makeover A Must

The stats from Saturdays match continue to be pored over by fans, critics and no doubt coaches and owners alike. Some make for really stark reading. Most commenting on the game – critics like Michael Owen and Jermain Defoe concentrated win the defensive set-up being unable to cope with the Chelsea’s mobile, fast paced runners.

The stats in footballfancastcom’s article were quite shocking though and emphasised how poor we were in midfield. One sentence stood out: “The trio of Rodriguez, Alvarez, and Paqueta, lost the ball a total of 29 times, often allowing Chelsea to turn defence to attack quickly, splitting them open and creating big chances, some even ending in goals.”

That 29 times was in the first thirty five minutes before Rodriguez was substituted.

It obviously explains why the ‘transition’ from defence to attack failed so miserably if we were giving the ball away every minute. Knowing how statistically-oriented Tim Steidten is – if not Head Coach Lopetegui – I’d fully expect changes in midfield for Wednesday nights encounter with Liverpool.

Carlos Soler has made a couple of appearances from the bench but this could be the ideal time to bring him in for a start at Anfield. Clearly giving the ball away every minute is unsustainable and this, as well of course as the set up, high line and ‘virtual wing backs’ issues all need addressing to avoid a disheartening mauling by the Reds Second XI.

This single solitary statistic regarding the turnover of the ball needs highlighting, as watching the game I’d not been so focused just on the midfield failure.

Soler coming into the team can make a massive difference with his passing ability and an option to carry the ball forward hopefully without losing it each minute. The article highlights a vast difference in Soler’s superior stats for completed passes over both Alvarez and Rodriguez.

A simple change to make, but one which urgently needs addressing to enable us to achieve Lopetegui’s stated aim of playing possession based – (i.e. don’t keep giving it away) football!