By David Butler
This is the third part in a series of posts offering insights to different topics for the 19/20 Premier League season. Previously, I considered VAR and Expected Goals (see posts below).
Here, I consider the average possession and points won as they give a nice insight to strategy. The chart below plots the relationship between a team’s average possession and their total points.
This is the third part in a series of posts offering insights to different topics for the 19/20 Premier League season. Previously, I considered VAR and Expected Goals (see posts below).
Here, I consider the average possession and points won as they give a nice insight to strategy. The chart below plots the relationship between a team’s average possession and their total points.
As expected the more a team have the ball, the more points they earn. After all, if the opposition don’t have it they can’t score. Man City had the highest average possession rate this season (66.68%) but didn’t win the League. The champions Liverpool were not far behind however with a 63.33% average. These were the two stand out teams.
Interestingly, only one team in the bottom 5 for average possession was relegated - Watford. This gives a nice insight to strategy. Newcastle (38.59%), Burnley (41.43%) and Sheffield United (42.94%) were in the bottom four teams for average possession yet managed to accrue relatively high points. For me, this speaks volumes on how Bruce, Dyche and Wilder set up their teams.
Norwich are somewhat of an outlier – they saw about as much of the ball as their opposition in any given Premier League match (49.48%). They couldn’t turn this into goals however, and for half of the time they didn’t have the ball they were usually pretty bad at keeping goals out.
Interestingly, only one team in the bottom 5 for average possession was relegated - Watford. This gives a nice insight to strategy. Newcastle (38.59%), Burnley (41.43%) and Sheffield United (42.94%) were in the bottom four teams for average possession yet managed to accrue relatively high points. For me, this speaks volumes on how Bruce, Dyche and Wilder set up their teams.
Norwich are somewhat of an outlier – they saw about as much of the ball as their opposition in any given Premier League match (49.48%). They couldn’t turn this into goals however, and for half of the time they didn’t have the ball they were usually pretty bad at keeping goals out.
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