Shots on target

[billycopper]

Off-target in brackets

Arsenal 8 (8) v Everton 3 (8)
Everton 3 (13) v West Ham 1 (4)
Chelsea 8 (10) v Everton 2 (3)
Spurs 2 (5) v Everton 3 (5)
Everton 6 (2) v Villa 1 (2)
Liverpool 9 (8) v Everton 4 (7)

Excluding the Swansea cup match we've averaged 3.5 shots on target and 6.3 shots off target per match. The opposition have averaged 4.8 shots on target and 6.1 shots off target.

In total we've scored 4 goals from 59 shots. That gives us a conversion rate of 6.7%. On 23rd September our conversion rate was 10.91%.

So, we're going to need to shoot 15 times in a match to score 1 goal at our current rate.

Arsenal converted 1 in 4 against us.
Chelsea put 1 in 18 away when we visited Stamford Bridge.
Spurs managed 1 in 7.
Liverpool were only slightly over 1 in 4 too.

For all our possession the big clubs are getting 8 or 9 shots on target against us, as opposed to about 3 for us. Maybe we are overplaying a bit or we're not taking enough opportunities to shoot? Maybe we're a bit too open and we're giving the opposition too many sights of goal as well? The stats are pretty damning though and they'll be our downfall unless they improve.

 

[Brownie]

We're not very good really are we.

 

[billycopper]

We're not very good really are we.

I was expecting us to have a lot more shots off target, if I'm honest, especially as Barkley, Osman and Mirallas aren't shy in front of goal. Maybe the reverse is true though? Maybe we're trying to play our way into the box when we'd be better off hitting it once we're in range?

 

[Brownie]

I don't think we set up shots at all. If you try to imagine an Everton player laying off the ball for someone else to hit it first time, it's just not there, doesn't happen.

 

[billycopper]

True. We tend to beat a couple of men and then hit a shot that whisks past the post. I think very often we just unload the ball to the nearest man rather than giving it to someone who actually wants it and has planned what he's going to do with it already.

 

[Blades]

aye but what about possession...

 

[deipnosophist]

I don't think we set up shots at all. If you try to imagine an Everton player laying off the ball for someone else to hit it first time, it's just not there, doesn't happen.

... agree Brownie. It is a mixture of inexperience and not keeping ones head up for options (Lukaku, Barkley, Del boy) and outright selfishness (Mirallas)

 

[deipnosophist]

...although Lukaku did lay one on for Barkley on Saturday...but he delivered a hopelessly inaccurate shot when he should have scored. History now...still a bit annoyed though.

 

[daz4matty]

We try and play the Barcelona way and walk the ball in but we are not Barcelona and eventually it all falls down.
We need to get crosses in the box and mix it up.
Roberto played like this at wigan and he needs to change things in the final third.
Summer is going to be massive for Roberto and I hope he changes things with the players he brings in and with his tactics in the final 3rd

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I don't think we set up shots at all. If you try to imagine an Everton player laying off the ball for someone else to hit it first time, it's just not there, doesn't happen.

I think creatively we've been quite poor all season. If you think back over the season, we've scored an awful lot of long range goals, whether in open play or from a free kick.

I can't remember as many where we opened up the opposition with good build up play.

I think Lukaku is the only Everton player in the top 20 league for assists. Liverpool have 4 in there, Arsenal 3, City 3.

Pienaar and Barkley, two regulars in our midfield three, have only managed 3 between them all season. What's more, Coleman and Baines have only managed 2 between them, despite being incredibly attacking players.

 

[ijjysmith]

This bit is freakin' horrendous:

So, we're going to need to shoot 15 times in a match to score 1 goal at our current rate.

That's embarrassing.

 

[Lee Smith]

Am I right in thinking that in the first 2 months or so of the season, we were top of the Shots on Goal table or something? I'm sure I remember seeing some sort of graphic which had us in the top 5 or so teams in all the major European leagues as well

 

[deipnosophist]

Am I right in thinking that in the first 2 months or so of the season, we were top of the Shots on Goal table or something? I'm sure I remember seeing some sort of graphic which had us in the top 5 or so teams in all the major European leagues as well

Not saying you're wrong like, but that stat is difficult to reconcile with what we've been seeing in recent months.

 

[Lee Smith]

Not saying you're wrong like, but that stat is difficult to reconcile with what we've been seeing in recent months.

Totally agree mate, that's why the more recent stats are even more frustrating. I'm pretty sure I'm not mistaken tho, as I'm sure people were using the fact that we had been having loads of shots on goal a good reason not to 'panic' after we had only drawn our first 3 games

 

[Khalekan]

One of the main reasons we are not having enough shots, either on or off target, is the utter lack of threat from set pieces.

Corners are just a waste of possession these days and we work nothing from free kicks other than those within shooting range and one of our dead ball specialists has a go.

Crosses leading to headed efforts on goal have become a thing of the past.