As a new feature for 2011, RoM will be providing an in-depth look at the statistics from each league game Manchester United play.
vs West Brom (a)
Summary
- The player who attempted the most passes was Rio Ferdinand
- The player with the most completed passes was Michael Carrick
- The player with the highest completion rate was Michael Carrick (90%), followed by Vidic (88%) and Fletcher (83%).
Summary
- The player who attempted the most tackles was Patrice Evra
- The players with the best tackling display are Anderson (4/4) and Gabriel Obertan (4/4)
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The Guardian’s Chalkboard
Man Utd News 24/7
Good to see carrick finding form in the centre
than you for this its amazing . Chicharito is a pearl
Great feature to look closely at the actual facts.
It sorta kills my thoughts during the game our passing was woefull.Clearly it was not.
It does show that Rooneys touch has disappeared regards passing and finding a United shirt.
Our centre backs are just fantastic at passing the ball.
The stats also show why Gabriel was hooked it was just not his day.
Scott, From where do you get these stats ……can you get me the link…..
Ha. Didn’t appear that Carrick contributed as much.
RedScot – it just shows that stats are just stats.
A lot of fans don’t get what Carrick does, but I think these stats highlight it really well, and indicate at least why the players really rate him. On a performance like we had, to have a player like that holding the ball, giving the rest of the lads time and space to move, it’s vital. I don’t think his form has ever been particularly bad for the team this season either, he does his job, it’s not pretty but it is important. The only downside is that in the course of a game if he gives the ball away five or six times, once or twice it might be somewhere dangerous.
@ Corea i understand that mate, its what you are creating with the ball, thats taken Corea mate.
Like Arsenal pass pass pass, very seldom give it away, but have no killer ball.
For me because i was critical during the game of our passing and not finding our men, it negates that arguement bye looking at the passes completed, which in the main are very good.
Note to self shut up
Carrick was poor in the first half, but I thought he got better, as the game went on. The only stat that matters, is the fucking score line. Gooners 2 up, that cunt Nasri scored.
Interesting breakdown Scott. . But the key to the two winning combinations is absent. Both were on breaking moves that were super examples of attacking play. The second goal off a corner won by Carrick following a super strike on goal. Need more shots from the midfielders, allows for follow ons from the forwards. Carricks 90% passing is a pleasant surprise. Could we add stats on possession and possession in attacking positions?
Happy new year all around
Brilliant stuff Scott. I scour the net looking for stats after games but its nigh impossible to access them. Wonderful way to start the new year. Funny to note Fergie describing Rooney’s perfomance as world class, stats beg to differ. Shows you Scholes’ class that he makes 90 plus passes a game.
RedScot – sometimes it might prove a point but most of the time it’s just an interesting addition to the game. No need to self shut up mate )
willierednut – the difference is that they continued to play football and attack the Brum, we just sat back.
So what would be the best result for us when Shity play Arse? I’d go for a draw.
it means Carrick is doing his job as our holding midfielder well. most of his passes are short sideway or backward passes.
We dont have anybody effective to unlock our opponent’s defence. Our best players for that job are Scholes, Giggs, Nani and Valencia.
Hate the look on the snood-wearing bastard’s face.
I’ll gladly take a draw between Shitty and Arse too.
Costas – agreed ) whilst the humiliation for both of them isn’t possible )))
@ Corea I was not saying to you to “Shut up” it was to me.Hold my tongue.
Mate I just like looking at facts and figures.A bit nerdy and geekish I know.
It adds truth to a debate.
3-0 to LeArse. Credit to them.
Now 3 nil.
@RedScot – i knew what you meant to say mate.
@Corea yeah credit to Arsenal. How the f*ck did we play so poor against brummies?
@ Willie Foster was to blame for the third goal, palmed the ball straight back out from the initial shot.
I am happier with Lindersgard and Kusczcak
Corea – We didn’t get the killer second goal. If only Berbatovs shot had of went in, instead of hitting the post.
willierednut – it’s our problem ) it’s not as LeArse scored the second from their first opportunity. as i said credit to them and being bullied by the dirty play from the Brum.
Of course the centre backs have good passing stats, most of their passes are easy balls across the back under no pressure or just rolling it into Carrick.
Our passing was crap today, in terms of forward passing and creating I bet very few were completed. That’s why Rooney has poor stats; he was head and shoulders our best attacker today because he was looking to make forward passes and create, it didn’t always come off but he has the balls to try and make things happen.
It is the easiest thing in football to sit in there play 10 yard square balls all day and come off the pitch with good passing stats – look at Carrick’s chalk board, most of his long passes have gone backwards for gods sake. Quick recycling of the ball and moving it to the forwards early used to be Carrick’s main strength, but he is playing without confidence lately and it shows in his very safe, unambitious distribution.
Or Vida’s powerful header was a bit more to the right. Should have won Sunday’s game, no excuses.
RedScot – Arsenal on their day, can to do this to any team. I’d still rather face them in a title race, than Chelsea. The Arsenal loving media will go into over drive, with this performance.
“Sunday’s game”. I meant Tuesday’s.
@ Willie i know mate we will hear it all tommorow, seriously.
The Title challenge is back on.
In there fucking dreams it is. I still would have prefered the draw, with them and Chelsay.
What is done is done.
Tommy C – great point mate. I am still a bit confused seeing that passes completion stats by Rooney.
Anyway it doesn’t change my opinion about Rooney’s contribution today.
looks like rooney might be ok for tuesday’s game, but I still would like to see chicharito start as well…
Our midfield is our downfall. we have been overrun in midfield in the last few years and we did not address that part of the team. we might win the title this season but it would have been the easiest of any title winning season if we have better midfielders.
statistics are a useful tool, but there were passes today that led directly to counter attacks. a lot of these passes are too stagnant and five yarders. it is the defense-splitting passes that are vital to our attack and we were poor with those kind of passes.
It’s interesting, isn’t it. We were 3-0 up on Bayern in the CL quarterfinal against the eventual finalists and at that point we didn’t raise question about our midfield weaknesses. I think on it’s day the same players can put in a tremendous performance and Fergie isn’t a fool and if the right moment and the right player comes along we will add to our squad.
Carrick was quietly assured today. I genuinely can’t understand the fans’ displeasure at the man’s game / qualities. Vital to our resurgence of late …
it all doesn’t matter when the midfield is unable to control the game. we all know statistics are a bunch of lies and doesn’t always tell the story of what really happened
the concerning part is that we cannot manage without a triangle in the center of the midfield. Carrick was the best of three today, but I don’t think he was anything to write home about. he is still our best passer when Scholes is not playing. Fletcher and Anderson, on the other hand, are not good enough in tight corridors. anderson is better suited for the tip of the triangle – not playing along side Carrick.
Looks like even though we might not prefer the 4-5-1/4-3-3, we need to play it.
It’s all rather congested at the top of the premiership.
@willierednut – we are still some wealthy points ahead of all of them
I think when Scholes isn’t on the pitch, you realize how good a player he is and what a job we have, replacing him. That’s no criticism of Carrick, Anderson and Fletcher, but no one can control a game like the ginger prince.
@corea: a lot of people failing to realize that our two games in hand are against Blackpool and Chelsea – both teams will not roll over and they are not automatic points on the board.
@willierednut – Scholesy is a one of a kind so the comparisons aren’t really fitting, mate.
Scholesy was the player of te month in August but again those injuries happened.
hammons – yes, my fault, pal.
@corea: no, i am not talking about you, in particular. just people think that we have an automatic six points coming our way. if we play like we did today against either of them, we will get smacked by both. we had four shots on target – and carson made maybe two saves. that is why are passing statistics don’t mean jack.
Tommy C @ 19:03: “It is the easiest thing in football to sit in there play 10 yard square balls all day and come off the pitch with good passing stats – look at Carrick’s chalk board, most of his long passes have gone backwards for gods sake. Quick recycling of the ball and moving it to the forwards early used to be Carrick’s main strength, but he is playing without confidence lately and it shows in his very safe, unambitious distribution.”
Excellent points.
The long punts from the keeper and center backs should be analyzed separately to show that they almost always result in a loss of possession. It’s a stupid tactic. And the statistical analysis that Scott has provided needs to be more “refined” since a pass is not always a pass in much the same way that a cigar is not always a cigar, if you get my drift.
About Michael Carrick – “he is what he is”. A very different player from, say, Paul Scholes or Andrea Pirlo (to whom he often compared). Michael Carrick is a largely-passive player – more of a “sweeper” than the fulcrum who moves the team swiftly downfield. His style suits the more controlled – less reckless – style that SAF has seemed to prefer as he has moved away from a 4-4-2 towards the more cautious 4-3-3/4-5-1.
Michael Carrick does what he is supposed to do in SAF’s system but I have to wonder how the play of the team would benefit from a more dynamic quarterback. That’s why I reckon that the team’s play would improve hugely IF – somehow – SAF could unearth someone else who would have a more “positive” impact on the pace of the transition-from-defence-to-attack. From what I’ve seen, Sebastian Schweinsteiger would be absolutely perfect – he’s the proto-type of the player that would suit our team and bugger the cost ! I’ve tried to determine if there’s anyone else who would fit the bill but the bet I’ve come up with is WayneRooney, although I do wonder if WayneRooney could ever be disciplined enough to fill that role.
Can someone tell Morrison to take his waiving finger and stick it up his arse? Always hated the cunt even from his Boro days…. This a player who is supposedly a United fan
@hammons – yes, agreed. but you can’t say what United team we are going to see after one poor game or another. In this year’s premiership things change so quickly. But Nani’s, Park’s, Scholes’s absences do count. As if other teams don’t have their fair share of problems so no moaning just forward.
Showing patience to the players like Obertan, Bebe and Gibson.
@cedars: do you remember his tackle on Ronaldo at the riverside? fuck him, he is a manchester united fan. think that cunt steven mcmanaman is more of a united fan.
Corea – It’s also noticeable, that whoever plays with Scholes, looks a better player. But, we can’t rely on the wee man all the time. This is why Anderson needs to be more consistent, he’s got the ability, to drive the team on and give us that energy in midfield.
well the stats in fact point at our shortcomings.the fact that none of attack minded players can pass the ball!!!i agree that its always diffficult to pass the ball in final third of the pitch but the completion rate should at least be 80% average….
@willierednut – the problem Ando has is his inconsistency and he isn’t always capable of putting a goos ball in. It happened today as well. You can’t give te ideal balls to the teammates every time but he underperforms at times as if he is lazy to give just a little bit extra effort.
@corea: this season we have mostly played down to our opponent, which is why we haven’t done well on the road, and it is still a cup final to play Manchester United for clubs. It is the fixture that most players look forward to …. also, both of the games are on the road 2 wins, 7 draws – should be the reverse!
@hammons I remember it very well, the little prick always seems to have his game of the season against us and his goal celebrations show how ‘much’ of a United fan he really is, little fuck face
@hammons – if it had been reverse we would have been champions by now
They are still AWAY games.
But you are right in saying that we played passively most of the time. When we scored today i said to a mate of mine “just go now and score the second”.
West Brom haven’t won a lot of points recently and Brum were well and truly beaten today so it might signal out we are somewhat down these days. But i won’t be too surprised if we smash Stoke on Tuesday.
These stats dont mean anything to me. Despite the fact that these stats somehow seem to make Carrick look a lot better than he is, it is very important for Fergie to find a solution for our midfield. The players injured are key, but the games from here on will be coming fast and thick, so we do need better options. Perhaps SAF, should consider signing a winger and AM. I have no doubt that we will win the premier league but the Fa Cup or the Champions league in addition should be our target. We are one or two signings away, so I do hope we cut the chase and just sign a quality winger, since we are a bit short in that position. Taarabt who plays for QPR is very good young player, a bit of a diver but certainly has potential, or maybe N’Zogbia from Wigan. Both would be somewhat cheap, I guess. :/
Very good.
Your stats are interesting on Rio, thought he was particularly excellent today: http://bit.ly/fnq5Qh
I went back to the stats that were provided on ROM for the Blackburn game, undoubtly the best performance from United this season —- to date.
Blackburn game passes made 734, completed 624, 85%
West Brom game passes made 477, completed 379, 79%.
I think therefore we did not keep possesion of the ball well enough and I seem to think that the Sky stat of West Brom having 7% more possession than United shows this as fact.
why did we manage to pass Blackburn of the park?
Agreed with all the lads we need to add steel and guts in the middle of the park, a ball retainer “like” Bastian Schweinstieger, if only the recent Anderson would be more consistent, but i guess you get this with a youngster, hot and cold.
I’m in a family of 7 & they are all Arsenal fans (except me) who luv silky passing, u can guess de pains i go through anytime Man Utd plays like shit like we did today. Geez, SAF’s got to do something about dis fucking passing, its shit though we managed to win. United 4 Life!
Hi there
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
Anderson was shockingly bad….so was Fletcher.
I do agree that statistics mean little in football. Maybe in a sport like baseball they paint a story, but now in football.
Honestly, the only thing you can get out of this numbers is that our CB is the one attempting more passes, which pretty much tells you how many times Rio got the ball returned to him in the game.
Anyways, 3 Points in…lets pick up the form.
Just an observation from the match compared to the stats… Carricks passing completion was high however this was due for the most part due to his passes being directed sideways or backwards to keep possession. If you look at Rooney and Berbatov, their pass completion was lower due to them trying to play that final killer ball to send the other one through. What we should be looking at from these stats is the figure of 1 chance each for Rooney, Berba and Hernandez…. We’re not creating enough goal scoring opportunities….. The team is crying out for a Xavi or Iniesta type of player and maybe this figure will improve once, Nani, Valencia and Scholes are back.
I’m keen to know how today Obertan was replaced by Gibson… Already we had 3 natural central midfielders on the pitch and then the only real winger is replaced by a CM!!! Anyway we got the three points and who am I to criticise SAF tactics!
I think Obertan was having a mare to be honest. He looked slow and he didn’t seem to be in as complete control of the ball as usual, which I think could probably be chalked up to the wings of the pitch being so stodgy. Given our options I think Gibson might have been brought in because he’s got a more broad skill set than Obertan, including those deadly long range shots that (if he keeps really working on them) could be set to be his trademark.
What really struck me was our inability to get the pass through the back four, which I think was again due to the surface. A lot of our attacking tends to come from players getting behind the back four and they stopped us doing that really well. Meanwhile they were playing in front of our back four and had all sorts of success simply getting the ball down in the space behind our midfield and running at our defenders, who by rights should have given away two penalties and a red card.
This was pretty much a tailor made bad game for us given the players we have out. We have four players this season who can really make smart, skilled runs and deliver end product, Giggs, Park, Valencia and Nani. I think Obertan and Bebe may fall into this group soon, but not yet. So we’re basically missing the four players in our midfield that we would want to use for this kind of game. That’s bad luck.
That we managed to brute force a win here is fantastic, because with the problems we had it was a giant banana skin waiting to trip us over.
@Doghouse
obertan just said recently he just recovered from a illness.. so thats why he might have looked slow? but that run in the first half when he ran a mile to get into the box could have easily won a penalty with a trip or clumsy challenge? definetly did NOT look slow then.. but he has suffered from that illness clearly but will be back no question about it.. what was evra’s excuse :S???
Oh what a surprise carricks pass completion rate the highest ahgain. Just waych some oh his passes. Many fo forward to wayne. Sick of the lad getting stick. He lkeeps united tickiong. Look how vulnerbale we look without him covering ythe back four. Some people find him easy pickings. His position demands quick ahorty passes if required. Cannot always play hollywood balls. I really do think people need to watch him more closely. No matter who we play if they have five misfielders we are bound to get overun buit thwm when fergie ghoes with a five man midfield he gets slated. Also if you think he had a problem with our midfield don’t ya think he would adress it? Leave the managerial decisions to the expert and let’s us stick to oour day jobs. I. Hate comments like gibson or carrick arte shite with no argument to back it up. Aside from a frw month of bad form with a fucked achilles carrick has been integral to our success. Why talk about scweinsteiger? Just signed a five year deal.
This fucking blacberry. Sorry about my spelling but keep hitting wrong keys. Also “credit to arsenal”. What the fuck. Those cheating poncey snood wearing cunts will get absolutely NO credit from me. Oh forgot to mention stelling not once mentioned we have two in hand, infact no cunt has. Yet when they showed the othet leagues they certainly mwntioned any games in hand those teams have. Off topic but is it me or have silva nd david platt got the biggest swedes in football.
Sorry last point but also notice summat else. When anderson was playing suoerb there wasn’t one call for a midfielder yet after a underpar pwrformance or two its the same old shit. A proper ball winner would be a useful purchase but who that is gonna make a huge difference? We aint seen anything of the olf fletch yet but will do. We are missing nani park toni and paul. Bound to scrape through games. Did I see someone say nzogbia? Oh come off it. Ya think some united players atent good enough wait till ya saw that cunt in a united shirt. Not good enough.
King Eric @ 3:43: “Why talk about scweinsteiger? Just signed a five year deal.”
I suppose you’re directing this comment at me and I know that he has signed a new contract BUT he’s the best example that comes to mind of the pleyer that’s needed to round out this NewUTD – a great distributor, with a everready engine and irrepressible desire. Maybe Schweini is “beyond reach” but he’s the proto-type. And I mention him again in response to your point about MichaelCarrick’s role – sure, MIchaelCarrick is OK but a SchweiniType would be much, much better and a SchweiniType would make the others better, too. That’s the difference that would be evident if a solid professional was upgraded by a world-class “quarterback”.
Stats are from Guardian Chalkboards, check them out, its quite fascinating.
Obertan had a nightmare obviously
Carrick’s role was just to keep possession, which he did well and in a game like this, with everyone else losing the ball, it was appreciated.
Poor Berbatov, he lives and breathes on service, I dont think he performs well when the team is doing badly.
A stat is a stat is a stat….. personally I don’t give flying fuck about stats….preferring to see the fucking game with me own eyes…..you can read to much into stats….
I don’t care really how badly we played or continue to play as long as we keep fucking winning or remain unbeaten…..cos it pisses off a shit load of people and wouldn’t it be better if we won the premiership playing just as we are…….
Ive defended Carrick all the way. Hes a defensive midfielder that sits in front of the back 2 and his job is to solidify our defensive corps and distribute the ball to the players that can.
The goat can gloat.
@KingEric if the Schweinstieger comment was directed at me mate, you will note in my post i said……LIKE. I know he has just signed an extension to his contract at Bayern after being touted around Europe and linked to Real Madrid to join up with Ozil and Khedira his German team mates.
Cheers.
@Tony bee, well stick yer Stats and in pipe and fucking smoke them, i like stats and I like figures, but I also like looking at Anoraks and collecting postage stamps. lol