theHotHead wrote:@ Sims - I think that stat is very misleading.
The stat isn't actually misleading here (although it should be showing p90mins instead of total). Xhaka's distribution is a major part of a lot of our attacking play and has been in the last two seasons:
2017/18
2016/17
The last column here is about Expected Buildup, which is just a term which totals all the shots where the player was involved in the buildup, but not the key pass or the shot itself, then gives it per 90 minutes. Expected Goal Chain (second to last column) is the same thing but includes key passes and shots themselves.
What this stat means is that, aside from the Man City players, Xhaka was involved in the buildup to more shots (when weighted for quality of opportunity, ie expected goals) per 90 mins than any other player in the league last season, backing up what Sims was getting at.
The problem I have with what Sims keeps saying is that he insists on saying that Xhaka is the only player in our squad who can do this. That's patently untrue. His stats are impressive, but by no means above the abilities of our other central midfielders. In 2015/16 over the course of 800 minutes
Elneny had similar stats to what Xhaka has produced this season and last:
EDIT: I cut off the headings accidentally. The stats are minutes played, key passes per 90, expected assists, expected assists per 90, expected goal chain per 90 and expected goal buildup per 90.
2015/16:
2018/19:
There is no reason to believe our other central midfielders can't do what Xhaka is doing now in terms of dictating play (at least, no statistical reason). More relevant to the debate, the stats between Xhaka and Guendouzi show that there isn't sufficient evidence to say that Guendouzi can't do what Xhaka is doing based on this season's performances. The stats in the second picture are different, but not majorly so,
especially when you consider the fact that 180 out of Guendouzi's 357 minutes came against City and Chelsea, while 270 out of Xhaka's 392 came in our last 3 games. In terms of creating chances there's no statistical reason to choose Xhaka over Matteo.
Where there
is a significant difference, however, is defensively. Guendouzi is visibly and statistically superior to Xhaka in this respect. In fact, Matteo has been statistically the best
in the team this season:
And this backs up what everyone except Sims has been saying. Matteo has the offensive distribution skills to challenge Xhaka and the defensive abilities to put him to shame.
EDIT: data from understat.com and whoscored.com