So much for boring boring Chelsea

[qazwsx]

http://skysports.planetfootball.com/list.asp?hlid=229754&CPID=8&CLID=8&lid=&title=Chelsea+lacking+killer+touch

Chelsea’s outstanding defensive record this season has seen them criticised in some quarters for not being adventurous, but as Opta’s statistics show, the Blues have actually fired in more shots than any other team in The Premiership this season.

Jose Mourinho's men have managed 111 efforts on goal in their eight league games, considerably more than rivals Manchester United and, most surprisingly, free-scoring Arsenal.

Manchester City continue to illustrate why Kevin Keegan's sides always have such a reputation for attacking football and Aston Villa are also close the 100-shot mark.
Rank Team Shots
1 Chelsea 111
2 Manchester United 102
3 Arsenal 101
4 Manchester City 96
5 Aston Villa 95

The problem appears to be in converting those chances.

No team in The Premiership has a lower chance conversion rate than Mourinho's side.
Rank Team Chance conversion Shots per goal
1 Arsenal 24.8% 4.04
2 Newcastle 15.6% 6.43

17 Man United 7.8% 12.75
18 Southampton 6.5% 15.33
19 Tottenham 6.4% 15.60
20 Chelsea 6.3% 15.86

Manchester United also suffer a similar problem.

They have racked up the second-highest tally of shots this season, but only three teams have taken a lower percentage of their chances.

The reason for Arsenal's prolific start to the season is clear. The Gunners are scoring with one in every four shots on average, while Chelsea require around 16 attempts and United need 13 on average.

[Andy Bennett]

Good shout.

The truth is that sometimes we've simply been unlucky. That won't last forever.

[The Rage]

Good shout.

The truth is that sometimes we've simply been unlucky. That won't last forever.

If our striklers ever get going, we'll b unstoppable.

[Clan]

Is that shots at goal, or shots actually 'on' goal?

I mean, a lash from midfield would count as a shot at goal, but in all reality is a bloody waste.

[servotron]

I've been watching the Chelsea games when I can, and they don't seem unexciting to me at all. It seems like Chelsea is always on the attack, it just doesn't always amount to a goal (which is what people are pretty much saying here.). Decent football doesn't HAVE to be ultra-all-the-time-exciting.

[Andy Bennett]

I've been watching the Chelsea games when I can, and they don't seem unexciting to me at all. It seems like Chelsea is always on the attack, it just doesn't always amount to a goal
People also seem to be conveniently forgetting that we are playing against another team - they have a say in what happens as well.

Teams HAVE sat back and soaked up pressure in quite a few of the games we've played recently.

[Northside Rovers]

You just gotta figure that with all the money spent on this team and all the talent on the field - that we would be able to score more goals.

8 Goals in 111 shots in 8 Games. Its a wonder were in 2nd place. My fear is that sooner than later the defense will start to bend and we won't have the offense to win games.

Look at Arsenal. They're up at the top in shots and at THE TOP in goals. That's where we should be. We should be beating team 2-0, 3-1, not grinding out 1-0 wins to Birmingham and 0-0 draws with Villa.

Our defense has been outstanding. But what if John terry gets hurt and we start leaking 1 or 2 goals a game. We don't have the scoring to make up for his loss. Not yet anyway.

I do think our luck will turn and these shots will start going in. But our lack of goal scoring will catch up with us soon. Maybe not in the EPL but perhaps in Europe.

[Andy Bennett]

Is that shots at goal, or shots actually 'on' goal?

I mean, a lash from midfield would count as a shot at goal, but in all reality is a bloody waste.
Hmm. Good point as well.

You mean the difference between this years Lampard and last years. Last year he was great... this year he looks like he couldn't hit a cows arse with a banjo.

[prk166]

Taking, and in Chelsea's case missing them also, a lot of shots doesn't say much about being defensive. I could take those same numbers, especially given that they've missed more than anyone else, and say "see, this proves they sit back in a defensive shell, scurrying up field to take a quick shot and lapse back into that defensive shell". Those numbers would bare that out right? I mean, if you're not taking the time to knock the ball around and find a good opportunity and try making some passes to unlock the defense instead of just taking a shot that wasn't too good in the first place.

I'm not making that claim. I'm just saying those numbers don't prove the pundits wrong.

[michaec]

It's probably a mixture of the two. Some piss poor finishing (and yes I know Drogba's adapting to the Premiership etc., but it's a fact there for all to see, although Lampard has been particularly wayward this year too) and wasting shots from miles out which have no chance in the first place.

[nicephoras]

We haven't been taking that many long distance shots though. Its just that Lampad's shooting has been badly off form. With the chances he's had this year, he'd have scored 5 already on last year's form.

[michaec]

...Lampad's shooting has been badly off form. With the chances he's had this year, he'd have scored 5 already on last year's form.Yeah, nothing went right for him against Liverpool. He had two or three great chances which he didn't connect with, very unlike him. Hopefully he'll find his shooting boots for England this weekend.

[Walter3000]

Our defense has been outstanding. But what if John terry gets hurt and we start leaking 1 or 2 goals a game. We don't have the scoring to make up for his loss. Not yet anyway.



gallas is there to back him up, and sorry to say it, but carvahllo has been our best defender. no worries the offense will come.

[nicephoras]

Yeah, nothing went right for him against Liverpool. He had two or three great chances which he didn't connect with, very unlike him. Hopefully he'll find his shooting boots for England this weekend.

His scoring rate for England's fine. ;)

The common theme I've been seeing on these boards (not from you michaec), recently, is that our lack of finishing is here to stay, while our good defense is likely to buckle. I don't entirely understand why that's the case. In my mind, it seems that better attacking is more random - who hits form, etc. Its unlikely our defending has been "lucky" when we've already conceded at least one unlucky goal (Porto). Since the Birmingham game, where we were admittedly shaky, we've looked remarkably composed at the back. Could it all go belly up? Sure. But I see no reason to think that its any more likely than Lampard finally finding his touch. He can't be this inept in front of goal the whole season, right? Right?

[fedwood]

your defense is great but i think the attack is unlucky atm
im not sure which game it was
but duff was constantly pumping crosses into drogba and they were just missing him by a few cm's each time and stuff

anyway i cant wait Arsenal V Chelsea
time to have your goal breached several times

[PokerNSoccer]

Jose Mourinho should put on Adrian Mutu.That player is never afraid of anyone and can score goals on place them on target.But,that seems unlikely after he publicly criticized Mourinho.

[mst77]

time to have your goal breached several times

I've now got my pick up line for this weekend.

[mst77]

Jose Mourinho should put on Adrian Mutu.That player is never afraid of anyone and can score goals on place them on target.But,that seems unlikely after he publicly criticized Mourinho.

No offense, but did you watch Chelsea after October last year? He hit more corner flags than JFH.

[Trigger]

I got to say sometimes you guys are boring but boring wins matches. It's quality of chances and the type of service that matters. When the service is good to Drogba, the kind he likes, then he scores. Simple fact. But that type of service has been lacking with the narrow play. Clearly Cole and Lampard can't play in the same side, nor Cole and Kezman as he always makes runs to where Kezman already is and takes the ball off of his feet.
Weird, how can I say this ? but Chelsea are a striker short ? I mean a real goal threat alongside Drogsy. Kezman is runs and movement, Eidur is coming short, drifting off. Mutu is ... Bench, Cole or Forssell, that's the way to go both would make a great partner for Drogba and really start converting better opportunities.

Joe Cole shouldn't be in the team, I'm not hating I swear but every time I see him starting he takes away from Lampards game and from the forwards, it's like there's the one ball and he's the only one that can have it and hey with skills that would be great but sheesh can he buy a finish already?.

Next year you guys could be a scarey attacking force, minus Cole.

[fedwood]

I've now got my pick up line for this weekend.

i wanted to make reference to the goals on the field and areas on the body