Data in football is being used by all the major clubs and it gives us so much insight into how good or not so good we were. Data isn’t everything, but it can shine a light on things after a positive result, things you can look to improve on if you’re the manager.
The Celtic v Kilmarnock game is the perfect example of the eye not matching the data.
npxG of the game was 1.38 v 1.43 (npxG = Non penalty expected goals.)
Didn’t feel like it, did it? We obviously ran out 4-0 winners.
I’m going to focus on the chances we gave up and just how poor defensively we were, as I like many ignored this
Defensively, from a Celtic perspective, looking at this game could make your eyes bleed.
Gary Dicker with free reign on the edge of our box, almost infinite space. Welsh does well to step out and pressure the shot. All 4 midfielders in the box, 1 or 2 should fill the giant hole.
Below is another chance from Burke, Mcgregor sells himself and once again A giant hole at our 18-yard box has appeared. Brown and Turnbull step into the CB position – one should be in the giant gap. Welsh completely out of defensive line as well. Brown needs to read this.
Brown decides to pressure Burke despite no real danger. Mcgregor then comes in to fill the gap leaving a Kilmarnock player completely free and a giant hole again on the edge of the 18-yard box.
Rossi gives Ajer the run around again, once again getting a free header on goal (0.22xG). Rossi would get 0.57xG from crossed balls in the game (40% of their xG).
One final one!
The chance of the match from Burke with his header cleared off the line. It’s just an eyesore defensively. Greg Taylor left 2v1 at the back post; Turnbull drops into Brown’s defensive position and doesn’t see the danger at all.
I expected to come on and talk about all the positivity and my smile slumped to a frown as soon as I saw the data. Then I started watching the clips and I couldn’t believe I wasn’t picking up on the defence being such a mess at times.
This just shows the importance of reviewing data. It brings us back to earth when we perhaps over hype a performance, just because of our offensive improvement. Defensively we gave up to much and made many basic errors. On another day or against better opposition, we lose that game.
[Bhoys Analytics]
Yes , too many talking about how well we played, Killie were absolutely terrible or they would have scored at least 2 against us, defensively shocking as per .
Like I said in another thread. Celtic looked good against a fellow struggler. I hope Ajeti doesn’t start to trip over slugs again. If Vr was present at the Killie game. He would have been booked for doing a Morelos.