Allardyce: I'm no long ball merchant (confidential statistics included)

[Guest nufc 4 life]

Allardyce: I'm no long-ball merchant

Simon Bird 15/12/2007

 

 

 

 

Sam Allardyce has taken the amazing step of releasing confidential statistics to prove Newcastle are not a long-ball team.

 

The United boss is determined to show fans he is trying to fashion a passing game.

 

The manager has been working hard to win over his players and the Toon Army with his scientific approach, and released the data, produced by the player tracking system ProZone, to back up his claims.

 

During last Saturday's win over Birmingham, Newcastle crossed the ball 19 times and entered the visitors' penalty area in 50 attacks, taking 18 shots on goal. Only nine per cent of United's passes were longer than 25 metres, and players sprinted 700 metres more than their opponents - despite three games in a week.

 

Allardyce, often accused by critics of being a long-ball merchant, said last night: "After the Birmingham game we were criticised in some areas, but the stats override anything negative that is thrown at us. I think some people only want to undermine what we are doing at this football club.

 

"This isn't a case of having to defend our tactics. The stats are a perfect response to those people who have unjust perceptions about our performance."

 

Allardyce has told Newcastle's defence to shape up, having failed to keep a clean sheet for 20 away games in the league since playing Manchester City 13 months ago.

 

AdvertisementThey will attempt a shut-out at Fulham for the first time in 61 years, with Big Sam anxious for his side to become harder to score against. He splashed out £10million in the summer on Jose Enrique, Abdoulaye Faye, Habib Beye, Claudio Cacapa and David Rozehnal, but the same problems at the back have hampered United.

 

Injuries, loss of form and a couple of shocking home defeats, to Portsmouth and Liverpool, have dented confidence in the new recruits who are still adjusting to the Premier League.

 

Allardyce reckons a tighter back-line will improve away form - which he calculated would put the club in the bottom eight - compared to the home form, which is top eight.

 

The manager, who is facing a battle with chairman Chris Mort for cash strengthen his squad in January, said: "Clean sheets? It's my Achilles heel. For us all, home and away.

 

"If we put that right we'd have an extra six to eight points on the board. The away form is an Achilles heel. The home form is top eight, the away form is down there in the bottom eight. So that is where we have to put it right.

 

"We've not been resilient enough to hold on to a lead or hold on to a draw that has ended in a defeat."

 

Allardyce insisted Michael Owen will not be sold in January because he will be running out of players.

 

He added: "Do I have to sell to buy? No, we have no one to sell. We have four going to the African Nations Cup, we have 19 outfield players in the first-team squad, that leaves us with 15 including Carr, Owen and Duff.

 

"I've no scope for moving players on. The African Cup leaves me woefully short of numbers."

 

ProZone stats on Toon v Birmingham last Saturday...

 

Goals: 2-1

 

Shots: 18-3

 

Passes: 342-218

 

Completed: 277-166

 

Number of times into final third: 80-56

 

Number of times into penalty area: 50-17

 

Crosses: 19-11

 

Possession 55.2%-44.8% Overall distance covered: 116.6km-117.8km

 

High-intensity distance covered: 8.9km - 8.2km

 

 

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2007/12/15/allardyce-i-m-no-long-ball-merchant-89520-20253368/

[Dr Venkman]

Allardyce: I'm no long-ball merchant

Simon Bird 15/12/2007

"Do I have to sell to buy? No,

 

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2007/12/15/allardyce-i-m-no-long-ball-merchant-89520-20253368/

 

interesting read, particularly that bit

[The College Dropout]

Interesting.

[Dave]

Plenty of hoofs upfield so far today.

[Parky]

Plenty of hoofs upfield so far today.

 

Liverpool do a lot of hoofing goes unnoticed by the cognecenti.

[Dave]

By both teams.

[Guest Knightrider]

Plenty of hoofs upfield so far today.

 

Liverpool do a lot of hoofing goes unnoticed by the cognecenti.

 

I can't remember where I read it (probably a mag) but Liverpool and Chelsea were the top 2 last season for long balls, Bolton were above mid-table with the likes of us and Everton above them.

 

We do play long ball football though, to deny that would be delusional. However we are not merely a long-ball team, no more than others who deploy the tactic anyway.

[Guest nufc 4 life]

Plenty of hoofs upfield so far today.

 

Liverpool do a lot of hoofing goes unnoticed by the cognecenti.

 

I can't remember where I read it (probably a mag) but Liverpool and Chelsea were the top 2 last season for long balls, Bolton were above mid-table with the likes of us and Everton above them.

 

We do play long ball football though, to deny that would be delusional. However we are not merely a long-ball team, no more than others who deploy the tactic anyway.

 

very well summed up

[jimmymag]

We don't play from the back because Sam has told the defence not to take risks therefore we have to put up with aimless 50 yard punts or, as we saw yesterday, defenders just knocking the ball out of play when not under very strong pressure from the opposition. Sam is, and always will be, a manager who plays the percentages so, if we're going to stick with him, we better get used to it.

[merlin]

We don't play from the back because Sam has told the defence not to take risks therefore we have to put up with aimless 50 yard punts or, as we saw yesterday, defenders just knocking the ball out of play when not under very strong pressure from the opposition. Sam is, and always will be, a manager who plays the percentages so, if we're going to stick with him, we better get used to it.

 

What was it someone said about 'Lies,Damned Lies, and Statistics..!!??

 

A touch of the 'Emperor's New clothes' about his claims - we can all see how the team play.

[Offshore]

Stats only for Brum game though.

 

The only team i'd def say doesn't use the long ball route on a regular'ish basis is Arsenal, then (guessing) followed more than likely by Man U, then the teams in 3rd, 4th.........possibly has something to do with the teams at the top having better midfielders so their defenders are more confident in giving it to them knowing it'll probably not come straight back.

[Kitman]

The Fulham match suggests he is a fully paid up member of the long ball merchant club.  One of the problems with us is there's not enough variety of play - the occasional long pass is fine imo as long as it's mixed up with passing it through midfield.  By 'long pass', I don't mean aimless long hoof Bramble stylee by the way, which is what we've done of late.  Our approach seems to be that relentless aerial bombardment into the right areas will pay off eventually.

[alpal78]

After the game against Fulham, anyone who thinks/claims that we play less long balls than the likes of Liverpool....etc is just delusional and that includes Coach. It is just not possible to play any more long balls that what we displayed against Fulham. It was only when Emre came on, then he at least tried to keep the ball on the deck.

[Northern Monkey]

What difference does it make? The team Fat Sam puts out can't pass the ball short or long successfully, and no amount of whining or bluster from the fat cunt is going to distract people for long from the fact that he's scraping by as a manager.

[Kitman]

Presumably a long hoof that bounces off Martins' shoulder counts as a completed pass.  Provided he's "running the channels" as instructed that also counts as being in the final third, so it's double joy for Big Sam.  If it ricochets off Smith's knee on the way through to the keeper it also counts as a shot on goal, all adding to the impressive statistical performance. 

[Northern Monkey]

Presumably a long hoof that bounces off Martins' shoulder counts as a completed pass.  Provided he's "running the channels" as instructed that also counts as being in the final third, so it's double joy for Big Sam.  If it ricochets off Smith's knee on the way through to the keeper it also counts as a shot on goal, all adding to the impressive statistical performance. 

 

is THAT what he's doing??? I thought he had some sort of inner ear problem, and kept running at a funny angle by an accident.

[Kitman]

Presumably a long hoof that bounces off Martins' shoulder counts as a completed pass.  Provided he's "running the channels" as instructed that also counts as being in the final third, so it's double joy for Big Sam.  If it ricochets off Smith's knee on the way through to the keeper it also counts as a shot on goal, all adding to the impressive statistical performance. 

 

is THAT what he's doing??? I thought he had some sort of inner ear problem, and kept running at a funny angle by an accident.

 

[The College Dropout]

Stats only for Brum game though.

 

The only team i'd def say doesn't use the long ball route on a regular'ish basis is Arsenal, then (guessing) followed more than likely by Man U, then the teams in 3rd, 4th.........possibly has something to do with the teams at the top having better midfielders so their defenders are more confident in giving it to them knowing it'll probably not come straight back.

 

Man City play it from defence.

[Ronaldo]

Stats only for Brum game though.

 

The only team i'd def say doesn't use the long ball route on a regular'ish basis is Arsenal, then (guessing) followed more than likely by Man U, then the teams in 3rd, 4th.........possibly has something to do with the teams at the top having better midfielders so their defenders are more confident in giving it to them knowing it'll probably not come straight back.

 

to be fair, this season Arsenal have played a lot of route 1 football. Comfortably more than say Man u

[TRon]

Stats only for Brum game though.

 

The only team i'd def say doesn't use the long ball route on a regular'ish basis is Arsenal, then (guessing) followed more than likely by Man U, then the teams in 3rd, 4th.........possibly has something to do with the teams at the top having better midfielders so their defenders are more confident in giving it to them knowing it'll probably not come straight back.

 

to be fair, this season Arsenal have played a lot of route 1 football. Comfortably more than say Man u

 

There's a difference between crossing a ball accurately towards a big centre forward with plenty of attack in support and hoofing it long towards a single CF from the back.

 

[Offshore]

Stats only for Brum game though.

 

The only team i'd def say doesn't use the long ball route on a regular'ish basis is Arsenal, then (guessing) followed more than likely by Man U, then the teams in 3rd, 4th.........possibly has something to do with the teams at the top having better midfielders so their defenders are more confident in giving it to them knowing it'll probably not come straight back.

 

Man City play it from defence.

 

Can quite believe that they do, they've got a canny midfield. As someone else pointed out, it looks like we try to play more of a passing game when Emre's on the pitch, while he's no Kaka he's the best we've got. It comes down to what you've got/play I suppose, when we play with Geremi/Butt/Barton as our middle 3 we're not doing our defence or attack any favours, not saying they can't pass a ball between them but they don't fill me with confidence.

[Yorkie]

Stats only for Brum game though.

 

The only team i'd def say doesn't use the long ball route on a regular'ish basis is Arsenal, then (guessing) followed more than likely by Man U, then the teams in 3rd, 4th.........possibly has something to do with the teams at the top having better midfielders so their defenders are more confident in giving it to them knowing it'll probably not come straight back.

 

to be fair, this season Arsenal have played a lot of route 1 football. Comfortably more than say Man u

 

Aye i was just gonna say that. They've done well with it, apart from against us, where Taylor/Butt et al gobbled everything up.

[Thespence]

Remember a few years back watching Liverpool play someone with a lad from Madrid, he thought Stevie G was long ball merchant. I had to explain when certain clubs & well known players in England hit the ball over 50 meters it is classed as a long pass & not a long ball/hoof.