One criticism of the Pompey team this season is that they were too scared to shoot, especially under the Perrin regime where we virtually tired to walk the ball into the net on too many occasions. So many times we have had oppurtunities to have a pop at goal but instead choose to over-elaborate and then end up losing the ball.
However, confidence is a fine thing and since our home game against Man City we have been peppering the oppositions goal, getting in shot after shot and it's easy to see the transformation in the team now who were scared to have a shot from 20 yards in the past, and by that I don't mean Nigel Quashie sky rockets that always end up over the stand.
How dramatic has the change been? Fratton Faithful puts on the statto glasses and has a look.
Shots In Last 4 Games (On target shots in brackets)
Blackburn (Home): 23 (12)
Fulham (Away): 10 (7)
West Ham (Away): 12 (8)
Man City (Home): 12 (5)
Total: 57 (32)
Shots In The 4 Games Before That
Aston Villa (Away): 11 (6)
Chelsea (Away): 5 (1)
Man United (Home): 17 (6)
Newcastle (Away): 3 (1)
Total: 36 (14)
Shots In The First 4 Games
Tottenham (Home): 11 (7)
West Brom (Away): 10 (2)
Aston Villa (Home): 20 (11)
Man City (Away): 7 (2)
Total: 48 (22)
There is a significant difference now than what there was before our good run started and at the start of the season. Not only have we increased the number of shots we've had but we are also far more accurate now than what we were then with well over half of our shots on target compared to an abysmal 14 in the four games before that. Alright you can argue that the quality of opposition is higher but the difference between now and then is pretty clear to see, especially away from home!
Add to that the goals we've actually scored during these periods, we were once the lowest scoring team in the country but 11 goals in our last four games has changed that in comparison to a solitary goal in our four previous to that and three in our first four games. I think it is safe to say that a single win can have a massive impact on the style that we play, we're now blitzing goals better than we have done at any other time this season. I mean 23 shots against Blackburn is quite incredible but we have to take the chances we get when Arsenal visit on Wednesday.
Just a bit of statto to keep you occupied on a Sunday evening...
However, confidence is a fine thing and since our home game against Man City we have been peppering the oppositions goal, getting in shot after shot and it's easy to see the transformation in the team now who were scared to have a shot from 20 yards in the past, and by that I don't mean Nigel Quashie sky rockets that always end up over the stand.
How dramatic has the change been? Fratton Faithful puts on the statto glasses and has a look.
Shots In Last 4 Games (On target shots in brackets)
Blackburn (Home): 23 (12)
Fulham (Away): 10 (7)
West Ham (Away): 12 (8)
Man City (Home): 12 (5)
Total: 57 (32)
Shots In The 4 Games Before That
Aston Villa (Away): 11 (6)
Chelsea (Away): 5 (1)
Man United (Home): 17 (6)
Newcastle (Away): 3 (1)
Total: 36 (14)
Shots In The First 4 Games
Tottenham (Home): 11 (7)
West Brom (Away): 10 (2)
Aston Villa (Home): 20 (11)
Man City (Away): 7 (2)
Total: 48 (22)
There is a significant difference now than what there was before our good run started and at the start of the season. Not only have we increased the number of shots we've had but we are also far more accurate now than what we were then with well over half of our shots on target compared to an abysmal 14 in the four games before that. Alright you can argue that the quality of opposition is higher but the difference between now and then is pretty clear to see, especially away from home!
Add to that the goals we've actually scored during these periods, we were once the lowest scoring team in the country but 11 goals in our last four games has changed that in comparison to a solitary goal in our four previous to that and three in our first four games. I think it is safe to say that a single win can have a massive impact on the style that we play, we're now blitzing goals better than we have done at any other time this season. I mean 23 shots against Blackburn is quite incredible but we have to take the chances we get when Arsenal visit on Wednesday.
Just a bit of statto to keep you occupied on a Sunday evening...