Since I had nothing better to do after work today I looked up some player stats from recent years and made some calculations. I did this to try to gauge player performance this season compared with previous ones. I thought it might be interesting see whether my perceptions, from watching Chelsea play and reading the views on countless forums, would match the stats. I’m a firm believer that a solid defence is the foundation you need to get through the tough “moments†on the way to a league title. In his first season Ancelotti brought us more goals than I could wish for but in a way the amount of goals masked our defensive frailties. (The stats below are for the Premier League only)

Attacking efficiency:

The table below shows goals + assists for every 90 minutes played for a few selected players. The 2006-2008 stats for Anelka are mainly from his time with Bolton.

........... 2010/11 2009/10 2008/09 2007/08 2006/07 Average

Drogba ... 0,87 ..... 1,36 .... 0,52 .... 0,83 ..... 0,73 .... 0,90

Lampard . 0,62 ..... 1,09 .... 0,61 .... 0,92 ..... 0,64 .... 0,78

Malouda .. 0,58 ..... 0,82 .... 0,58 .... 0,19 ................. 0,58

Anelka .... 0,46 ..... 0,67 .... 0,74 .... 0,66 ..... 0,57 .... 0,62

Kalou ...... 0,86 ..... 0,85 .... 0,66 .... 0,76 ..... 0,56 .... 0,72

Essien ..... 0,16 ..... 0,23 .... 0,12 .... 0,43 ..... 0,15 .... 0,22

It’s quite clear that Drogba’s last two seasons have been sensational but wonder how long that will last with him aging.

Despite his injuries this season you can always rely on Lampard to give you goals. He may be slowing down with age and doesn’t seem to cover as much ground anymore, but his footballing brain is the thing that makes him so good (the timing of runs and finishing). His passing has been a bit off of late; this applies to many other players as well. In three of the last five seasons he has played over 3200 minutes which is about 1200 more than in the 2010/11 season. If he had been fit for those 1200 minutes one could expect him to provide at least 8 goals. Could this have be the difference between coming 2nd or 1st in the league?

When anybody mentions the Bison I probably start thinking of the powerhouse from the 07/08 season (when Lampard only played around 1900 minutes). But this season he reminded me more of a tame dairy cow.

I am of the opinion that Chelsea should sell Anelka and keep Kalou. The stats show that Anelka’s productivity has been very poor while Kalou is coming into his prime. Kalou’s offensive production is second only to Drogba. For those of you that want to get rid of Kalou: would you rather have him coming off the bench or Bendtner/Owen? I think it’s been obvious for a long time that we’ve needed a right winger/forward to create some width instead of using Anelka out of position. As our main striker option Anelka has been decent; under Scolari and in the CL while Drogba was banned. Someone like Sanchez/Adam Johnson would probably do a better job on the right.

I’m on the fence when it comes to Malouda. The stats seem to indicate that he’s been solid but watching him this past season has been a bit of a rollercoaster; one week I think he’s brilliant the next I’m complaining he’s too slow and looks like he’s bulked up a bit too much. I know that many fans are of the opinion that he is too selfish and should stop congesting the middle. Perhaps solving the RW problem might free up some space for Malouda.

Defence:

Below is a table showing goals conceded for every 90 minutes played.

............. 2010/11 2009/10 2008/09 2007/08 2006/07 Average

A.Cole ...... 0,85 .... 0,71 .... 0,73 .... 0,82 .... 0,73 .... 0,78

Terry ........ 0,82 .... 0,83 .... 0,61 .... 0,62 .... 0,52 .... 0,69

Alex ......... 0,73 ..... 0,71 .... 0,46 .... 0,65 .... ..... ..... 0,62

Ivanovic .... 0,86 .... 0,80 .... 0,74 .... .... ........ .... ..... 0,82

Ferreira ..... 1,21 .... 0,66 .... 0,00 .... 0,98 .... 0,63 ..... 0,82

Bosingwa ... 0,78 .... 0,98 .... 0,59 .... .... .... .... .... .... 0,69

Zhirkov ..... 0,74 .... 1,13 .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... ... 0,98

Luiz .......... 0,76 .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... ..... 0,76

Cech ......... 0,87 .... 0,77 .... 0,69 .... 0,66 .... 0,47 ..... 0,72

It is quite evident that Ferreira was a liability last season, especially playing CB, and mainly played during the bad slump when there were few other options. Ivanovic’s defensive record seems to have taken a beeting during that period. To me the upward trend in goals conceded in recent seasons evident in Cech’s stats is worrying. This is something I believe a new manager needs to focus on. See also Terry’s stats from the last two season compared to the previous (approx 0,2 goal/game worse off with Ancelotti). According to the stats Alex has been solid as a rock.

Perhaps a surprising thing is that the stats show Bosingwa, contrary to his reputation, sharing the second best defensive record with Terry. Though I believe Ashley Cole to be a better defender than Bossman the stats seem to indicate the opposite. The stats could easily skewed perhaps because Bosingwa was mostly playing against the weaker teams in the league with Ivanovic stepping in against the big sides. But is this just me being biased?

Mikel vs Essien (vs Ramires):

In the last five seasons on average my stats give that:

Player/ goals+assist per game / goals conceded per game

Essien/ 0.22 / 0.78

Mikel/ 0.07 / 0.72

(Ramires/ 0.09 / 0.84 )

Comparing Ramires to the other two is not very fair since it’s his first season as well as fact that our defence wasn’t very strong under Ancelotti.

From these stats our best defence might be:

Bosingwa – Alex – Terry – A.Cole/Luiz

with Mikel protecting the back four. The worst:

Ferreira – Benayoun – Ivanovic – Zhirkov

Though Yuri hasn’t been playing much at left back.

Edited June 2, 201115 yr by Blue Charm

Great job putting together all these stats mate . My thoughts on some of the players you mentioned ,

DD - As you say , Drogba has been immense for us over the years and at times I think he would have scored more goals if there was a player with creative instincts in the midfield . Drogba is an all round player who can play high balls as well balls that come to his feet though his ball control is not among the best. According to me , Drogba is a player who is ideally suited to play the lone man upfront with the current spurs team . Even Torres would relish that big time . Tottenham's midfield and either Drogba or Torres will be one hell of a attacking line up. We surely need width and creativity in the middle next season to get the best out of Nando and extract everything out of DD.

Anelka - His stats may be on the lower side but still he is a very good striker . But he often drops deep to get the ball and forgets his actual position and ultimately appears having done nothing . But he will still be a very good striker for another team which do not already have a world class forward !

Kalou - His stats may be good but he flatters to deceive many a time. He is not my player to play upfront or not the best of players to play wide . He cannot cross , he doesn't give width either . I' m not sure what is his best position and I' m sure even he would not have decided that himself . Right time to move him on !

Malouda - If you are winger , stay wide . If you want to cut inside , be pacy . If you don't want to pass , do not play ! Malouda is all about the words just said . He cannot change a game and the stats about him do not give us the real picture about him or his game.

Attacking efficiency:

The table below shows goals + assists for every 90 minutes played for a few selected players. The 2006-2008 stats for Anelka are mainly from his time with Bolton.

........... 2010/11 2009/10 2008/09 2007/08 2006/07 Average

Drogba ... 0,87 ..... 1,36 .... 0,52 .... 0,83 ..... 0,73 .... 0,90

Lampard . 0,62 ..... 1,09 .... 0,61 .... 0,92 ..... 0,64 .... 0,78

Malouda .. 0,58 ..... 0,82 .... 0,58 .... 0,19 ................. 0,58

Anelka .... 0,46 ..... 0,67 .... 0,74 .... 0,66 ..... 0,57 .... 0,62

Kalou ...... 0,86 ..... 0,85 .... 0,66 .... 0,76 ..... 0,56 .... 0,72

Essien ..... 0,16 ..... 0,23 .... 0,12 .... 0,43 ..... 0,15 .... 0,22

I find these stats quite interesting. The bit that stands out to me is how up and down Frank has been over the last 5 years. Still better than a lot of people, even on his 'off years' but it's interesting how he has alternated having seasons with a goal or assist every 2 games and seasons with a goal or assist in every game. With any luck the cycle will continue to next season and he'll be back in the goal a game category again.

Defence:

Below is a table showing goals conceded for every 90 minutes played.

............. 2010/11 2009/10 2008/09 2007/08 2006/07 Average

A.Cole ...... 0,85 .... 0,71 .... 0,73 .... 0,82 .... 0,73 .... 0,78

Terry ........ 0,82 .... 0,83 .... 0,61 .... 0,62 .... 0,52 .... 0,69

Alex ......... 0,73 ..... 0,71 .... 0,46 .... 0,65 .... ..... ..... 0,62

Ivanovic .... 0,86 .... 0,80 .... 0,74 .... .... ........ .... ..... 0,82

Ferreira ..... 1,21 .... 0,66 .... 0,00 .... 0,98 .... 0,63 ..... 0,82

Bosingwa ... 0,78 .... 0,98 .... 0,59 .... .... .... .... .... .... 0,69

Zhirkov ..... 0,74 .... 1,13 .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... ... 0,98

Luiz .......... 0,76 .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... ..... 0,76

Cech ......... 0,87 .... 0,77 .... 0,69 .... 0,66 .... 0,47 ..... 0,72

Not a fan of these stats. You can't really compare how good defenders are based on goals conceded per game as it depends not only on the performance of the individual but also the rest of the team. You can argue that a similar effect happens in the attacking positions as well (if someone isn't getting service then they won't score) but it's not as prevalent as with the defense. For example, using these statistics, Terry, Ivanovic, Cole and Cech will all be penalised for David Luiz's cock-up which led to the first goal.

Kalou - His stats may be good but he flatters to deceive many a time. He is not my player to play upfront or not the best of players to play wide . He cannot cross , he doesn't give width either . I' m not sure what is his best position and I' m sure even he would not have decided that himself . Right time to move him on !

Kalou has said on a couple of occasions that his preferred position is behind the striker in a 4-4-2. I personally think he has done quite well cutting in from the wide position (which is what's expected of the wide-men in a 4-3-3). If we want to use wingers that stay wide, a change of formation would probably be the best idea. For what it's worth, I can see Sturridge ending up in a similar position to Kalou - used out of position as a wide player in a 4-3-3 and having his effectiveness reduced because of it.

I hope that when we bring players in this summer, we do it with a plan in mind. And that we use a formation that fits the players rather than because it's what we've always done.

The stats are all well and good, but raw data like this is always dangerous when left without the proper examination.

For example Essien's attacking stats are severely skewed because he played different positions and was injured.

During 2006-07 he started to replace Maka as the DM hence his low stats, the year after that Maka was used much more by Grant and Essien was played further forward therefore he had a bigger impact. During the next two seasons he was injured or recovering for much of the season.

Similarly Alex's stats are skewed downward in 2008-09 because he was largely used by Hiddink but not by Scolari whose approach leaked more goals. This affects his overall average pretty badly because it is such a big outlier.

Not at all attempting to belittle your work, it's impressive and interesting but I'm not sure it tells the whole story. I do like the sabermetric approach used by people like Comolli at Liverpool I think it's an excellent way to devise your transfers, and with the likes of Modric, Bale and Berba at Spurs and now Suarez at Liverpool it clearly works, though they obviously look at a lot more detailed stuff.

Very interesting stats, but as people have pointed out you have to look beyond them to point out stuff they don't show, like Spiller's perceptive point about Alex in 2008-9.

Another point is that Lamps's goals per game ratio was again phenomenal this season - 10 in 23 games - but his assists declined dramatically - 2 in 23, compared with 14 in 36 last season. Now this could be down to his form, but could also be down to the lack of goals from our front players compared to last season. Obvously both are a factor.

Drogs went from 29 in 31 to 11 in 30, and Anelka from 11 in 31 to 6 in 27. Is that decline down to their form, their age, factors such as malaria, Carlo's tactics, opposition defenders being better, or a lack of service from Lamps, Essien, Ramires and Malouda (and Torres!)?

I also read that Malouda created more chances than any player in the Prem this season, and yet he had only 4 assists.

Defensively we were the best in the Prem this season, but still managed to look shaky and leak stupid goals, especially right at the death in games that cost us quite a few points and trophies(Everton, Newcastle, Villa - all at home, plus Everton in the FAC and Newcastle in the CC- spring to mind), which suggests a lack of concentration and mental toughness. And weren't our great defensive stats in large part down to Cech rather than the defenders?

We could go on....and I look forward to more stats to mull over.

EDIT: This site is cracking:

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/24257/cc/5739

Edited June 2, 201115 yr by Backbiter

I remember we played our best football (under Carlo) when Drogba and the African bosy were away at ANC. We were moving and passing fast with Anelka leading the line, teams just couldn't handle us, especially in the last 15-20 after chasing shadows all game. Even at OT, Anelka played well when he started. He hasn't played as striker much, especially when we tried to fit Torress in. As I see it, we never needed to sign Torres if Anelka was on song.