Lack of goals in many teams.

[Abbobrom]

We are all concerned by the lack of goals that we score, but we are not alone in this. I read an article recently where the author quoted "that the number of goals being scored in the Premier had fallen to an all time low." I decided to have a look at this, and with a few exceptions, most teams are having a struggle to score. Is this because the defences are better of are the strikers not doing their jobs? Only Arsenal , Man City and Spurs have scored more than fifty this season.

I had a look at the bottom ten sides Chelsea in eleventh place down to Southampton in position twenty.
These ten teams, have as of today, played a total of 282 games this season. The total goals scored by these ten, totals 271!!!. You don't need to be a maths genius to work out that that is less than a goal a game. Chelsea with all the spending have only scored 29 while Leicester who sit in the relegation places have scored 39. Leeds are the only other team in these ten who have scored more goals than the number of games.

The drop may well come down this season to the teams with the worst goal difference, and at the present time Forest , Bournemouth and Southampton are worse than us.

 

[SA Wolf]

We are all concerned by the lack of goals that we score, but we are not alone in this. I read an article recently where the author quoted "that the number of goals being scored in the Premier had fallen to an all time low." I decided to have a look at this, and with a few exceptions, most teams are having a struggle to score. Is this because the defences are better of are the strikers not doing their jobs? Only Arsenal , Man City and Spurs have scored more than fifty this season.

I had a look at the bottom ten sides Chelsea in eleventh place down to Southampton in position twenty.
These ten teams, have as of today, played a total of 282 games this season. The total goals scored by these ten, totals 271!!!. You don't need to be a maths genius to work out that that is less than a goal a game. Chelsea with all the spending have only scored 29 while Leicester who sit in the relegation places have scored 39. Leeds are the only other team in these ten who have scored more goals than the number of games.

The drop may well come down this season to the teams with the worst goal difference, and at the present time Forest , Bournemouth and Southampton are worse than us.

I heard it was a high over this last game week. Albeit from a small sample size; however there were 6 goals in one match, 5 goals in two others and a couple of 3s. On Saturday, only Chelsea failed to score, although yesterday two others (Saints and Yernited) also failed.

 

[Big Saft Kid]

My impression (and that's all it is) is that teams (with a few exceptions like Citeh) are playing safety first football -- in away games, defend in numbers, don't concede and we at least get a point.

 

[northnorfolkwolf]

When you look at all 20 Prem sides only a few have genuine top quality strikers. I'd say all of the bottom 9 clubs have no quality striker between them, unless I've forgotten someone! You could also argue that many of the top 11 clubs lack a really good striker but I suppose they compensate by having creative players and others who chip in with goals.

 

[SingYourHeartsOut]

Looked the other week, bad as we are, only Leeds in the bottom half have a player in double figures and West Ham, Forest and Everton had top scorers on 4.

 

[ewarwoowar]

with the greatest of respect to the thread i only care about our beloved Wolves and could`nt give a flying hoot about any other team but take the point fully

 

[lets all have a disco]

We all get the Costa/Jimenez debate....as both probably haven't done enough to constantly start .....But i dont understand why either didn't start against Forest and particularly Bournemouth at home.....it's negative....

I understand Cunha up on his own against teams like Liverpool, Newcastle and probably Chelsea at the weekend.....but not Bournemouth and Forest......

 

[Wednesbury Wolf]

Now we know scoring hardly any goals is widespread no need to worry.

 

[WeAreTheWolvesII]

The reality is that the vast majority of teams are so similar, so goalscorers are key.

We came 7th two years in a row when Jimenez was brilliant.

Fulham are overachieving in 10th despite very bad metrics, with Mitrovic key to that. Brentford with Toney. You take those two out of their teams and I genuinely believe they're in the mix with the rest this season to stay up. Villa aren't on the same level of reliance but would drop without Watkins.

Brighton are probably an exception because they just play great football, but, other than that, all the teams outside the obvious ones are very similar and margins decide every game.

And, as mentioned above, Leeds are an exception the other way.

Overall though, if you get a striker that can score around 15, you're pretty certain to stay up as the games are so tight and that makes such a difference.

Look at us, even if Jimenez had scored just five this season. Add five goals to us and the likelihood us it brings at least 5/6 points. With those points, we're basically safe.

 

[woop woop barmy army]

Goals win games.... simples

 

[OLDGOLD]

Goals win games.... simples

I Dont detect any Iberian pragmatism here that not conceding equals at least 1 point...

 

[northnorfolkwolf]

with the greatest of respect to the thread i only care about our beloved Wolves and could`nt give a flying hoot about any other team but take the point fully

You could take that view on every thread and it would make the Mix an exceedingly dull place!

 

[JadeWolf]

I’m not surprised goalscoring is so low when the goalkeepers spend at least 20 minutes between them every game taking goal kicks.

 

[ewarwoowar]

You could take that view on every thread and it would make the Mix an exceedingly dull place!

the mix is never dull!!now our strike force.....

 

[CelebrityWolf]

I think the reason is primarily a tactical one. Containment and pressing are the buzzwords these days and a more methodical approach.

 

[Jefe]

I had a look at the bottom ten sides Chelsea in eleventh place down to Southampton in position twenty. These ten teams, have as of today, played a total of 282 games this season. The total goals scored by these ten, totals 271!

Yet we're expected to swallow the myth that Football in the modern era is better than ever. The most entertaining games are high in goal-scoring opportunities; less than one goal a game from the bottom half of allegedly the best division in the world, is abysmal. Sluggish "recycling"-based football for its own sake that allows well-drilled opponents to close rank, a third of the match eaten up by gamesmanship, the devaluation of the traditional centre forward, goal-scoring chances you can count on one hand, and the worst officiating in living memory to boot. The game at the top levels is the most boring I can remember it ever being.

 

[CelebrityWolf]

Goals win games.... simples

And conceding goals loses games. Which way do you think is easier to control?

Throw eight bodies forward to try and score

Throw eight bodies back and try to stop the opposition

 

[Ewok vs Wolf]

Think there's so much pressure on teams managers jobs that they're scared to open up.
A lot of teams are very passive.
There's also an obsession with trying to play the same way all of the time and it's not even effective
Literally the only manager this season is de zerbi had lld come into the league found a way to beat the press, get more men forward and had improved his team massively

 

[oldgolded]

I think the reason is primarily a tactical one. Containment and pressing are the buzzwords these days and a more methodical approach.

Another word for it would be boring.

 

[CelebrityWolf]

Another word for it would be boring.

Yep. I don't watch any team other than Wolves these days. Would honestly rather watch songs of praise than Forest v Bournemouth.

 

[superwolves]

Maybe the authorities should look into providing extra points based on goals scored per game cause unfortunately for a spectator point of view most successful teams are build from a solid foundation of clean sheets and the rest is added into place after that is put right

 

[WolfLing]

Modern footballing tactics come from the ethos that having possession of the ball means that the opposition can't score.

Which is a sound concept. But it relies on being able to do something with the possession of the ball.

Our success under Nuno was heavily reliant on defending soundly as a unit, with very little possession of the ball, then explosively counter-attacking when the opportunity arose. By doing that, we conceded a lot of shots on our own goal, which was countered by a third covering centre-back to block a lot of these efforts (Coady) and a very good shot-stopping goalkeeper who rarely left his goal-line (Patricio).

By doing that, you are catching the opposition out of shape defensively and relying on fast-paced, high tempo counter attacks to score your goals. It's what people refer to when they talk about 'transitions'. Effectively one team turning-over possession.

Looking at the most successful teams in the PL recently....

Liverpool's success was built on a mixture of possession-based football and high-pressing/counter attacking to win the ball back quickly, high up the pitch, and then attack in the transition phase.

All the players have to work very hard to make this successful. You have to have the right players to do that and it took Klopp a few seasons to get there. Very few teams can copy this style, as you need to plan for a while to get to the point where the squad can cope with the demands. Then if you don't refresh the squad, the demands catch up with you, as Liverpool are finding this season.

Man City's success is built on slower-tempo build-up play with a lot of possession and intricate movement in the final third to create opportunities. To do this, teams are reliant on high-quality attacking players who will make their possession count in the final third. Similar to Arsenal this season too.

We are one of a number of sides who now try and play the same way as the possession, slow-tempo based top clubs, but without the same quality they have in the forward areas. Over the course of a season, doing this means it's highly likely that you will underperform teams playing the same way, with better quality.

But there's also not a lot of mileage long-term playing the Nuno style. One bad season where it doesn't click and all of a sudden, you're in trouble. Everton this season would be a good example of a very low average possession side for whom it hasn't clicked going forward, which leaves you a little bit exposed.

We saw under Nuno. Against teams that came and attacked us, often the better sides, we could pick them off using the space they left in behind. Against the poorer sides, who let us have the ball and defended deep as a unit, we really struggled.

We are almost in a similar predicament now. Teams know we struggle to create anything, so are happy to let us knock it around, get ourselves out of shape, then just pick us off in the transition.

Our average possession this season has been the highest since our PL return.

We've had more than 60% possession in 7 league games so far this season....

Leeds Away - 60% - Loss
Bournemouth Away - 66% - Draw
West Ham Away - 61% - Loss
Leicester Home - 61% - Loss
Bournemouth Home - 68% - Loss
Leeds Home - 66% - Loss
Forest Away - 72% - Draw

If we have too much of the ball at the moment, we're doomed!

But possession-based football is still probably a better long-term strategy than Nuno-ball and the downside probably isn't as low.

Playing in a way where your team is comfortable on the ball and good at maintaining possession means if you do stumble upon the right attacking formula, the foundations for success are already there.

Partly what has seen Arsenal go from 8th, 8th, 5th under Arteta's previous 2 and a half seasons, to probably winning the league this season, certainly a minimum of runners-up.

But I think teams like Brighton in previous seasons and Chelsea this season have also struggled from the same issues we have. They have good technical players who are very comfortable on the ball, but they just haven't cracked that attacking formula to turn the possession into goals. So it leads to a decrease in overall goals, as teams struggle to convert their possession into goals. The more possession they have without scoring, the fewer they will concede too, so a double whammy.

But as Newcastle (10th highest average possession), Fulham (11th highest average possession) and Brighton (2nd highest average possession) have proven this season, once you crack it, the upside is very high.

Generally speaking, the teams with the lowest average possession are the teams who struggle.

Bournemouth 20th possession, 16th
Forest 19th possession, 15th
Palace 17th possession, 12th
West Ham 16th possession, 14th
Everton 15th possession, 18th
Southampton 14th possession, 20th

Leicester and Brentford are the real outliers. Leicester 8th highest average possession in the league, sitting 19th, and Brentford 18th for possession, but sitting 7th in the league.

We are 7th for highest average possession, in the top 10 with the Sky 6, Newcastle, Brighton and Leicester. We just need to find the formula to do something with that possession!

 

[WolfInSheep'sClothing]

Its too much perfectionist nonsense possession football that is the problem. We're at least able to score scrappy goals now we have Lopetegui. Under Lage this season we only scored beautiful goals. Which is why we only got about 4 of them.

 

[Contrarian]

Yes, this has been building for a few years now.

Lots of factors involved. One is that natural goal scorers have always been at a Premium. You pay an increasing amount for each extra goal, it's diminishing returns. And only the richest clubs have the money to spend to get those strikers. As soon as one starts to do well elsewhere, he is invariably snapped up for a fortune. Like Haaland. Or even Jota. And if Raul hadn't been injured and instead had another 15+ goal season, he'd have gone in 2020.

Our match v Fulham summed it up. There was little difference between us that day. The difference in league position is that Mitrovic is the goal scorer we (or West Ham/Southampton/Forest etc) don't have. Similarly Toney at Brentford. And if either carry on consistently scoring , they will be gone to top 6 clubs.

It's always been cheaper to build a team to stop opponents playing football, than to play it yourself. But now, it's a hundred times more so the case.

Then VAR and the strict interpretation of offside especially has chalked off dozens of goals that would have stood at any point in the previous 100 years. Sometiems rules are sensible on paper but unwise in practice and that is the classic example. The offside rule needs to change to favour attackers, if they are mostly or even partly in line, let the goal stand. Would encourage attacking play.

 

[Ponty]

VAR ruling out marginal offside goals must have lead to an overall reduction. It has occurred to me that the loss or decline of a single proficient centre forward can make a huge difference to a team. Off the top of my head there’s Raul, Antonio at West Ham and Vardy at a Leicester. Saints miss Ings’ goals, Leeds miss Raphina and Everton miss Calvert Lewin. The loss of goals from these players has resulted in all of their teams being in the relegation battle and just five extra goals for any team would probably see them moving a fair way up the table.

 

[WolfInSheep'sClothing]

Modern footballing tactics come from the ethos that having possession of the ball means that the opposition can't score.

Which is a sound concept. But it relies on being able to do something with the possession of the ball.

Our success under Nuno was heavily reliant on defending soundly as a unit, with very little possession of the ball, then explosively counter-attacking when the opportunity arose. By doing that, we conceded a lot of shots on our own goal, which was countered by a third covering centre-back to block a lot of these efforts (Coady) and a very good shot-stopping goalkeeper who rarely left his goal-line (Patricio).

By doing that, you are catching the opposition out of shape defensively and relying on fast-paced, high tempo counter attacks to score your goals. It's what people refer to when they talk about 'transitions'. Effectively one team turning-over possession.

Looking at the most successful teams in the PL recently....

Liverpool's success was built on a mixture of possession-based football and high-pressing/counter attacking to win the ball back quickly, high up the pitch, and then attack in the transition phase.

All the players have to work very hard to make this successful. You have to have the right players to do that and it took Klopp a few seasons to get there. Very few teams can copy this style, as you need to plan for a while to get to the point where the squad can cope with the demands. Then if you don't refresh the squad, the demands catch up with you, as Liverpool are finding this season.

Man City's success is built on slower-tempo build-up play with a lot of possession and intricate movement in the final third to create opportunities. To do this, teams are reliant on high-quality attacking players who will make their possession count in the final third. Similar to Arsenal this season too.

We are one of a number of sides who now try and play the same way as the possession, slow-tempo based top clubs, but without the same quality they have in the forward areas. Over the course of a season, doing this means it's highly likely that you will underperform teams playing the same way, with better quality.

But there's also not a lot of mileage long-term playing the Nuno style. One bad season where it doesn't click and all of a sudden, you're in trouble. Everton this season would be a good example of a very low average possession side for whom it hasn't clicked going forward, which leaves you a little bit exposed.

We saw under Nuno. Against teams that came and attacked us, often the better sides, we could pick them off using the space they left in behind. Against the poorer sides, who let us have the ball and defended deep as a unit, we really struggled.

We are almost in a similar predicament now. Teams know we struggle to create anything, so are happy to let us knock it around, get ourselves out of shape, then just pick us off in the transition.

Our average possession this season has been the highest since our PL return.

We've had more than 60% possession in 7 league games so far this season....

Leeds Away - 60% - Loss
Bournemouth Away - 66% - Draw
West Ham Away - 61% - Loss
Leicester Home - 61% - Loss
Bournemouth Home - 68% - Loss
Leeds Home - 66% - Loss
Forest Away - 72% - Draw

If we have too much of the ball at the moment, we're doomed!

But possession-based football is still probably a better long-term strategy than Nuno-ball and the downside probably isn't as low.

Playing in a way where your team is comfortable on the ball and good at maintaining possession means if you do stumble upon the right attacking formula, the foundations for success are already there.

Partly what has seen Arsenal go from 8th, 8th, 5th under Arteta's previous 2 and a half seasons, to probably winning the league this season, certainly a minimum of runners-up.

But I think teams like Brighton in previous seasons and Chelsea this season have also struggled from the same issues we have. They have good technical players who are very comfortable on the ball, but they just haven't cracked that attacking formula to turn the possession into goals. So it leads to a decrease in overall goals, as teams struggle to convert their possession into goals. The more possession they have without scoring, the fewer they will concede too, so a double whammy.

But as Newcastle (10th highest average possession), Fulham (11th highest average possession) and Brighton (2nd highest average possession) have proven this season, once you crack it, the upside is very high.

Generally speaking, the teams with the lowest average possession are the teams who struggle.

Bournemouth 20th possession, 16th
Forest 19th possession, 15th
Palace 17th possession, 12th
West Ham 16th possession, 14th
Everton 15th possession, 18th
Southampton 14th possession, 20th

Leicester and Brentford are the real outliers. Leicester 8th highest average possession in the league, sitting 19th, and Brentford 18th for possession, but sitting 7th in the league.

We are 7th for highest average possession, in the top 10 with the Sky 6, Newcastle, Brighton and Leicester. We just need to find the formula to do something with that possession!

I would point to Newcastle and Fulham possession as outliers too. When you start to win games teams tend to set up a bit more withdrawn against you, so possession usually increases as a result.
Having possession in itself should never be seen as a negative, but it has
The problem It's dropping creative players for "pressers" in the hope you win the ball back and then wondering after why the goals aren't coming.
Its when you keep the ball on your goal line when it isn't drawing the opposition out. Its not having a headed option from a set piece because you want everyone to be a ball player. Its being too scared of losing it to make a through pass.

Ultimately any kind of football which reduces the amount of chances both teams have, let alone the actual goals is just utterly boring to watch. Brighton home fans aren't as keen on their type of football as "the neutral" is.

I think too much has based on Klopp's successes of the past 5 years, without seeing how his style is beginning to date. Would Odegaard fit into a Liverpool line up? I don't think so. 5 years a go the number 10 was looking like a no longer needed extravagance. Now I'm glad it is back.

That line up first half against Forest was utterly painful. You knew what was going to happen before a ball was kicked. Oh look no threat. No goals. All the ball no surprise.
We are 7th for average possession; but there isn't an uglier team to watch in this division. We are as dull as dishwater to watch; no amount of possession can hide that.

 

[Contrarian]

Yep. I don't watch any team other than Wolves these days. Would honestly rather watch songs of praise than Forest v Bournemouth.

I go through spells like that - especially when we were in the Championship. Would hardly ever watch any Premier League, let alone other Championship teams.

But sometimes, also, I get interested in the game in general. Like during the World Cup, for example. And watching other games is like relaxation therapy after the nerve wracking anxiety (and often frustration) of watching us!

PS You missed a 3-2 thriller with Forest v Bournemouth Forest 2 nil up at half time, before Bournemouth turned it round with 3 second half goals. Ironic you mention that, when nearly all non-Wolves supporters say we are a team they avoid watching, as we play such slow, tedious and dull football. Maybe you should try other teams matches sometime? We have been an exceptionally bad team to watch, from an "objective football" point of view, for 2- 3 years. As I said, it can be a real contrast watching others, calming after watching us.

 

[Black Country Wanderer]

Possession football obviously works,but it needs fast transition and forward thinking midfielders
Even without a natural striker it can work if you get enough players in the action areas
We are just too slow in the majority of games and it gets you a defensive mindset as the opposition just press the life out of us

 

[oldgolded]

Fabulous analysis WolfLing.

 

[Skrilla]

We are 7th for highest average possession, in the top 10 with the Sky 6, Newcastle, Brighton and Leicester. We just need to find the formula to do something with that possession!

Or rather, 'someone' that can do something with that possession!

 

[woop woop barmy army]

And conceding goals loses games. Which way do you think is easier to control?

Throw eight bodies forward to try and score

Throw eight bodies back and try to stop the opposition

So we are playing for a 0-0 then every game?

Reminds me of the Hoddle days,

Ask most fans I would rather see attacking football and loose a few and win a few maybe 4-3 & 3-2 than the bore fest it is now. Look back to Bruno first 3 games everything one was so happy and we lost 2 and drew 1. We was on the front foot all the time.

 

[woop woop barmy army]

Or rather, 'someone' that can do something with that possession!

Under Nuno wasn't we toward the bottom for possession yet 7th in the league.

I know which one I would take now.

 

[jrpb-3]

And conceding goals loses games. Which way do you think is easier to control?

Throw eight bodies forward to try and score

Throw eight bodies back and try to stop the opposition

we've managed to make both options look difficult to achieve

 

[SingYourHeartsOut]

Modern footballing tactics come from the ethos that having possession of the ball means that the opposition can't score.

Which is a sound concept. But it relies on being able to do something with the possession of the ball.

Our success under Nuno was heavily reliant on defending soundly as a unit, with very little possession of the ball, then explosively counter-attacking when the opportunity arose. By doing that, we conceded a lot of shots on our own goal, which was countered by a third covering centre-back to block a lot of these efforts (Coady) and a very good shot-stopping goalkeeper who rarely left his goal-line (Patricio).

By doing that, you are catching the opposition out of shape defensively and relying on fast-paced, high tempo counter attacks to score your goals. It's what people refer to when they talk about 'transitions'. Effectively one team turning-over possession.

Looking at the most successful teams in the PL recently....

Liverpool's success was built on a mixture of possession-based football and high-pressing/counter attacking to win the ball back quickly, high up the pitch, and then attack in the transition phase.

All the players have to work very hard to make this successful. You have to have the right players to do that and it took Klopp a few seasons to get there. Very few teams can copy this style, as you need to plan for a while to get to the point where the squad can cope with the demands. Then if you don't refresh the squad, the demands catch up with you, as Liverpool are finding this season.

Man City's success is built on slower-tempo build-up play with a lot of possession and intricate movement in the final third to create opportunities. To do this, teams are reliant on high-quality attacking players who will make their possession count in the final third. Similar to Arsenal this season too.

We are one of a number of sides who now try and play the same way as the possession, slow-tempo based top clubs, but without the same quality they have in the forward areas. Over the course of a season, doing this means it's highly likely that you will underperform teams playing the same way, with better quality.

But there's also not a lot of mileage long-term playing the Nuno style. One bad season where it doesn't click and all of a sudden, you're in trouble. Everton this season would be a good example of a very low average possession side for whom it hasn't clicked going forward, which leaves you a little bit exposed.

We saw under Nuno. Against teams that came and attacked us, often the better sides, we could pick them off using the space they left in behind. Against the poorer sides, who let us have the ball and defended deep as a unit, we really struggled.

We are almost in a similar predicament now. Teams know we struggle to create anything, so are happy to let us knock it around, get ourselves out of shape, then just pick us off in the transition.

Our average possession this season has been the highest since our PL return.

We've had more than 60% possession in 7 league games so far this season....

Leeds Away - 60% - Loss
Bournemouth Away - 66% - Draw
West Ham Away - 61% - Loss
Leicester Home - 61% - Loss
Bournemouth Home - 68% - Loss
Leeds Home - 66% - Loss
Forest Away - 72% - Draw

If we have too much of the ball at the moment, we're doomed!

But possession-based football is still probably a better long-term strategy than Nuno-ball and the downside probably isn't as low.

Playing in a way where your team is comfortable on the ball and good at maintaining possession means if you do stumble upon the right attacking formula, the foundations for success are already there.

Partly what has seen Arsenal go from 8th, 8th, 5th under Arteta's previous 2 and a half seasons, to probably winning the league this season, certainly a minimum of runners-up.

But I think teams like Brighton in previous seasons and Chelsea this season have also struggled from the same issues we have. They have good technical players who are very comfortable on the ball, but they just haven't cracked that attacking formula to turn the possession into goals. So it leads to a decrease in overall goals, as teams struggle to convert their possession into goals. The more possession they have without scoring, the fewer they will concede too, so a double whammy.

But as Newcastle (10th highest average possession), Fulham (11th highest average possession) and Brighton (2nd highest average possession) have proven this season, once you crack it, the upside is very high.

Generally speaking, the teams with the lowest average possession are the teams who struggle.

Bournemouth 20th possession, 16th
Forest 19th possession, 15th
Palace 17th possession, 12th
West Ham 16th possession, 14th
Everton 15th possession, 18th
Southampton 14th possession, 20th

Leicester and Brentford are the real outliers. Leicester 8th highest average possession in the league, sitting 19th, and Brentford 18th for possession, but sitting 7th in the league.

We are 7th for highest average possession, in the top 10 with the Sky 6, Newcastle, Brighton and Leicester. We just need to find the formula to do something with that possession!

Proper @WolfLing post, good to have you back on your game (hope your wife hasn't thrown you out ).

 

[jrpb-3]

think I head on MOTD that all 10 of Brighton's out field players had at least 2 attempts on goal, (24 to 7 in total) but Brentford took the lead 3 times in the match

 

[Oldgoldilox]

Not saying this is the sole reason for this but I do think that the fact that the richest clubs farm any player with a natural aptitude for goal scoring is a factor. In the past a Chelsea for example wouldn't have Havertz, Aubameyang, Sterling, Broja, Pulisic, Felix etc etc in the same squad, some of that talent would be plying its trade at other clubs.

 

[Fenrir_]

We are all concerned by the lack of goals that we score, but we are not alone in this. I read an article recently where the author quoted "that the number of goals being scored in the Premier had fallen to an all time low." I decided to have a look at this, and with a few exceptions, most teams are having a struggle to score. Is this because the defences are better of are the strikers not doing their jobs? Only Arsenal , Man City and Spurs have scored more than fifty this season.

I had a look at the bottom ten sides Chelsea in eleventh place down to Southampton in position twenty.
These ten teams, have as of today, played a total of 282 games this season. The total goals scored by these ten, totals 271!!!. You don't need to be a maths genius to work out that that is less than a goal a game. Chelsea with all the spending have only scored 29 while Leicester who sit in the relegation places have scored 39. Leeds are the only other team in these ten who have scored more goals than the number of games.

The drop may well come down this season to the teams with the worst goal difference, and at the present time Forest , Bournemouth and Southampton are worse than us.

Yeah it's crazy. We bemoan our top scorer being on six but I was having a little look around and Podence would also be top scorer at West Ham, Everton, Palace and Bournemouth (joint). It's very much a common problem in the bottom half of the table and a war of attrition

A lot of it is down to 'gamesmanship' and time wasting though in my opinion, which are tactics solely employed to prevent goals and something that the authorities need to get on top of

 

[Stee]

My impression (and that's all it is) is that teams (with a few exceptions like Citeh) are playing safety first football -- in away games, defend in numbers, don't concede and we at least get a point.

I agree with this and also think it is mental, like the points scoring was changed to stop this from being a thing and it is still a thing!

Do we need to go to 0.5 points for a draw and 5 for a win?

 

[Ponty]

Yeah it's crazy. We bemoan our top scorer being on six but I was having a little look around and Podence would also be top scorer at West Ham, Everton, Palace and Bournemouth (joint). It's very much a common problem in the bottom half of the table and a war of attrition

A lot of it is down to 'gamesmanship' and time wasting though in my opinion, which are tactics solely employed to prevent goals and something that the authorities need to get on top of

Chicken and egg! It's the lack of goals that result in teams being in the bottom half of the table. Three extra goals could yield 6 more points if they turned draws into wins. We'd all be happy as can be with an extra six points. I agree wholeheartedly re time wasting.

 

[jrpb-3]

Has 5 subs mads a difference this season ? able to throw on fresh defenders ?
Opposition can put on more attacking players too, but guess they won't in general be the top quality ones ?

I think the fact that on the whole players are fitter and faster than they used to be so more able to get back and defend , or can break faster from defense means in general its much less common for teams to get attackers outnumbering defenders very often in games