Looking back at last season, we generally scored three types of goal

1. Full backs bombing forward and either setting up Pukki in the box or cutting it back for someone on the edge.

This season that's been much harder because a) full backs have had to defend more and b) Prem full backs are as quick as ours, or quicker, and better organised, especially in transition. Neither full back is great at crossing, and there's no point anyway because Pukki can't head and there's usually no-one else in there.

2. Through balls for Pukki to be left with a one on one, which he'd usually score

We did do that early on, but Pukki started missing every one of them and lost his confidence. Then we stopped creating those chances.

3. Shots from outside the box, primarily from Stiepermann or Vrancic.

Neither of them have stepped up / played enough.

Then you have the mystery of Emi's zero goals. When you look at the position he plays, it's not that much of a mystery. In the Champ he had the freedom of the park near enough. Nominally on the right, he'd pop up everywhere.
In the Prem, he's had to be much more positionally disciplined on the right, and hasn't been able to get about the pitch in the same way, especially in forward areas. Most of what Emi has done that's been good this season has been playing through balls from deeper, but that's also dried up.

Posted By: jamesward, Jul 6, 09:56:59