I can't post the link, but it is part of the pay service I have with ESPN, so most cannot access it. An interesting insight on the offensive changes at City.
The evolving Manchester City
A more offensive-minded approach has paid early-season dividends for Man City
By Albert Larcada
ESPN Insider
Archive
Coming off its first-ever top-three finish in the Premier League, Manchester City has started the 2011-12 campaign on fire.
After two matches it has been the most impressive squad in the league, dominating Swansea at home and thoroughly outplaying Bolton on the road a week later.
City's fast start has been in large part because of its new offensive-minded approach. It has scored a league-high seven goals, with no one player scoring more than two.
Taking a deeper look into its offense, we see that City has become more of an efficient, quick-strike attack. Here are some quick facts:
• Its average pass is 1 yard shorter than any other squad in the league.
• It has attempted 53 long passes per match. Last season it attempted 69 per match.
• It has completed 131 passes per match into the attacking third of the pitch. Last season it completed 102 per match.
• It has completed 46 passes into the 18-yard box. No other team has completed more than 33.
• It has attempted 16 through balls. No other team has attempted more than 11.
These short, effective passes are creating large amounts of high-probability scoring chances for City. Last season it attempted a little more than 14 shots per match -- the 11th-most in the EPL. This season City has taken 24 shots per match -- the most in the EPL.
Along with the uptick in total shots, the quality of shots City is taking has gone up as well. Last season City's average shot came from just over 23 yards away, the 14th-furthest average shot distance in the league.
This season City's average shot is roughly 2 yards closer to goal and closer than any other squad in the league. City has a league-high five goals scored from open play after averaging 0.7 goals per match in open play last season.
Many players have had a role in this offensive explosion. The architect of the attack is unquestionably David Silva. He led City last season in most passing categories and has upped his game this season. He is second in the EPL in passes completed into the attacking half (81) and third in passes completed into the attacking third (48).
Silva is not the only one playing well.
Against Bolton, midfielder James Milner played the full 90 minutes, completed more passes into the attacking third than any other player in an EPL match this season and assisted on two of City's three goals. Milner was a late-match substitute in the Swansea fixture, showing City's depth. Yaya Toure's passing and Edin Dzeko's overall offensive play have also impressed early.
Newcomers Sergio Aguero and Gael Clichy have contributed, as well. Aguero's second goal against Swansea -- the second-longest goal of the EPL season -- shows the added dimension he brings to City.
What makes this start even more astounding is that City has done this without arguably its best player from last season, Carlos Tevez, and talented striker Mario Balotelli. Both are still with the squad, though neither has contributed to the early-season success.
Another player who figures to play a prominent role for City going forward is the newly signed Samir Nasri. Playing for Arsenal, he was one the best players in the EPL last season, completing the second-most attacking third passes in the league.
Paired with Silva, Nasri may be part of the best dual-orchestrator grouping in Europe outside of the Xavi-Iniesta combination in Barcelona.
United worries
As with its rival City, Manchester United is also off to a great start.
One concern of United's, however, should be new goalkeeper David De Gea and his handling of crosses. Coming from La Liga, De Gea will likely see many more crosses than he did with Atletico. So far he has not handled the test well.
With Atletico Madrid last season, De Gea attempted to play 69 crosses sent his way. He claimed 53 cleanly, punched 15 away to safety and fumbled one. So far this season De Gea has seen four crosses and fumbled two of them -- including one in the seventh minute of his first EPL match. Neither of his two flaps led to goals, but giving opponents opportunities in your own box is never a recipe for success.
De Gea's cross struggles are definitely something to keep an eye on going forward.
Americans abroad
Speaking of orchestrators, American Timothy Chandler is slowly becoming one of the better players in the Bundesliga. Chandler's ascension at Nuremberg began last year when the lanky defender/winger became a full-time starter in the second half of the season.
This season Chandler has been one of the best players at Nuremberg, completing the most passes into the attacking half and attacking third on his club.
He is seventh in the Bundesliga in total crosses attempted and tied for fifth in successful crosses, something he will be expected to do a lot of for the U.S. national team. He is also third on his squad in successful tackles.
Long goals
Tracers from distance
Measuring the length of non-penalty goals by league last season:
League Avg Dist (yds)
English Premier League 15.2
Serie A 15.8
La Liga 16.1
Ligue 1 16.3
Bundesliga 16.8
There has been an abundance of long-distance goals already this EPL season.
In fact, non-penalty goals in the EPL are coming from an average of 17.6 yards away.
That's more than 2 yards farther than the average distance from a season ago.
For context, see the table to the right for the average goal distance of the big five European leagues last season. Keep in mind that we are only talking about two or three weeks' worth of matches, so this is a small sample and this data could regress to the mean rather quickly. But for now, we should just enjoy the wonder goals happening all across Europe.
Albert Larcada is an Analytics Specialist in ESPN's Stats & Information group. He does advanced statistical research with the intention of better modeling and forecasting sporting events and leagues. Among other analytics projects he maintains, advances and writes about ESPN's successful Soccer Power Index (SPI) algorithm.
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